Churches all over the nation are recognizing a need to get small groups going in their congregations. As people sense a desire for deeper relationships within the body of Christ, interest in the movement is rising. But getting small groups started in a church and keeping the groups healthy are two completely different jobs.
As head of Touch Outreach Ministry, my job is to look at churches that have ...
Okay, so that may seem obvious, but one of the critical roles of a small group leader is to shepherd the people in your group. Does the word "shepherd" scare you? It shouldn't. God has provided you with the gifts and abilities to care for those in your small group.
In a healthy small group, the members, as well as the leaders, must be "healthy." In fact, I would ...
Have realistic expectations about what small groups will be like.
by David A. Womack
Note: This article has been excerpted from the SmallGroups.com training tool called Healthy Small Groups.
After more than three decades of promotion in books, magazines, seminars, and classes, the fact about small groups is that not enough churches can testify to success. Among the reasons are:
1. We have few role models, at least in our own culture.
2. The literature on the subject has promoted the ...
How to make prayer a central part of small groups.
by Life Together
Click here to download free job description for Small Group Leaders (Word document).
One of the most powerful aspects of small groups is the opportunity to offer prayer requests, to pray together, and then to see how God follows through on those prayers. It's amazing to see how God works over three months or six months or a year. Prayers gets answered, situations change, hearts change—your group ...
With the right tools, your youth ministry can realize even your most "impossible" goals.
As a youth leader, you've got a tough road. Your job is to get a diverse group of busy, overwhelmed students to share one goal: getting to know Jesus Christ deeper and to make Him known to others. As if that isn't hard enough, you also want your ministry to be a place where students can find real friendships and ...
Use well thought out questions to make a lasting impact.
by Dave Arch
"Do you not yet understand?" —Jesus (Matthew 8:21)
Whether in a public gathering, a confrontation with his enemies, or a private conversation with his closest friends, Jesus consistently used questions to produce change and growth. In the eighth chapter of the Book of Mark, he used eight types of questions.
1. Answering with Questions (Mark 8:5)
Rather than merely answering a question (and thereby ...
Being a champion isn't too hard, but it makes a big difference.
by Brett Eastman
Although I've championed small groups in several big churches over the past decade, and even though it's been almost twenty years since I led my first small group, I still remember the day I led my first group like it was yesterday.
My palms were sweating, and I thought my heart was going to thump right out of my chest. But even though I was terrified, I knew God was there with me. He knew exactly ...
Small group helps members shape their views about how to handle money.
by John Crosby
What am I doing here? I was sitting at a 6:30 breakfast with a handful of men from our congregation, and the talk was about money. Our money. Specifically, how much we made, and gave, and saved. And now they were looking at me.
Our idea was that together we could learn more of what God wanted us to do with our money. I had been praying for the opportunity for months. The group had formed, and now, ...
Bring depth to a small group by participating in Communion together.
by BuildingSmallGroups.com
Looking for a wonderful means of worshipping as a group? Why not lead your group in sharing the Lord's Supper? If you've never done this before, the idea certainly seems daunting, but here is a simple form by which your small group can share this sacrament. Of course, churches vary in their treatment of Communion so you may need to adapt these suggestions to your church's beliefs.
God has ways he wants to use us if we are willing to follow his leading.
by Life Together
Amy had completed a year of leadership in a women's ministry at her church. When asked to lead a small group of stay-at-home moms, she immediately agreed. Days earlier, she had felt the Holy Spirit nudging her in this direction.
The announcement was made, and many women eagerly joined when baited with free babysitting. Bible study and fellowship with other women was a satisfying break during those ...
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