Five practices that take small groups beyond polite sharing to the disciplines that change lives.
by John Ortberg
God has entrusted us with his most precious treasure—people. He asks us to shepherd and mold them into strong disciples, with brave faith, and good character. I would not give my life to any church that was not serious about this calling—the transformation of human beings. God has decided, for his own good reasons, that people are not transformed outside of community.
Encouragement for men to live a life of integrity.
The men of the Bible were mostly a courageous bunch. Consider Adam, who was less than perfect but still sought God, or Caleb, who stood against popular opinion to believe God's promise to Israel. And who could be more courageous than Daniel, who trusted his sovereign God even as he was thrown to the lions? In the New Testament, we see Thomas courageously turn his doubt into a vital faith, Barnabas ...
Discover great spiritual truths as you explore C.S. Lewis' magical world.
These seven beloved stories by C. S. Lewis bring warm thoughts to those of us who read them as children or adults. Many of us have been greatly affected by the view Aslan has given us of Christ. Great scriptural truths worm their way into our lives through the power of these creative stories. In light of that, we've created a Bible Study Course which covers all of these books separately, so when you ...
Use the Bible to help identify leadership in your church.
Steven Reames
Here are a few methods and qualifications for small group leaders straight from the Bible.
Methods:
God raises up: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (Acts 13:2). God is sovereign, and we should not oppose whom He calls.
We raise up: "They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons" (1 Timothy 3:10). We identify people who might be leaders, give them a chance to serve, and then appoint them to a place of leadership.
Why mentoring is a prerequisite to multiplication.
Dave Earley
Jim led a group for several years and did a good job. It was a strong group that met the needs of the members. Yet, he never seemed to be able to find an apprentice to mentor. So the group did not multiply. Then Jim had a stroke. He was physically unable to lead his group anymore. Since there was no one mentored to take his place, his group soon died. Looking back, Jim did nearly everything right, ...
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