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 ...
Serving together as a small group can make a big impact.
by Life Together
Ellen watched her neighbor, Meg, deal with a volatile marriage. When reconciliation failed, Meg and her husband finally separated. With five children and no job, Meg's future was dim. Sometimes despair set in as Meg looked ahead to the responsibilities she had to face alone. Though Ellen cared for Meg, she was overwhelmed and, consequently, reluctant to serve her and her family.
Dividing responsibilities not only eases your leadership burden, it helps your group members grow.
by Life Together
First Corinthians 12:7 says that God gives every believer spiritual gifts for the common good of the body. But if your small group is like most, it's led by just one person—you! Not that you're probably complaining, but that's a huge burden. Aside from that, it's also keeping everyone else from growing in their gifts.
The load usually falls on one person because many leaders feel like the only ...
How a small group cared for a member battling cancer.
by Life Together
Cancer hit our family, and we were devastated.
...
Normally, when people heard about Margaret's cancer, people said, "We'll pray for you." The gesture was kind, but their care stopped there.
Through the course of Margaret's treatment, not only did our group pray diligently but also their actions exemplified their faith. Their acts of extreme love were nothing short of awesome.
How to learn the deep "one another" community described in Scripture
Howard A. Snyder
Community in the New Testament sense of koinonia assumes and requires face-to-face communication, whether in a horse-and-buggy age or an Internet age. Three things marked New Testament Christian community: It was centered in Jesus Christ (believers met together as Jesus' followers, constituting his body); this fellowship was a gift of the Holy Spirit; and the community was missional. That is, the ...
Provide a backpack to meet a student's need and lighten someone's load.
Sue Skalicky
This August, thousands of children around the world will receive donated brand new backpacks filled with school supplies. For example, stationed in Iraq as a National Guard chaplain, my pastor is helping to organize "Operation Backpack," a project that will provide hundreds of Iraqi children with necessary school supplies and a special backpack to start the new school year. Yet, it is just not the ...
Organize a prayer walk with group members lifting up needs in the community.
Sue Skalicky
I love the fall! I love the hint of coolness in the breeze and the landscape's slowly emerging colors as the quick growth of spring and summer gracefully glides to a halt. I marvel at the artistry of death as once vibrant, green leaves give way to bold, beautiful colors. I'm reminded of how God's love colored my life the moment I chose to follow Jesus; to die to myself so that he might live glamorously ...
Group members write down what is on their mind and how they are feeling about it.
Tami Rudkin
Right at the beginning of your meeting ask your group members to make a list of everything that is on their minds. Tell them they don't have to write sentences about it just simply a word, i.e. work, children, grocery shopping … After giving them 2 minutes to comprise that list ask them if they would now go back to their list and write a word beside each word of the original list that describes ...
Split into subgroups and think of what it means to be a good small-group member.
Tami Rudkin
Have your group break down into smaller groups of three. Have each smaller group make a list of 10 ways to be a good group member. Give them five minutes and then have each triad share their lists with the larger group. This barrier breaker will be fun as some people will go overboard with creative responses. Plus, it will also give individuals ideas about how to be a better group member.
Help group members adapt their prayer requests around God's Word.
Sue Skalicky
As a mom, I am often at a loss about what to pray for my children. My intercessory words, in the face of broken hearts, friendship challenges, college decisions, and physical limitations, can sound weak and trivial. I want healing, joy, and peace for my daughters, but could there be something that God wants them to learn during their trials? What if God is using the trials they are facing to shape ...
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