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 ...
Groups should consider whether their requests line up with what God is doing.
by Wayne Jacobsen
You'd have thought I'd just cussed by the way the mouths around the table soundlessly fell open. And all I'd said was "I don't think I can pray that for you."
The woman who had just asked us to pray was perhaps the most shocked of all.
My home group had just finished eating dinner, and we were sharing prayer requests. With obvious distress, Kris had told of her daughter's plan to move in with a boyfriend ...
An interview with Tom Albin about the success of the Wesleys.
by Tim Stafford
Small groups—in which 6 to 12 people regularly gather to talk about their spiritual journeys, study the Bible, and pray—have become an integral and dynamic part of modern American church life. They have helped transform thousands of churches and millions of individuals. Though many think they were invented in the last couple of decades, they've been around in one form or another since the ...
Practical instruction on how to get an accountability group going and why it is important.
by Christopher Easley
An accountability group exists to help people of God stay pure and faithful in their walk with him and help them overcome sins. It provides a context to live out James 5:16, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
There are many benefits and blessings that come with an accountability group. ...
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.
Common habits and practices that can dull our conversations with God
by Wayne Jacobsen
Though the exercise of prayer offers comfort for the moment, many prayer requests treat God like a genie in a bottle. Here are some prayer requests that reflect our human desires more than the desires of God. Do these sound familiar?
The Trivial Prayer
"I pray I can get over this cold," or "Give us a rain-free day for the church picnic."
Our comfort and our plans are important to us, but could God have ...
Learn about accountability from the early Methodists.
by Christianity Today
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In late 1738 and early 1739, under the influence of Moravian pietists, the Wesleys began forming small groups for mutual accountability. These groups, called "bands," comprised about six people and made radical demands on the lives of believers—though no more radical than the gospel. Here are the 1744 Rules of Bands.
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The design of our meeting is to obey that command of God, "Confess your ...
Discuss common questions that believers have pondered over the years about the Christian faith.
The following 8-session course will help you and your group think about and answer common questions that believers have pondered over the years about the Christian faith.
Week One
Has God Played Fair? Why did an omniscient God create humankind knowing that people, in every generation, would reject him?
Week Two
Does God Always Bless Believers?Meet Kirbyjon Caldwell-megachurch pastor, real-estate whiz, ...
What does a relationship with Jesus look like day-to-day? The Book of James tells what it means to follow Christ.
What does a real relationship with Jesus look like day-in and day-out? The Book of James is all about what it means to follow Christ 24/7. It explores spiritual maturity, and how to grow up in the faith. Every verse is easy to understand but not at all easy to implement. This book teaches us about real faith by giving us God's Word on some of the most daily realities of following Jesus, including ...
Practical ways for small groups to find a better rhythm with God
by Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, Wayne Jacobsen, and others
In our increasingly busy culture, encouraging prayer and spiritual disciplines among church attenders is consistently a challenge for pastors and ministry leaders. This theme includes teaching from wise spiritual directors, including Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, and Ben Patterson. Articles range from "How to Pray as a Group" to "Where Do You Stand," written to help leaders see ways that spiritual ...
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