I have not always been a fan of small groups taking vacations at specific times during the year. However, the longer I am in ministry with groups, the more I relax and understand the benefit of these short or extended breaks. And the more I understand the benefits, the more I am ...
The "why" and "how" of removing yourself from small-group leadership
Heather Zempel
Stepping down from small-group leadership is a sensitive subject. Why should you do it? When should you do it? How should you do it? Let's jump in.
The Sin Issue
First, I want to tackle one of the most important issues related to stepping down. The sin issue. Sometimes, leaders think they can't confess a sin because it will require them to step down from leadership. Concerns about the group, letting ...
Consider taking your small group on a spiritual retreat.
by Rachel Gilmore
During high school, my youth group would go every fall to a camp that sat high on a dune above Lake Michigan. By October the air was crisp and full of the scent of burning leaves, the lake choppy and layered in shades of blue and gray—all heralding the change of seasons. The weekend held the promise of all-night girl gab sessions, midnight hikes up the dunes, and intense small-group discussions. ...
Sometimes it seems like busyness is a necessary requirement for participating in small-group ministry. But that doesn't have to be the case. This download is designed to help the busy leaders of your ministry slow down and make the most of their time through spiritual disciplines. With expert advice from John Ortberg, Mark ...
Here are 10 ways to make the most of your time together.
by Ken Godevenos
Assuming you've decided you want to achieve all purposes of a staff retreat—to work, rest, and spend time with God—here are some elements to build into the events:
1. Timing. Don't wait to have a perfect event planned, or one that will be scheduled a month in advance. The best staff retreats start when the leader says, "We need to get away at this time." Whatever the critical event or need, ...
Use role-play to give your group a concrete experience with Scripture.
Sue Skalicky
When I was only nine years old, my grandpa decided to offer me advice about cigarettes and alcohol. One day, he asked, "What do you say if someone offers you a cigarette?"
"No," I said, wondering why we were having this conversation.
"Wrong!" he barked.
"Yes?" I countered.
"Wrong, again!" He continued, "What do you say if someone offers you a beer?"
"In many ways, summer is a special season for churches—Vacation Bible School, parking lot BBQs, short-term missions trips, and so on. But summer can be a real downer for small groups. Too often the spiritual and numerical growth of spring comes to screeching halt in June. But they don't have to.
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