One man's simple question produces a legacy of life change.
by Brett Eastman
In this story, Brett Eastman, founder and CEO of Lifetogether, recalls how one man's simple question produced a legacy of life change:
I attended college in Southern California, and one day (I remember this like it was yesterday), a guy named John tapped me on the shoulder and asked me how I was doing spiritually.
I thought, "This is odd," but I didn't dismiss him; I actually talked with him for a few ...
Multiplying small groups can be difficult, but the rewards are worth it.
by Randy Frazee
Many groups are resistant to the idea of multiplication. It's difficult to break up an existing group for the sake of reaching out to new people. Having babies—creating new communities—is painful, but the trade-off is better than remaining evangelistically barren. How do you keep a group focused on the gospel's command to be outwardly focused? Here are a few principles for fostering an environment ...
How the right approach to your sessions can make your meetings more meaningful.
by Life Together
Being an effective leader demands a planning and a prayerful heart.
When you go to prepare for each small group meeting, review the session and the leader's notes, and write down your responses to each question. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to do something other than engage in discussion. These exercises will help your group live what the Bible teaches, not just talk about ...
How small group community and mission fit together
Joel Comiskey
During the question time of the small group seminar, one leader said, "My group doesn't want to evangelize and multiply. They want to grow intimate with each other, but resist talking about outreach and breaking up. What should I tell them?" The negative intensity in the leader's voice alerted me to the importance of answering his question carefully. I also noticed that the other small group leaders ...
Your group doesn't have to choose between community and evangelism—you just have to be intentional about maintaining both.
Eddy Hall
Which better describes your conviction about the primary purpose of your small group?
The purpose of our group is to carry out the Great Commission by building relationships with people who do not know Christ and inviting them into relationship with God and the Christian community.
Our group exists to provide an environment of Christian community where people can love and be loved, know one another deeply, and be nurtured in their growth as disciples.
The balance between outreach and in-reach in your small group is a delicate one to maintain.
Rod Dempsey
Every four years during the summer Olympic Games, there is an event entitled simply, 'Balance Beam'. You are probably familiar with the event. The balance beam is a piece of wood that is 4 inches wide and 12 feet long. The beam is usually mounted on a support structure and stands 42 inches off the ground. The allure of watching this Olympic sport is the amazing and magical feats of balance the athletes ...
An easy guide to selecting, training, and sending apprentices in your church.
Stan Lubeck
We live and die in the ministry based on the number of laborers in the harvest field. The Home Group structure not only provides a superior vehicle for providing quality care to every member in the church, it is also a fantastic leadership equipping environment where the burden of responsibility for the ministry is shared by many. Apprentices are a critical factor in the multiplication of Home Groups. ...
Sharing your faith in Christ might not be as difficult as you think.
by Life Together
Does the very thought of sharing your faith with an unbeliever make you sweat? If so, as a leader you understand exactly what the rest of your group feels regarding evangelism. There's nothing more important for a leader than empathy.
Because you know how they feel, a principle you need to pass on to your group is how simple and natural it can be to offer Christ's love to people.
Discipling individuals is primary; leading groups and teaching the crowds is secondary.
Michael C. Mack
Leading the group is not the most important thing a group leader does.
Although that is where most churches place most of their energy in leadership training, the most important, lasting thing a group leader does is develop the apprentice leader. I've studied growing churches, different church and small group models, the life of Jesus, and the life of the early church. And they all point to this conclusion: ...
Who do you know who is still harassed and helpless , like sheep without a shepherd?
Neil Cole
How would you like to be a missionary to the fifth largest unchurched nation in the world … and never leave home?
The need is great all over the world to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. But one nation that may be overlooked is the one we live in. More than 187 million Americans remain unreached by the gospel, making us the fifth largest unchurched country in the world.
Printer view of these results
