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The Vision...

A Biblical Small Group Within Walking Distance of Every Person on the Planet.


01.14.2011

Using the NFL Playoffs to Enhance Your Small Group

 Major sporting events are great for bonding a small group and/or introducing non-group members to the rest of the group. This is as easy as it gets…
 
1.     Invite group members to your home to watch the game. Warn those who are uppity when watching sports (these types aren’t normally as passionate about the sporting event as others in the room) that it may get loud but it will be fun.
2.     Invite people who are not yet followers of Christ or those you would like to see join the group to come hang out and watch the game with some of your friends.
 
A few things to keep in mind:
 
1.     If you throw a Bible study at half-time or demand a prayer meeting during a coach’s challenge you’ll run the not yet member and the unbeliever away forever. Just have fun. It’s okay for believers to just enjoy a football game together.
2.     If you’re part of a tradition that is sensitive about the drinking of an alcoholic beverage, don’t kick someone out if they show up with a beer or two. Remember, this is not a small group meeting, it’s a group of friends spending an evening watching football. Would you kick a co-worker out if they showed up at a party thinking it was BYOB? Probably not.
3.     Set everyone at ease by telling the group, when inviting them to watch the game, that they may see a side of a group member they have never seen before. Let people be themselves no matter how crazy they get. This will help in the breaking down of barriers and create memories that will last a lifetime. 
Missional, NFL, Playoffs, Recruitment, Small, Groups
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01.13.2011

Three Necessities for Making Disciples

 The weekend sermon at the gathering of the church we are part of was extraordinary this week. Well, it’s always extraordinary to me as my son is the pastor. He has a discipleship mentality that runs deeper than almost any pastor I’ve ever met. In fact, he has so instilled discipling into our DNA that, a few months ago he invited any adult who wanted to know how to disciple someone else to come to a meeting to begin learning how to do so. In a church of about 150 adults, 80 showed up that night.
 
His sermon this Sunday was focused on dads discipling their children. He pointed out three necessities for dads who are going to make disciples of their kids. I believe these three principles hold true with any person discipling someone else. They are are as follows:
 
Model for Them… The person you are discipling will do what they have seen you do.
 
Delight in Them… The person you are discipling will either perceive you as seeing them as a blessing or a curse. Verbally let them know how much they mean to you and how much the relationship you are in is enhancing your life.
 
Discipline Them… When necessary, with wisdom, hold them accountable to do what they have agreed to do.
 
Thanks Josh and all of you who are The Bridge. 
Discipleship, Group, Howerton, Josh, Small, The, Bridge
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01.11.2011

Story, Beauty, Pain, and the Heart... Small Groups that Truly Transform

 In western society getting into people’s heads is no problem. We’re all about facts and figures, scientific method, and knowledge gained. In fact, since buying an iPhone I can find an answer to almost any question within seconds… no matter where I am. Knowledge is available ad nausea.
 
Those who are all about knowledge never know what it means to be made new, only what it means to be made knowledgeable. In order to be transformed we have to sprint right past what many perceive as the finish line, knowledge, and join a community of others on the journey of the heart. Pouring God’s story into an open heart is like doing CPR on a dying swimmer, the individual comes back to life and begins to see the world and the God they serve in a whole new way.
 
There are two expressions that seem to pry open the lid of the heart… Beauty and Pain. A few things to keep in mind…
 
1.     Beauty and/or Pain are most often realized in the midst of story.
2.     People acknowledge the beauty of life or the pain life creates through the unveiling of someone else’s story or when they courageously verbalize their own.
3.     Stories are often brought to mind and out into the open when someone sees an image, a film, or hears a song.
4.     The stories found in Scripture often drive group members to tell their own stories.
5.     The stories of others who have already experienced the beauty or the pain someone else is experiencing may very well be the catalyst to someone else realizing and verbalizing their own story.
 
A few ways to stimulate a stagnant heart:
 
1.     Use images. a) Find pictures that depict beauty or pain, show them to group members, then ask the group how what they see relates to their own journey. b) find symbolic images that don’t necessarily depict a life experience but create emotion then ask the group what life event that image reminds them of.
2.     Ask a group member to tell her/his own story, the story of a time when life was devastating or when life was wonderful, to the rest of the group.
3.     Watch a film together, a film with a real life message, then ask group members to tell which character they most relate to and why.
4.     Read a passage of Scripture then ask group members which character they most relate to most and why?
5.     Read a journal entry of your own, an entry written when you were going through a difficult or wonderful era in life. Ask the group to tell you when they experienced something similar. Follow up with the question, “How did you feel about God during this time in your life?”
6.     Use music. Play a song that moves your heart (If it touches you it will most likely touch your group members.) for the group then ask them what life experience the lyric brought to mind. Story songs are best in these situations but any song that has lyrics that demand an inner reckoning will be potent. 
Leadership, Scripture, Small, Story, Group
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01.10.2011

How to Start a Small Group

 We small group blogger types are all over how to start a small group ministry and the necessities for overseeing a healthy one. We even dance wholeheartedly with coaching systems, the right structure for the right small group ministry type, and how groups can overcome conflict. Group dynamics, biblical directives that build community, and what Christian community really looks like are all part of the ongoing conversation.
 
But if an individual doesn’t know how to start a small group none of the above list is even necessary. So, how does someone start a small group? In it’s most simplistic chronology…
 
First… Know you are being prompted by God to start a small group. You will know, 1) if you’ve been prompted by the Holy Spirit, 2) been noted as a future leader by the church leadership and have been invited to take on this role, 3) have been seen by your small group leader as a future leader so you’ve been invited to be an apprentice, or 4) if the church announces a need for capable leaders and you realize you have the skills and passion necessary.
 
Secondly… Pray for God to unveil who should be in your group.
 
Thirdly… Invite individuals to become part of your group. Be able to answer the following questions: 1) When will we meet? 2) How often will we meet? 3) How long will each meeting last? 4) What are the expectations between meetings? 5) What is the group going to be about mostly? That is, is it going to be mostly about learning the Bible (a deep Bible study), building really intimate Christian friendships, restoration (a support or healing group), or being on mission together (a group meeting the needs of and sharing Christ with those outside the faith)? Every biblical group does all four of these things but one of them will be the primary focus of a group’s life. Your group may have some other primary emphasis. Whatever it might be, let the individuals you invite into your group know. 6) What will we do with kids?
 
Fourthly… Get a commitment from those you’ve asked to join the group. Invitation alone is not enough. Get a verbal commitment from each person you’ve invited. If they turn you down, don’t sweat it. Celebrate who God does bring to your group.  
 
Fifthly… Communicate EXTREMELY WELL when and where the first meeting will be, how to get to the location where the meeting will take place, and what everyone in the group needs to bring with them.
 
Finally… Host your first meeting. This meeting should be pretty laid back. At this meeting, 1) begin moving people toward telling their stories by using a few extremely non-threatening ice-breakers, 2) decide what/study curriculum you’ll be using. 3) Give each attendee a sample covenant and begin discussing what agreements will be made between group members. 4) Determine how the group will handle childcare.
Group, Leadership, Small, Starting, a
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12.17.2010

Three Options for handling unofficial small groups

Every high-quality small group ministry will have unofficial small groups, groups that start on their own after seeing what your organized groups are doing or groups of people who are living out biblical community organically. When the small group pastor is made aware of these groups there is one of three ways to handle these groups.

  1. Allow the group to continue as they are without interruption. Pray for these groups and honor them as gifts from God.
  2. Approach the most influential person in the group (or the designated group leader). Let them know that you would be honored if the group would consider becoming part of the small group system. Point out the advantages of becoming part of the church's small group ministry. Be sure to include training opportunities, a coach to help them in their growth as a leader, financial assistance from the church (if your church does assist in the purchase of materials or other things), networking with a other small group leaders, ongoing encouragement, and assistance with childcare (if your church aids in finding individuals to do childcare or financial assistance is available in paying for childcare).
  3. Allow the group to continue without interruption utilizing the group when the church is doing church-wide campaigns. If you believe it will enhance the church's ministry, at the end of each campaign invite the unofficial small group to join the church's small group ministry. In most instances the group leader will be more likely to consider this following a campaign as the leader has experienced what it feels like to be part of the small group team.
Groups, Small, God
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