2orMore - Inspiring Group-Life & Leadership

Emerging Trends in Small Group Land – Part 2 of 2

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:50:00 +0000

The organic organization of group-life is a rapidly emerging trend that is changing the landscape of small group world. It follows another trend that began to spread a decade ago: Diversification of Group-Life in terms of group types, group size, and the supporting leadership infrastructure (a.k.a. coaches or community leaders).

The assumption is that with more diversity, more variety, and more flexibility – you have less conformity and control. All true! It’s also messier and harder to measure. That makes some pastors very uncomfortable because they are the very people whom God has appointed and anointed to “shepherd” the flock.

A couple of other observations about this diversification of group-life: Multiple types of groups create multiple entry-points for people into the community life of churches. Different groups appeal to different people…and that’s okay. (The ‘free market small group model’ is an example of this.) Secondly, different size groups appeal to different people. Some people will go to a gathering of 50, but not of 5. Some people will try-out a Church of 2000, but not 200.

Again…okay. Thankfully, there are so many biblical but different expressions of Christ's Body on earth.

Thirdly, small group leadership infrastructure that works in our culture needs to be flexible and not rigid. It needs to be collegial and not hierarchical / pyramidal in nature. Less control and more care. More relationship, more time. Span of care should be elastic in response to the needs of each group cluster as well as the availability and capacity of Community Leaders partnering with you.

The continued diversification of group-life is being superseded by the organic organization of group-life.

The Search to Belong by Joe Myers introduced many of us to a field of study known as proxemics. Proxemics examines how people’s perception of space and their experience of it influence the culture in which they live. He discusses four different spaces (public, social, personal, intimate) and then explains how social situations that can happen in each space impacts a person’s sense of belonging.

This book had obvious appeal to Small Group Pastors who work to help people connect and belong. A key application was how different spaces create steps to help people make progress in how they integrate themselves into church communities. This is an example of group-life responding organically to the unique needs and desires of people who belong or are seeking to belong to it.

Another way we see the organic organization of group-life is leadership helping groups launch “outside” of church sponsored / organized activities. Seth Godin’s book, Tribes, nails the essential idea: People have the potential to influence and if they were to boldly step out on an interest or idea, they would realize there are others who would likely join with them. There are people doing this in their community, and even in their church, and may not even realize it! Worse yet, nobody sees it as a real or potential group that others might want to be a part of.

Traditional small group practice is to identify and train leaders…then promote their groups for other church members to join. Members with members.

The other popular approach is the hosting strategy, where there is not usually as much training on the front-end, but the encouragement is to step-out and then leverage that first experience to catalyze ongoing connection and leadership development. This is excellent when you have the leadership and culture that supports this continuously. Built into the hosting strategy is invitation, but the groups produced are still largely members with members.

There still exists, however, another hugely untapped strategy for launching groups: members with non-members. The ‘free market small group model’ is a starting block for this.
What if leadership not only gave permission, but commissioned members to think of what they’re already doing in the community and form a “group” around that? We’re not bringing people to church but the church to the people.

The Organic Church Movement (Neil Cole, Frank Viola, et al.) is an expression of this that will give rise to more “alternative forms of church” as Barna predicted in his book Revolution. Eclectic training and tooling of group leadership will fuel this trend.

Practically all expressions of leadership in small group land seem to be less locked into their denomination and other circles of trust. They are receiving training and tools from a variety of sources like lifechurch.tv, smallgroups.com, rightnow.org, etc.

We live in a world where there are more influencers, more revolutionaries, and more contributors. We now not only have great resources from churches, but from great leaders representing different cultures and models that are enriching our library of resources for group leadership.

Paradoxically, another major catalyst and carrier of the organic organization of group-life is the online world. Technology will be used more and more as the delivery system for the training and tooling of leadership. It facilitates the center-out empowerment of group leadership and is unhindered by boundaries that use to compartmentalize.

The delivery system of technology has more outlets making online content more accessible than ever. Technology will be embraced more and harnessed to engage in networking and collaboration through social media and live meeting (webcast) events.

Furthermore, leaders are becoming increasingly competent in creating their own resources ‘in-house’. There will be more churches like North Coast and Lifechurch.tv that create their own training and study materials. The digital age in which we live allows any church and leader to create all sorts of written and video resources for people in their spheres of influence.

The spontaneous expansion of the early Church will be mirrored when small groups function as the operating system for discipleship and leadership commissions believers in the organic organization of group-life. We live in a time of unprecedented connectivity that will unleash small groups for the next era of the Church.

Emerging Trends in Small Group Land – Part 1 of 2

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:00:00 +0000

What is a couple of emerging trends in small group ministry? I’ll share what struck me through two blog posts when I responded to this question during a Leadership Network Innovation Lab conducted earlier this year:

Groups Functioning as the Operating System for Discipleship
Organic Organization of Group-Life

Groups Functioning as the Operating System for Discipleship

The deadliest paradigm to the community life of a church is viewing its small groups through a programmatic lens. Small groups are thought of as a “ministry” in the minds of the majority today. They stand among the many other “organized church activities” that compete for people’s time and attention.

Instead of groups being seen as the ‘other half’ of the Church – they are viewed as a ministry area, a sub-set to a larger ministry, or a program of the church that begins and ends with a campaign or some initiative.

Whether we’re talking about the first-century house churches or today’s small group movement, the biblical blueprint for the Church of Pentecost remains the same: Large and small – temple courts and house-to-house (Acts 5:42).

It is the programmatic view of the Church that makes senior-level leadership in the church want to “use” groups to fix problems they perceive in their church, e.g. closing the back door, helping the church feel small, supporting pastoral staff, etc. Many 40-day campaigns are used in this way and it’s no wonder why many churches find themselves asking what they should do on Day 41.

The motivations and end goals for initiating or re-invigorating a “small group ministry” are not inherently bad. But if problem-solving is the inspiration to groups then that stops far short of what God intended His Church, His people to be about day-to-day.

When I was training through 2orMore, I soon found myself spending less time on the practice of groups with small group leaders and more time on the philosophy of groups with church leadership. I soon realized I was focused on driving skills while the engine was broke down. Then I learned to ask questions.

What I found to be commonplace was misalignment between a church’s vision for their church community and their mission as a church. Their definitions of small groups were disconnected from their mission. There was missional and cultural confusion. This does not bode well for any ministry area, especially small groups.

What if…leadership saw groups as the operating system of discipleship? What if groups became the essential strategy for everything the church did? Groups are the building blocks of the church’s community life that have the potential of expressing the creative, life-giving array of spiritual activity that happens throughout the Body of Christ (whether it happens on church property or not).

You can build great hardware that can seemingly do great things. But if there’s no operating system to it…it’s useless. This is the state of many churches today because groups are viewed as a ministry or program of the church.

Thankfully, there is a movement away from this programmatic paradigm, which is one of the greatest trends that is breaking the mold of what we’ve known as the small group movement and reshaping it for a new era.

The result will be a more integrated, holistic way of ministry where groups are woven through every ministry area – united around core beliefs and values, but unique in their expression: Group-based ministry areas for every generation, ministry teams that function like small groups, community outreach groups, etc.

As DNA is the building blocks of life, so groups are the building blocks of a church’s community life. Groups can enable all facets of a local church to be fulfilling The Great Commandment and The Great Commission for every generation.

There also appears to be a migration of “small group ministry” occupations. For example, more small group pastors are becoming discipleship pastors, executive pastors, spiritual formation directors, etc.

I don’t see this as a bad thing. Small group point leaders tend to be the experts of discipleship anyways. They’re more in tune with what helps people grow because they get the value of relationships in spiritual growth. I’ve held a variety of titles in church leadership, but I’ve always functioned as the “small group pastor”. Ironically, as I reflect on some of the most outstanding small group initiatives I’ve gotten to be a part of leading, none of them occurred when I was known as “small group pastor.”

Recently, I felt like I was able to wear this hat when our church launched The Journey: A four-part, relationally-based, mentor-driven experience that is helping people to discover the power of community in their own spiritual growth. We intentionally moved from a teacher-student model to a highly-interactive experience organized in groups and led by facilitators resulting in hundreds of people connecting, learning, and serving together over this past year.

At the end of our orientation (“101”) event that mainly attracts those who are newer to Christ and/or Christ Fellowship, we show this video, which introduces The Journey.

Small groups are embedded in this initial discipleship series that we direct everyone to almost every month of the year. People are equipped with great instruction, resources, but most importantly, out of the gate people learn they can’t grow in the way God intends for them without spiritual friendships.

Small groups are rapidly becoming the operating system for discipleship at Christ Fellowship and the coding of relationships is opening windows of spiritual possibilities. Next week, we’ll explore the second emerging trend in small group land: The organic organization of group-life.

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible - 2 Peter 1

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:01:00 +0000

2 Peter 1:1-2
The Apostle Peter is both a servant and a sent one. A believer is an effective “sent one” (apostle) when he or she is serving others in love. Serving others is evidence that one is a servant of God. Loving relationships bring the message to life. Peter demonstrates this throughout this letter, which as v. 2 notes, is to a community.

2 Peter 1:3
God has all the power we need for life and godliness and this comes through our knowledge of Him. The Lord invites us to enjoy a personal knowing of Him, which comes out of His own glory and goodness. We’re to model this same attitude and behavior. One example of fellowship is believers inviting each other to know one another. It is life-giving to be fully loved by someone who knows you fully and it empowers us to be like Christ.

2 Peter 1:4
The Lord does not invite us to know Him from a distance. To know another is more than knowing about them. As we come to more of an understanding of who He is we are told that we actually participate in His divine nature. There is a sharing of life that comes from the kind of relationships God calls us to build with Him and others. These intimate relationships guard against evil desires that invade our hearts and protect us from worldly corruption (1 John 1:6-7). This echoes Peter’s opening verses and shows the power divine community has over the power of the evil one.

2 Peter 1:7
Brotherly kindness and love are hallmarks of a fruitful life in Christ. Notice the logical progression of the list starting at v. 5. Faith is the subject to which the possessor plays a part in adding divine qualities, knowledge, and habits. When these are applied to one’s life and relationships they produce a life defined by brotherly kindness and love. Fruit is authenticated when it manifests itself in these qualities.

2 Peter 1:8-9
Community is necessary to being an effective and productive Christian. Knowledge is useless if it is not lived in love-filled relationships directed toward Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 13:2). Relationships allow us to apply our knowledge, which is necessary for it to be preserved and makes it powerful for life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:12-13
We all need to be reminded of what we’re called to do and who we are as called out ones (cf. v.10). One of the functions of community in Christ is reminding one another of the empowering truths of God’s Word. This is one of the reasons most small groups engage in some form of Bible study/reading and discussion. Community is the context for remembering and being refreshed by the truths we hold in common. The relationships we develop in small groups help us to become more firmly rooted and steadfast in living in the truth.

2 Peter 1:15
See Peter’s affection for this community! He is fully invested in this gathering of believers so much so that he makes every effort to ensure their continued spiritual growth. Peter gives us a wonderful example of a caring shepherd, which is a role that many small group leaders take on in their group. Peter, like Paul, was not an impersonal, authoritarian teacher…he was a fully-invested pastor living out the faith with those to whom he was writing. Everything was very relational, very personal, and very real (see vv. 16-17) for the apostles and so it is to be for us as leaders too.

2 Peter 1:19
God’s Word is our authoritative source of truth. It gives us direction and inspires growth. Regardless of what focus a small group takes on, the Bible is its guidebook. It is a reminder that our gatherings are far more than physical ones. We gather in Jesus’ Name and we grow together because of His Presence with us.

2 Peter 1:20-21
God uses people to convey His inspiration. Similarly, small groups convey the Good News as people witness the life that comes from the applied knowledge (serving and loving one another) of Christian community. When people are sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit their impact on present & future generations is unfathomable. This was true of the prophets, of Jesus’ small group (the Twelve), & it can be for us today.

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible - 1 Peter 4:12-5:13

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:16:00 +0000

1 Peter 4:12-13
Trials have a way of bringing people together. Suffering together creates and cements family-like partnerships. Here Peter says that we will share in the joy of Jesus’ glory to be displayed because we have shared in his sufferings. Rather than insulating us from pain, living for God may invite pain.

Partnership with other believers helps us to bear up under this pain. Moreover, it can strengthen our partnership with Christ as we participate in His sufferings. In a way, intimate relationships are the refined product that comes out of fiery trials. This kind of partnership with God and one another is a precursor to how believers will participate in the awesome joy of God being fully revealed to the world.

1 Peter 4:15-16
Suffering comes from doing evil against others. It can be a just consequence when we are living for ourselves or it can be redemptive when it comes from living for God. In other words, suffering comes from doing wrong against our neighbor or doing right by God. When it’s the latter, it can be redemptive. When it’s the former, it is destructive. One builds partnerships and the other destroys them. Thus, personal suffering has a communal dimension to it.

1 Peter 5:1
Peter’s words in this verse are pregnant with encouragement. He is expressing his partnership with them as a leader and a believer suffering for Christ. He identifies with them in the present and the present-future. Our relationship with one another as believers stretches into eternity and brings hope for the present.

1 Peter 5:2
God wants us to be eager to serve others with the gifts He has given us. He blesses those who are willing to serve Him by serving others. We don’t do it for personal benefit, but for the sake of others in service to Him. A shepherd’s concern is for the sheep. It is not self-centered. It is centered on selfless service for the sake of the community.

1 Peter 5:3
This shows how ministry is relational by nature. The strength of a leader is shown in how he or she serves others. When it is done primarily for God it benefits others. Ministry flows outward when it is directed upward. The building up of community is not only a sign of healthy relationships…it’s a sign of healthy ministry.

1 Peter 5:5-6
Humility and respect are essential ingredients to developing healthy relationships with one another and God. Humility is the root and hallmark of healthy community.

1 Peter 5:6-7
Humbling ourselves before God and trusting Him enables us to steer our attention away from our own concerns and be effective in serving others. Caring for others helps us to continue releasing our concerns to Him. Best of all, it allows us to maximize our effectiveness for God during our short time here on earth.

1 Peter 5:9
Remembering the sufferings of our Christian siblings helps us to resist the enemy. Knowing that we’re not alone is a source of strength against temptation and a safeguard from losing faith.

1 Peter 5:10
Christ will meet us personally and make us whole for eternity. Grace is personal by nature. Grace describes who God is and how the Gospel works. Therefore, it should define how the Church is to relate to the world and believers are to act toward one another. Grace builds up people, community, and God’s Kingdom.

1 Peter 5:12
Peter couldn’t be faithful in exercising His ministry without the help of his brother, and neither can we. Partnership in the Gospel is critical to being effective for God.

1 Peter 5:13
Note Peter’s love for his brother in Christ. Loving relationships fuel our faith in God and magnifies our ministry toward others.

Small Groups with Purpose by Steve Gladen

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:04:00 +0000

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Steve. He possesses tremendous heart for other leaders, genuine humility, and is one of the most consistent leaders I’ve watched up-close in ministry since the late-nineties.

What you see is what you get with Steve. He's not pretentious or wish-washy. He sincerely and sacrificially loves leaders in the Church. He has resolutely applied the principles he outlines in this book over many years at Saddleback and has coached countless others who have successfully done the same in a variety of ministry contexts.

For all these reasons, I’m really glad he opens his book with his story and completes it again sharing from the gut out of his personal experience.

What Steve conveys in Small Groups with Purpose are principles that are not confined to a particular ministry model. The reader can take comfort in knowing the author is very knowledgeable with many different types of group strategies and acknowledges that not every aspect of what he communicates in his book can be or should be applied in the same way he has at Saddleback.

Small Groups with Purpose clearly communicates the model and methodology that have undergirded the vision of groups at Saddleback while remaining highly practical. Steve’s balanced, down-to-earth, and humorous style makes it an enjoyable read from start to finish.

Health and leadership are the focal points of this book. As with most small group pastors, Steve has experienced the ups-and-downs of creating healthy communities. He correctly works from the inside-out, ensuring there is a healthy interior to group-life before smartly sowing them into the larger system of a church’s community life. The principles, assessments, and tables are not theory – they were employed and refined through years of ministry.

This book has been long-awaited by the tens of thousands of small group ministry point leaders from around the globe who have gleaned from the God-honoring, biblically-sound principles that have been preached and practiced by Steve and his team for well over a decade.

From time to time, there comes a resource in small group world that is well-worth getting for each member of your team and unpacking together. This is one such book. To help in this effort, Steve has punctuated each chapter with incisive questions that will help to make your leadership and group-life better together.

The Small Group Network was built to encourage and equip small group ministry point leaders just like you in such efforts. It’s a great way to continue the conversation that will be inspired or stoked by Small Groups with Purpose. Joining is simple and free of cost.

Discounted Group Studies Galore

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Soon after I became a Christ-follower, I realized I could count on NavPress to deliver biblically sound guidance in my new-found faith. In fact, one of the very first books I read on small groups was delivered by NavPress: How to Lead Small Groups by Neal McBride. I’m happy to report that NavPress is rapidly and radically infusing the small group space with a healthy dose of great cost-doable resources.

My friend, Rick Howerton, is the Global Small Group Environmentalist for NavPress Publishing. His vision is to see a biblically functioning small group within walking distance of every person on the planet. How cool is that?!
He is in the process of finalizing a five year plan that will include all types of curriculum, training, forums, think tanks, etc – so the needs of small group leaders and pastors will be met; as well as partnering with churches doing groups in new ways…ways that need to be known.

To help this direction, Rick asked NavPress to make a large number of Bible studies available for half-off the cost. NavPress didn’t hesitate to give the go ahead with an offer that exceeded everyone’s expectations: Nearly 200 Bible studies available at 50% off the normal price through December 2011.

The NavPress Team has created a 2-page PDF called the “NavPress Study Overview” where group leaders can choose from an array of great Bible studies. These studies are categorized carefully so that a leader can consider multiple bible studies in a matter of minutes. The discount code at the bottom of this resource allows leaders to take advantage of this offer with any listed.

If you’re a point leader in your church’s group life, you’ve probably already got a hunch that this is going to help you in a number of ways. For one, this answers ‘curriculum questions’ like, “What resources do you recommend that are good for groups?”, “What should we study next?”, and “What are some inexpensive study options for our group?”, etc.

Simply link the list from your church’s website and you’ve got a live-linked, clearly categorized list chalked-full of great biblically-grounded group studies that you can make available to your leaders. Then all they need to do is click on the study they want to look at and they will be automatically directed to the resource itself available at half-off the normal price. Thanks, Rick!

Creating the link to the NavPress Study Overview is simple. Click HERE to see a letter from Rick explaining this in more detail. Jump to the NavPress Study Overview HERE.

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible - 1 Peter 2:12-4:11

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:03:00 +0000

1 Peter 2:12
“Good living” influences people toward Christ. This is what we see happening in Acts 2:42-47. God used the good living of the new community to gather in people from the watchful surrounding community each and every day. Biblical community can ignite an evangelistic epidemic.

1 Peter 2:13-17
Same thought as above. The Apostle Peter is explaining how the Church is to operate in the world and defining what this looks like. For this reason, the ‘brotherhood’ (or ‘community’) of believers is ordered first in v. 17. Love for one another (true community) and reverence for God are marks of one who has placed themselves under Christ’s authority.

1 Peter 3:1-2
Here the Apostle speaks to the most intimate of community: The union of husband and wife. Just as good living of the Church wins the world so the good living of one spouse wins the other. Evangelism is relational by nature.

1 Peter 3:7
Our relationship with one another – particularly between husband & wife – affects our relationship with God either positively or negatively. We are all co-heirs of the family inheritance, namely eternal life. Our prayer life (i.e. our communication with God) can actually be strengthened when our human relationships are healthy.

1 Peter 3:8
Living in unity, showing sympathy, loving others as family, being compassionate & humble – these are marks of God’s new community on earth. In previous verses, Peter addressed certain groupings of people like slaves, wives, & then husbands. But now he is addressing the whole community. Distinctions based on occupation, gender, social standing, etc. are obliterated in Jesus. We are all one in Christ Jesus and to this Peter’s brother in Christ, the Apostle Paul, would agree wholeheartedly (Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:11-22).

1 Peter 3:13-14
Take the encouragements of these verses to heart when thinking about small group outreach through servant evangelism. In the Greek, “you” is plural in these verses. Kind acts of service are generally well received. Regardless of whether they are or not, by virtue of reaching out, you and your group will be blessed.

1 Peter 4:3-4
All of these acts are violations against one’s body & the bodies of others. These are marks of a pagan lifestyle. Pagans are non-Christians who are anti-Christian and also anti-community (although they believe they’re experiencing community through shared depraved behavior). Paganism, as we see in v. 4, has its own kind of community. But contrary to the true community of Christians, which is humanizing and honoring to God, the false community of pagans (which is also active in gathering others) is dehumanizing and dishonoring to God.

Our motivation to gather people into community ought to be fueled by our motivation to gather people to Christ because one leads to the other. Our motivation for gathering is not selfish in nature (as with paganism), but selfless. The Church is a community of life. We gather people to the life of community under God’s authority vs. inviting others to subject themselves to the destruction that comes from being under the worldly reign Satan. The gathering of Christians is helpful & healing. (See Peter’s use of the words “flood of dissipation” in v. 4, which denotes a wasteful, harmful, scattering lifestyle.) The gathering of pagans is harmful and self-defeating in cause & effect.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, we’re to love one another deeply. Love forgives and heals (the giver & receiver). Love defines Jesus’ ministry & it describes how the Church, His Body, is to continue His earthly ministry. Love requires two or more coming together.

1 Peter 4:9
Here Peter interjects an important attribute of Christian living: Hospitality. Hospitality invites others to share freely in what God has given to us. It is the evidence of one who is gathering in grace so that others will be gathered to God’s grace too.

1 Peter 4:10
Whatever God has given us, we’re to give one another. The biblical community of Acts 2:42-47 is a picture of “living for the will of God” (v. 2) and the fruit of what happens when we do. The Church is the steward of God’s grace to the world. We are faithful stewards of His grace when we freely serve others with what He has so generously given to us.

1 Peter 4:11
God is glorified when we use the gifts He has given us with the strength He provides. Consequently, we’re empowered to serve others in the way Christ served us. The free exchange and extension of life (God’s grace) is the community dynamic we’re seeking to develop through small groups. Small groups are the vehicle for building up the Church. God is glorified when we serve one another. Thus, community is instrumental to fulfilling what we were created to do: Worship God & glorify Him for all eternity!

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible - 1 Peter 1:1-2:11

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:20:00 +0000

1 Peter 1:1-2
We’re chosen strangers…scattered, but gathered. We have a paradoxical identity as believers in this world. Peter greets the recipients of his letter by acknowledging this identity we share in Christ. Biblical community is a reflection of the community experienced within the Triune Godhead (see v. 2), which reconciles this paradox and gives us an empowering sense of belonging even though we’re sojourners.

1 Peter 1:4-6
Unlike an earthly inheritance, which is oftentimes thought of in terms of individual beneficiaries, here Peter references a family inheritance that we will all share together for all eternity. An inheritance is from family to family and we’re the family of God whose home is in heaven. The living hope we hold together is our source of strength and joy.

1 Peter 1:10-12
The prophets used their gifts to serve those who had yet to be born. Thus, Christian community is not confined by time or space and is linked together by the grace of God. We too model this future-oriented community as we plan for the lost ones who will one day be saved and beside us in worship now and forever.

1 Peter 1:22
Work this verse backwards: We can only love one another deeply from the heart when we have sincere love for one another. We can only sincerely love one another when we have obeyed the truth, which in effect, purifies us. In other words, obedience to God & His Word purifies us and empowers us to love one another. Every time we choose God’s way, we’re supernaturally enabled to love one another deeply from the heart. Obedience turns the key (loving one another) that unlocks biblical community.

1 Peter 2:1
Note how all these vices are violations against our brother or sister. They are opposite from loving one another deeply and they are destructive to community.

1 Peter 2:5
A stone is only a stone when it sits alone but when stones are placed together they can form a dwelling place. Each stone is chosen and precious to the Builder. He dwells in our midst when He gathers us together. Sacrificial worship and service are the marks of Christian community where every part is accepted and treasured.

1 Peter 2:9
Because we have been chosen by God we are a part of the new community of the Spirit. Because we belong to God we belong to a people group set apart to live in such a way that our lifestyle becomes a continual “Thank you” to God for His amazing grace given to us.

1 Peter 2:10
Once we did not belong and we were without real purpose. In Christ, we gain a new identity and life purpose. Note how Peter is referring to his audience in the plural. The light of our belonging is to bring others into the spiritual house God has been building for centuries.

1 Peter 2:11
Friendship with one another is forged out of the unfavorable conditions we suffer as followers of Christ in this world. Being “in Christ” is the ultimate affinity that strengthens our relationships with one another.

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible - 2 & 3 John

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 21 May 2011 17:03:00 +0000

2 John 5-6
Loving one another is the hallmark of walking in obedience to God’s commands. Thus, community provides the necessary context for a Christian to be obedient. Furthermore, we are examples of His love to the world as we love one another.

2 John 10-11
Note how hospitality was key to the work of the early missionaries & evangelists, cf. Acts 16:13-34; 17:2-9; 18:1-11. Welcoming such implied a sharing in their work, be it good or bad. Association implies partnership when it comes to God’s work.

2 John 12
The Apostle John expresses his deep affection for the recipients of this letter. His joy is incomplete until he meets face-to-face with his siblings in Christ.

2 John 13
Here John also extends greetings from one family / church to another. He is a link between communities. In a way, that’s what we are as small group leaders too… conveyors of love and conveners of people.

3 John 1
Community is built on the person of Jesus Christ and love for one another manifests in Him.

3 John 3-4
Healthy community is contingent on honest communication of good news (v.3, 12) and bad report (v.10). Great joy is the by-product of walking together in the light.

3 John 5-6
Community is always willing to embrace the stranger. To do so may very well contribute to the spread of the Good News. To not, may very well impede it.

3 John 7-8
Support of one another in a world that is unsupportive of the Gospel was an important characteristic of the early Christian communities just as it is today.

3 John 9-10
Pride is the chief enemy of community. In fact, one of the names assigned to the Enemy of our souls is “Adversary,” which means “to throw apart, separate.” Community is what the Enemy wants to destroy because there is power in community. In this example, the Enemy used the human hubris of Diotrephes. Note how pride manifests itself: malicious gossip, divisive, excluding, & controlling – all antitypes of community-building traits.

3 John 11
Community is the result of loving one another. Consciousness of the whole and contribution to the building up of community by loving one another is imitating what is good and a sign that we’re God’s children (1 John 4:7). Moreover, we see God and others get to see Him too when we are loving one another (1 John 4:12).

3 John 14
As with the close of the Apostle’s previous letter, here too John shows his genuine affection for the recipients of his letter…wanting to ‘share space’ with them and talk in person. Additionally, he once again serves as a ‘love link’ between communities.

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible - 1 John

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:23:00 +0000

Try doing a thematic study of community in the Bible. You’ll find community interlaced throughout every book of God’s Word. This shows how important community is to God and how important it is to His Church. You’ve decided to make room to bring community to life as a group leader and this creates great potential for life-transformation of all involved. You might consider doing a "community devotional" based on 1 John for one of your group's gatherings.

1 Jn 1:6-7
Relationship with God implies being in community with others.

1 Jn 2:10
Community is a safeguard from sin, enriching our growth in Him.

1 Jn 3:10-11
Loving relationships are the sign of being a part of God’s family.

1 Jn 3:16, 19-22
We experience God’s love and we’re emboldened in our faith through giving relationships.

1 Jn 3:23-24
Community creates the environment for abiding in Christ and growing strong in the Spirit; community is like the biosphere of dynamic faith.

1 Jn 4:7-8, 20
(cf. 3:16-17)
We grow in knowing (and loving) God by loving one another, thus spiritual formation must be rooted in community.

1 Jn 4:12
God’s love in us comes to full expression (is perfected) when we love one another, making God’s Presence real among people. Community Evangelism!

1 Jn 4:16b-18
Community expels fear allowing us to live in confident expectation of our future with Christ.

1 Jn 5:16
God gives life through the prayers of our spiritual family.

Finding ‘Community’ in the Bible – 2 Thessalonians 1

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:19:00 +0000

2 Th 1:1
Silas and Timothy helped the Apostle Paul plant the Thessalonian church. This opening benediction mirrors the one he used in writing his first letter (1 Thessalonians) about six months earlier. Paul spent most of his time during his missionary journeys surrounded by other fellow-workers. His ministry to the new assemblies of believers sprouting up around the Roman Empire flowed out of the community of fellow-workers he was a part of and led. Thus his writings reflect relationship since they were written from community to community.

Paul was also sensitive to the fact the existence of this community reposed in and relied upon the community experienced among the three persons of their Triune God (v. 1b). As a small group leader, consider ways you can prepare for each gathering with the company of other group members. When it comes to composing the course and content for upcoming gatherings…be a collaborator versus a conductor. Also, remind group members of how the bulk of the Scriptures originally flowed among bands of believers, not so much individuals. Your small group is part of this succession which, like the early Church, lives and moves and has its being within the community of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (v. 2).

2 Th 1:3
As he did in his first letter, Paul uses family language to show his deep-seated connection with those who were enduring persecution (1 Th 1:4). Faith and love are inextricably tied together. A believer cannot grow in faith if he is not loving others. As he is loving others, his faith grows, and as his faith grows, he is empowered to love more. Community, therefore, nourishes love and faith by providing the healthy relationships for both to grow together. It was the faith and love of these believers that enabled them to stand up under the oppressive forces of the persecutions and trials referenced in the next verse. When your small group gathers, an environment is created for the love and faith of your group members to be built up. When people share struggles during your times of prayer, follow Paul’s example and find ways to love into their problems by listening, praying, and offering practical helps.

2 Th 1:4
A network existed among the early believers. Churches knew about each other and encouraged one another through times of trial. Our church is itself a community. It is also a part of the worldwide community of local churches. The rise of globalization and networking in our world today is advantageous to the Church’s mission. This new reality will help to expand upon a similar one that existed among the first-century churches. Brag about your small group! That’s right…tell about what God is doing in the lives of people in your group so our church’s leadership can ‘boast’ about it to others. This is done not to show how you’re better than somebody else. It’s done to better others. Paul loved to tell a church what the Lord was doing in the life of another church in order to strengthen it. So share your stories!

2 Th 1:8
Those who know God are friends with Him. Obedience comes out of knowing Him and the experience of being in His presence. There is a kind of kinetic energy that is built out of the interplay between our relationship with God and our obedience to Him. Community helps to accelerate this and use it in our own spiritual formation (cf. verses 3-4). Accepting the Good News means assimilating it to our lives, which shows our love for the Lord and everything He has done for us. Biblical commandments are sign-posts showing us the way to grow in intimacy with God. So use relational language when encouraging your small group participants in their spiritual growth. Answer the ‘why’ by sharing how obedience reveals our loving commitment to the Lord versus obligatory compliance to abstract rules.

2 Th 1:9-10
The result of being ‘shut out’ from the Lord’s presence is everlasting destruction whereas community is pregnant with life and peace. Inclusion means relationship with God and His people now and for eternity. Our connection with Him is necessary if we are to experience His presence and His glorification in us. In other words, Jesus will receive praise and honor from all believers in us. That’s amazing, isn’t it?! Our relationship with God is actually the basis of Christ’s own magnification that will signal the inauguration of His Kingdom being established on earth. There is a spiritual interconnectivity that exists among all believers and community is how we can tap into its collective power.

The community of your small group is itself a sign of the heavenly environment of God’s Kingdom and opening your group can help lost people enter into the Lord’s presence so they won’t be shut out on the day of judgment. Loving community grows out of obedience to the Gospel and displays itself in ways that enable the world to see God (1 Th. 1:3-8; 2 Th 1: 3-4; 1 Jn 4:12). Others will come to experience God’s presence when they see the Gospel expressed in the lives of those who know Him (Jn 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47).

So how can your small group participants proclaim the Good News by living in love? What are some ways your group can extend its kingdom influence to those who have not yet entered into the knowledge of God and obedience to His Word? Consider how the ‘one anothers’ like “be kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32) or “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5) can be exercised in different social circles and public spaces.

2 Th 1:11
Healthy community with God and His people is sustained by prayer. Paul knew this, which is why he and his companions constantly prayed for the believers in Thessalonica. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.” (Life Together).

This truth compelled the apostle and his fellow-workers to love on the Thessalonian church in this way. The web of relationships that existed among the early churches (cf. verse 4) provided a supportive network for God’s will to be accomplished in and through His people. The fact Paul and his apostolic band were praying for every good purpose and every act prompted by their faith shows they really knew the believers in Thessalonica. Community and the prayers springing up out of it empower believers to live out their calling in a way that pleases the Lord and furthers His kingdom purposes.

The relationships and ministry partnerships forged in Christian community allow believers to know each other so they can be informed and pray for one another in strategic ways. This verse also explains why our church believes it is important for you to be interconnected with other leaders (small group leaders like you and a coach). Ongoing communication and prayer for one another ensures our spiritual encouragement and effectiveness. This is why there is infrastructure to our church’s small group ministry and monthly communications.

Let Your Group Breathe!

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 08 May 2011 02:22:00 +0000

God blesses groups that look for ways to show His lost children the way home – He will make room if we make room (Luke 15:10, 22-24). He inspires new growth in us when we expand the relational circle of our group-life to touch the lives of others. In Luke 17:33, Jesus says,

“Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”

This same economy of the Kingdom applies to a small group’s community-life and how open it chooses to be to missional thinking and action. Jesus included people who wanted to follow Him and a protectiveness over something that is special to us is not reason enough for us to neglect doing the same.

Sometimes people feel like the presence of newcomers will negatively affect the friendship-forming happening in their group. This is a myth. When a group takes a protective (territorial) posture when it comes to its size or acceptance of newcomers, it suffocates itself.

A group needs to breathe. New participants feed a group’s dynamic like oxygen feeds fire. In other words, new participants bring new life. Consider this: There are a lot more options for dealing with challenges that come with growth than there are in dealing with the problems of decline.

Mission builds up group participants and benefits small groups. Communicating - verbally and prayerfully - these insights about small groups and missions to people in groups provides the explanation and encouragement they need to push outward to the edge of their comfort zones. Small group missions – both near and far…

Enable believers to reach out in ways they could not do if it all were left up to them alone.
Enlarge the potential to make connections with people who are already in our sphere of influence because it gives us a new social network to work through.
Expand the number of entry-points into the community-life of your church.
Provide platforms for invitational evangelism and ready-to-go outreach teams for missions that help believers enter into new territory and cultures for Christ.
Bonds a group together in ways that groups with a pure diet of Bible study do not (James 1:22-25).
Ensures group-life is well-rounded, which helps believers to be well-rounded too.
Empowers believers in personal evangelism and releases their creativity in outreach.
Provides a way to take your church’s community-life beyond the four walls of your church building so that your surrounding community can see the love of God with skin on it (John 13:35; 1 John 4:12).
Allows believers to “go deeper” in their understanding of God’s Word more than if one were to give their attention solely to Bible study.
Results in stories of life-transformation that inspire others to use their time and resources to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others.
Strengthens all the other aspects of a group’s life together.
Increases ownership and involvement in the group.
Brings new believers into God’s Kingdom and the group, which the Lord always uses to refresh and enliven a group dynamic.
Creates ways for group participants to see lives change first-hand, which in turn, inspires them to be more sacrificial and radical in how they follow Christ.

There are many ways small groups can engage in local or cross-cultural missions. The Lord will answer if you ask Him how He wants to use you and your group in missions.

Start with prayer and think in terms of baby-steps. Your group probably will not start with organizing its own mission trip half-way around the world. However, most people are open and ready to begin praying for the people in their lives who do not yet know Christ. This externally-focused prayer has a way of cultivating missional hearts.

Conversation Igniter

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:51:00 +0000

Sometimes all it takes to start a fire is a spark. My favorite Mexican restaurant even gets it (check-out the pic to right). Here are some quick tips that you can use every week in your group to generate conversation and build community:

Include fellowship time on the front and tail end of your meeting time and when possible have food. Start and end on time. All these elements encourage conversation and build relationships.

Open your time in a brief word of prayer and help make participants aware of Jesus’ Presence in your midst (Mt 18:20).

Share 1-2 brief insights of your own to jump-start the conversation.

Relate what you’re discussing to Jesus by asking two questions:
• What does this teach us about Christ?
• How does God want me to respond to what I’ve just learned?

Be prepared to ask “open-ended” questions that will stimulate reflection and help move people toward action. These are questions that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" and often start with the words "what" or "how." For example:
• What do the rest of you think? How do others feel?
• What did you find noteworthy about this passage?
• How can we move forward?
• What led you to that conclusion?

Questions you can use in EVERY bible study discussion:
• What stands out to you in this passage? What impacted you during the reading?
• Was there something read that’s new for you, reaffirming, confusing or challenging?
• How can we apply this to our lives today?
• How could this be shared with people who do not yet know Christ?

Be real. Be yourself. Authenticity is the key to helping others open up. Develop a dynamic where people feel safe to share and free to be themselves. For example, be the first to respond to a question and do so humbly and honestly.

Try to involve every person – acknowledge and affirm each person who speaks.

Turn people’s attention beyond your immediate circle by praying for the lost and encouraging them to invite friends to join you.

Overlapping Networks to Further God's Mission

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Local churches and parachurch organizations must continue developing partnerships to advance The Great Commission and social networking is critical to that process. Leadership and social circles must overlap and interact for effective Kingdom collaboration. The more this happens, the more leaders can use the influence God has given to them to advance His purposes on earth.

Here are some online tools that can help in this process (unless otherwise noted, all tools below are “.com”):

Social Networking = Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Wisestamp (to create signature block)
Video-chat/conferencing = Skype, Tokbox, Wetoku, Google
Autosend text-msging =jarbyco or tatango // text from computer = 3jam
Automated msging service = freeconferencecall or call-em-all
Evite = evite, mypunchbowl (create audio postcard from phone & send via comp w/yodio)
Public/Private Blogging = blogger, wordpress
Audio / Video podcasts (Flip video) > embed into blogs
Streaming = ustream or livestream
Find/Start a group = meetup
Online project collaboration = google docs, campfirenow
Email blast (html) = mailchimp, contact
Video/File/Photo-sharing = YouTube, Flickr, PhotoBucket, br.st
Bible Study & Discussion = YouVersion

Read Luke 15 and let me ask you these questions: If the shepherd in Jesus’ parable (vv. 3-7) could have viewed satellite images that would have helped him locate his lost sheep, do you think he would have used the technology? If the woman in Jesus’ parable (vv. 8-10) had a metal detector to help find her lost coin, do you think she would have used the technology? If the father in Jesus’ parable (vv. 11-32) had social media to reconnect with his lost son, do you think he would have used the technology?

Leaders are learners. The more unwilling you are to learn, the less influence you will have. (I think the opposite is true as well.) Leaders are missional – they’re the first to engage in search & rescue. They’re the early adopters of anything they think will help to reach ‘one more’. This is the heart of one who desires to spend their life so that some might be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22-23). This is the heart of our Heavenly Father who remains on the lookout for the one who has yet to come home. I believe this evidences itself in a willingness to reach out in new ways, search in new places, and to use new tools.

Benefits & Challenges in Using Technology to Build Community

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:59:00 +0000

There are a lot of benefits to using technology to build community. But there are challenges as well. Although I believe technology can be used to magnify the ministry & mission of the Church, I don’t believe it satisfies every dimension of human need and communication like human touch. But it comes pretty close.

I’ve tried to outline what I see as some of the benefits and challenges of using technology to enhance people’s experience of community:

BENEFITS
• Connect real-time anytime
• You can build REAL relationships online and reconnect with people
• Additional ways of communicating humanize you as a leader
• Adds influence & fuels discipleship
• A way of modeling leadership, learning, & faith
• Collaboration of minds – aggregates wisdom
• Sharing of best practices (resources)
• Helps connect the dots in your communications
• It’s free – save $ in communications, resources, curriculum
• Decentralized leadership development (particularly helpful w/multi-sites)
• Helps to fill-in the gaps between group meetings

CHALLENGES
• Can be impersonal
• The lure of productivity can decrease connectivity
• The lure of convenience can decrease community
• Need high tech + high touch (requires consistent, involved leadership)
• There’s no substitute for human touch
• Users can hide
• Easy to misinterpret (consider: 90% of communication is non-verbal)
• Can accelerate the process of somebody who is sliding away toward isolation

You’re reading this article now because you’re using technology to connect. You’ve probably shared resources and insights with those you lead because of content that was disseminated by today’s technological tools. Just as a microphone amplifies the speaker’s message so technology can amplify the experience of community. Social media, for example, can be leveraged in ways that can exponentially increase meaningful contacts and those we reach with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Web 2.0 is a term that describes the trend of Internet usage and design that seeks the enhancement of creativity and collaboration among users. If you’re a Christ-follower who wants to maximize their missional impact, you’ve got to be 2.0. Explore today’s technological tools and seek to influence the millions of people immersed in the new social phenomenon of today’s online community.

Technology & Community-Building

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:06:00 +0000

Can technology help small group ministry point leaders build community? Do you see it as something that enhances or competes with what you do?

If you’re hesitant, skeptical, or even curious – wondering how to use technology to grow biblical community – then I hope this article will help you envision possibilities of what you could do using tools that have never been available until now.

Today, there are more people connected online than ever before. The use of technology is on the rise all around the world. Each new generation uses more types of technology to communicate and connect. Yesterday’s technology – such as the cell phone or computer – is today’s tool, and churches that don’t use the tools of technology become increasingly irrelevant as the years go by.

Take a look at some of these statistics about the influence of technology on our culture and communication:

Social networking now accounts for 11 percent of all time spent online in the US. Both social networking leader Facebook and Twitter both posted triple-digit growth in ’09.
Nearly four out of five US Internet users visited a social networking site in December 2009 (according to comScore’s “The 2009 U.S. Digital Year in Review”)
By 2010 Gen Y will outnumber Baby Boomers….96% of them have joined a social network
Years to Reach 50 millions Users: Radio (38 Years), TV (13 Years), Internet (4 Years), iPod (3 Years)…Facebook added 100 mil users in less than 9 months…iPhone applications hit 1 bil in 9 mos.
Facebook claims that 50% of active users log into the site each day. This would mean at least 175m users every 24 hours… A considerable increase from the previous 120m.
If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 4th largest between the United States & Indonesia
Twitter now has 75m user accounts, but only around 15m are active users on a regular basis. An increase from the estimated 6-10m global users from a few months ago.
LinkedIn has over 50m members worldwide. This means an increase of around 1m members month-on-month since July/August last year. % of companies using LinkedIn as a primary tool to find employees….80%
1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media
2009 US Department of Education study revealed that on average, online students out performed those receiving face-to-face instruction. An increasing number of accredited institutions are increasing their online options in the face of the present economic downturn.
1 in 6 higher education students are enrolled in online curriculum
80% of Twitter usage is on mobile devices…people update anywhere, anytime. 25% of Americans in the past month said they watched a short video…on their phone.
Generation Y and Z consider e-mail passé…In 2009 Boston College stopped distributing e-mail addresses to incoming freshmen
78% of consumers trust peer recommendations
In the near future we will no longer search for products and services they will find us via social media

Missional Small Groups

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:21:00 +0000

While I was at LifeWay's 2010 Small Group Summit, I was asked: How do we help our groups be missional?

Ben Reed recorded my answer on Rick Howerton's new blog: Small Group World.

Here are some of my notes in response to this question:

Because "missional" is a word being used in so many circles, it would be good to bring some definition to it: "Missional" is not so much of an activity as it is a heart attitude, a lifestyle - a life motivated by the compelling compassion of God that demonstrates itself in living like Jesus!

Part of the answer lies in structuring your groups around the core values or purposes of your church. This will communicate that groups are the vehicle through which people will fulfill the mission God has given and result in them becoming an extension of the missional purpose of your church.

When a group is missional it helps it to avoid introversion and unhealth. A healthy group, in contrast, is one living out all of God's purposes embodied in The Great Commandment and The Great Commission.

However, as Rick McKinley (Imago Dei Community) has pointed out - I don't think it's as much a question of HOW-TO as WANT-TO. HOW-TO be missional is easier than many might think because God wants it to be a natural outworking of who He has made us to be with those He has already put within our circles of influence.

I think it starts with WHO you know, then BUILD off of what you know, next PRAY for open doors, aim to SOCIALIZE around your shared interest, and finally plan to SERVE together. This is missional because it exposes people to Jesus working in and through you - and your friends - as His hands and feet in the world.

The WANT-TO is another matter...do we as believers in Jesus Christ really want our hearts to break for the things that break the heart of God? Do most believers WANT this? I think leaders need to lead in this. We need to turn our groups' attention to the lost in prayer, meet outside the four walls of the church and our living rooms, engage in the community, and meet the needs of the communities around us.

One of the greatest challenges of group leaders is commissioning the people in their groups to BE Jesus' hands & feet on earth and NOT to view small groups as just being church members who meet with other church members sheltered in spaces that feel safe to us; rather, they are meant to be initiating centers of God's mission in the world.

It's well-worth taking the time to watch the video so you can hear from all the panelists and their responses to the great questions that were submitted by leaders from around the world.

The Summit: A Convergence of Small Group Experts from LifeWay Productions on Vimeo.

Small Group Summit 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:42:00 +0000

We have spent the week in Nashville with ten major leaders in the small group movement. Discussions were in preparation for the Feb 18, 2010 live event. Here are some of the subjects that brought some lively discussion this week: What is a Small Group? Missional Small Groups. What do we do with the kids? Technology and Community and on-line groups.

If you missed the event, the weeks discussions are all documented on the blog site Small Group World 2010.

Keeping in the discussions with people across the nation is one way to stay current on trends, solutions, and fresh ideas. Your next opportunity to participate in a national conference will be the “Community U” Purpose Driven Small Groups Conference on April 16-17, 2010. Here is a link for more info http://bit.ly/Smallgroupconf

Hope to see you there!

Small Group Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:45:00 +0000

10:30 a.m. to Noon (CST) Thursday, Feb 18, 2010 Sign Up Now!

For the first time ever, eight major leaders in the small group movement will be on one stage to answer your questions about small groups. And you can watch it online from the comfort of your office or home. This free live event, sponsored by Small Group Life, runs from 10:30 a.m. to Noon (CST) on Thursday, Feb 18, 2010.

Special guests include some of today’s most well-known leaders in small group ministry and the next generation’s rising stars.

Lyman Coleman
Carl George
Greg Bowman
Steve Gladen
Rick Howerton
Eddie Mosley
Randall Neighbour
Bill Search
Bill Donahue
Reid Smith

These men represent decades of experience with small groups including the six basic types: free market, closed, open, organic, multi-group, and cell church. A question-and-answer format will be used to tap into their collective knowledge and give you real-world answers to your small group challenges.

If you have a question for the panel, just include it when you register for the event. There is no guarantee that yours will be chosen, but we do expect to cover a wide range of subjects—based on all the questions that are submitted.

As a special thank you for your participation, you will receive a free download of The Small Group Life Ministry Manual. (This will be sent in a confirmation e-mail when you submit your information.)

Take a moment now to sign up and submit your question.

Fill out the form completely, and LifeWay will send you a customizable download of the first Small Group Life Episode ($30 value!) This is the entire 3-month Formation study. It comes as a PDF and RTF file, so you can add your own photos, edit copy, and then print the study for each member of your group, no matter how many members you have.

By signing up for this event, you'll also begin receiving a small group eNewsletter for free as an additional bonus. A reminder email will be sent to all who sign up. Please note, if you unsubscribe you will not receive an email.

Putting Your Group Back Into Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:32:00 +0000

Encourage – Call your group members and remind them of when you’re re-starting, let them know how you’re excited to reconnect with them, and invite them to invite their friends. Think of acquaintances you’ve recently made and invite them too. Usually only about half those invited end up coming so don’t worry about too many people coming; God always makes room for one more anyways.
Potluck – Have a meal. Groups that start with a meal get off to a better start. It’s true! Food is one of the strongest attractional elements to successful groups.
Refresh – When you get back together, don’t jump into the study right away. Take the time to share what God laid on your heart when you started the group in the first place. Share your hopes & dreams: What you hope will happen in your life, the lives of people in your group, and what you imagine God will do in and through your group this new year. Refresh the vision!
Build Buy-in – Get your group members to share what THEY hope to get out of the group. Tie in their personal goals with your group goals to build buy-in to the mission you’re all on together. Ensure everyone’s on the same page with the “why” first and then the “when,” “where,” and “how.”
Re-dedicate – The closing time of your first gathering is an especially sacred time. View the end of your first meeting as the real kick-off of what you plan to do together over the next season. It’s an opportunity to prayerfully recommit your group to the Lord and lay at His feet the personal goals that were shared earlier. Dedication is the critical precursor of being devoted to “the fellowship” (Acts 2:42).

PRIMAL - Batterson Quotes That Impacted Me

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:26:00 +0000

Some of my favorite quotes from Mark Batterson’s PRIMAL where he shares about the quest for “catacomb-like convictions that go beyond conventional logic” and living with “raw spiritual intensity”:

We are called to reflect God – His compassion, His wonder, His creativity, and His energy. You cannot manufacture those things. You can only reflect them. Our love for God is nothing more and nothing less than a reflection of God’s love for us. (p. 156)

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. (p. 150)

Vision is the cure for sin. A God-given vision keeps us from decay and disorder. It energizes everything we do. And turning that vision into reality is one way we love God with all our strength. (p. 148)

The greatest risk is taking no risks. And it’s not just risky, it’s wrong. Righteousness is using all of our God-given gifts to their full God-given potential. Love doesn’t play it safe; it takes risks. Love doesn’t make excuses; it takes responsibility. Love doesn’t see problems; it seizes opportunities to step up and step in. The Greek word for “strength” means “the antithesis of apathy.” And Jesus is the ultimate example. (p. 143)

If we are going to have an eternal impact on our culture, we can’t just criticize it or copy it. We’ve got to create it. (p. 113)

Faith equals God-ordained risks in the face of fear. Obedience equals God-honoring decisions in the face of temptation. And compassion equals Spirit-prompted generosity in the face of greed. (p. 32)

If you are a Christ follower, then you have been drafted into an army of compassion that knows no enemy but those things that break the heart of God. And it’s not okay to not do something about them. (p. 20)

Sacred Roads – Heather Zempel

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:04:00 +0000

I thought Sacred Roads was going to be another short-term DVD-driven small group study. I was wrong. It was different. What I discovered was tool for pilgrimage: A resource full of creative ways to explore and engage spiritual practices that will enrich a follower’s walk with Jesus.

Sacred Roads is way more than a plug-and-play curriculum for groups. It’s replete with stories, images, references, ideas, and applications that can help individuals and groups alike explore the historic paths of discipleship.

Heather’s writings reflect her passion and expertise in the areas of leadership, community, discipleship, and spiritual formation. She perceives and values how all of these topics intersect and influence one another.

I first encountered Heather’s heart in her blog and more recently as a keynote speaker at Willow Creek’s Group Life Conference. What I’ve experienced consistently in her writing and speaking is her intellect, humor, passion, and creativity – all of which find expression in Sacred Roads.

Heather has made Sacred Roads something that you don’t pick up one time or even five times, but hundreds of times. There are articles, promo videos, experiential videos (you’ll have to play to experience them for yourself), e-mailable audio files, and other applications. Taken together, you have a comprehensive resource full of study tools, not to do a study about Jesus, but to engage in life-long study with Jesus.

In Sacred Roads, you‘ll discover five approaches to discipleship: RELATIONAL, EXPERIENTIAL, INTELLECTUAL, PERSONAL, & INCARNATIONAL. Heather practices what she preaches and appeals to all learning styles by incorporating these styles into this resource.

Hear more: Click HERE (select second 'download' link) to listen to Heather’s responses to these questions (I’ve included an excerpt of each of her answers):

1. You have a passion for engineering spiritual growth environments. What part do you see that small groups play in people’s spiritual formation?

It is the environment where transformation can happen. Small Groups are not a model or methodology that we do but we do what’s best to help people grow.

2. What are the spiritual formation practices that have proven to be the greatest catalysts to your own spiritual growth?

In different seasons I lean into different practices.

3. Jesus implemented new pathways for discipleship (p. 9). How are these pathways a part of discipleship in the U.S. today? What do you see that needs to be reclaimed or reinvented?

Life with Jesus was never boring or predictable. For Jesus, everything was focused on mission.

4. What do you see as the advantages & disadvantages of using social networking for discipleship? How about online groups?

I think Paul would have blogged…It’s not a matter of do we use [technology] or not but how do we use it responsibly & biblically.

5. At National Community Church, you’ve embraced media & technology to make disciples. How can small groups do the same?

6. On p. 116, you asked a couple questions that I’d like to hear your response to: “Do you think it’s possible that there are ways of doing church and discipling people that no one has thought of before? Why or why not?”

There are principles rooted in ecclesiological history that we can learn from and put skin on that are different.

7. In Sacred Roads, you share about five approaches to discipleship: RELATIONAL, EXPERIENTIAL, INTELLECTUAL, PERSONAL, & INCARNATIONAL. What are some keys to blending & balancing these different approaches to learning from & following Jesus?

We all naturally lean in the direction of one or two of these.

See more: Sacred Roads from Threads on Vimeo.

Learn more and pass along these links to Sacred Roads: http://vimeo.com/6612882 and http://bit.ly/7IfJHk

Explore more via Twitter: @heatherzempel and her blog at http://discipleshipgroups.blogspot.com

Heather is quotable because she writes and leads out of her relationship with Jesus. Sacred Roads was birthed out of her own pilgrimage and it’s her partnership with Christ that inspires you to journey on the ancient pathways of discipleship too.

Don’t expect to skim the member book or passively observe the DVDs for Sacred Roads thinking that you’ll hear a newfangled expression of things you already know. Your mind will be stimulated. Your spirit will become hungry for more. You’ll thirst to experience more of the Word of God in your life. You’ll be motivated to take your journey with Jesus to another level.

Slats Grobnik, Christmas Tree Salesman

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:48:00 +0000

The late columnist Mike Royko writes about a conversation he had with Slats Grobnik, a man who sold Christmas trees. Slats remembered one couple on the hunt for a Christmas tree. The guy was skinny with a big Adam's apple and small chin, and she was kind of pretty. But both wore clothes from the bottom of the bin of the Salvation Army store.

After finding only trees that were too expensive, they found a Scotch pine that was okay on one side, but pretty bare on the other. Then they picked up another tree that was not much better—full on one side, scraggly on the other. She whispered something, and he asked if $3 would be okay. Slats figured both trees would not be sold, so he agreed.

A few days later Slats was walking down the street and saw a beautiful tree in the couple's apartment. It was thick and well rounded. He knocked on their door and they told him how they worked the two trees close together where the branches were thin. Then they tied the trunks together. The branches overlapped and formed a tree so thick you couldn't see the wire. Slats described it as "a tiny forest of its own."

"So that's the secret," Slats asserts. "You take two trees that aren't perfect, that have flaws, that might even be homely, that maybe nobody else would want. If you put them together just right, you can come up with something really beautiful." Small groups can have the same effect when they bring God’s people together to be a light to the world.

Citation: Mike Royko, One More Time (University of Chicago Press, 1999), pp. 85-87

The Power of Service Evangelism

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Service evangelism is reaching people for Christ through loving acts of service. It is a non-threatening approach to sharing the Good News that is conducive to small groups because it is a team-based. When believers reach out together they are being obedient to The Great Commandment which blesses them and those they reach (Mk 12:30-31). This deepens their own discipleship and protects against the group turning in on itself in unpleasant ways (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35; Heb 10:25).

People can see Jesus at work in their lives when they are served in love with things they don’t have the time, physical ability, or finances to do themselves. When your group takes the command to love others seriously, it bonds participants together (1 Jn 2:7, 3:10-11, 16-19, 4:7-21). Service evangelism leads to greater group cohesion and builds the faith of people in your group (Gal 5:6; James 2:14-17). For many, the message is only as real as the person communicating it and loving acts of service open the door for an audience.

How to do it
Check out www.servantevangelism.com for ideas on how your small group can engage in service evangelism. Some projects work better than others depending on the size and personality of your group so you can start by creating a list of viable options to present to everyone. Then come to a consensus on where to begin and what would work best for your group. Consider doing one service evangelism project per season of your group life; it should take about as long as one of your usual gatherings. Just before interfacing with people through your loving acts of service, remind your members to be real and convey that what they’re doing comes with “No strings attached!”

Here is a list of local volunteer organizations that can help you help your group take its first-step in service evangelism:

Go to the official website for your community/city and locate ‘volunteer’ info
Contact your city’s volunteer coordinator and find out what are the greatest needs
idealist.org
charityfocus.org
volunteersolutions.org
volunteermatch.org

More Than Getting Your Point Across

noreply@blogger.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:01:00 +0000

The most important quality of effective communication is listening. It begins with removing distractions from your mind and focusing on the speaker. Avoid the temptation to interrupt. More often than not, we tend to interrupt with our own thoughts and ideas; in other words, our own agenda. It is helpful to make eye-contact with the speaker and let them know with the nod of the head or an affirming word that you understand. When they are finished sharing, provide feedback by first repeating back your understanding of the speaker's message.

You will communicate more effectively with others if you are clear about what you intend to communicate. By knowing your purpose, you will also be able to choose more effectively whether to communicate publicly or privately; orally or in writing. You can also enhance the clarity of your message in several ways:

Know your group and deliver a message at the right level.
Know your group’s frame of reference. What lens or grid of expectations are they peering through?
Sometimes you may even have to create a common frame of reference to allow your message to be understood.
Use unambiguous terms and congruent verbal and nonverbal signals to match the content of your message.
Actively ensure that your group understands your message by soliciting feedback and paying attention to their verbal and nonverbal cues. (It is estimated that only 10% of actual communication is delivered in spoken words. The rest comes to us in the attitude of the body.)

Communication is purposeful exchange. Former President Gerald Ford was once quoted as saying, “Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively.” You cannot reach your potential as a small group leader without deliberately sharpening your communication skills.

Communication Tips

Encourage – a lot
Clarify expectations throughout your group’s life – how are participants growing?
90% of communication is non-verbal so muster up plenty of warm smiles
Give your full attention to people when they’re talking to you – maintain eye contact
Repeat back questions before responding to ensure you’re answering the right question
LISTEN before thinking of what you’re going to say next – don’t be afraid of pauses
Model humility – this communicates more than you’ll ever know (Philippians 2:1-11).
When needed, confront instead of harboring frustration (voice the complaint first with the person privately and directly then follow-up with sincere encouragements)
Take the time to pull participants aside and ask them how they’re really doing – show you care
Think before speaking (respond, don’t react)