2orMore Resources - Inspiring Small Group Ministries

More Than Getting Your Point Across

reidsmith777@gmail.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)

Mindy Caliguire: Leading From a Healthy Soul

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:48:00 +0000

These are notes from Mindy Caliguire's (check out her site here) talk at the Willow Group Life Conference.

Matthew 16:24

v.26- what good will it be to gain the whole world but forfeit your own soul.

I once thought that the most important skills for leading a small group included things like good listening skills, knowledge of Bible, welcoming people, willingness to guide people, communication skills, measure of spiritual maturity, etc.

Those things are important, but today my answer about most important qualification for small group leaders has changed. One quality that a leader must have if the group is going to be effective in transformation. The leader must be leading from a healthy soul.

What is a healthy soul?
Saved and alive. It has been brought to life. Whether you realize it or not, your soul has the capacity to have a quality of life. It requires nourishment.

Do you know yourself? There was a symptom that indicated that my soul was not well and I ignored it. I went through a season where I had become totally out of touch with the woman God had created me to be. Because I ignored that, I was sidelined from my own life and ministry for a season. In hindsight, this was a way God was dealing with my heart...saying it's not so much what you do for me but who you are with me.

We must recover the importance of the redeemed soul.

Following Christ should not result in a diminishing interior life, but sometimes the demands of leadership results in that.

Symptoms of Neglected Soul

Apathy
Judgemental spirit
Insomnia
Anger
Fear
Isolation

Symptoms of Healthy Soul

Joy
Confidence joined with Humility
Safety
Purpose
Energy
Attentiveness

Are pace of life and healthy soul indirectly proportionally? Mutually exclusive?

We should allow the health of our soul to guide the pace that we keep. Allow your pace of life to be submitted to how God is leading you. We may need to do make some radical changes in our schedule. Biblical simplicity: God is our focus and we allow everything else to emerge from that relationship.

David Johnson: Real Formation for Real People

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:48:00 +0000

These are notes from David Johnson's (from Church of the Open Door) opening talk at the Willow Group Life Conference.

Real change can be hit or miss.

Ron Sider notes that most evangelical Christians are not different from the culture in the following areas:

in money
sexual ethic
racism
divorce

Philippians - work out your salvation through fear and trembling-- not work for your salvation but work out your salvation.

To encourage spiritual formation, we typically tell our people to

Get into a group
Get involved in spiritual disciplines

These are standard answers and good answers. But you can be doing these things but still not be transformed. So what is the key?

Here are three I've thought of:

1. We have to be authentic
2. We have to be courageous
3. There has to be grace

If there isn't an environment of grace people will never find the courage to be authentic.

Matthew 5-- Blessed are those who mourn. There are 9 Greek words for the concept of mourning. This one has to do with authenticity-- Blessed are those who start getting out here (into the open) what is going on in here (in the heart, in the secret places of life). Basically, it's blessed are those who quit pretending.

"I refuse to live in the dark anymore, I'm going to live in the light of what is true of me." People who live like that are being changed. Because they are courageous and authentic.

Grace is the only thing that has ever given us the courage to bring out in the light what we tend to hide in the dark. What if we knew there would be grace and healing about that thing we just can't talk about?

This Changes Everything Group Life Conference 2009

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Compliments to MarkHowellLive.com for the first part of this blogpost!

Saturday morning at locations across North America some 8500 group leaders will gather for encouragement, training and challenge. This Changes Everything, the Willow Creek Association’s 2009 Group Life conference kicks off at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern and Mountain), 8:30 a.m. (Central and Pacific).

It’s not too late to jump in! You can find a location right here.

If you can’t get there, join us on Twitter or Facebook. It’s easy to do. Go to either spot:

Twitter: Click Here to open up a window that will keep track of all the #grouplife tweets throughout the day.
Facebook: Head over to the Facebook.com/grouplife. You’ll see a steady stream of updates throughout the day.
Join me for two conference calls - one during each break. Dial-in Number: (641) 715-3625 Participant Access Code: 347287#

The first is on "Healthy Leaders - Healthy Groups" and starts at 11:05 ET
The second is on "The Power of Grace & Authenticity in Group Leadership" and starts at 2:45pm ET.

Also, check-out these Tweeps who will be talkin lots bout #grouplife conference #ff

@JoshSurratt
@chiapperino
@secondchair
@deantwan
@rickhowerton
@michaelmcminn
@jimmeldrim
@markchowell
@SmallGroupscom
@mbstockdale
@DaveTreat
@thinkingsmall
@RGNeighbour
@heatherzempel
@alandanielson
@gregmbowman
@grouplife

Authentic change starts when the next step is the right step. Walk with us online and join in the conversation on how genuine Biblical community changes everything!

Rethinking Small Groups

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:13:00 +0000

What you will find in my first blogposts under 2008 is a series that presents ten ways (identified in ten sections) of rethinking how most church leaders talk about and practice small groups in America.

The first half of this series presents new perspectives on small groups and small group leadership. There are a range of subjects covered from how we encourage involvement and track progress to how we perceive and communicate the real purpose of small groups.

NEW PERSPECTIVES:

Missionally-focused vs. need-based promotion of small groups
The goal is NOT to get people into small groups
Not all small group leaders are shepherds…and that’s OK!
Using small groups to marry your church’s vision to its values
Seeing the whole of a small group’s experience together as sacramental

The second half of this series presents new practices in small group ministry where we’ll grapple with strategy and high-level tactics. A host of topics are addressed including reaching new target groups, assimilation, how we organize small group leadership, and what we really want to be emphasizing with them.

NEW PRACTICES:

Employing collegial vs. pyramidal organizational models for small group leadership infrastructure and redefining the role of a coach
Building Community: Superimposing proxemics over ‘funnel strategies’ & creating steps
Developing strategies for grouping people OUTSIDE the church
Launching gift-based groups (the “new affinity” group)
Branching over Birthing, the Alternative to Splitting Up a Good Thing

While the series is organized into two major parts, you can read a section a day in any order you’d like. Each section is essentially self-contained. If you take the time to read this series, I have no doubt that you will walk away with a nugget or two that will change your perception of small group ministry and how you ‘do’ it in your church.

Opening Questions That Work

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:07:00 +0000

What do you like to do most with a free hour? Why?
What is the most significant event of the last three months? Why?
Choose a word that best describes your life up to this moment? Why?
When do you sense being most alive? Why?
If you could visit or live any place in the world where would you go and why?
What’s your favorite room in the house and why?
If you could not fail, what would you like to do?
If it were possible, would you want to return to your past and relive your life or jump ahead to the future? If so, why?
What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done that you did not anticipate having to do?
What is something you’ve had to do in life that at first you didn’t want to do but now would not change if you could?

Peeling Groups

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:59:00 +0000

My interest in oranges would have been short-lived if my only attempts at eating them had been with the peel still on. As it is, I love oranges...because I peel them to get to what's inside. Usually they're good. However, all of them would be awful unpeeled. Zest is one thing, but a shard of leathery peel is another.

Groups can have the same appeal as the taste of unpeeled fruit to some people so it's necessary to peel groups too! The sign of an unpeeled group is where group members strain to remember church-sponsored language to define their group, rehearse several facets of what you attempt to do together in each gathering, or require an explanation that is complicated or just weird-sounding to somebody coming from an unchurched background.

A peeled group, on the other hand, is one where each member can articulate what your group is all about in a very simple way that makes sense to an “outsider” (Christian or not) and they can do so in a way that is natural to them. Getting to that place has a way of focusing your group, harmonizing your activities, and freeing people to operate in ways that are true to their God-given nature.

Peeling your group begins by asking the right questions and helping each one answer them honestly. Consider leading your group through a light-hearted dialogue around this set of questions:

What are we really trying to do together? And what do we need to stop, start, or continue doing to have this impact?
What feels forced in our life together? What's natural?
What do you want to experience and see happen in our group? If you could look at our group next season/year...what does victory look like in your mind's eye?
How do you want your life to be different as a result of your participation?
What do you WANT to share about our group with those who are not a part of it? And what do you find yourself usually leaving out?

The Shakespearian adage, “To thine own self be true,” applies as much to individuals as it does to groups. Group members should play to the strengths of their personal relational style and find ways to be an extension of your group's community life in ways that flow naturally from who they are. As each one expresses their unique friendship-forming style, they can begin to cultivate the essence of what they're after in your group-life in their personal relationships.

The most fertile relational soil exists where group members live, work, and play – so invite them to ask the Lord to bring a spiritual focus to their relationships through meaningful connections and conversations. New group-life – whether it's growth created by grafting or branching – can develop naturally from friendships that have this spiritual focus. A simple, organic approach that entrusts God's mission to many in this way will help us move past the peel.

PCC Coaching Network

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:09:00 +0000

A transformational journey in growing biblical community

Great leaders, great content, great conversation – put them all together and you not only end up with a great learnings...you walk away with a transformational experience that will stick with you for a lifetime!

There is new coaching network that has brought together three-dozen world-class leaders from around our nation and organized them into “coaching areas” - each of which focuses on a particular area of ministry. I am honored and thrilled to serve as a coach in the area of “Small Groups” with the PCC Coaching Network. The inaugural semester includes an amazing line-up: << CLICK HERE >> to see the coaches.

Here's how it works:

You come to West Palm Beach, FL for three Fridays for either Session 1 (Oct 16, Nov 20, Jan 15) OR Session 2 (Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 16). {Tough, I know.}

Each of these Friday times together will run from 9am-3pm and orbit around a theme that will be created based on what’s most important and relevant to YOU! Each Friday, we’ll meet in creative spaces around the Palm Beaches where we'll have ‘no-holds-barred’ conversations on small group ministry philosophy, principles, and practices.

There will be some teaching but truly it will be stretching, dreaming, and pushing to better each other. We’ll continue our collaboration in between our gatherings using social media, email, and phone.

You'll meet 7-11 other participants for a 3-month learning experience where you'll walk-away with valuable partnerships and tools that will feed into your small group ministry for years to come.

Participants will share best ideas and strategies and you'll receive a library of resources that I’ve used to train churches around the U.S.

We'll engage in energizing, inspirational, West Wing situation room-type of interactions in our connections onsite in FL and online. Additionally, we’ll process together through a hand-full of paradigm-shattering readings that will challenge how you think and operate in small group ministry.

It doesn't matter how long you've been a point leader in small group ministry, where you live in the country, your church's size, style or tradition – you'll walk-away with valuable partnerships, materials, and a customized growth plan for you and your church's community life.

My bio for PCC is <<HERE>>. However, it’s important for you to know some things in addition to this bio: I’m far from having it all figured out. I’ve learned mostly through trial-and-error. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and wish I was the kind of leader gushing with confidence…but I’m not. Oftentimes I wrestle with doubt and questions, and at times – I feel like throwing in the towel because I feel so alone and discouraged in trying to grow biblical community in our culture. I think that’s why I’m so passionate about coaching and networking. I firmly believe we’re better together as leaders. Join the PCC Coaching Network and walk with me in a transformational 3-month journey that will nourish the growth of an Acts 2 dynamic in each participating church.

This group is limited so don't wait to sign-up! (Discounts are available until September 11.)

For details on the PCCcoachingNetwork and coaches’ bios, visit pcccoachingnetwork.com and join the PCC Coaching Network on Facebook and follow on Twitter: @PartnersCC.

Got questions? Don't hesitate to contact me: reidsmith777@gmail.com; 971-506-1556 (cell); @reid_smith; facebook.com/reidsmith; linkedin.com/in/reidsmith; 2ormoreresources.blogspot.com

Sticky Church Blog Tour – Chapter 6: How Small Groups Change Everything

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:18:00 +0000

“Lots of churches have small groups. But if truth be known, they're usually more of an add-on than a churchwide priority...” (p. 47) Got your attention? Can you relate?

If you're a small group pastor, this opening sentence of chapter six in Sticky Church probably resonates with you. A programmatic view of small groups is pandemic in the Church. Far from being another program, ministry, or good thing for Christ-followers to do – small groups encourage God's people to obey The Great Commandment and empower them to fulfill The Great Commission.

Larry Osborne is accurate in saying that small groups tend to be more of an “add-on” vs. a “church-wide priority”. He states how there are two indicators that a church does not have a programmatic understanding of group-life: (1) If there is a critical mass (40-60%) of adults attending a small group and (2) The participation level of senior staff and key leaders. If these two things are happening at a significant level then small groups begin to change everything.

I've found that just as there are barriers in church growth, there are growth barriers in small group ministry. As you integrate adults into the community life of your church through groups you will likely run up against challenges of moving beyond the barriers of 30-35%, 60-65%, and 80-85% involvement. Several years ago, I found myself at the middle barrier. Groups were an integral part of our church's community life, but were not definitive for our culture or the hub that influenced multiple spokes of ministry activity.

It wasn't until I implemented sermon-based small groups that we blew through this barrier experiencing at least a 25% increase in involvement; much of which happened through the innovation of new forms of group life and group outreach.

I used an approach we called “Group in a Bag” where we produced our own DVD-driven group curriculum in-house along with participant study guides, invite cards, host orientation guide, etc. - all of which we put in a bag and strongly promoted church-wide. Not only did this resource existing groups, but it inspired new groups to form in ways I couldn't have imagined. That development took the lid off of the church's group-life.

I've learned that moving beyond the seemingly unscalable teflon surface of growth barriers in your community life requires the combination of a few critical factors:

The home-grown factor: People valued hearing from their own pastors and because the Lead Pastor was a part of the production process made it easier for him to promote it from the front.

The campaign-factor: People responded to the excitement of the material being current and tying in with what they were hearing on the weekend. This resulted in a bandwagon effect that was relevant, ever-changing, and continuously renewed with successive sermon series.

The freedom-factor: People were encouraged to engage with the material in ways that fit for them. For example, start by using it as a personal/family devotional and then use over coffee with a friend, etc. I did not prescribe how they were to use the material; rather I gave them ideas for what they could do with it.

The cost-factor: Now more than ever, cost matters. Sermon-based small group resources that are created in-house and delivered onsite and online only cost the church / group participants the paper they're printed on. Instead of purchasing new material each season, this is a cost-effective way of offering the group content that's relevant to everyone since they just heard the same message.

At Christ Fellowship where I serve as the Community Life Pastor, we implemented sermon-based small groups with an initiative we called iMAX. Every weekend we produce sermon discussion guides that people can use to maximize the message in their lives. Each edition has four parts: 1) IN A NUTSHELL (1-paragraph sermon summary), TALK IT OUT (discussion questions), DRAW IT OUT (in-depth study section), LIVE IT OUT (life application exercises). We created a landing page on our website where people can download the most recent copy, access tips for group discussion, and even register as a new iMAX group.

Larry Osborne's writing reflects his rich experience and his style is straight-forward, honest, and oozes with humor. I love the fact he is writing from the perspective of a lead pastor and empathizes with challenges that small group pastors face; plus, the final 20% of the book provides a wealth of group resources.

What has made the church he pastors STICKY is the 80% of adults participating in small groups – a measurement that has stayed true for 25-years now. The connection between small groups and becoming a sticky church is undeniable. “By far the most powerful tool for keeping our back door shut and making the church sticky has been our commitment to sermon-based small groups” (p. 21).

I couldn't help but laugh while reading the concluding sentence of this chapter, which you'll just have to see for yourself!

Please read the other blogs on the blog tour here. You can pick up a copy of Sticky Church here.

The Relationship That Animates All Others...and how to make it healthy

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:14:00 +0000

One of my favorite quotes from John Maxwell is “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” There is a relationship that exists in small group ministry that has without exception proven this to be true.

Over the years, it has become increasingly apparent how vital the relationship is between a “Coach” (or “Community Leader”) and the leaders in their care. The relationship is just as important for the coach as it is for the group leader – a lifeline within which there is a double-movement of encouragement and support. This relationship takes effort from both sides to be strong.

Additionally, the relationships that leaders have with others who serve in the same capacity as they do need to be nurtured in a team format. Healthy interconnectedness among leaders results in a sticky group ministry. If leaders stick and grow...healthy members will follow. If members stick and grow...the church flourishes.

In the past I've written more for coaches explaining how important it is for them to connect. However, one of the greatest challenges I've seen in churches does not have to do with the coaches contacting their group leaders as much as it has to do with group leaders rarely returning the courtesy, which over time emasculates the coach's purpose. One assumption that feeds this is that if there are no problems then there is no need for a connection. This is not true.

So how does each leader – group leader and coach alike – 'fill the gap' of communication that seems to plague so many churches? The following list of practices is written to both coaches and group leaders. My hope is that at least one of these practices might refresh your own insight or add a new thought inspiring an action to strengthen this all-important relationship.

1. Take the time to build the relationship and get to know the leader you are paired with – it's never too late and it doesn't matter whether you are the coach or group leader...REACH OUT! The groups in your care will reap the benefits!

2. Have a personal conversation about how to support each other. This is much better than a coach communicating the plan that all group leaders must subscribe to in the same way. These questions go both ways:

How can I best support you in your role?
How often do you want to connect?
What's your preferred method and time to connect? (How fixed or loose do you want this to be?)
What encourages you? (Think “love languages”.)
What do you NOT want to have to do? (For example, submit reports, have long phone conversations, have to keep yet another regularly scheduled meeting, etc.)
What's the best way for us to exchange prayer needs every (other) week?
What are some resources (websites, newsletters, books, etc.) that have added value to your life, leadership, ministry, etc.?
What brings life to you...and what drains it from you?

3. Agree to revisit how you have things set-up with the understanding you can change things when desired – be flexible. Remember it's a relationship you're nurturing rather than a system you're maintaining.

4. Connect with your coach/group leader in a personable way at least 2-4x/month (Skype, meet briefly before/after service you attend, phone, etc.).

5. Find out what it is that you and others in your leadership circle* hold in common – identify it and build off of it in fun ways.

6. Calendar your team meetings with others in your leadership circle. Try to deliver most of the business on paper/electronically. Only take time in your gathering to touch on the most important items that DESERVE discussion and reserve most of your time together for fellowship over food, mutual ministry, etc.

7. If in-person gatherings are challenging due to multiple campuses, distance, or scheduling – use tokbox.com and/or freeconferencecall.com for more frequent connections and reserve actual get-togethers for inspirational and celebratory purposes.

8. Explore the idea of setting up a 'group' on Twitter or Facebook to keep in touch with those who are in the same leadership circle as you or at least do that with those who would like to.

9. Get everyone's contact information in your leadership circle. In addition to more traditional forms of communication, explore how other each other uses social media.

10. Learn birthdays, anniversaries, and what those simple things are that bring a smile to one's face, e.g. a Starbuck's coffee, a handwritten note, a dessert of some kind, etc. Then deliver on it! If this hasn't been done by your coach...take initiative! Make a difference today!

The leadership relationship is primary. It is healthy when coaches and group leaders connect in unscripted ways, are real with each other, laugh with each other, WANT to communicate on a regular basis with one another, and dream together. This list is intended to be a starting point to building a collegial relationship that is a source of life to both sides. Are there other ideas or practices that you have found helpful and would add to it?

* “Leadership circle” is being used here to mean all those who serve in the same capacity as you do who are in the care of the same point leader, e.g. you and all the other group leaders in the care of your coach. It could just as well mean a coach and all the other coaches receiving leadership from the small group ministry director / pastor.

Tribalism, Accountability, & Pastoral Care

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Hi __________,

I think you'll find I'm unorthodox, but hopefully refreshing in my answers to your excellent questions:

I want to understand how to build up groups and have them achieve a purpose, without them becoming clique-ish or tribal. In working with these community groups, do you ever have issues with cliques or tribalism? If not, how were you able to avoid it? If so, do you have any recommendations for dealing with it?

There's a distinction between between a "clique" and a "tribe" that will help to answer your question. In short, cliques are bad and tribes are good. A clique is "a small, exclusive group of people". It is bad in that it's exclusive. I'm a strong believer in groups being open and non-exclusive. They simply need to clearly communicate WHO they are and WHAT they're all about and then trust the Lord will bring who He wants. I encourage groups to not be concerned about the size of their group - the Holy Spirit always works things out with the number of participants - whether it seems too small or too large. Interestingly, it's leaders who tend to cause the problem when we define the parameters of group-size. A tribe is "any aggregate of people united by [something they hold in common]". This is good. You actually want to USE tribalism to form community. Tribalism is natural. In other words, it's human to unite with others who hold something in common with you whether it's age, life stage, interest, need, etc. I like to help a church's group leadership IDENTIFY their tribes. The more aware we are of the tribes in our midst, the more we can draw from the benefits inherent in them - like providing a sense of belonging to participants - and multiply the number of ways people can connect and grow together in a church's community. I imagine the Levites had more to relate to with one another than with other tribes within the nation of Israel.

Contrary to working against a group achieving a purpose, tribalism helps a group to achieve a purpose. In fact, matching a group (or tribe) with a purpose that's more in keeping with what they hold in common can actually make them more effective in achieving that purpose than other groups. Consider these tribes of people in a church: A band of business people who are gifted in networking with others in their profession, a group of men who enjoy going fishing, stay-at-home moms who live in the same neighborhood and have decided to form a fitness group together, those who have been diagnosed with and are battling cancer, a team of college students who have a heart for serving the homeless in the downtown area where their dorms are, etc. These are actual groups at Christ Fellowship - each of which has its own unique need and passion - each of which is strong in some areas and not as strong in other areas. These are groups that are non-exclusive in the sense that they have a heart for evangelism and they open themselves for others to join who identify with their tribe. Sometimes it's Bible study that brings Christ-followers together. But let's be honest...it doesn't for all of us. In fact, I'd say it doesn't for most. Why? Because mature believers who understand the value of being in God's Word are already doing it in ways that suit their preferences or with people who are a part of their existing relational circles. Tribes can be the way we help members to engage with others in their church family in Bible study, prayer, etc. - and reach those who have yet to know Christ BECAUSE of their tribalism. Whereas they would not have been able to achieve these vital purposes without that bonding commonality.

Avoid exclusivity and fear-based assumptions that close groups off from actively inviting new members. DO NOT avoid tribalism. Deal with it by using it. Help people identify and find their tribe and then use that commonality to fuel the way they live out God's purposes together. Community is a product of healthy group-life, but not it's purpose. Rather Biblical purposes flow out of Biblical community.

Do you promote accountability as a function of the groups or as possible channels for pastoral care?

I do not promote accountability. I actually don't like the word. It has always made me feel like I've done something wrong, I'm in the wrong, or I'm on the verge of doing something wrong. It suggests that somebody is taking record, keeping track, and expecting answers. Far from inspiring people to be better followers, the feelings "accountability" evoke can repel people from community and make them want to isolate. Don't get me wrong. We NEED to be accountable and when the right conditions are in place, believers will be. But if these conditions are forced or engineered in any way, the very thing we're trying to promote can kill a community before it even gets off the ground. When God's Spirit is present in a gathering, people are loving one another, being themselves, feeling safe, etc - then confession emerges. Accountability gets "built-in" to a group once a relational foundation has been established. This usually takes a couple seasons of group-life before it develops. I coach groups to take small steps this direction and encourage an atmosphere where authenticity and confession can take place so individuals and the group as a whole can experience the spiritual growth and freedom that come with these Biblical practices. Having said all this, men's groups seem to fall in a different class (tribe!). I've encountered a lot of guys who want to be in a group BECAUSE they want accountability with other men. If that's what's driving a man to connect - awesome! Our men's ministry actually features "accountability" as a benefit to attract men and consequently we "promote" it as such. No other tribes have sought this out.

As for "pastoral care" - YES! Ideally, groups should be possible channels for pastoral care. However, the reality is not all can serve in this way. Depending on a person's need, church leadership can refer to a group because of the group and it's dynamic. Other times, church leadership refers because they know a group leader can shepherd a person toward wholeness inside or outside the group. Either way, a group needs to be healthy and the leader needs to be mature. Depending, there may only be 1 in a 100 who could meet a need in a special way. Yesterday, I worked with a pastoral care need that was devastating in nature. The couple needed (and wanted!) to be in a group. After searching and screening over 300 groups, I narrowed it down to 2 possibilities. It just depends on the need, but here again is where tribalism itself can help. I think we need to train leaders in the direction of pastoral care and ask them to be ready whether needs surface within the group or are referred to them from an 'outside' source. "Pastoral care" ought to be an extension of the ways leaders lead. It's not required, but expected. The group leaders who serve best in these ways are those who in some way make it known they are happy to help. When you've found these special leaders, cherish them and celebrate them regularly to inspire them and everyone else!

Practices of Effective Small Group Leaders – Part 2 of 2

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Follow these practical steps to get your group started in the right direction - 1 Timothy 4:12

Be Flexible with Your Curriculum
When using a pre-packed study, read ahead one session or chapter and see if you can reduce the amount of material covered by half. This will help the group feel more focused and less rushed, which actually boosts the overall participation.

Remember that some questions and exercises will work for one group of people, but not for another. You will learn what your group connects with best over time. By tailoring the study plan, discussions will feel more lively, natural, and relevant for everyone.

Be Flexible with Your Agenda
Don’t get locked in to a regimented schedule for your group’s gatherings. There will be times when the group tracks with what you anticipated and planned to cover. There will be other times when it does not. Community-building is not an orderly, mechanistic process—so be flexible. Prioritize the principle of staying “on-track” behind the personal needs that arise in the group.

For example, when someone shares a difficult situation or problem that they are dealing with, make time to pray for that person as a group. Stop what you are doing and care for him or her instead of pressing forward to complete all the questions for that session.

Listen Well
Oftentimes, people concentrate so much on what they think about a statement, or what they want to say in response to that statement, that they really don’t hear what the other person is actually saying. This lack of listening can be devastating to a group’s mutual trust. So be sure to establish the principle of “hearing one another” as an expression of “loving one another.”

Do this by encouraging group participants not to interrupt when another person is speaking, or to be too quick in offering advice that will “solve” the person’s problems. In addition, pat answers—“all things work together for good”—or attempts to “fix” the person speaking both end only in frustration.

Finally, don’t just sympathize—empathize. It’s easy to listen when a person is speaking. But it’s entirely a different thing to put yourself in that person’s shoes and compassionately enter his or her story. As a leader, taking the time to empathize with your group members shows that you understand and care for them.

Care for Your Members
Display a genuine care for your group participants, and do so both inside and outside of meetings. Be available to your group as needs arise, and make sure that each person knows you are available. Remember that some of the best moments of relationship building occur outside of scheduled meeting times—connection “outside” fuels connection “inside.”

Be Accountable to Your Members
Last by not least, lead participants to a place where they can find the courage to confess their sins to each another and experience the healing God wants to bring (James 5:16). Doing so prevents sin from festering inside of your members and promotes wholeness. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words reveal the importance of practicing confession in your small group:

In confession the breakthrough to community takes place.
Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community.
The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him.
And the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation.
Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light.
In the darkness of the unexpressed, it poisons the whole being of a person….
In confession, the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart.
The sin must be brought into the light.

As the leader, you can take the first steps in this process by sharing doubts you have faced, principles God has taught you through weakness, and personal struggles in applying God’s Word and living a life of faith. Don’t worry about being on an island for long—everyone will quickly relate to your experiences and find more freedom in their own confession as a result.

Practices of Effective Small Group Leaders – Part 1 of 2

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Follow these practical steps to get your group started in the right direction - 1 Timothy 4:12

Without a doubt, small group leaders have the greatest influence over the atmosphere and dynamics within their groups. They set the tone, whether positively or negatively, for all aspects of group life.

Fortunately, new group leaders don’t have to figure out what to do (and not do) completely on their own. By upholding the following ten principles, you will be well on your way toward setting a positive example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). What is more, your skills as a leader will improve each week through the positive experiences provided by following these principles.

Pray for Your Members
Like most things in life, small group leaders should begin with prayer. Consider making it a personal goal to pray for each group member by name on a regular basis—and don’t be afraid to let them know you’re doing it. If you ask them how you can be praying for them, be sure to follow-up.

It’s helpful to jot down notes during the group’s prayer time in order to keep their needs fresh in your mind through the week. This also allows you to recall specific requests in future meetings, which reinforces your group’s bond.

Be Authentic
It’s important that a leader model authenticity and vulnerability during the group’s spiritual discussions. In fact, this can be the greatest contributing factor to your group’s discussion dynamic. Realness is contagious; it has a magnetic force that raises the level of honesty and cohesion in your group. In other words, you help others to be themselves when you are able to be yourself.

In the beginning of a group’s life together, the leader is usually the one who initiates conversations, presents questions, and takes the risk of sharing personal responses. But rest assured—full participation will soon follow from the rest of the group.

Encourage your Members
Don’t be content with saying nice things every once and a while—lavish encouragement on your group participants. You can do this by building them up with kind and compassionate words; serving them through your gifts; reminding them of who they are in Christ; affirming their gifts and positive contributions to the group; and sharing how they are needed, gifted, and called to ministry. Here’s a principle you can take to the bank: people don’t grow tired of being encouraged. Your consistent effort to lift up group members shows care, validates them, and encourages more involvement in the group.

Empower Your Members
This aspect of small-group leadership is often overlooked. Make sure to help people find a way to contribute to the group and fulfill God’s purposes for it. Your members want to make a difference and add value to the group, and there are multiple benefits to helping them do so:
* Believers’ gifts are developed as they deploy them.
* Your load is eased.
* Your group becomes well-rounded, builds ministry synergy, & makes more of an impact.
* Participants experience more of Christ as people express the gifts he has imparted.
In short, small-group leaders should think of themselves as administrators of gift deployment.

Look Outward
As a leader, cultivate an outward-orientation to your group’s thinking and practice. Most groups naturally slide toward introversion and isolation unless the leader intentionally develops an external focus. But God’s grace will flow more freely in and through your group when people are not focused on themselves. What is more, your members will experience greater fulfillment when they pour themselves out for others and use their gifts and resources to serve.

To accomplish an outward focus, start with the group’s prayer time. This is a strategic moment where you can influence members to think of their friends and neighbors who have yet to experience Christ. Also, encourage participants to invite their friends, and brainstorm ways your group can reach out together through evangelistic acts of service.

Simple Small Group Study

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:53:00 +0000

1. Less is More – Prepare…but not too much. Pull together only HALF as much as you think you’ll have time to go through in a single gathering. Generally, facilitators with LESS material on hand to go through find themselves more open to the conversation going new and different directions. Conversely, facilitators with MORE material prepared to cover experience more pressure to progress through it. You want to be time-conscious, but not too ambitious about what can be achieved during a highly-relational 1-2 hour meeting.

2. Point to the destination…but don’t give too much direction on how to get there. Think of ONE thing you’d like for your group participants to walk away with. What do you hope they’ll learn or feel as a result of your study and discussion? For example, “I hope each person will learn in a deeper way that Jesus is with her every moment of every day and therefore will experience more of His peace in her daily life.” What matters in the study time is not how much ground you cover as it is how much transformation happens within members’ hearts. This can happen through study content, but more often, it occurs through Spirit-led human interaction.

3. Guide, don’t direct – Be flexible with the “agenda” and avoid over-facilitation. Trust the Lord with how the study and conversation flows. The tendency is the more a facilitator speaks, the less responsive people get.

The response ratios below, which measure how the number of people in a group affects individual participation, don’t always hold true because every group’s dynamic is unique. However, it’s good to be aware of these ‘interpersonal laws’ because they can prompt you to know how to encourage greater interactivity. Increased interactivity results in more energetic and fruitful conversation. Besides, following the other ‘simple rules’ shared in this section compresses these response ratio results.

4. Recap and Refocus – Share what the group accomplished together and a basic plan for your next gathering. This instills a since of accomplishment and purpose for group members. It shows them that you have a plan (albeit unfolding) and that you’re all going someplace together. This simple practice boosts participants’ commitment and brings more focus to the course of your study overall.

5. Don’t meet up to the last minute – Give people time to unwind and socialize toward the end of each gathering; it’s a simple way to foster unity and inclusion in the group. This is more likely to create a positive conclusion for everyone, which will leave them with an increased desire to come back for more. This also ensures all participants, particularly those who have to get home for the sake of their kids or the next-day’s schedule, can do so without stress and enjoy the company of the whole group.

# of People Participative Response
3-6 Everyone speaks
7-10 Almost everyone speaks, quieter people say less, 1 or 2 may not
11-18 5 or 6 people speak a lot, 3 or 4 others join in occasionally
19-30 3 or 4 people dominate
More than 30 Little participation possible

Source: Pretty et al. (1995): PLA Guide

Having An Abundance Mentality Toward Newcomers

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Our group members are very focused on evangelism and often bring new people to group meetings. What is the best way to incorporate these new members into a group without interrupting that group's intimacy and momentum?

First off, that’s awesome how your group members are very focused on evangelism and are bringing new people to your group meetings. This is vital for groups to grow healthy and balanced and not all get to experience that!

The belief that new members actually interrupt a small group’s intimacy and momentum is largely unsubstantiated and unbiblical. It is a false premise that has become popular in much small group ministry thinking because that’s what many expect would happen. On the contrary, new members feed into a group’s intimacy and momentum. The idea they take away from it comes more out of a kind of thinking that is protective, hoarding, territorial, and self-focused. Oftentimes, the group-life produced from this mindset eventually implodes after coasting to a slow and painful stop.

On the other hand, I’ve observed that the groups with the greatest intimacy and momentum are the ones that are uninhibitedly incorporating new members into their fellowship. The Lord sources life into small groups that let His grace flow in and though them. This also protects your group from spiritual stalemate and relational irritants like pettiness or preoccupation with non-essential theological issues. That said, there are things you can be sensitive to as the small group leader that will help your group to naturally embrace and include new members:

1) Warmly welcome newcomers into your group. Learn a little about them as you greet them and walk them into your gathering space. Do your best to remember facts they share about who they are, their family and friends, and how they found your group. On this note, one of most simple and powerful ways of helping a newcomer feel ‘at home’ in your group is to call them by their first name each time you refer to them. Connect them with a few people as they come in and help to strike up conversations before your study begins.

2) Do not focus on them. Most guests like to be acknowledged – they just do not like to stand out or be spotlighted in front of a group. If you keep things normal the group will feel more natural and comfortable to newcomers.

3) Do not over-accommodate. Just be yourself and allow the group to be itself. For example, do not hesitate to pray or worship in your group if newcomers are present. (Sometimes this is exactly what God uses to gather spiritually-unconvinced people to Himself – see Acts 2:46-47.) If somebody needs prayer, pray for them. If you are going to worship, just do it. Do not attempt to explain it for newcomers. They want to see things how they really are and would rather not have you disrupt the flow of what you do on their account.

4) The more people your guests sense a possible connection with, the more likely it is they will want to return. Help newcomers get to know a few others in your group. The likelihood of newcomers returning increases by at least 50% if they experience a sense of belonging through their connection with others. This can be cultivated by highlighting things your guests hold in common with other group members and timely follow-up.

5) Find out what subjects your guests have an enthusiasm or expertise in and talk about that! People like to talk about things they know about. Newcomers will feel more empowered and comfortable talking about the things of interest to them. If you listen with interest, you will show that you are interested in them as a person and they will not feel like a project.

6) When you have guests, leave plenty of time for people to socialize at the tail-end of your group. Newcomers tend to be more interested in being more personal toward the end of a group than the beginning. This will give time to introduce your group members to guests and have relaxed conversations.

7) Follow-up with newcomers before your next meeting to let them know you hope to see them again. If a guest came with somebody, encourage their friend to welcome them back. Sometimes group leaders hold off from following up in this way because they’re afraid of being intrusive or coming across as pushy. However, guests appreciate this act of kindness and it makes your group more inviting overall. If you do not risk the remote possibility of coming across as intrusive in your follow-up, newcomers may feel like they are intruding.

Group Devotionals for Easter

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:12:00 +0000

“Christ is Risen!”

Easter is all about the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. New life! We are forgiven because of Jesus’ sacrifice and we are assured of eternal life together with Him because He is our risen Lord. As a group, reflect on what you’ve been given through God’s forgiveness and discuss the importance of forgiving others. Invite each person to discuss and decide to extend forgiveness to somebody who has in some way hurt them in the past. An alternative for those who are not in the place to take part in this exercise is to have a group conversation about how we can show God’s forgiveness to the world this Easter season.

Applying Jesus’ Death & Resurrection to Our Lives

Share a potluck meal together
As the group is eating, read John 13-17 in one sitting and explain how this happened on the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion (“Maundy Thursday,” which refers to the command given by Jesus at The Last Supper that his disciples should love one another).
Provide a brief explanation of Jesus’ suffering that culminated on the Cross and what Good Friday and Easter mean to Christians around the world (www.thepassionofthechrist.com and www.leestrobel.com/Christ.htm offer helpful resources).
Next, ask your group to consider these questions: What in your life needs to be put to death? (Colossians 3:5) What needs to be resurrected in your life? (Romans 6:12-14)
Explain that you’re applying Jesus’ death and resurrection to our daily lives. Let them think about these questions as you read Romans 8.
Optional: Give each person a small card or journal where they can write down in a word or sentence what their response is for each question.
Restate the questions and be ready to share first. Try to include everyone in the conversation, and pray for one another.

Four Things You Can Do That Will Ensure Your New Group Takes Flight

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Group leaders who make these simple steps before launching their group will increase the likelihood of their new group taking flight by 2-3 times than those who don’t.

1)Pair-up – There’s good reason why Jesus sent out His disciples 2x2 (Luke 10). Find a friend and tell them you’d love for them to partner with you in the start-up of a new group. This creates built-in encouragement for you that will further ensure you won’t drift away or drop-out from God’s complete plan for your new group (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

2)Pre-vite – Make the effort to invite people into your group before it even starts. Contact your friends and invite them to be a part of your group; then invite them to invite their friends too. The goal is to create your group’s nucleus before you even go public with your group. In other words, don’t wait to form your group until the launch date. Start inviting ASAP and view the “launch week” as an opportunity to build off the core you’ve already encouraged to come together.

3)Plan Ahead – Have a vision for what you’d like to see happen in your group

Affinity – What people hold in common has a way of attracting and bonding people together in a group. “Affinity” can motivate some people to join a group who would have otherwise not been interested in participating.

Vision – Catch a vision for what you’d like to see happen in your group! What do you want to see happening a month from its launch? What would you like your experience to be? Try to forecast the experience you hope participants will have and convey that in your promotions. Vision will help to set expectation, ensure more “right fits” with prospective members, and it helps people feel more comfortable in their new commitment.

Short duration / High Frequency – Groups that launch with a shorter duration (4-6 weeks) and meet uninterrupted every week have a much greater chance of sticking together after their first season than those who don’t. This combination of meeting logistics works well in the American culture. People entering a new situation like to know there’s an ending point just in case the group experience proves not to be a fit for them. Furthermore, the weekly meeting frequency accelerates relationship-building and actually creates more time for people to get to know each other; this is because groups that meet bi-weekly/monthly find themselves allocating more time for members to “catch-up” before they can build off their previous group experience.

Food – Don’t underestimate the attractional power of food. It’s the ultimate ice-breaker! Food conveys hospitality – it brings people together, makes people feel more at ease (at home), creates conversation, and enables people to open up more together. Groups that include food as a part of their first gatherings (especially a meal) amplify their message of welcome to newcomers-to-be.

Childcare – As soon as you know you’ll have people in your group with childcare needs, talk about options for childcare so you can convey this to other people inquiring. If your host home has a play area for the kids, communicate that in your promotions. People with young kids will be instantly drawn to groups that express an early plan (no matter how simple it may be) for how kids can be a part of the group or be in another location of the host home while the adults meet.

4)Pictorial Promotions – When letting the rest of your church know about your new group, help people to construct mental pictures of what they can anticipate by ‘advertising’ everything you just planned (affinity, vision, food, and childcare). The more questions you can answer up-front, the better. This also helps them to invite friends to join them who may not have any prior church / small group experience.

The Truth about Authenticity – Part 2 of 2

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Arguably, the greatest influence on the dynamic of a small group is how real the group leader is with the participants. In fact, the health of a group is directly linked to how free people feel they can be with one another. Authenticity is the key to success as a small group leader. Here are some truths and tips on how to build it in your group-life.

Most people can only be themselves when they feel safe and a safe environment is born out of authentic leadership – truth and trust go hand-in-hand
God is more easily found in a community that tells the truth about themselves
Rarely do masks fit the people who make them – they disguise a person’s true self and prevent genuine relationship
Removing your own mask helps others to recognize their own dependency on Christ
Change is effected by authenticity
God wants you to be real…after-all, He made you
Since truth is an attribute of God, authenticity is an expression of Christ-likeness
People smell authenticity…and its counterpart – they will react accordingly
The effect of the small group leader's authenticity is not unlike that which a mother duck has on her ducklings – demonstrated transparency from leadership has tremendous “imprinting power”
The sharing of personal need is worshipful when it’s couched in your own continuous need of grace
Transparency allows others to see Christ in you
The opposite of everything above can be caused by inauthenticity

Introducing People to Group Prayer – Part 2 of 2

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Here are some tips that will help you to ease people who are unfamiliar with group prayer into this very important spiritual practice:

Don't call on anybody. Some people are terrified to pray in front of others, and if they’re newer to the group, they may not return if you put them on the spot.
Don't go in a circle. This puts people who don’t want to pray aloud in an embarrassing situation, especially if they’re the only one to pass.
Go first in sharing a personal prayer request. This primes the pump for others to share and sets an example of vulnerability.
Appoint somebody to write down prayer requests. Then follow-up on them at your next gathering. This cultivates a warm and caring environment that will help people feel safer about personally engaging in group prayer.
Integration. Discussing prayer needs outside of the time allotted for prayer in your next gathering can help to integrate prayer more into your group-life. This helps group prayer feel more a natural part of your group-life as opposed to an isolated or add-on component.

Introducing People to Group Prayer – Part 1 of 2

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Praying in a group can be intimidating for those who haven’t done it before. You’d be surprised how many people are not used to praying out loud with other people around them listening in. This is an important skill for all believers to develop because agreement in prayer among two or more believers makes God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven and builds the community of His Church (Matthew 18:19-20). Here are some tips that will help you to ease people who are unfamiliar with group prayer into this very important spiritual practice:

Be brief. Brevity can reduce the anxiety level in group prayer because it allows time for others to pray and serves as a model for simplicity in prayer (Matthew 5:7-13). People who aren’t use to praying aloud in a group will see short and simple as something they can do too.
Be informal. Don’t have a big build-up. When it’s time to pray, just begin. For example, “Okay everyone, let’s pray. Feel free to jump in if you’d like. Lord, we…” This makes prayer feel less intimidating and more natural.
Be yourself. Imagine God sitting across from you in the group and talk with Him like you would a person (after-all God is fully human and He is actually in your midst). Have a conversational flow to what you share with the Lord and avoid Christian clichés or complex theological jargon.
Use Scripture. Invite people to articulate their prayer with biblical passages. They can read something that is meaningful to them and then say, “I believe that about…” or “Let that be true for…” and reference their own prayer need or one that was shared by another group member.
Invite the most confident to lead. There is usually at least one person in every group who tends to be more forthright in prayer or they’re good about summarizing multiple prayer needs. At the beginning of your next group meeting, ask them how they’d feel about facilitating the prayer time. If they’re open to doing this, reassure them by saying, “Just be yourself…you’ll be great!”

Questions That Give A Little KICK To Your Conversation

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Open-Ended Questions
Be prepared to ask questions that will elicit various perspectives, stimulate thinking, and help move people toward action. These are questions that can not be answered with a "yes" or "no" and often start with the words "what" or "how."

Examples of Open-Ended Questions

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?

Opening Questions That Work

What do you like to do most with a free hour? Why?
What is the most significant event of the last three months? Why?
Choose a word that best describes your life up to this moment? Why?
When do you sense being most alive? Why?
If you could visit or live any place in the world where would you go and why?
What’s your favorite room in the house and why?
If you could not fail, what would you like to do?
If it were possible, would you want to return to your past and relive your life or jump ahead to the future? If so, why?
What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done that you did not anticipate having to do?
What is something you’ve had to do in life that at first you didn’t want to do but now would not change if you could?

The Truth About Authenticity - Part 1 of 2

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Authenticity opens the way to community and community is foundational to effective evangelism and discipleship. The more authentic your group is the more effective its outreach will be. By considering and communicating these truths about authenticity you can strengthen your group’s evangelistic impact:

Authenticity creates community
Realness only helps established relationships grow
People who feel a connection with you want to be around you
People are more likely to be open about their personal needs when they hear others express struggles they identify with – God uses authenticity to generate ministry opportunities
Realness creates the conditions for biblical community to grow
Healthy relationships require authenticity
Authenticity is contagious
Authenticity is a trait that almost every human-being admires and desires to emulate
Authenticity allows somebody to be fully known and somebody who is fully known can be fully loved and accepted (Ortberg)
People are drawn to those who are transparent
People will gladly spend their time and energy to be someplace where they can be themselves
The ability to be real frees others to be themselves

How do you know when a Bible study has been effective?

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:36:00 +0000

People love God more – They are experience more of God’s presence, peace, and power in their lives and there is a greater desire to draw near to Him.
People love one another more – They are more ‘other-focused’, naturally serve one another, and build each other up in love. This results in developing people’s sense of belonging, gifting, and evangelistic impact.
People love the lost more – Their compassion and concern for the lost is intensified and they become more Kingdom-minded in their daily affairs.
People love God’s Word more – They take more initiative in seeking to know the Lord through His Word, they understand His grace more, and they’re compelled to share biblical truth with others.

What is the common thread in these outcomes of effective Bible study? People love more – they are empowered to fulfill The Great Commandment so they can effectively engage in The Great Commission.

Small group leaders can create an environment that gives birth to a life-giving, Acts 2 dynamic by completing the steps outlined in the previous point. However, it is important to remember that you can plant and water, but God is the One who makes it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Just know that success is showing up, making time for the group each week and being obedient to what God is leading you to do.

Strengthening your Small Group through Outreach

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:34:00 +0000

If I am to encounter God, I must meet my brother in need (Matthew 25:40, 2 Corinthians 5:19). I cannot ignore one command and follow the other. I cannot walk with Him and leave my neighbor behind. Evangelism is how I ‘love much’, which I am constrained to do since in Christ I have been ‘given much’ (Luke 7:47, 12:48). God commands us to reach out and invite others to follow Him (Luke 14:23), which is an act of obedience that is inherently relational. It is our purpose as the people of God, His Church (2 Corinthians 5:13-21; Ephesians 3:10, Matthew 28:19-20).

Relationships fuel disciple-making, which enlarges the family of God – so from beginning to end – evangelism involves community. There are things we just would not do without the encouragement of other believers around us. Our evangelistic potential is multiplied with the addition of just one other Christ-follower by our side. This is why Jesus sent out His apostles and other disciples two-by-two (Mark 6:7-8; Luke 10:1-2). Partnerships are essential in outreach because they enable us to see more possibilities and share the Good News more effectively. We are stronger together.

Growth Tips: Three simple steps small group leaders can take that develop outreach in group-life are: 1) Set the expectation for outreach 2) Pray for the lost 3) Appoint members to ministry roles. It refreshes the group to discuss its purpose at the outset of each new season. Before you enter a new study, share with the group that one of the reasons why your group exists is to share the Good News with others. Then in your times of prayer as a group, be sure to pray for those beyond the group and for your church’s outreach efforts. This fosters an external focus to your group and plants seeds for future outreach. Gradually appoint people to fulfill ministry roles in the group that are in keeping with their passion and gift-mix. Invite them to try out roles for a limited duration at first and start them off with small tasks before graduating them to larger group projects.

Sub-grouping

reidsmith777@gmail.com (Reid Smith) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:32:00 +0000

A powerful tool for growth in your group is Sub-grouping!

It’s an easy solution to the question, “what if our group is getting too big?”
When someone asks me “How can I gain greater participation in our group?” I often respond, “have you tried Sub-grouping?”

Simply allow your group to divide up into smaller groups (3 or 4 people) during your discussion time. Once you get bigger than 7 or 8 people in a group you become limited in your ability for a balanced discussion. Participation is the key is to a greater sense of community. In a larger group you start to lose that as more people are trying to share their thoughts and opinions.

How do you divide your group? Do it with men, women, draw names, or simply pick the people who you want to share more deeply together. Use the different rooms in your home or split-up at tables if you are in a coffee shop. The key is to keep the number at four or less. It may seem awkward for people but encourage them we’ll all be back together for a closing prayer.

One of the best ways to develop leaders is to allow them to guide the discussion during a breakout session in a subgroup. It’s less intimidating than requiring them to do the whole lesson with the entire group. Invite your potential leaders to facilitate the discussion of a sub-group. Be sure to call them during the week to ask how it went. Then, when you have to be absent from a meeting, you can ask them to step up and facilitate with more confidence. Guess what, you have also prepared them to lead their own group.

- By Ron Youtsey