| Pathway Beginning A Group Becoming a Healthy Group Building Leaders Blessing Your Community Overview of Group StagesThis section will provide articles and tools that apply to where your church is on the pathway to a healthy, reproducing, small group ministry. The first section, "Beginning a Group (0-6 months)," helps those responsible for the ministry to get some early success in getting things rolling. One key initial insight: if you try first to identify potential small group leaders, train them, and then launch them in small groups, your success may be greatly limited. Why? Because where are the leaders? They are either too busy, in an existing small group, or uninterested. Look for upcoming articles on how to launch an explosion of new leaders. The section, "Becoming a Healthy Group (6-12 months)," is for churches with existing small group ministry—you've got a ministry, say, but it's not running as well as it could. Perhaps you're stuck on finding curriculum or creating a one-year plan. Or perhaps your small group ministry has become a place where every small group "does what is right in his own eyes." There's hope. Look for practical, helpful articles that can transform your ministry from "good enough" to dynamic. The third section, "Building Leaders (12-24 months)," is just that. It provides more sophisticated ideas and training on building a small group leadership system. At the heart of every effective small group ministry is leadership development. Everything rises or falls on whether this is working well. The final section, "Blessing Your Community (24+ months)," is all about passing along the blessing of God and helping others transform their community through community. As your small group ministry develops and transforms lives and your community, then the natural step is help others do the same. |
Transformation Takes Time
Our small group, like most small groups, is comprised of
people with varying degrees of Christian maturity. One lady arrived as a
spiritual seeker. Within time, she committed her life to Christ and was
baptized. . . .
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| When You Realize Numbers Don't Matter
Every time our church tried to launch a new small group
ministry, we failed. Things never turned out the way we hoped. For our fall
launch, we began planning five months in advance, which left us feeling like we
had things under control. . . .
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| "Dude, I Can't Shepherd a Small Group!"
Some of you have been leading groups for six years—hosting
is old hat for you. Some of you have been doing it for six months and may be
looking to become a better host. And some of you just completed your first
six-week study and, frankly, are still recovering from the experience. . . .
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| Why Small Groups Are a Big Deal
There is no simple solution to growing a healthy, balanced
body of believers. However, a thriving small group ministry may be one of the
best ways to fulfill the biblical purposes of the church—and solve many of the
issues of evangelism and stewardship that can confound pastors. . . .
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| A Simple Picture of Success
When I first joined the staff at Saddleback Church.
Rick told me he reserved seats for over 800 men on 7 different 747s headed to Washington, DC
for Promise Keepers. . . .
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| | From Dream to Reality
Most leaders who dream of "finding a shepherd for every
sheep" find themselves a bit lost when it comes to starting small groups.
You're not alone. . . .
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The Coach's Course
What you need to know to lead leaders. By Brett Eastman, Founder and CEO of Lifetogether, Inc.
Without a guy named John I wouldn't be where I am today. He was the coach of the first small group I led.
When my confidence was waning or I was tired of leading, he came
alongside me and said, "I believe you can do it." . .
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| Making Your Group Real "Friends"
7 principles for deepening small group relationships. By Brett Eastman, Founder and CEO, Lifetogether
Don't we all long to be a part of something fun, exciting, and life-giving? The sitcom Friends captured this desire.
Every week 50 million people watched six actors pretending to have
relationships with one another. . .
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| Changing Lines into Circles
Sharing multiple sides of yourself with your small group. by Randy Frazee
Lifestyles today make integrated and interdependent
relationships hard to create and maintain. The absence of this
interdependence makes us hunger for community. Most of us manage
"linear relationships." . .
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| Loving Sinners Is Messy But Necessary
Why small groups must confront sin.
When Allen first met Steve, they were in high school
gym together. Steve was quiet and insecure, with few friends. Then
Allen began to include Steve in his social life. At first their mutual
love for partying drew them together. . .
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| No Pain, No Spiritual Gain
Why we must open ourselves up to pain. by Brett Eastman, CEO and Founder of Lifetogether
Nobody likes pain, and nobody likes to experience
pain alone. Even Christ, while hanging on the cross, asked God, "Why
have you forsaken me?" Yet God often uses it to trigger some of the
greatest life-giving moments. . .
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| From Clique to Community
Why your groups must step out of their boats. by Brett Eastman, CEO and Founder of Lifetogether
You've seen them walk by. The "cooler than thou"
group. The group that everyone in the church wants to be a part of and
everyone outside of the church blames as the reason why they don't come. . .
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| A Purpose Beyond The Passion
Five ways your small groups can turn this movie into ministry by Brett Eastman, CEO and Founder of Lifetogether
This Easter may be the biggest opportunity for small group ministry, yet. Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ grossed $23.6 million opening day. . .
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| Five Essentials for Small Group Health
How to keep your groups growing vibrantly by R. Neighbor
Churches all over the nation are recognizing a need
to get small groups going in their congregations. As people sense a
desire for deeper relationships within the body of Christ, interest in
the movement is rising. . .
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| Healthy Members, Healthy Group
Take this assessment to see how your health measures up
If you want to have a healthy small group, it goes
without saying that its members need to be healthy. So a good way to
move yourself and your group toward well-being is by assessing each
individual's level of health. . .
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| | Stretch Your Faith Through Service
As Christ's disciples, we grow by doing something
that stretches our faith: taking time alone with God, giving, and
serving. As leaders, you need to nudge each person in you group to take
on a small service role to help them grow as Christ's disciples. . .
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| Leadership Honesty Breeds Group Honesty
MODEL Here's a practical way to get your group to open up
The best thing you can do to encourage honesty in
your group is to be honest yourself. This doesn't mean spilling your
guts about your darkest secrets. . .
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| Creating Team Players
MOTIVATE 5 ways to get everyone committed to contributing to your group
When it comes to getting everyone to participate in
your small group, it's important that you—their leader—know your level
of openness is the primary factor in setting the tone for the group's
involvement and openness. . .
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| You Are Not Alone
MODEL How help from God and group members takes the worry out of leading
There are few other tasks in the family of God that
surpass shepherding Jesus' flock—which is what you as a leader are
doing. . .
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| Divide, Connect and Grow
MOTIVATE One great way to get your group to open up
One concern of nearly every small group leader is
how to get everyone to open up. This is especially problematic in
larger groups. If your group has more than seven people, here's a great
technique for encouraging sharing:
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| The Authentic and Patient Leader
MODEL Mastering these two qualities will make all the difference in your group's participation
Few traits describe a good group leader as effectively as "authentic" and "patient."
. .
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| Share the Load!
MODEL Dividing responsibilities not only eases your leadership burden, it helps your group members grow
First Corinthians 12:7
says that God gives every believer spiritual gifts for the common good
of the body. . .
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You Get What You ExpectHow to raise the committment of your new recruitsOne of the biggest hang-ups new group leaders face is confusion about what is expected from them—from their personal behavior to their attitude about the group. By having potential leaders sign a form like the following, all expectations are voiced up front, allowing opportunity for discussion and avoiding many potential negative situations. Reproduce this tool for each of your new leaders: Leader ValuesI will commit, to my best effort, in living an exemplary Christian lifestyle while supporting the Church's leadership and basic doctrinal statements. I will commit to learning and growing through my daily time with the Father and other coaching/training opportunities provided by the Church. I will commit to developing a co-leader/ host/facilitator (shared ownership)and Purpose Teams to cultivate a healthy and balanced group. I will commit to including new members and releasing mature members to start new groups over time (6-18 months). I will commit to seeking balance with both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in my group (open chair and multiplication). Leader: Interviewing Leader: Click here to download the above form in a reproducible Word document. |
Wobbly Spirituality
6 steps for you to help your leaders grow spiritually. By Brett Eastman, Founder and CEO, Lifetogether
When my daughter Michelle was diagnosed with
a form of cerebral palsy, we thought she'd never walk. But one day she
started getting up on her haunches and crawling. . .
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| Plugging the Leadership Leak
Why leaders need to set an example of community. by Scott Mawdesley, Small Groups Pastor, Christ Fellowship
Is there enough time? I'm not sure what your lives are like, but mine is
progressively getting faster and more complex. . .
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| The Group that Serves Together Grows Together
Five ways to help task-oriented groups thrive. by Brett Eastman, Founder and CEO, Lifetogether
Setting up task groups is a great way to develop a
growing number of faithful volunteers in almost any area of ministry. . .
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| The Sure Way to See Lives Change
How small groups can bring true transformation By Chip Ingram, Living on the Edge, A Ministry of Walk Thru the Bible
Often I get into discussions with people about the early church. They say, "I wish we could be just like the early church. God was so alive, and he was doing such powerful things."
. .
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| Bad Days Are Sometimes the Best Days
And nine other lessons I've learned from my small group by Brett Eastman Founder and CEO, Lifetogether
Two years ago when I met with my new small group for
the first time, I was so reluctant. I didn't know if I could ever find
the sense of belonging and spiritual family I had enjoyed with my
previous group. . .
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| Create a Caring Church
3 ways your small group can show love to the body of Christ by Sue Dunn
If you want to create a church community that really
cares for one another, the best way to do it is through small groups. . .
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| Committed to Community
Why churches everywhere are discovering the difference relational ministry can make by Dan Lentz
It seems like small groups are popping up
everywhere. And churches that have a recognized small group ministry
are becoming more the standard than the exception. Why is that? What's
going on? . . .
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| Front Porch Community
How small groups help people create healthy conversations
Intimacy may be a worthy goal, but small groups are
mostly about learning how to talk to one another. At least that's what
Joe Myers, "multi-preneur" and author of The Search to Belong: Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups (Zondervan), believes. . .
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| Give Visitors a Reason to Join
MINISTER
Many people that visit but never return to a small
group do so because it feels cliquish. When visitors walk in to your
meeting, your top priority is to make them feel welcome. Greet them at
the door; give them a hug or a handshake and look them in the eye when
they talk. . .
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| Small-Scale Evangelism
MINISTER How to show your group that being a light in the world isn't so scary
Does the very thought of sharing your faith with an
unbeliever make you sweat? If so, as a leader you understand exactly
what the rest of your group feels regarding evangelism. There's nothing
more important for a leader than empathy. . .
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| | Developing People
MOTIVATE
3 ways to encourage your group members to serve
As a leader, you are actually in the people
development business. Your role as leader is to motivate your group
members to discover and start using their gifts and abilities to
develop their own unique ministry design. . .
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| Jiffy Pop for Jesus
MULTIPLY
Encouraging your members to launch their own groups spreads their gifts and yours
Once your group members have discovered their ministry "SHAPE," why not set a goal one week that no one
leaves your meeting without a plan to serve over the next three months. . .
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| Be a Champion to Remember
Lifetogether's Brett Eastman recalls how his first Small Group Champion shared words that made a lifelong impact
Although I've championed small groups in several big
churches over the past decade, and even though it's been almost twenty
years since I led my first small group, I still remember the day I led
my first group like it was yesterday. . .
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| The Secret to Sharing Your Story
One skill every small group leader should have is
the ability to talk with unbelievers about your experience of God in
ordinary language that an unbeliever will understand. In the church we
use some specialized words like "repentance" and "being saved." . .
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| Tap on the Shoulder
The impact of a single questionIn this story, Brett Eastman, founder and CEO of
Lifetogether, recalls how one man's simple question produced a legacy
of life change:
I attended college in Southern California, and one
day (I remember this like it was yesterday), a guy named John tapped me
on the shoulder and asked me how I was doing spiritually. . .
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