http://smallgroups.com en-us http://smallgroups.com N/A bryan@upstateimage.com Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:47:03 -0400 20 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1274/1/Disciple-Making_Small_Groups_Marry_Mission_and_Values.html When Jesus commanded his followers to “make disciples,” it was a call to mission as a lifestyle (Matthew 28:18-20). The way we are instructed to ‘make’ more followers & learners of Christ is by baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has told us to do. The word “teach” in The Great Commission involves more than verbal instruction (v. 20a). It involves the whole person and the whole of life. reidsmith777@msn.com (Reid Smith) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1275/1/Discipleship__When_Fruit_Gets_in_the_Way.html As a small group pastor, I sometimes feel that we have taken Jesus’ words in Matthew and retranslated them to say, “Go into the world and make intimate small group experiences for everyone.” Another one would be, “Go into the world and build an organizational flowchart for ministry, with small groups as the assimilation plan.” steve@lcfliberty.org (Steve Rowe) Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1234/1/The_Goal_is_Not_to_Get_People_into_Groups.html Many churches, with purity of heart, discuss the success of their small group ministry based on the numbers, typically the percentage of people 'connected' in small groups. Numbers can be an indication of success, but we can be misguided by them too. For example, we cannot presume that we are SUPPOSE to connect 100% of our congregation with other members of our congregation. reidsmith777@msn.com (Reid Smith) Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1220/1/Missionally-focused_vs_Need-based.html Most life-saving inoculations occur at the very beginning of a person's life. The same is true of small group ministries. The way we promote small groups influences what people will expect from them and, ultimately, how they will engage with others once they are in them. reidsmith777@msn.com (Reid Smith) Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1156/1/More_than_Just_Bible_Knowledge.html Our congregation is a 130-year-old congregation in a rural community of 700 people where we are the only evangelical church in town and, in fact, the only one in a 6 town "radius". For a large part of our history (100+ years), we existed as what I would term a "family" church. One where most additions came through pregnancy. The small number of other additions came when people from our church heritage moved into the area and sought us out. office@smallgroups.com (Anonymous Author) Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1158/1/Evolving_Community_Groups.html The origins of Central Peninsula Church trace back to 1965 when six Palo Alto families commuting to Peninsula Bible Church desired to have a ministry closer to home. They were encouraged by Ray Stedman and the church leadership to meet together as a home Bible study on Sunday nights. With assistance from PBC's staff, the group grew and in 1967 called a pastor and began holding Sunday morning services. bpierce@cpcfc.org (Brian Pierce) Sun, 05 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/9/1/Building_Community_in_a_Busy_Community/A_Case_Study.html Being a small groups minister in a large church in the mid-south is an interesting challenge all by itself.  The "bible belt" runs through the heart of our churches influence.  The vast majority of our membership comes from some denomination, previous church experience or religious expression.  They come seeking everything from anonymity to finding a spouse, from seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus to seeking a meaningful influence in the marketplace.  You want it?  We have it.  They hear great preaching, perhaps three of the finest expositors in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  They come for great worship, with moving music, dynamics lighting and comfortable seating.  Church members and guests immediately recognize the excellence of the education programs for adults and their kids.  Some may seek relationships through on-campus studies and gatherings, but thousands never opt for the excellent classes, studies and programs.  They are quite satisfied with worship.  Worship is "King Cotton" here. office@smallgroups.com (Anonymous Author) Fri, 03 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/7/1/The_Story_of_a_Relationship-based_Church/A_Case_Study.html Harvest was launched and structured around a relationship-based focus rather than a program-based focus or an event-based focus. In many ways the church functioned around a cell-church model where relationships and small groups were seen as the hub and focus of ministry life. And, in fact, the church originally met in small group format until the original small group multiplied into two small groups.  Shortly after, a Sunday worship began as a time of worship, teaching, celebration, and reunion of the now multiplied small groups. dlentz@smallgroups.com (Dan Lentz) Thu, 02 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/8/1/Getting_into_the_FLOW_of_Small_Groups/A_Case_Study.html by a former small group ministerThe church was started as a small group and grew around solid Bible-based teaching and a rural friendly family-oriented appeal. As the church grew, community primarily happened organically and through affinity-based adult Sunday school classes... office@smallgroups.com (Anonymous Author) Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/5/1/Becoming_the_Church_Next_Door__and_Lots_More/A_Blog_About_the_Best_Willow_Creek_Small_Groups_Conference_Ever.html I am a regular at the Willow Creek Small Group Conference. I think I have missed one since they began. I always learn more about leading small groups and overseeing a small group ministry. I am inspired and challenged, and I leave with many ideas and resources I can use back home. micmac@smallgroups.com (Michael C. Mack) Fri, 05 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/206/1/Whos_the_Norm_of_Your_Group.html Remember the classic TV show "Cheers"? My favorite character was Norm, the perpetual and popular barfly who didn't have a care or a career. Norm represented the "norm" for that environment. He was a nice, lovable guy - the kind of guy you'd want to be friends with - but he had no vision. micmac@smallgroups.com (Michael C. Mack) Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1456/1/Relationships-A_Core_Value.html As a small group leader, our most basic Biblical mandate is to make disciples (Matt. 28: 18-20). But, as we continue to look at scripture it becomes clear that not only are we to make disciples, but we are to make disciplemakers (2 Tim. 2:2). In other words, we are called to make disciples that are reproducing! dlentz@smallgroups.com (Dan Lentz) Fri, 01 Sep 2000 00:00:00 -0400 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1449/1/Meetings_or_Mission.html Q: How can I get people interested in being part of our small group? A: Don’t summon them to a meeting . . . invite them to make a difference! micmac@smallgroups.com (Michael C. Mack) Sat, 04 Mar 2000 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/572/1/Be_a_Missionary__In_Your_Small_Group.html How would you like to be a missionary to the fifth largest unchurched nation in the world … and never leave home? NeilCole@aol.com (Neil Cole) Sat, 04 Mar 2000 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/573/1/Three_Keys_Open_the_Door_to_Small_Groups.html The purpose of our Home Bible Fellowship (Small Group) Ministry at Southeast Christian Church is to guide believers in studying the Word and caring for one another. mbelding@secc.org (Murphy Belding) Fri, 03 Mar 2000 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/575/1/Church_Vision_Statements.html How do you make your vision clear and understandable? Pray about it, write it down, then cast the vision whenever you can. office@smallgroups.com (The Small Group Network Community) Wed, 01 Mar 2000 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1414/1/The_Leaders_Mission.html I received this question from a small group leader several years ago: "As a working mom with additional church responsibilities, I am very busy. I find it difficult to regularly read and study my Bible. I want to be a good example to my family and my group. Do you think I'm too busy?" micmac@smallgroups.com (Michael C. Mack) Sat, 04 Apr 1998 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1146/1/Building_Groups_or_Making_Disciples_Models_for_Intentional_Discipleship_in_a_Small_Groups_Church.html Two years into my ministry at First Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, I came to a stunning realization. Although by all outward signs our groups were a success, something vital was missing. A person could be actively involved in our small group system (or our Adult Bible Classes) and conceivably never learn how to have a personal prayer life, never get a basic overview of the Bible, never learn Bible study skills, never discover their spiritual gifts, and never learn how to share their faith. david@lifejourneychurch.com (David Limiero) Mon, 03 Feb 1997 00:00:00 -0500 http://smallgroups.com/articles/1371/1/Starting_Right.html Starting a small group can be more complicated than it first appears. And less complicated than we make it. micmac@smallgroups.com (Michael C. Mack) Tue, 06 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400