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Gift-based Groups as a Catalyst for Life Change
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Imagine calling out everyone with the gift of evangelism to begin a “Going Group” that would encourage other groups in your church to share their faith! Imagine calling out everyone in your church with the gift of mercy or service to begin a group-based “Helping Hands” ministry! The possibilities are limitless! A small group ministry is a strategic means of unleashing the latent power of the spiritual gifts that God has placed within your church body.
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Biblical Principles for Pastoral Care in Small Groups
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Sarah was facing her biggest nightmare. She had resisted leading a small group for years because she lacked confidence in her ability to give wise counsel to the problems of others. Her pastor had finally convinced her that she did not need to worry. “It rarely happens”, he told her. She has been an excellent leader, and her group has grown closer. Lately, however, group members have become more open and are turning to her to solve their problems.
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The Goal is Not to Get People into Groups
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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.
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Meeting Special Needs
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As a teacher or leader, you want everyone to receive benefit from your group session. When someone with special needs could benefit from your group, you wonder how to meet his or her needs. How can you bring a sense of belonging to someone who usually feels like a misfit?
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How Long Should Small Groups Meet?
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"How long should we meet?" That was a key question our group of staff wives and women asked when we held our first small group meeting.
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Wearing the Spiritual Director’s Hat
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Years ago at Willow Creek, we realized that our small group leaders wear many hats—vision caster, encourager, disciplinarian, discussion leader, and shepherd, to name a few.
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Effective On Purpose
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With four daughters growing up in our home there are very few quiet moments. My husband and I smile often as we listen to them talk incessantly about everything with great passion. What strikes me the most, though, is when I hear one of them come to me screaming, "She hit me. . .ON PURPOSE!!!"
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Community with a Purpose
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I hated math in grade school. It started all the way back in second grade, and didn’t get any better as I grew older.
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What a Small Group Is NOT
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A club. Many groups are arranged around some affinity: young moms, retirees, newly married couples, people interested in crafts, bicycling, etc. But every small group has a purpose beyond its affinity.
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What a Small Group Is NOT
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A club. Many groups are arranged around some affinity: young moms, retirees, newly married couples, people interested in crafts, bicycling, etc.
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