“This is especially critical if you serve in any kind of ministry role. “ Some people are easy to love. Some people are not. What does “love your neighbor as yourself” really mean? Is it more of a metaphorical or figurative mindset? Or does it really mean that we are to demonstrate love to everyone we come across… waiting in the check-out line, sitting in church, driving down the road, at the family reunion, in the break-room at work? I believe Jesus called us to really love people. All people. Openly. Actively. Genuinely. Not just those who you…
Sharing the Load
“Delegation is part of Discipleship.” Just Do It Yourself Let’s face it, when it comes to simple Small Group related tasks, it’s often easier to just do it yourself. But just because it’s easier doesn’t mean it’s best. Delegation is part of Discipleship. What happens when you delegate By delegating you can help others experience what it means to lead. You begin to develop other potential leaders. Sometimes another individual can accomplish a particular task better than you. You can focus more intently on preparing the discussion. You are not distracted with the details as people arrive. You…
The Spiritual Chef
“Go the extra mile to serve a memorable learning experience that will engage the participants and help them to retain what they have learned.” “Boredom is God’s way of telling us that we are wasting time.” ― Unknown The Bible is, hands down, the most important words ever written. It is God’s own words – so, those who spend their time teaching it to others should never allow it to be boring. Add some flavor Think of it this way: If you like to cook, you probably know the importance of adding the right mix of spices to a…
Changing Gears for the Summer
“By changing gears during the summer the Small Group leaders, as well as group participants, get a chance to catch their breath as well as enjoy some different aspects of Small Group life.” Who doesn’t love Summer?!? Odds are, the people in your Small Group love summertime (who doesn’t???). But for you as the Small Group leader, summer can often be a difficult time to maintain momentum and consistency within the group. So what should you do…? Cancel? Get frustrated by low attendance? Press on? Give up and move to the beach for the summer? Rather than trying…
How To Write Thought Provoking Questions
Some questions are part of the journey, other questions are part of the excavation of life-changing truth. Powerful Tools Questions are one of a Small Group Leader’s most powerful tools. By thoughtfully guiding your group with a series of questions, you can help them discover the truth in God’s Word – and give them the excitement and satisfaction of finding it on their own. You will likely develop several types of questions for each study; but not every question requires the same amount of attention. Some questions help to casually open up discussion, other questions help to establish a…
A Simple Guide to Using Your Study Bible
8 Simple Places to Explore A study Bible is a wealth of information at your fingertips, but it can often seem overwhelming. Here are eight easy places to explore in order to get the most out of it. Which Study Bible should you choose? There are several recommendations at the bottom of this article. 1. Study Notes Look at any page of your study Bible. Usually, in the margins or the at bottom of the page you will find notes that help further explain the meaning of the verse(s). These notes help the reader understand the wording, meaning, background, or other…
My Small Group is a Mess!
“As soon as the first person spoke, I knew things were about to go off the rails.” Often times, in the middle of my own small group gathering, I think, “If the Small Group leaders I’ve trained saw my group right now, they’d run me out of town.” Messy moments Every group has messy moments. A distraction overshadows the whole night, …or everyone follows a rabbit trail, …or the questions flop miserably, …or something funny completely hijacks the conversation. Good training, thoughtful preparation, and honed skills can help avoid most of these moments – most of the time. But…
How to Navigate Discussion (2)
“You want the passengers to enjoy the journey; but you also need to keep hijackers out of the cockpit.” As a Small Group leader, you are like a pilot navigating your passengers to a specific landing place. You want the passengers to enjoy the journey; but you also need to keep hijackers out of the cockpit. Every Small Group is filled with a variety of different types of people. What happens when one or two group members dominate the conversation or derail the discussion? The rest of the group is likely going to check out – and over time, they…
Consider Their Lives
“As a leader in your church, what you do week after week matters – both now and in eternity.” Fake Smiles are Easy Take a minute to consider the lives of the people in your church. Each week, you see their faces: smiling, talking, listening, serving, studying, and discussing. But think of the reality of their lives. There may be a man… His job is stressful. He works with other guys who constantly try to get him to hit the bars after work or when they are out of town. They send him emails with off-color jokes and pictures.…
Actions and Consequences
“Eventually, you will lose your game of Russian Roulette.” It seems that nearly every week another prominent individual is fired from their position because of something done in secret. Although their positions, stories, and circumstances vary, they share three very important similarities. They did something in private hoping it would never be discovered. They did something that was critically in conflict with what was acceptable in their position. Their actions brought dishonor upon themselves, and the organizations they represented. If you are in any kind of leadership position, these moments should be a wakeup call. Actions have consequences. Any…