When you stop growing as a leader and start allowing some of the private lapses in judgment to creep in, you are headed towards a destructive personal failure.
How to Develop Genuine Community
Two Distinct Atmospheres Just a short drive from my office, there are two great places to get a cup of coffee: Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts. I enjoy the coffee at both places. But there are definitely some distinct differences between the two places – especially when it comes to choosing a place to talk. At Dunkin Doughnuts, you will likely see more people in line than you will see seated in the chairs and tables found at a typical fast-food restaurant. But at Starbucks, there may be plenty of people in line, but there are often many more gathered at the tables for…
Discovery: An Incredibly Powerful Small Group Tool
When a person discovers truth on their own, they are more likely to value and embrace it.
10 Practical Tips to Make Every Small Group Gathering Matter
“There is great joy leading others as you follow Jesus together, and you also bear the responsibility to lead others well. “ Here are 10 practical tips for Small Group leaders (in no particular order.) #1 Make preparation a priority. Remember two important things about leading a Small Group: There is great joy leading others as you follow Jesus together, and you also bear the responsibility to lead others well. With these in mind, get in the habit of setting aside enough time every week to be fully prepared. #2 Be ready. Before your guests arrive, have your lesson finished,…
Better Than Yourselves
“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…
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…