“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…
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.…
How to Navigate Discussion
“If you are not careful to keep your hands on the controls, there are several in your group who are ready and willing to chart a new course.” Every Small Group is filled with a variety different types of people. Even people with much in common usually have wildly different characteristics – especially when it comes to group discussion. Your goal as a Small Group leader is to bring everyone into the conversation. Like a pilot of an airplane, you have a destination in mind. If you are not careful to keep your hands on the controls, there are several…
The Landing: An Example
“People are more likely to remember and act on one substantial item each week.” (This article is an example for the concept described here: The Landing) How do you develop your lesson plan and discussion questions to reach a specific concept, point of interest, or action item by the end of the discussion? Many rich concepts Let’s say you are studying through the book of Ephesians. This week you plan to cover Ephesians 2:1–10. There are many rich concepts in these ten verses. For instance, here are some of them… Everyone was once dead and held captive by…
Twisted Words
“As a Small Group Leader, it is important to do the legwork ahead of time in order to make sure you are not twisting God’s words out of context.” Twisted Words No one likes when their words are taken out of context. With just a small tweak, someone can change what you said into something you never intended. Think about this… as a Small Group Leader, you handle God’s words on a regular basis. If you are not careful, you can easily inject your own personal bias or interpretation. Whether accidental or deliberate, it is a serious mistake to…
Don’t Lose Heart
“Remember the anticipation and reckless abandon when you first stepped up to serve in the church?” To Anyone Who Serves Remember the anticipation and reckless abandon when you first stepped up to serve in the church? Whether it was a volunteer or full-time role, the feeling can be exhilarating. There is an unmistakable joy finding your specific role in the Body of Christ. Fast forward a few years… if you are not careful, that joy can be drained and battered. Busyness erodes the joy. Criticism begins to stick. The spiritual battles leave their scars. Maintaining that first joy and…