[su_quote]Ministry thrives on real relationships; so building walls of protection around yourself keeps you from building strong relationships with others. [/su_quote] A stinging pinch of truth I bet you can remember the first real backstabbing you ever received while serving in ministry. I remember my first, and I also remember some important words spoken to me by a close pastor friend shortly after… “Welcome to ministry.” Initially, I didn’t really understand what he meant. That little statement contained a bit of humor, a touch of sarcasm, and a stinging pinch of truth. Ultimately it was an important adjustment…
Check Your Motive
[su_quote]“Make sure you are always working hard at leading people towards Jesus – not towards you.”[/su_quote] Be honest… at the end of your small group meeting, which of these two thoughts would you prefer is on everyone’s mind? “Wow, my leader is so smart! He/she explained some very interesting things.” “Wow, the more I thought about that verse, the more I realized what God is saying.” The first statement isn’t necessarily bad (you definitely don’t want the opposite!); but if people are more impressed with YOU than God’s Word, you are way off course. Or to put it a…
6 Advanced Tips for Preparing and Asking Good Discussion Questions
[su_quote]God sometimes uses unresolved questions to grow us in ways that simple answers cannot.[/su_quote] With a little practice, you can become skilled at guiding people through meaningful discussion. Once you are comfortable with the basics of asking good questions, you can continue to advance your abilities a little further. Here are 6 tips to help… 1. Sometimes it is wise to explore the answer someone may give …even if their answer is technically correct. Ask follow up questions to discover how clearly they understand the response that was given. Example: “How is a person saved?” Possible answers: “By having…
How to Develop Guided Questions
[su_quote]People do not come to a small group for a lecture.[/su_quote] As a small group leader, how do you keep your group engaged in the discussion? We have all likely experienced a small group discussion that fell flat. Whether it was an over-talkative small group leader or a discussion that wandered in circles, these are the moments when ceiling tiles are counted and daydreamers drift. The solution can be pretty simple. Think of the differences between a lecture and a guided discussion. During a lecture, people are presented information and facts – hopefully in an organized and interesting way. Lectures…
Focused, Encouraged, and Moving Forward (3/3)
[su_quote]They would face growing hostility and would need strong encouragement to keep going.[/su_quote] What’s so important about fellowship? I wouldn’t have much interest in church-community (or “fellowship”) if I thought about it the way it is often perceived and/or presented. Let’s be honest, we are all too busy for extra social events; and most are not really into touchy-feely gatherings. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT TRUE BIBLICAL COMMUNITY IS ABOUT. What is Biblical community (or fellowship)? Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to peek through a window at one of the gatherings of the early church… to…
Learning to Follow Jesus (2/3)
[su_quote]Spiritual maturity is not an achievement – it is a lifelong pursuit.[/su_quote] Returning to discipleship Over time, the church has mistakenly watered down our understanding of what discipleship means. Even good intentions to streamline and program discipleship has left plenty of misconceptions along the way. Pause for just a minute and think about all the different kinds of things Jesus’ own disciples experienced together. Being a disciple was far more involved that simply studying the scriptures. It involved action, serving together, learning, teaching, and so much more. With this in mind, how does discipleship fit into a small…
A Healthy Small Group Engine (1/3)
[su_quote]Spiritual maturity is not an achievement – it is a lifelong pursuit.[/su_quote] Without rattling off a specific purpose statement, what is the function of a small group? (A small group purpose statement can be a valuable asset, but for just a moment, think in the most basic and simplest of terms.) How do you describe why your small group exists? Small groups are one of the greatest environments for helping people grow spiritually. The goal of a small group leader should be to help participants take practical steps forward, no matter where each person is at on their spiritual…
Practical Ideas for Long-Term Spiritual Growth in a Small Group
[su_quote]How does a leader choose specific topics to study and actions to take in the short-term that will help with long-term growth?[/su_quote] In the previous post, you will see how a small group leader can help the group participants continue to grow spiritually over the long haul. Even with a mix of people from different backgrounds, different stages, and different personalities, the leader can help each participant make progress along their spiritual journey. Rather than jumping to the “next best study” every 6-10 weeks, the leader can keep everyone make progress by thinking in terms of continued lifelong…
“Simple” Is Not a Dirty Word
[su_quote]Making the complex understandable is somewhat uncommon – not necessarily because it is impossible to do, but rather because those who instruct often do not strive hard enough to achieve it.[/su_quote] For just a moment, I was able to understand the differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. A teenager explained it to me. We were riding along the highway on the way to a youth camp in a packed van. He was one of those uncommonly intelligent teens; but what made him unique was his ability to take a somewhat complex concept and explain it in a way that…