Cell Groups
Proponent: Touch Outreach Ministries, Wellspring Church
Description
The Cell Group models views small groups as the basic unit of a church congregation, much like an organic cell is the basic unit of a human body. Thus, small groups are not treated as "one program among many," but are necessary. Four key items make up the DNA of a cell group: worship, edification, relational evangelism, and discipleship. And if operating properly, each cell group will grow and multiply on its own, transferring this DNA from group to group.
Cell groups usually have between 5 and 15 members; they prefer to meet weekly in addition to "doing life together" between gatherings.
Advantages
Strength 1:Cell groups are intentional about creating full-bodied disciples of Christ.
Strength 2:Cell groups are a practical and effective way to build a culture of discipleship within a local church.
Strength 3:Cell groups focus on relational evangelism and are a proven way to grow the kingdom of God.
Disdvantages
Weakness 1:Elevating the importance of small groups beyond other ministries sometimes causes cell groups to withdraw from the rest of the church and become isolated.
Weakness 2:The cell structure lacks flexibility and can be rigid within an overall small-groups ministry.
Weakness 3:The emphasis on evangelism and numerical growth can potentially limit the level of trust and intimacy within a group.
Free Market Groups
Proponent
New Life Church
National Community Church
Description
Groups form around specific interests, topics, or affinities. The goal is to transform an interest group into a spiritual community through relationships and spiritual practices. Groups may be large or small, and topics are developed by the leader.
A key assumption behind this model is that people don't want to be told what to do. They want choices. Another assumption is that, like businesses in a free-market economy, healthy groups will flourish while unhealthy groups will die. As a result, churches should encourage a diversity of small groups and allow things to thrive or whither naturally.
Advantages
Strength 1:Starting a group is easy, and groups are ideally formatted for fellowship and relational development.
Strength 2:Effective for evangelism because the groups are organized around hobbies or common interests.
Strength 3:Leaders form the vision for their groups based on their own individual passions and skills, rather than adapting to the church's vision.
Disdvantages
Weakness 1:A broad definition of small groups can over-inflate the number of people actually participating in meaningful discipleship.
Weakness 2:Groups may not be focused on spiritual formation and growth.
Weakness 3:Groups are often transitory, which can be a detriment to any genuine intimacy and connection between members.
Info gathered from smallgroups.com
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Engel Scale - Spiritual Decision Process Model
The Engel Scale shows the progression of those who move toward Christ, make a salvation decision and then follow Him. Please follow this link to see the presentation: Engel Scale Presentation
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Small Group Models
OPEN SMALL GROUPS
Proponent
First Presbyterian Church of Beaver, Pennsylvania
Bridges Community Church
Description
Open small groups have space available for visitors and new members. Most of these groups generally remain "open" all the time, meaning there is no limit to the amount of new people who can join. Some will begin a birthing process for a new group once a specific number of regular attenders is reached. Other models "close" their groups once they reach a certain size—often between 8 and 12 regular members.
Open groups often symbolize their desire for visitors and new members by keeping an "empty chair" present in the gathering, and then praying for the person who will soon occupy that chair.
Advantages
Strength 1: Open groups are outreach friendly and a proven tool for multiplication.
Strength 2: They help group members stay focused on evangelism and encourage regular prayer for unbelievers.
Strength 3: They allow for greater flexibility within a small-groups ministry.
Disdvantages
Weakness 1: Some feel that open groups limit the potential for deeper intimacy, accountability, and trust.
Weakness 2: If not controlled, open groups can grow to a size that damages the community feel of a small-group experience.
Weakness 3: Open groups often do not inspire a high level of commitment.
CLOSED SMALL GROUPS
Proponent
North Point Church
Cartersville First Baptist Church
Description
Closed small groups limit the number of participants in order to focus on building trust, intimacy, and accountability between group members. Once a group starts, new members and visitors are generally discouraged from attending meetings. Closed groups usually convene for a specific period of time before "opening" back up to welcome new members. This time period can last anywhere from a semester of study to several years.
Advantages
Strength 1:The members of a closed small group generally have a high expectation for discipleship and spiritual growth.
Strength 2:Closed groups provide an opportunity for deeper levels of trust and accountability.
Strength 3:Closed groups require a high level of commitment from their members.
Disdvantages
Weakness 1:Closed groups can hinder the practice of relational evangelism, as "seeking" friends and family are prohibited from joining.
Weakness 2:Some believe that closed groups have a tendency to become inward-focused, which can eventually lead to cliques, gossip, bitterness, and so on.
Weakness 3:Closed groups do not provide much flexibility for the overall small-groups ministry.
Info gathered from smallgroups.com
Proponent
First Presbyterian Church of Beaver, Pennsylvania
Bridges Community Church
Description
Open small groups have space available for visitors and new members. Most of these groups generally remain "open" all the time, meaning there is no limit to the amount of new people who can join. Some will begin a birthing process for a new group once a specific number of regular attenders is reached. Other models "close" their groups once they reach a certain size—often between 8 and 12 regular members.
Open groups often symbolize their desire for visitors and new members by keeping an "empty chair" present in the gathering, and then praying for the person who will soon occupy that chair.
Advantages
Strength 1: Open groups are outreach friendly and a proven tool for multiplication.
Strength 2: They help group members stay focused on evangelism and encourage regular prayer for unbelievers.
Strength 3: They allow for greater flexibility within a small-groups ministry.
Disdvantages
Weakness 1: Some feel that open groups limit the potential for deeper intimacy, accountability, and trust.
Weakness 2: If not controlled, open groups can grow to a size that damages the community feel of a small-group experience.
Weakness 3: Open groups often do not inspire a high level of commitment.
CLOSED SMALL GROUPS
Proponent
North Point Church
Cartersville First Baptist Church
Description
Closed small groups limit the number of participants in order to focus on building trust, intimacy, and accountability between group members. Once a group starts, new members and visitors are generally discouraged from attending meetings. Closed groups usually convene for a specific period of time before "opening" back up to welcome new members. This time period can last anywhere from a semester of study to several years.
Advantages
Strength 1:The members of a closed small group generally have a high expectation for discipleship and spiritual growth.
Strength 2:Closed groups provide an opportunity for deeper levels of trust and accountability.
Strength 3:Closed groups require a high level of commitment from their members.
Disdvantages
Weakness 1:Closed groups can hinder the practice of relational evangelism, as "seeking" friends and family are prohibited from joining.
Weakness 2:Some believe that closed groups have a tendency to become inward-focused, which can eventually lead to cliques, gossip, bitterness, and so on.
Weakness 3:Closed groups do not provide much flexibility for the overall small-groups ministry.
Info gathered from smallgroups.com
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
A Great Start for New Groups
Getting Started
THE ABCs OF A GREAT START (For Your Connection Group)
A. Preparing for your first meeting.
1. Call your group members this week. Don’t just leave a voice mail message.
At this stage, personal contact is critical.
2. Enlist someone to help you make the calls. Increased buy-in is important.
3. Ask each person to bring something (cokes, chips, etc.). This cements their
attendance. They’re much more likely to show if you’re depending on them.
4. When you call them your enthusiasm is very important. Get yourself ready to call.
B. First Meeting
1. Start your group off with an informal “meet and greet” session.
The agenda for this meeting is all about helping people feel relaxed and comfortable with the other members of their new group.
2. Make a map to your house and send this out a week ahead of time.
3. Call each person AGAIN a couple of days before the meeting to encourage them.
4. Have nametags and markers ready at the door. Arrange for an uninterrupted
session (i.e., childcare needs, food prepared in advance, etc.).
5. Discuss the group’s covenant. This is an important step. Don’t miss it. This can be done at the “meet and greet” or at the next meeting (when anyone new joins the group later the covenant should be reviewed).
6. Set a date and place for the next meeting before you dismiss.
C. Meeting Follow-up
1. Call or touch base with each person who attended the meeting to encourage them. This extra step helps them to continue to forge a relationship with you. Look for them at church. Any contact in between meetings will help cement them to their new group.
2. Call all of your new group members a couple days before your next meeting.
Don’t assume that they’ll remember. They need your encouragement.
THE ABCs OF A GREAT START (For Your Connection Group)
A. Preparing for your first meeting.
1. Call your group members this week. Don’t just leave a voice mail message.
At this stage, personal contact is critical.
2. Enlist someone to help you make the calls. Increased buy-in is important.
3. Ask each person to bring something (cokes, chips, etc.). This cements their
attendance. They’re much more likely to show if you’re depending on them.
4. When you call them your enthusiasm is very important. Get yourself ready to call.
B. First Meeting
1. Start your group off with an informal “meet and greet” session.
The agenda for this meeting is all about helping people feel relaxed and comfortable with the other members of their new group.
2. Make a map to your house and send this out a week ahead of time.
3. Call each person AGAIN a couple of days before the meeting to encourage them.
4. Have nametags and markers ready at the door. Arrange for an uninterrupted
session (i.e., childcare needs, food prepared in advance, etc.).
5. Discuss the group’s covenant. This is an important step. Don’t miss it. This can be done at the “meet and greet” or at the next meeting (when anyone new joins the group later the covenant should be reviewed).
6. Set a date and place for the next meeting before you dismiss.
C. Meeting Follow-up
1. Call or touch base with each person who attended the meeting to encourage them. This extra step helps them to continue to forge a relationship with you. Look for them at church. Any contact in between meetings will help cement them to their new group.
2. Call all of your new group members a couple days before your next meeting.
Don’t assume that they’ll remember. They need your encouragement.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Being a Good Listener
Overview | Questions | Tools | Evaluation | Next Steps
Overview
The apostle James is pretty clear about what our priorities should be when speaking and listening to others: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). This is especially true in a small-group setting. Whether we are leaders or members, facilitators or hosts, we all need to abide by that mandate.
Therefore, listening skills are a vital component of healthy and fruit-filled communities. The following resources can help those in your small-groups ministry improve their ability to listen well.
Questions
Whether improving your skills individually or training other people, use these discussion questions to introduce the topic of Listening Well.
* In your opinion, what are the main characteristics of a good listener? What characteristics or habits would disqualify someone from being a good listener?
* Who are some people in your life that you would categorize as good listeners? What is it like to be around them?
* When it comes to listening well, what do you find most difficult? Why?
* What comes naturally to you in terms of listening to others?
Tools
The resources below provide expert advice and practical tips for improving your skills as a listener (and the skills of others in your small-groups ministry). They have been divided into three stages to help you progress through the training at the pace you choose. Stage One contains basic tips for listening well. Stage Two addresses specific listening skills and situations. And Stage Three highlights our premium downloadable content, which offers the most in-depth look at the skill of listening well.
Stage One
1. Listening Repaired
Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs that can help you listen well
By Kathleen Miller
2. 10 Ways to Be a Better Listener
Follow these steps for greater understanding, attention, and empathy.
By Michael Mack
Stage Two
1. Hearing Aids for Small-Group Leaders
Why listening is such a valuable tool for those of us in charge
By Cathy Mogus
2. Good Questions Show Good Listening
Learn to understand people and help them understand themselves.
By Doug Self
3. Having a Good Cry
Learn to deal openly and honestly with strong emotions in your small group.
By Brooke B. Collison
4. Icebreaker: Gestures
Let members speak without saying a word.
By Tami Rudkin
5. Outreach Options: Glancing Behind the Mask
Give someone an opportunity to feel safe enough to take off his or her mask.
By Sue Skalicky
Stage Three
This resource is designed to improve listening skills for both small-group leaders and members. The articles provide training on basic listening skills and the ways in which those skills can be applied in a small-group setting.
The following handouts from Becoming a Great Listener are especially useful:
* Preparing to Listen, by Joel Comiskey—highlights three skills that allow us to make the most of every conversation.
* Self Awareness in Listening, by Emma J. Justes—helps us understand stereotypes and prejudices that can impede us from hearing others properly.
* What Are You Trying to Say? by Pat J. Sikora—a very useful chart for organizing and translating different methods of body language.
Evaluation
Am I Listening Well?
Use this interactive assessment to evaluate your own listening skills, or as a place to start the conversation when training others.
Next Steps
The following resources can further your ability to listen well.
Go Deeper with God
One of the ways we can improve our listening skills within a small group is to apply those skills to our relationship with God. In other words, quieting ourselves to listen for God's Spirit will bring us the dual benefit of helping us listen more closely to others in the group, as well.
Getting Along with People
This five-session course emphasizes that we need to love by both our words and actions. That requires giving our lives to God and learning to say no to things that don't fit into our priorities. It involves learning to communicate lovingly and showing gratitude to God and others.
Source: http://www.smallgroups.com/articles/smallgroupsindepth/listeningwell.html?start=2
Overview
The apostle James is pretty clear about what our priorities should be when speaking and listening to others: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). This is especially true in a small-group setting. Whether we are leaders or members, facilitators or hosts, we all need to abide by that mandate.
Therefore, listening skills are a vital component of healthy and fruit-filled communities. The following resources can help those in your small-groups ministry improve their ability to listen well.
Questions
Whether improving your skills individually or training other people, use these discussion questions to introduce the topic of Listening Well.
* In your opinion, what are the main characteristics of a good listener? What characteristics or habits would disqualify someone from being a good listener?
* Who are some people in your life that you would categorize as good listeners? What is it like to be around them?
* When it comes to listening well, what do you find most difficult? Why?
* What comes naturally to you in terms of listening to others?
Tools
The resources below provide expert advice and practical tips for improving your skills as a listener (and the skills of others in your small-groups ministry). They have been divided into three stages to help you progress through the training at the pace you choose. Stage One contains basic tips for listening well. Stage Two addresses specific listening skills and situations. And Stage Three highlights our premium downloadable content, which offers the most in-depth look at the skill of listening well.
Stage One
1. Listening Repaired
Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs that can help you listen well
By Kathleen Miller
2. 10 Ways to Be a Better Listener
Follow these steps for greater understanding, attention, and empathy.
By Michael Mack
Stage Two
1. Hearing Aids for Small-Group Leaders
Why listening is such a valuable tool for those of us in charge
By Cathy Mogus
2. Good Questions Show Good Listening
Learn to understand people and help them understand themselves.
By Doug Self
3. Having a Good Cry
Learn to deal openly and honestly with strong emotions in your small group.
By Brooke B. Collison
4. Icebreaker: Gestures
Let members speak without saying a word.
By Tami Rudkin
5. Outreach Options: Glancing Behind the Mask
Give someone an opportunity to feel safe enough to take off his or her mask.
By Sue Skalicky
Stage Three
This resource is designed to improve listening skills for both small-group leaders and members. The articles provide training on basic listening skills and the ways in which those skills can be applied in a small-group setting.
The following handouts from Becoming a Great Listener are especially useful:
* Preparing to Listen, by Joel Comiskey—highlights three skills that allow us to make the most of every conversation.
* Self Awareness in Listening, by Emma J. Justes—helps us understand stereotypes and prejudices that can impede us from hearing others properly.
* What Are You Trying to Say? by Pat J. Sikora—a very useful chart for organizing and translating different methods of body language.
Evaluation
Am I Listening Well?
Use this interactive assessment to evaluate your own listening skills, or as a place to start the conversation when training others.
Next Steps
The following resources can further your ability to listen well.
Go Deeper with God
One of the ways we can improve our listening skills within a small group is to apply those skills to our relationship with God. In other words, quieting ourselves to listen for God's Spirit will bring us the dual benefit of helping us listen more closely to others in the group, as well.
Getting Along with People
This five-session course emphasizes that we need to love by both our words and actions. That requires giving our lives to God and learning to say no to things that don't fit into our priorities. It involves learning to communicate lovingly and showing gratitude to God and others.
Source: http://www.smallgroups.com/articles/smallgroupsindepth/listeningwell.html?start=2
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Small Group Foundations
Here are some of the core elements of small group ministry:
* Life-on-life is the optimum environment for spiritual growth. I’ve often said that what happens in a worship service is closest in kind to a defibrillator. A great message and inspiring worship can jump start your heart spiritually, but it’s not permanent change. It’s temporary. As soon as you’re in the traffic jam on the way out of the parking lot you’re heart is back to where it was. What does bring change? Life on life. Surgery or therapy happens when the Holy Spirit uses relationships.
* The best delivery system for life-on-life is a small group. Will it work for everybody every time? No. But the easiest way to impact the most people is through small groups.
* Interaction is a key to life-change. Facilitated discussion leading to personal application combined with the support and nurture of shared lives leads to life-change.
* Every believer is the relative shepherd to someone (and in most circumstances a group of someones). The leader should be a step or two ahead of the ones he/she leads. I don’t have to be Jesus Junior. Only a step ahead.
* Groups have a life span. The normal life span of a group is about 18 to 24 meetings. Groups can meet much longer than that but barring the infusion of new blood and a very proactive leader, groups that continue to meet become more about fellowship and less about transformation.
* Providing life support for dying groups is counter-productive. When I proactively send new members to a dwindling group I am usually keeping alive something that needs something a few new members won’t provide. Better to build leaders and groups that are intentionally building new relationships outside the group.
* The easiest way to impact a community is through an ever growing network of outward looking groups. With the right curriculum and the right strategy…a church can impact the neighbors and friends of every member.
By Mark Howell
* Life-on-life is the optimum environment for spiritual growth. I’ve often said that what happens in a worship service is closest in kind to a defibrillator. A great message and inspiring worship can jump start your heart spiritually, but it’s not permanent change. It’s temporary. As soon as you’re in the traffic jam on the way out of the parking lot you’re heart is back to where it was. What does bring change? Life on life. Surgery or therapy happens when the Holy Spirit uses relationships.
* The best delivery system for life-on-life is a small group. Will it work for everybody every time? No. But the easiest way to impact the most people is through small groups.
* Interaction is a key to life-change. Facilitated discussion leading to personal application combined with the support and nurture of shared lives leads to life-change.
* Every believer is the relative shepherd to someone (and in most circumstances a group of someones). The leader should be a step or two ahead of the ones he/she leads. I don’t have to be Jesus Junior. Only a step ahead.
* Groups have a life span. The normal life span of a group is about 18 to 24 meetings. Groups can meet much longer than that but barring the infusion of new blood and a very proactive leader, groups that continue to meet become more about fellowship and less about transformation.
* Providing life support for dying groups is counter-productive. When I proactively send new members to a dwindling group I am usually keeping alive something that needs something a few new members won’t provide. Better to build leaders and groups that are intentionally building new relationships outside the group.
* The easiest way to impact a community is through an ever growing network of outward looking groups. With the right curriculum and the right strategy…a church can impact the neighbors and friends of every member.
By Mark Howell
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Ways to Find New Group Members
Who makes the best new members for your group? That’s easy. Unconnected people with whom you are actively building a relationship. Here are some ideas that will help you find new members:
1. Look for people who are already doing the same things you are. If your kids are in High School, make it a point to get to know other parents. If your kids are younger…make it a point to meet other parents as you check them into Sunday morning connect groups. Whether you’re in a bunko group, on a softball team, do scrapbooking, or regularly watch your kids’ little league games…be on the lookout for people who are already doing the same things that you are.
2. If you sit in the same area at the same service every week, you’ll often begin to notice some of the same people. Get in the habit of getting to know one or two new people every week. In the “say hello to a few people around you” part of the service…make it a point to remember their names. Write their name(s) down as soon as you sit down. As the service ends tell them you’ll see them next week.
3. Take a few minutes in your next meeting to talk about who your members know that would be a good fit in your group. Sometimes all you need is something to jog your memory.
4. Plan a social get-together (potluck, cookout, theme dinner, chili cookoff, etc.) and invite unconnected friends over. This is a great idea to schedule on a regular basis between studies. The perfect way to get to know a few new people.
5. Volunteer to serve the GBC 101 class. Think about it. Everyone at the class is taking a next step…the perfect time to join a small group.
6. Volunteer to serve as an usher or greeter. You’ll see a lot of the same people. Easy to be friendly and invite them to your group.
7. Volunteer to serve with…(see a pattern developing? almost any volunteer opportunity will put you in contact with unconnected people).
8. Make sure your group is absolutely, positively, up-to-date in the Small Group Finder on www.gladevillechurch.org
By: Mark Howell
1. Look for people who are already doing the same things you are. If your kids are in High School, make it a point to get to know other parents. If your kids are younger…make it a point to meet other parents as you check them into Sunday morning connect groups. Whether you’re in a bunko group, on a softball team, do scrapbooking, or regularly watch your kids’ little league games…be on the lookout for people who are already doing the same things that you are.
2. If you sit in the same area at the same service every week, you’ll often begin to notice some of the same people. Get in the habit of getting to know one or two new people every week. In the “say hello to a few people around you” part of the service…make it a point to remember their names. Write their name(s) down as soon as you sit down. As the service ends tell them you’ll see them next week.
3. Take a few minutes in your next meeting to talk about who your members know that would be a good fit in your group. Sometimes all you need is something to jog your memory.
4. Plan a social get-together (potluck, cookout, theme dinner, chili cookoff, etc.) and invite unconnected friends over. This is a great idea to schedule on a regular basis between studies. The perfect way to get to know a few new people.
5. Volunteer to serve the GBC 101 class. Think about it. Everyone at the class is taking a next step…the perfect time to join a small group.
6. Volunteer to serve as an usher or greeter. You’ll see a lot of the same people. Easy to be friendly and invite them to your group.
7. Volunteer to serve with…(see a pattern developing? almost any volunteer opportunity will put you in contact with unconnected people).
8. Make sure your group is absolutely, positively, up-to-date in the Small Group Finder on www.gladevillechurch.org
By: Mark Howell
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