106 A Leading Life-Changing Small Groups

Module 106 A God’s Plan

for

Life-Changing Small Groups Leadership Training

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24-25

The Certified Christ@Work Small Group Leader: • Understands the purpose of the group.

• Knows that to lead effectively he/she must follow Christ in prayer.

• Understands prayer provides power to lead the group.

• Routinely practices mentoring the small group in prayer.

The Certified Christ@Work Small Group Leader: • Knows how to use Scripture to lead group discussion.

• Knows how to use questions rather than instruction to lead small group discussion.

• Accepts the accountability aspects of affiliation with a larger organization or church.

• Believes that the group belongs to God and the He will decide how and when to form and grow the group.

The Certified Christ@Work Small Group Leader: • Is prepared to handle the eventual disappointments and discouragement that comes with leading any small group.

• Is trained to help group members share experiences by balancing the group discussion between members for the good of all group members.

• Lives a life of prayer that glorifies God.

Front Steps Front Steps 1.

Overview Front Foundation Steps of Workshop – The Purpose of the Small Group 2.

To Structure Lead Effectively–Follow Christ in Prayer Main Main Structure 3.

The Power of Prayer – The Foundation of 5.

Using Scripture to Lead Group Discussion Roof Roof Leading a Small Group 6. Using Questions to LeadPractice Group Discussion 10.

Relationship Building Session 4. The Power of Prayer – Mentoring the Small 7.

Administration Sun Sun Group in Prayerand Affiliation Issues 8. and Growing a Group – God’s Way 11.Starting Walk With God – Through Prayer and in God’s Time 9. Handling Disappointments

Workbook • Workbook follows video lecture.

• Fill in the blanks as you listen to speaker.

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Participant Introductions • Your name • Where you are from • Organization you represent (Church or other) • What kind of group have you, do you, or will you lead • How God is moving in your life at this time

Front Steps Front Steps 1. Overview of Workshop – The Purpose of the Small Group

Discussion Questions Session One 1.

What experiences have you had with small groups?

2.

Would you say that the group helped you fall more in love with Jesus? Why or Why not?

3.

Do you feel that the leader saw this as an important aspect of the group.

4.

In what way can the leader’s understanding of the function of the group effect the outcome of the group?

Front Steps Foundation 2. To Lead Effectively–Follow Christ in Prayer 3. The Power of Prayer – The Foundation of Leading a Small Group 4. The Power of Prayer – Mentoring the Small Group in Prayer

Homework Assignment Session Two Spend substantial time (~ one-half hour) with God in prayer before we convene for the next session tomorrow morning.

Ask Him to mold and shape you into the leader that He would have you become.

Front Steps Foundation 2. To Lead Effectively–Follow Christ in Prayer 3. The Power of Prayer – The Foundation of Leading a Small Group 4. The Power of Prayer – Mentoring the Small Group in Prayer

Discussion Questions Session Three 1. What are some examples of life-changing answered prayer that you have seen?

2. What holds you back from a more intimate prayer life with Christ?

3. What changes in your management of time would be necessary to provide the time in prayer needed to lead a life-changing small group?

• •

Are you willing to make these changes?

When will you begin?

Front Steps Foundation 2. To Lead Effectively–Follow Christ in Prayer 3. The Power of Prayer – The Foundation of Leading a Small Group 4. The Power of Prayer – Mentoring the Small Group in Prayer

Discussion Questions Session Four 1. Choose one person to be the prayer leader.

2. Share some concerns and prayer requests with the members of this small group.

3. Then, pray together just as a small group would in a regular meeting.

Main Structure Main Structure 5. Using Scripture to Lead Group Discussion 6. Using Questions to Lead Group Discussion 7. Administration and Affiliation Issues 8. Starting and Growing a Group – God’s Way and in God’s Time 9. Handling Disappointments

Discussion Questions Session Five 1. Gather into your small groups once again and discuss Scriptures you have found particularly useful for specific situations.

2. Make a list of a few situations and the Scriptures you felt were applicable.

3. Share some of your group’s ideas with the other participants in this workshop.

Main Structure Main Structure 5. Using Scripture to Lead Group Discussion 6. Using Questions to Lead Group Discussion 7. Administration and Affiliation Issues 8. Starting and Growing a Group – God’s Way and in God’s Time 9. Handling Disappointments

Discussion Questions Session Six 1.

Gather into your small groups once again and use the second case study provided in your manual to practice the use of questions to guide the small group discussion.

2.

Try to focus on the present and the future (not the past) when asking questions to guide the discussion remembering that our job as small group leader is to encourage not condemn.

3.

Remember to use Scripture whenever possible.

Main Structure Main Structure 5. Using Scripture to Lead Group Discussion 6. Using Questions to Lead Group Discussion 7. Administration and Affiliation Issues 8. Starting and Growing a Group – God’s Way and in God’s Time 9. Handling Disappointments

Discussion Questions Session Seven 1.

What roles in Christian leadership have you filled in the past? Did you affiliate with an existing church or Christian organization to fill that role? What was the result?

2.

Have you affiliated with an existing church or Christian organization then failed to meet their expectations of your role?

What happened and what was the result?

3.

Have you affiliated with an existing church or Christian organization where they failed to meet your expectations? What happened and what was the result?

4.

What changes would you recommend for future decisions of this nature?

Main Structure Main Structure 5. Using Scripture to Lead Group Discussion 6. Using Questions to Lead Group Discussion 7. Administration and Affiliation Issues 8. Starting and Growing a Group – God’s Way and in God’s Time 9. Handling Disappointments

Discussion Questions Session Eight 1. What experience have you had in starting or growing a small group? What methods did you use?

2. How “successful” were these methods?

3. What standards of success did you apply to make this determination?

4. Using the standards suggested in today’s session, how would you “rate” the success of the group you previously led or now lead?

Main Structure Main Structure 5. Using Scripture to Lead Group Discussion 6. Using Questions to Lead Group Discussion 7. Administration and Affiliation Issues 8. Starting and Growing a Group – God’s Way and in God’s Time 9. Handling Disappointments

Discussion Questions Session Nine 1.

Discuss some small groups have you participated in (both secular and Christian)? Which of these groups did you lead? If you quit participating or leading the group prematurely because of unmet expectations, what caused you quit?

2.

What effect would lowering your expectations have? Do you believe this is what Jesus would have you do? Why or why not.

3.

What change of focus will be necessary in order for you not to quit the next time unmet expectations cause one or more of the 5 “D”s of the devil to occur? How will you accomplish this change of focus?

Roof Roof 10. Relationship Building Practice Session

Discussion Questions Session Ten 1.

2.

Divide into groups of four.

Select one or two of the “personality types” from the cards provided by the facilitator of this workshop.

Have one member play the role of the group leader and the other members play the roles of the small group being led – with one (or two) playing an exaggerated role of the personality type represented on the card or cards.

Allow 5-10 minutes for the groups to discuss the role-play situation they will present to the larger group.

Have each group then come before the larger group and present approximately 2-3 minutes of the role-play situation.

Open the floor for the larger group to answer two questions:

3.

4.

5.

6.

– –

What did the leader do well to help the individual(s) and the group maximize their participation – and why is this important?

What other suggestions might be used in this situation – and why would this suggestion be helpful?

Small Group Best Practices • Accountability – Levels of Accountability – Developing – Covenant

• Effective Small Group Practices – Size, Leadership, Membership – Formation, Duration – Meetings

Four Levels of Accountability • Level One – I don’t know my own needs .

– I don’t know what trusting you means .

– You have no access to my life

• Level Two – I understand that I have needs .

– I’m not yet sure I can trust you – You have access to only what I want you to know .

Four Levels of Accountability • Level Three (Where most Christian groups max out) – I want you to meet my needs on my terms .

– I’m learning to trust you – You have limited access to my life • Level Four – I need you to meet my needs on your terms, not mine.

– I can now say that trust you fully .

– You have full access to my life

Level 4 Accountability The key to Level 4 Accountability Accountability = Trust + Honesty + Vulnerability

Developing Small Group Accountability 1. Divide group by gender 2. Challenge members to seek one-to-one accountability 3. Select accountability questions 4. Allow time for discussing accountability questions 5. Hold each other accountable 6. Develop an accountability covenant

Small Group Covenant 1. Attendance will be a priority 2. Total and complete confidentiality 3. Pray for one another 4. Honesty 5. Unconditional love 6. Voluntary accountability 7. “As iron sharpens iron …”

8. “Instead, speaking the truth in love..”

9. Sensitivity to where people are 10. Come prepared each week

Small Group Best Practices • Group Size – 6-12 Members Ideal – 3 to 15 Members Acceptable

• Group Leadership – Leader and Co-Leader Ideal – Host/hostess – Rotating leadership

Small Group Best Practices • Group Membership – Homogeneous Ideal (relationship based) – Heterogeneous (sex, wealth, education, race) Acceptable for focused groups

• Group Availability (Open or Closed) – Closed Group Ideal • Open for enrollment periods

Small Group Best Practices • Group Life Cycle – Fixed Amount of Time • One Year Ideal (Re-covenant to continue) • Few Weeks • Semester or Trimester

– Unstated Time Limits

Small Group Best Practices • Group Meeting Frequency – – – –

Weekly (meeting 45 to 48 weeks per year) Every Other Week Every Third Week Monthly

• Group Meeting Schedule (Best Day and Time) – Day and Time that assures maximum participation – Regular scheduled time (Wednesday night)

Small Group Best Practices • Group Meeting Location

– Homes (conference rooms – business) – Churches – Restaurants

• Group Meeting Length – One and one-half to two hours

• Group Format and Agenda – Set structure (agenda) • What • When • Who

– Open structure – Varying structure

Sun Sun 11. Walk With God – Through Prayer

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Quick Recap Working in your table group: • Select someone to make notes on a flip chart • Brainstorm the key points that you learned in this program • Start with the purpose of a small group