Life-Cycle of a Group
4/8/09 8:46 PM
Thank you for requesting the Q Place e-Help. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
e-Help
for Small Groups In This Issue Comments about Q Place Life-cycle of a Group How Could God Allow Suffering & Evil? How Can I Lead When I Don't Know the Answers?
April 2009
Dear Fran, My friend, Kathi, defines a team by the acronym: Together Everyone Accomplishes More. How true! But it takes a while for a group to gel so everyone can "accomplish more." When I think of various small groups I've participated in, from Tough Questions groups to Bible studies to work-related groups, I am amazed to see the same cycle repeated in every group. How do you see the life-cycle below applying to your group? Blessings at Easter! Fran Goodrich e-Help Editor
Quick Links Why NBS Changed Q Place Past Hints & Tips Bible Study Guides More About Us Book Store
To order any of the Tough Questions
P.S. Check out Q Place: 48-Year-Old Ministry ReLaunches with Renewed Purpose
The Life-Cycle of a Group 1. Forming - This is when the group first comes together. Everyone is polite, perhaps nervous, and possibly dull. Participants tend to be guarded in their opinions, more reserved, and to defer to the initiator. Conflict is seldom voiced; if it surfaces at
http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1102499500955&format=html&print=true
Page 1 of 4
Life-Cycle of a Group
4/8/09 8:46 PM
Tough Questions Series by Garry Poole, call 1-800369-0307
Comments About Q Place
"I wish Q Place had been around when I was a seeker investigating spiritual issues! This is where the action is: a safe place of discussion and discovery, where open-minded people can pursue answers to satisfy their hearts and minds." -Lee Strobel Former atheist & author of The Case for the Real Jesus "Q Place continues the small group Bible Study ministry of Neighborhood Bible Studies (NBS), deepening and expanding outreach to adults untouched by the local church." -Kay Schell Retired co-founder of
this stage, usually it is personal and destructive. 2. Storming - Disagreements may surface, personalities may clash, and leadership may be challenged at this stage. The group may be tested as it clarifies its purpose and structure while maintaining a high value on each person and on the group's task. Don't be surprised if conflict occurs! This is an important process in helping the group mature in its ability to listen. 3. Norming - Group members begin to know and identify with each other. The level of trust increases and people begin to experience a sense of group belonging. They recognize the merits of working together, in-fighting subsides, and members begin to feel secure in expressing their own view points, which are discussed openly with the whole group. People listen better to each other. Leadership is shared. The way the group conducts itself becomes established and recognized by the group as a whole. 4. Performing - The group has settled on a pattern which allows free and honest exchange of views and a high degree of support by the group for each other. Members are both highly task-oriented and highly people-oriented. There is a sense they are genuinely helping each other to know, understand and live the Scriptures. Unity, a sense of group identity, high morale, and group loyalty are all evident. Various personal characteristics and roles in the group are recognized and appreciated. 5. Adjourning - The group experiences closure: it recaps what's been learned, expresses appreciation for each other, affirms the value of the experience and says "goodbye." Consideration is given to starting a new group or groups. Which stage do you think your group is in now? Understanding the life-cycle of a small group can help you appreciate what is going on at any point and gain perspective for your role in it. It can help you relax, know that this is normal, and also guide the group to the next stage, so that your group's potential is maximized! Adapted from various sources by Dave Broucek for Neighborhood Bible Studies
How Could God Allow Suffering & Evil? Where did evil come from? Why do innocent people suffer? Why doesn't God do something?
http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1102499500955&format=html&print=true
Page 2 of 4
Life-Cycle of a Group
Retired co-founder of NBS and author of many NBS discussion guides "Curiosity about spirituality, God, and even religion is at a high level in our culture - but so is confusion about where to go to discuss real questions. That's why I'm so excited about Q Place! These groups provide safe settings for spiritual conversations, allowing open and honest inquiry in a spirit of respect, trust, and personal discovery." -Mark Mittelberg Author of Choosing Your Faith "Few people are aware of the transformational power of a small group of spiritually curious folks gathering for conversation with a prepared guide. Q Place will be a catalyst for local churches and caring Christians to 'get it,' and change the way we reach our searching friends so that the average individual can experience the adventure of evangelism and life change." -Russ Robinson Small group speaker
4/8/09 8:46 PM
Is the devil for real? How could a loving God send people to hell? Is there really a heaven? Tough questions. Reasonable questions. The kinds of challenging questions you, or someone you know, may be asking, that are worth taking time to explore. In six discussions designed to get small groups thinking and interacting, each guide in the Tough Questions series deals frankly with objections commonly raised about Christianity. You'll engage in the kind of spirited dialog that shows the Christian faith can stand up to scrutiny. How to Start a Q Place will help you prepare to use the Tough Questions series to the fullest! In this book we try to make it as easy as possible for ordinary Christians everywhere to launch an effective Q Place.
To order call 1-800-369-0307 Order 3 Tough Questions Guides and get a 4th
FREE!
How Can I Lead a Q Place When I Don't Know All the Answers? If this is your question, you actually are the perfect candidate to initiate a Q Place! If you don't have all the answers, you'll be less inclined to teach and more prone to ask good questions and listen. Easy answers often shut down good dialogue and community building. Questions allow everyone to participate and search for solid truthful answers together as a group. You as the facilitator are not the authority for answers in the group. The Q Place curriculum guides the discussion and the Bible is the authority for answers. We encourage initiators to let the Bible speak for itself.
http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1102499500955&format=html&print=true
Page 3 of 4
Life-Cycle of a Group
4/8/09 8:46 PM
and co-author of Building a Church of Small Groups
5 Days Left for Special Offer!
Donate $25 to Q Place and get How To Start a Q Place FREE! Call 1-800-369-0307 today for credit card donations. Mail checks to Q Place, P.O. Box 222, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.
Offer Expires: Easter, 2009 Forward email Email Marketing by This email was sent to ehelp@qplace.com by ehelp@qplace.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
Q Place | P.O. Box 222 | 56 Main Street | Dobbs Ferry | NY | 10522
http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1102499500955&format=html&print=true
Page 4 of 4