I know most of your small groups have taken a break for the summer and won’t be meeting again until September. But don’t let the summer slip past without taking the opportunity to do some preparation and planning for when your group re-convenes this autumn.
Here is a list of things for you to consider to help you in your leadership planning for your group.
Small Group Leader Training
The next small group leader training will be held on August 28 at 7:00 PM in the three yr. old classroom. Please encourage your apprentice or group co-leader to attend this training if they haven’t already done so. If you do not have an apprentice or co-leader, you owe it to your group to recruit one. As leaders we should constantly be looking for someone to replace us and be willing to disciple them.
Also, mark your calendars for October 2, 2008 and plan on attending the Fall Small Group Leader Seminar. The seminar is for all small group leaders and apprentice leaders.
“Mission Possible”
As you will recall, last spring, I challenged all small groups to take on more of a mission mindset. Click here to review the “Mission Possible” vision that was cast at our last leadership seminar. The purpose of this is to get our groups to serve our community and world together. Please review the action steps in that article and encourage your group to fill out the covenant to participate (attached to the linked post). We need to make missions (local and international) a part of the DNA of small group life. When some one asks, “What do you do in your small group?” It is my prayer that our answer be, “We serve our community” as natural as “we eat together.”
Update your group covenant
A written covenant will help your group avoid unspoken agendas and disappointed expectations. A covenant also gives your group the opportunity to put words to shared values and help provide a comfortable environment that will help your grow in Christ and with each other. A covenant can always be modified at a later date if the group decides to do so. A covenant like this goes a long way to help avoid conflict in the future. Every year your group should review your small group covenant. A covenant is attached to this post for your covenience (at the bottom of the post).
Small Group Curriuculum
Be very discerning as to what your group uses as a Bible study. It’s important to know where your group is spiritually and to be confident of the theology of the materials used. While you may be ready to tackle a deep theological subject, your group may not be at that level. Do not hesitate to ask your small group coach or me for assistance in finding a study that will fit the needs of your group. Remember, the Pulpit Study Guide is a free resource and will be offered again in August for your group to use. It’s always a good idea to let your small group coach know what you are studying. Perhaps he or she would have some good insight into the subject. Remember: the purpose of your small group is not to just have a Bible study. The purpose grow in community with one another.
Focus on Group Growth
As the leader of your small group, you must be intentional about growing your group. If your group only has 6-8 people in it, then you should ask your group if they are open to adding a few more people. If the answer is “no”, then you should investigate why. I understand that sometimes there are situations in a group when sensitive information may prohibit a group from adding a person or two or the group may be just getting started. But when that season is over, there is no reason why your group shouldn’t be open to adding people if there is room to grow. What started as the noble desire to serve one another can easily become an excuse to become a clique if you aren’t careful.
Maybe your group is maxed out and you can’t physically take any new people. So that means you are off the hook? Nope! You should be very intentional about praying for God to show your group to grow “smaller” by either sending an apprentice leader out to start a new group or multiplying your group to allow for others to join. Remember, there are others in our Body of Believers that really want what you have…community.
Focus on Group Balance
As the leader of the group, you must spread the work load around. You can’t be expected to do all the work. If you are doing that you are setting yourself up for burnout and you are robbing fellow group members of opportunities to grow their leadership skills.
I suggest you use the 5 M’s as your model. Recruit a person from your group to ”champion an M”. Tomorrow, The 5.42 Online will have an article suggesting how you can recruit others to share in the work of the group and promote balance (Membership, Maturity, Ministry, Mission and Magnification) all at the same time.
Thank you for all you do and I want you to know that I am praying for each of you. If I can be of any service to you, please email me at deering.dyer@crossroadswired.com.
In Him,
Deering
