8 Keys for Building a Community Culture
Culture is something you feel. Every group of people and organization has a distinct culture. It’s the water in which you swim when you’re hanging out in an environment or with a small group of people. It’s what you experience through all your senses when you are gathered with others who are a part of […]
10 Ways to Build Leadership Lifelines
The relationships that leaders have with others who serve in a similar capacity as they do need to be nurtured in a team format. Healthy interconnectedness among leaders results in a sticky small group ministry. If leaders stick and grow…healthy members will follow. If members stick and grow…the church flourishes. This demonstrates itself through consistent […]
Avoiding Pitfalls in Small Group Dynamics
Community is messy business! Having differences in a small group, acknowledging disappointments and hurt feelings, running up against frustrations and challenges is all part of moving to deeper maturity in community and Christ-likeness. In fact, conflict can be the very thing that helps your group to break-through to new levels of honesty and freedom in […]
How to Design Your Own Community Life Calendar
A calendar shapes your culture of community in many ways because it helps to set priorities, puts communications in motion, and lets your people know what to expect. Forecasting how people can connect reveals that biblical community is an actual value of your church, projects your leadership expectations, and helps people to prepare. Start by […]
A Simple Game-Changing Practice for Your Small Group
Imagine yourself in a family room with some of your friends and Jesus showed up. Do you think you’d be the exact same person afterwards as you were before? Nope! Things would of course be different in your life! People are transformed when they encounter the Presence of God. A truth about small groups that […]
10 Ways to Attract & Empower New Small Group Leaders
Not everyone connects in the same way. Church leaders have found that offering multiple entry-points into their church’s community life helps more people build relationships and find a small group so they can be more committed to their ongoing spiritual growth. There are more approaches than ever to helping people connect and grow together in […]
A 3-Step Plan for Mobilizing Your Small Group Outreach
If you want your small group to be healthy, contribute to God’s mission in the world, and inspire your group members grow closer to Jesus and help others to do the same – then voice the need to reach others with the Gospel! Get your small group thinking about others and sharing their faith. If […]
Full-Bodied Small Group Life Part 2
A church’s purposes or values usually reflect the practices they want to encourage in the lives of their members. If your recommended small group format is structured around your church’s purposes, you will be more effective at weaving these essential spiritual practices into your small group life. This is critical since the relational circles of […]
Full-Bodied Small Group Life Part 1
It might sound strange to describe small group life as being “full-bodied.” For example, I like my coffee “full-bodied,” but what does it mean when applied to community? The big idea here is that within the soil of community our roots grow deeper in Christ than they ever would in our own individual experiences (Col […]
6 Summer Strategies to Invigorate Your Small Group
By the end of spring, It’s not uncommon for small groups to want to change things up for the summer instead of starting a new Bible study. This comes from a common felt-need to take a break and get refreshed before school, ministries, and so many other things restart in the fall. However, if you […]
