Author Archive
Small group meetings…online???
Posted by: | CommentsA friend in ministry targeting missional work showed me a great website recently that allows for a number of different uses, with one intriguing one being a small group setting.
This got me to thinking, let’s take a men’s discipleship group. Calendars can be difficult, the meeting places not always convenitent, but check this out, we could set a time like 6 am Tuesdays, log on to our meeting room and settle in for an hour of study. But what really made me think is, what if there is a fella that is hours away that needs connecting, or better yet, a mentor in my life who is states away that could facilitate our group. Wow!
Check it out: webChurch Media
Have you come accross other resources like this that could be of use?
2009: What will you do?
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are like me, you’re walking through the last moments of 2008 in reflection, and looking to 2009 with anticipation. One friend in ministry has a powerful video for just this opportunity of assessment.
Check out Jeremie Kubiceck’s video perspective at the bottom of his blog page at Giant Perspectives. You’ll be blessed!
Happy New Year!
Great gift part two…
Posted by: | CommentsShare the Gospel of Salvation Through Jesus Christ. My pastor gave another profound message on Sunday encouraging us to keep the spotlight in the right place at Christmas, on Jesus Christ the Savior. What better way to do that than to talk about Him!
Today, after checking out Kevin Stilley’s site, the power of this simple Gift was reinforced with the Featured Video link he has to the entertainer Penn Jillette, of Penn and Teller. Check it out. Share the Good News!
Merry Christmas!
Give a great gift…forgive!
Posted by: | CommentsI have heard it said that forgiveness is a soft pillow at night. That has a lot of truth to it doesn’t it. Forgiveness is a central theme in following Christ. As a matter of fact, think about Jesus and His instructions on how to pray. He is the One who knows the most on prayer, and in His instructions, He ends with forgiveness!
This Christmas, give yourself and others this great gift of forgiveness because:
1. I don’t believe anything impacts relationships more profoundly or powerfully than forgiveness.
2. In life’s battle against bitterness, anger, pessimism, and doubt, forgiveness is the perfect antidote.
3. It keeps the Lord as being perfect, and gives me and everyone else a big break.
4. It is not easy. It will make me grow.
5. It clearly reminds me of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, who forgives my sin and your sin. As we turn to Him and confess our sin to Him, He fills us and grants us the same opportunity to do the same thing for others.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Creating New Small Group Units…painful!
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the best ways that we’ve been told (and I have experienced) new growth can happen in small groups is by making new units. But wow, it is painful! Why?
1. It is the birth of a new group. Anything containing the word birth probably has a painful element to it!
2. If you are like me, you are working hard to press into relationships in small groups and not religion. Growing relationships with Christ, and growing relationships with other believers. Then, we are effectively breaking those to create new ones. Ouch!
So what am I doing to stay committed to creating new groups and nurture healthy relationships:
1. I am continually looking for new leaders. In a strange paradox, if I do not activate idle leaders, that is also painful in and for the group, even if it is in a passive way.
2. Also, though there is not an exact number, each group will have its ceiling of members it can actively minister to, relate with. Once you pass that, it is also painful. The group will firm up like jell-o and no new members will be able to move in. Therefore I am keeping this in mind to help me stay committed to new units.
3. I am looking for new leaders who are willing to “go it alone.” Split, and divide are not friendly elements to creating new units. So the more leaders are apt to take an empty room and create from scratch, the better.
4. With that said, if people do move, I also am encouraging the leaders in the new and former group to focus in on one or two couples/people to go to the new unit and that is all. Helps me to stay away from the fun words of split and divide.
5. COMMUNICATE. One chink in my armor has been not communicating quickly and clearly and frequently enough about this being in the DNA of our small groups. I must talk about this all the time. Though it will not relieve all the pain, I must talk with the leaders clearly about the upcoming new unit in their future.
So, I am committed to the painful process of birthing new units in our Sunday School small group ministry.
What steps are you using that make this process smooth?
