| Monday, July 6, 2009 |
| Getting to Know You |
When our small group started, we did not know each other well. One idea that helped us get to know each other was the cup game.
My husband gave each person 20 questions with space for answers. The questions ranged from the lighthearted ("What did you want to be when you grew up?" "What is your favorite TV show?" "What is your favorite season?") to the more serious ("How did you become a Christian?" "Who is someone you admire?" "How would you describe your teenage years: horrible, OK, or better than expected?"). He instructed people to answer 10 of the 20 questions. It didn't matter which 10, although he encouraged them to answer a mixture of fun and serious questions. Everyone was then directed to drop one answered question into each of the 10 cups on a nearby table.
Next, we chose one of the cups. One by one, we read each questions and answer aloud. Each person in the group had a piece of paper on which to write who he or she thought had answered the question. After all the questions and answers had been read, we shared our guesses. Once we discovered who the "real" person was, we gave that individual a chance to further explain his or her answer.
This game provided a way for all of us to share a little about ourselves in a fun, informal manner. We did several cups that first night, but from time to time we will still pull out a cup to learn more about each other.
~from Discipleship Journal, March/April 2002 |
posted by Jacquie Sandison @ 8:40 AM  |
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| Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
| Discussion Questions: The Last Supper |
 When have you been extremely motivated to accomplish a task? What was the task? What motivated you?
What types of things usually motivate you in life? Why?
What types of things often "de-motivate" you in life? Why?
The events at the end of Jesus' life were of extreme importance, but they were certainly very difficult. In addition to a horribly painful death, Jesus knew that accomplishing His mission would require him to be betrayed by a friend, denied by a closer friend, and abandoned by all his friends. Yet, John 13 tells us that He loved them all, even to the end. John 13:1-3 provides an insight into the motivation that enabled Jesus to accomplish all he had come to do.
As a group, read John 13:1-5. How do you think the disciples felt as Jesus washed their feet? How would you have felt?
John 13:1 says that Jesus knew "his hour had come". Talk about a time when a sense of urgency has motivated you to accomplish something.
Should Christians have a sense of urgency about anything? Explain.
Read John 13:3. Jesus was certain about who He was, what the Father had given Him, and where He was going. This certainty motivated him to do all the Father had commissioned him to accomplish.
Consider what you can be certain about:
What has the Father given you?
Who are you? (who does God say you are?)
Where are you going?
Can these truths help motivate you to do all the Father has commissioned you to accomplish?
What do you need to accomplish this week? How can this group help? |
| posted by David Rudd @ 10:10 AM |
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| Thursday, June 18, 2009 |
| Life's Biggest Questions: How Can I Find Peace? |
Describe the most comfortable place in your house?
Talk about a time in your life when you have felt a "deep" peace.
How do you think comfort and peace are related?
What are the situations in life which steal people's peace?
Read Psalm 23.
Have a few people talk about their experiences walking (or watching someone walk) through the "valley of the shadow of death."
Verse four refers to fearing evil. What evil things do people often fear?
How do death, evil, and fear steal our peace?
What other life experiences make us uncomfortable? How does being uncomfortable often steal our peace?
What phrases in Psalm 23 are comforting phrases?
The last phrase of the Psalm is "I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
How should knowledge of future comfort help us deal with the current discomforts of life?
Verse one of the psalm says, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." How does contentment bring peace?
What aspects of your life currently are stealing your peace? How would the good shepherd tell you to deal with these? |
| posted by David Rudd @ 8:17 AM |
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| 4 Spiritual Food Groups |
-Adapted from The Adventure of Discipling Others by Ron Bennett & John Purvis.
When I meet with those I'm discipling, I plan our time around the following four ingredients.
Relationship
New believers need an environment where they are listened to, taken seriously, understood, and accepted. Each time I meet with someone I'm discipling, I spend some initial time connecting relationally. In the early weeks of meeting together, we may need to spend a large proportion of time in this ingredient. Once we establish a deeper connection, catching up since our last meeting is usually adequate.
Practical Truths
Truths of the Christians life that need to be modeled, taught, and developed form another ingredient of our time together. This usually takes the form of some kind of Bible study. This time in Scripture may be formal or casual, perhaps coming from a published Bible study or from meditating over a passage of Scripture.
Pertinent Issues
This ingredient deals with current life issues. Usually some area of life is broken and not working. Sometimes I make a list of the issues I observe and ask the disciplee to make his own list. This gives us two perspectives on what issues and character qualities to address.
Questions
What does the disciplee want to know? Making space for his questions forms the fourth ingredient of our meetings. We often assume that because we've talked about a subject, the people we're discipling get it - but they may not. We need to allow the opportunity for people to raise questions even if we don't have answers.
I don't put in every ingredient each time we meet. But over time, I want to ensure that a balanced diet is reached. Too much time on relationsjip leaves the person starved for truth. Too much time on practical truth leaves the person starved for authentic relationship. Be sensitive to where God is working. Allow God's Spirit to lead you in both planning and adjusting your plan.
- from Discipleship Journal, September/October 2004 |
| posted by Jacquie Sandison @ 8:01 AM |
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| Monday, June 8, 2009 |
| Discuss, Don't Dominate |
by Terrell Clemmons
An effective small-group leader directs without dominating. Here are some guidelines for facilitating group discussions.
Wait out the silence. After you ask a questions, don't rush to rephrase or answer it. Allow group members time to think.
Watch faces. If you see the wheels turning, invite members to think aloud: "Mike, did you have a thought you'd like to share?"
Ask follow-up questions. This draws the speaker out and helps everyone think about the subject more thoroughly. You might ask,
- "What do you mean by that?"
- "In what way?"
- "Why do you think that is?"
Know when to contribute. You don't need to do what your group members have already done. If a member has offered a gentle, appropriate correction to a wrong answer, it's not necessary to add to it. If the group has covered a question well and your answer is the same, go to the next question. However, if you have a different answer to offer, do so respectfully. "I thought of it from a different angle" and, "We really see this differently, don't we?" are good ways to introduce your idea. Consult the group. When a member asks you a question, let the group add its input first. Someone else may have an excellent response. You can summarize with your answer afterward if it would help. Monitor tangents. Decide if a tangent fits the purpose of the group. Allow those that aer beneficial, but refocus a discussion that's gone too far off subhect or degenerated into meaningless chatter. Sometimes a knowing smile and a "Getting back to question seven..." are sufficient. If your group wants to address a tangential issue in more detail, consider scheduling a seperate meeting to examine it. Affirm members' input without condescending. Don't over-comment. Correct their responses gently when necessary. Encourage quieter members. Some members are more reluctant to share than others. Consider gentle invitations: "Jan, we'd love to hear from you. Do you have any thoughts on this subject?" ~from Discipleship Journal, November/December 2006 |
| posted by Jacquie Sandison @ 7:49 AM |
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