Creative Community

Joining an existing LIFEgroup is always difficult. Everyone already knows each other, you’ve missed out on inside jokes, and it takes a long time to figure out the culture. A couple times each year, we try to launch NEW groups, so that those wishing to join a group can share the experience of starting a group from scratch. Our launch groups are led by capable leaders, and remain open to new members for several months in order to help the group grow. Below are the groups launching in the fall of ‘09.

Crown Financial:
Money is weighing heavily on people’s minds right now. Wouldn’t you love to know exactly what the Bible says about how to use your money? This group will walk you through all the Bible’s teaching about money. This study includes some homework and a small fee for materials.

Young and Married:
If you’re new to family life, whether or not you have kids, this group is for you. Join with other couples to build relationships, pray together, and study the New Testament book of Ephesians. This group will meet Sunday evenings at the church. Childcare is provided.

Women:
This group for women of all ages will meet Tuesday mornings at the church. The primary focus will be on Bible study, with secondary emphasis on prayer and relationship building. Childcare will be provided.

Singles:
Whether you are just out of high school, or a veteran of the work force you are invited to be part of this group. Our dream is to see this LIFEgroup eventually grow into several LIFEgroups which are more focused on the varied stages of life many single adults find themselves in. For now, though, we’ll gather together weekly to study the extremely practical book of James. We’ll also pursue missional opportunities together. This group will meet Tuesday evenings, location TBA.

Parents of Teens:
The teen years are often difficult on parents. This group provides a place for you to connect with other parents to pray for your children and for our student ministries. You’ll also have opportunity to share advice and encouragement with one another. The group will meet Wednesday at the church while your students are studying the Bible with Keith!

General Adult Group:
This group is open to all adults of any life stage. We’ll be working through the study, “Defining Moments”, a study Jesus’ significant teaching. The group will meet Wednesday evenings at the church so that any children can participate in AWANA.

How small group leaders cultivate spiritual growth.
Brett Eastman, CEO of Lifetogether, Inc.

Our small group, like most small groups, is comprised of people with varying degrees of Christian maturity. One lady arrived as a spiritual seeker. Within time, she committed her life to Christ and was baptized. The evening of her baptism was a special time for our small group, as we celebrated her decision and prayed with her. Both seasoned prayer warriors and new believers lifted up praises and petitions; new believers prayed out loud and learned that there is no right or wrong way to pray.

Because of this one event, others deeply grew in their prayer life. Those who never would have prayed out loud when they first joined ended the year praying. That kind of spiritual growth is exciting, but it doesn't happen immediately.

Transformation takes time. Despite the tendency to want instant spiritual growth, hosts are there to help members grow step-by-step, sometimes inch-by-inch. How do you do it? Following the acrostic CULTIVATE, here are nine simple steps to get you started.

Clarify the pathway of life. You need to being with the end in mind. Ask, "What is the goal?" According to the Bible, the goal is to present every man and woman complete in Christ. There isn't one person in your circle who doesn't want to grow. Your role is to find out how to move each member ahead.

Jesus' call is clear. He wants us to move from a seeker of Christ to a student in Christ who is studying the Word and growing in our faith. However, most people get stuck at the midway point.

After we learn to be a student, Christ wants us to be a servant. Generally, 20 percent of people jump into a servant role. Your job is to let the other 80 percent know that God calls every one of His people, according to his or her unique giftedness, to be a servant in the body of Christ.

Then let them know that everyone is called to be a shepherd. We are not all called to be leaders, pastors, or teachers. Your challenge to them is: "Follow me as I follow Christ." You're the one who's done it, so lead them forward. Consider charting out where people are, and then help them see where God wants them to be. Start with yourself, and pray about where you need to grow.

Understand your members' spiritual goals and dreams. All of us have them and want to work on them. Challange your members to find one thing God wants them to work on - they'll know if once they ask God. Then ask them to write it down. It might be reading God's word for the first time in their life, finding balance in theur busy life, or finding an opportunity to serve or share Christ with a nonbeliever. You might use a health assessment to check their spiritual pulse.

Once they are aware of what God is calling them to do, continue to challenge them in that area. Have them write down one tangible step they can take to begin to fulfill that dream.

Listen for God's heart for each person. You need to look for the moments when their eyes water, when they get fired up, or when they lose interest. When you see such reactions, you know something is happening in their hearts. Listen beyond their eyes and their physical presence for what God might be doing deep in their soul. Here is your chance to help bring those heart-felt desires out.

Transformation happens best through group discussion. The greatest transformation happens when you take the information from the teaching session and apply it. This doesn't happen in groups of 8-20 people; you have to divide them into smaller discussion groups of 3-4 people. In smaller groups, individuals have more air time and more time for application of the truths from the lesson.

Encourage them to share their goals. Expect them to achieve them together in their divided groups, and try to maintain the groups throughout the entire study. As Ecclesiastes says, two are better than one. God is in the middle of that cord, helping people grow and move to the next level.

Inspect that which you expect. If you cast out a spiritual challenge, like reading the Bible or taking on a new leadership role, write it down and continue to bring it back to focus at your small group meetings. You might ask somebody to keep track of those things that are more than prayer requests.

Ask the group to praise God for the results of the first three weeks of working on their goal. Then ask them what one problem they are struggling with, and help them come up with a plan for overcoming it over the next few weeks. When you put them in pairs to discuss these goals, usually the discussion goes deeper and there is greater accountability.

Validate every step. You need to say, "Hip-hip-hooray!" and "That-a-boy! That-a-girl!" Don't forget to affirm even the smallest of steps. One man brought a Bible to his group, and the leader said, "Fantastic. Now you might want to read it." Celebrate every step. Look for whatever progress there might be, and affirm them.

As a group you may agree to celebrate when someone shows progress - memorizing their first verse, praying out loud, reading a book of the Bible, or leading their first session. Your job is to ask, "Who is working on what, and how can we help you get to the next step?" Don't forget to include yourself. Leaders are also on a spiritual journey.

Ask whom they would like their spiritaul partner/mentor to be. Nine out of ten Christians - and even spiritual seekers - want to grow spiritually. But nine out of ten don't know how to make it happen alone. You are the catalyst to help members find spiritual partners. Start with yourself, and ask someone in the group to be your partner for the next six weeks. Then ask the group whom they would like to partner with for the next six weeks. Ideally, men pair with men, and women with women.

At the end of the meeting in which you pair them up, have them exchange e-mail addresses and spend some time setting goals and praying together. Encourage them to celebrate when they take steps in their spiritual journey. Remeber, sheep need a shepherd, but shepherds need shepherds as well.

Together you accomplish more than you could ever do alone. Shared goals make a difference. If you all stack hands and vow to do one ministry project together - just one over the course of six weeks - it will happen. Just ask your group what interests them and what the group could accomplish together. Then ask people to take on positions to start getting it done.

Our group was moved to feed the homeless. We made a plan and then made barbecue chicken meals. To make a long story short, two of the homeless men ended up coming to Christ - their lives were changed forever. More than that, our small group changed forever, as they learned what can happen when they express themselves in love with Christ's help. We all grew through that experience.

Expect them to pass it on. If you do not expect them to pass on that which they have been given, they won't fulfill the Great Commission. Not everyone is called to be a teacher, but cast a vision that everyone is called to be a shepherd of some. It doesn't have to be 22; it doesn't have to be 12. It doesn't even have to be more than one, but where two or more are gathered, there God is in their midst. Someday, they must come up with the name of one person whom they can shepherd.

As a group, make a list of people who seem to be succeeding at life in spite of living an immoral lifestyle (celebrities, politicians, athletes, etc.).

Why do you think God allows these people to be so successful?

If you focus on the future, is it easier to comprehend these people's present success? Why?

Throughout the book of Habakkuk, God

Read Habakkuk 3:17-19. How do you think Habbakkuk was able to be "joyful" even though things were bad and appeared to be getting worse?

If these verses were written about your life, what would they say? Do you think your faith would be the same as Habakkuk's? Why or why not?

Habakkuk 2:4 says "the righteous will live by faith". Habakkuk wrote this during the hardest of times. What do you think it means to "live by faith" in difficult circumstances?

What present circumstances make it difficult for you to always obey God? Why?

Read Hebrews 11:32-39. Which of the circumstances in this passage is closest to your present difficulties? What do you think made it possible for these people to live by faith in such difficult situations?

Which of the following is most likely to derail you from obeying God?
- You are afraid things might not work out like you want.
- You've seen too many people disobey God and succeed.
- You're having too much fun.
- Not everything makes sense yet.
- Other (explain).

Read 1 John 2:3-6. How can these verses shape your life this week?

Alan Danielson has several "tip sheets" available for small group leaders.

Click Here

Included are:
Small Group Agreement
Helping Your Group Embrace Mission
Small Group Childcare Checklist
Troubleshooting Issues
Developing Better Listening Skills
Facilitating Better Discussion
Preventing Conflict
Managing Conflict
Resolving Conflict
Tips for Online Small Groups