Small Groups

A primary mission of small groups to multiply/fractal to be able to share the experience of being in Christ. The more people that are in small groups, growing, learning, expanding, experiencing - the more invested they are in what is happening through this church


Covenants.

Do them. Revisit them at least monthly. Embed the DNA. Multiplying/evangelism is a core DNA piece of every group. The primary purpose being what is called "12 Stepping" in 12 Steps group. But Christians had it long before that. "12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others, and to practice these principals in all of our affairs." Our
purpose is to share our experience of Jesus Christ with the world around us.


From Bill Easum on "Essential for Group Meetings"

1. Every gathering includes sharing, prayer and Bible study.

2. The Bible is the authority for both study and living. However, avoid ideological/doctrinal arguments. No one convinces on those.

3. Lead everything in love. Acceptance and forgiveness are the marks of a group.

4. Follow-up with members during the week is essential. Regular members and guests. Use the phone or email. Have someone in the group designated as the Visitation Minister is someone is in the
hospital or sick at home. Pass the info on to the church Pastor.

5. New members need to be brought into the group regularly. This keeps the group from becoming stale and insulated - focused more on internal fellowship and relationships than reaching out. It role models evangelism and allows the group to multiply. A group will “nest” within 365 days unless it has been reflecting on up to that point how to be sharing the Gospel with the world around them

6. Problems that arise need to be handled away from the gathering. Do not allow seriously dysfunctional persons to dominate the group. Get them to a recovery group. Do not let them destroy a healthy group.

7. Gossip or pointing the finger at someone else, or griping about the church is not permitted under any circumstance.

8. The group leader needs a good sense of humor and an ability to keep the conversation on the direction that the group wants to go.

9. A relaxed atmosphere will encourage more spiritual growth than one filled with gloom and doom or overly serious faces.

10. The physical surroundings of the gathering are important. Conversational setting. Don't answer the phone, let the machine take a message. Don't let young children usurp the gathering's purpose.
Keep pets clear. Don't start late or run overtime. Meet more often outside of the church bldg than in it as much as possible.

11. There are three agendas at a gathering:
a. the stated agenda
b. the needs of the group as a whole
c. the personal needs of individuals

12. Allow the group to choose their own nature, time, place, material and frequency of gathering.

13. Tracking small group attendance is more important than tracking finances or worship attendance.

14. Do not indiscriminately pass the leadership role around. Use those who feel called and then let the group decide if they have the gift for leading a group. There are a variety of roles/gifts that are
needed for a small group.

15. Prepare your lesson so those who have read the material are glad they did, but those who did not, do not feel left out.

16. Avoid reading long sections of material before opening it up for questions and comments.

17. Avoid yes or no answer type questions.

18. Pledges and offerings can be collected in small groups.

19. Be part of one group and give your all to the purpose and mission of that group. Being in multiple groups divides your loyalty and your passion. If you feel the need to start a group, find someone else
from your group and ask for your group's blessing to send you off as missionaries to help start that new group. Possibly ask your original group to pray for your new group and to meet jointly for a few weeks
to help the new group to get started.

20. Don't focus around books or study materials. These are means to the end of growing spiritually mature disciples of Jesus Christ. The study material nor the fellowship of the group should ever become
primary. They enable. They are not the goal or the controlling factor of the group getting together. Christ is the controlling factor we get together.