Skip to main content

Summer Is Coming!

As summer approaches, you may have already started making plans for your group's activities while school is out. Many groups choose to stop meeting for the summer and then relaunch in the fall. Some choose to meet less frequently, and others make no changes during the summer.

As we approach this natural break time, here are some things to be thinking about and/or discussing with your group:
  • What can we do to be "missional" this summer? Calvary's 100+ campaign will provide a great opportunity for groups to actively minister in ways that show Christ's love to our neighbors. Your group should set up at least one or two times to serve together.
  • Who can we add to our group this summer? If you use summer as a time to have informal get-togethers, you have a great opportunity to introduce new people into your group. Begin building relationships in these less threatening environments, so that when things get more formalized in the fall, you will have less "work" to do in building community.
  • What will we do in the fall? Now is a good time to start thinking about your formative activities because if you can make a decision now, you have all summer to locate the best possible materials.
  • Should we consider multiplying? If your group is consistently growing, it may be time to launch a "cousin" group. Find someone in your group who should be leading and use the summer to make plans to re-launch two groups instead of one. (you might be able to creatively find ways to link the groups, so it doesn't feel like a "split")
Don't miss the Summer Summit on June 3, we'll be talking more about some of these issues!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Discussion Questions for Easter

Have several people ask the question, “What’s the most important thing you’ve ever done?” Ask other people, “What do you hope to accomplish in the next several years of your life?” Tell your class that today you’ll be talking about “life mission” or the one most important thing you do that drives everything else. Tell them that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the defining moment in history, so it should be the defining moment in our lives. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. How does the resurrection impact some of the crucial beliefs of Christianity?  How would Christianity be different if there was no resurrection? How would you be different without the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. What are some specific ways that the resurrection gives us hope? If you had been a friend of Jesus when he was on earth, how would the resurrection have impacted your life?  How do you think his followers then were effected by the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthian...
3 comments
Read more

FIGHT CLUB! (iron sharpening iron)

Our youth pastor, Keith Sandison, has implemented "Fight Clubs" with the young men of our church. While these teenagers and young adults aren't actually pummeling each other physically, they are using the opportunity to aggressively challenge one another to be more attentive to their spiritual formation. Right now my son is participating in a fight club focusing on Proverbs. I love it. Keith has created a handout he uses for the fight clubs which lists seven different methods of "generic Bible study". I think the idea started with this post a few years ago, but as he often does; Keith took my thoughts and made them immensely more substantive and beneficial. Check out his system below:
1 comment
Read more

SOAPY Bible Study

In the past, I've written about and talked about the SOAP method of Bible study. This is a simple Bible study method which can be utilized by an individual or a small group. All you need is a passage of Scripture and 15-30 minutes (a journal is helpful). Many churches use this method of Bible study for their groups. Some have modified the SOAP method by adding a Y. Read more about it below: This Bible study is an intentional focused effort of growing in the understanding of the scriptures. This form of study will assist in the transformation of our inner lives as we mature in understanding and in faith. Set aside 15 minutes every day for the study. You might want to take more time after you have gotten started. Don’t overload yourself in the beginning. Keep a “soapy” journal because there will be the need to write everyday. As you develop your routine, share what you are learning with your Discipleship Group, Sunday school class, Circle, other groups in which y...
1 comment
Read more