Small groups provide the ideal environment for New Testament discipleship. Every picture we have of the early church is painted in the context of relational interaction. The first Christians were always together, always building each other up, always helping one another be formed into the image of Christ.
In your small group, you can facilitate New Testament type discipleship by regularly implementing the four following conversations into your group time:
Encourage the group to commit themselves to serving, and hold one another accountable for the commitments made. A healthy group will also use this opportunity to help people discover they are over-committed or perhaps serving in a venue they are not gifted for.
You probably noticed that these four conversations could serve as a template for every group meeting. You won't go wrong if you do that.
However, you might not integrate all of these conversations into all of your group meetings. That's okay. Find time, though to have these discussions on a regular basis and you'll discover your group growing closer to one another, closer to our Heavenly Father and becoming more like Jesus!
In your small group, you can facilitate New Testament type discipleship by regularly implementing the four following conversations into your group time:
1. Build authentic relationships.
Caring for one another and building one another up will occur more effectively if everyone in your group feels comfortable with one another. Spend time every time you’re together asking and answering questions about each other. Good questions can often launch your group into fruitful inter-personal discussion. Consider the following ten week schedule for your opening Q&A time:· Who are your heroes?· What are your strengths?· What unique skills do you have?· What are your most important beliefs?· What things do you value?· What is the mission of your life?· What things always keep your interest?· What do you dream about doing?· What are the key events of your life?· What is something we need to know about you?Modify the questions for your group, or use completely different ones. The key is to spend time getting to know one another a little bit better.
2. Set aside time for "Gift Discovery".
Allow time on a regular basis to talk about the gifts and talents you see in one another. Discuss together how each person could use their gifts to serve the church as well as to serve the world around them.Encourage the group to commit themselves to serving, and hold one another accountable for the commitments made. A healthy group will also use this opportunity to help people discover they are over-committed or perhaps serving in a venue they are not gifted for.
3. Encourage application.
When you study the Bible, take time to talk about how the truths will practically impact people's lives. Allow each person the opportunity to discuss the things in their life they need to change. Take time as a group to follow up on commitments made.4. Talk about being missional.
Schedule time when your group can get together to do something which will show Christ's love to your community. Many opportunities exist for a group to serve together. You can call the local rescue mission, a national ministry like Habitat for Humanity, a thrift shop, or a soup kitchen. If you can’t set a time when you can serve together, take a week off from your meeting and use that time to get out and show Jesus’ love.You probably noticed that these four conversations could serve as a template for every group meeting. You won't go wrong if you do that.
However, you might not integrate all of these conversations into all of your group meetings. That's okay. Find time, though to have these discussions on a regular basis and you'll discover your group growing closer to one another, closer to our Heavenly Father and becoming more like Jesus!
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