Creative Community

Formalized small groups aren’t for everyone. Yet, the New Testament clearly commands us to spend time with one another, motivating and encouraging one another to good works (growth). The following questions can serve as a template for two or three people to have coffee together or for a group of 15 to gather in a home. Wherever your comfort level may be, you should be spending time with believers. Use these questions and use that time to empower growth in one another. What has God said? Everything God desires us to know can be discovered in His Word. As we build into one another’s lives, one of the most important topics around which we grow is understanding what God has said to us. Whether you spend 15 minutes reading a passage together or 2 hours digging into one verse; discerning God’s message is critical for spiritual growth. If you aren’t sure how best to answer this question, consider the following ideas: Choose a chapter from Proverbs (or another book) and rea...

Groups with a clear focus have a much higher chance of success.

Many churches consistently push people toward small groups as a vehicle to help them grow. This isn't just a churchy thing, though. "Secular" research also suggests that the people whom we allow to influence us will either drag us down or pull us up to their level.

Discussions can be the primary method by which people grow in small groups. Learning to lead good discussions takes time and practice. Use the following thoughts to work on your abilities leading discussion. View the 10 Commandments for Leading Discussions here. Prepare “good” questions prior to the meeting Have you ever been part of a discussion that went absolutely no where? One of the most important tasks a small group leader needs to execute is GOOD PREPARATION. If your group is going to engage in a good discussion, that will ONLY HAPPEN if you are willing to take the time beforehand to prepare good questions. You can follow these steps to prepare good questions ahead of time: 1) Plan. Set aside ample time for preparation. This time will include prayer, study, contemplation, and writing so 15 minutes before your group meeting is probably not enough. You need to set a time, block it off on your calendar, and honor that commitment to yourself. 2) Pray. T...

Small groups are a critical part of discipleship ministry. They give believers the opportunity to develop healthy relationships and grow in community. The best small groups utilize discussions to enable growth in each person. Below are 10 steps which will help you lead effective discussions. In the coming days, I'll write more about each of the steps: 1. Prepare “good” questions prior to the meeting 2. Create a climate of acceptance 3. Actively listen to each person 4. Affirm all legitimate expressions of opinion from your group members 5. “Peel the Onion” with questions 6. Be careful about taking sides in a “debate” 7. Allow for humor and rabbit trails 8. Don’t be afraid of silence. 9. Deal with discussion killers. 10. Be a facilitator, not an expert.

James wrote, "You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." How would your communication with others change (improve) if you allowed this piece of wisdom to drive your conversations? I've heard it said that God designed us to communicate well by giving us two ears and one mouth. Therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak. While this may not be a theologically accurate statement, the idea of listening more than speaking carries much value. Communication is about more than just speaking and listening though. Effective communication is about UNDERSTANDING . Listening alone is very rarely enough to gain understanding and speaking alone is rarely enough to create understanding. A third piece is not just helpful, it's necessary. Effective communication also requires asking. LISTEN: Understanding begins with listening. It's not enough to simply "hear" what someone else is saying, I need to fully give m...

This is a small group exercise designed for brave and self-directed groups who easily engage one another in meaningful discussion. Whether you do this in a group meeting, or around a table at Starbucks, this is a chance to interact with one another about real life stuff, using the Bible as your foundation for wisdom. To get the full value from this exercise, you must be committed to Scripture rather than your own wisdom! Before you begin, take a moment and have each person say one encouraging thing to the person sitting to their left. Read James 1:19 in unison. Remind the group that the three virtues identified in this verse are central to every group's growth. Have one person read James 1:22-25. Tell the group you'll be doing an exercise which will give them all the opportunity to be a DOER instead of just a HEARER. Take turns. Let one person share a personal struggle they are currently having. As a group, ask questions and listen closely so you can gain a f...