You wouldn't generally just get in your car and drive without knowing where you were going or why you were going there. For the same reason, knowing the destination is one of the keys to small groups at Saddleback. The Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18a KJV).

The first key is our vision and mission for small groups.

Small Group Vision - Why We Are Here
“To see every person, from the core of our church to the ever-growing community, connected in a healthy small group.”

Small Group Mission - What We Do
“Help spiritual seekers become transformed believers who model Purpose Driven Lives and motivate others to do the same.”

Essentially, we want to see everyone get connected into a healthy small group. The reason is because we know that life change happens more rapidly in community with other believers.

In our next post, we'll share the second key to Saddleback small groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Easter approaches, get your small group geared up:

Here are some ideas:

• Movie night - rent "The Passion of the Christ" and watch it together as a small group. It has a two-hour runtime, so plan accordingly.
• Passover Seder – some small groups have shared a Seder meal to experience the ritual of Passover and recognize its significance to Easter. If you Google "Christian Seder meal" you'll find many excellent websites that detail how to have one.
• Easter brunch – why is it that small groups seem to revolve around food? Many small groups will celebrate Easter together, as a small group family, with a brunch. This year the Saddleback family will be celebrating Easter at Angel Stadium. How about a BBQ afterwards at the home of one of your group members?
• Celebration meeting – some groups will take the first meeting after Easter as a celebration, with a potluck dinner and a short meeting ending with communion. For directions on having communion in your group, click here.
• Kids – many groups plan children’s activities for the first meeting after Easter, helping the children to share in the conversations and feelings about this important day.
• Baptisms – some groups plan to come together for the baptisms of some of their members. This year at Easter you can be baptized at Angel Stadium with 50,000 people in attendance. What a great time to be baptized, and for your small group to celebrate.
  Get your group looking ahead to Easter and this year will be more special than ever!

Small groups are fun. They’re just plain fun. You get to hang with people you like, with friends who soon become family. You get to eat great food. You get to talk about meaningful, life-altering, mind-changing ideas. And, at some point, you see that your life is changing. So, what are you supposed to do about it?

It’s very easy to look inward, to grow to be a tighter, closer group of friends and to enjoy those friendships that hopefully we’re all building in our groups. And then, to focus on how to protect and nurture those relationships. But we’re chartered by Jesus (meaning: directed, focused) to serve others and to tell others about what we have. That’s outward focus.

Here's how your group can serve and reach others at the same time (pay attention to number 3):

1. You talk about it. It becomes a regular question you ask in your small group: “what should we do next to serve others?” Or, “what should we do next to reach friends, family, co-workers and neighbors who don’t know Christ?”

2. You put it on the calendar. “The third weekend of every month we’re serving in [Compton, the motel ministry, the senior center or wherever.]”

3. Invite friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to come and serve with you - even if they aren't believers. Most people will be delighted to have some way to do something good for others.

4. Take time in your next group meeting after every serving opportunity for everyone to talk about what they saw God doing in your midst on the day you served.

Your group and your guests will discover the heart of Christ as you are serving as His hands and feet. Reaching out reaches in.

Want to know more about each of the Biblical purposes for your small group? Every month a Saddleback Community Leader teaches one of the LT-2 advanced leader training modules. Each of these modules takes you deeper in one of the purposes. For example, LT-2 Empower helps you see how to get your small group members serving in ministry.

Watch the Small Group email Newsletter for a list of the upcoming LT-2 courses and then sign up. All leaders are learners. Keep learning and help your group to grow in spiritual health.

Trying to follow Christ's direction by incorporating the Great Commission and Great Commandment purposes in your small group is a lot easier if other members of your group help. Remember, the key is to have a balanced group, ensuring that your group is doing something in each of the five purposes. Rather than you trying to juggle and direct all of the group's activities so that over time your group is balanced, how could you divide up the responsibilities? One way is to use "Don't Lead Alone." Remember when you went to LT-1 they gave you a couple free gifts? Don't Lead Alone was one of them.

Don't Lead Alone is a 6 CD set that includes one CD for the group Host to listen to and five for the Host to give to members of the group. There's one CD for each of the purposes. All you have to do is think about the members of your group and imagine what each person might be shaped to do.

 

One person may be expressive and creative. That might be your worship person. Give them the worship CD.

 

Another likes the Bible - they're your discipleship person. Give them the discipleship CD.

 

You simply privately give each person the CD that is best for them. Ask them to listen to the CD and pray about the opportunity. God will take care of the rest. If some of them decline the opportunity, that just means that God has someone else for that; maybe someone who hasn't even joined your group yet.

 

As each purpose gets a "champion," that person will take the responsibility for that purpose in your group.

If you haven't gone to LT-1 yet, you're missing out on great information like this! And, if you're not the Host of your group, you can still attend LT-1 so you can understand where your group is heading.

 

In the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, Jesus describes five things for his followers to do: worship God, join with other believers in fellowship, grow to become more like Christ, minister to others, and reach out to a lost and hurting world.

Just like most believers, most small groups tend to favor one or two of these "purposes" to the exception of the others. But health comes from balance - a balanced diet, a balanced work-rest schedule, a balanced perspective on life being some examples. How do you balance five different purposes in your life? And, taking a step up from there, how do you balance them in your small group?

We'll share a few thoughts over the next couple of blog posts to help your small group have a "balanced" view. Here's the thought for today:

Don't try to do every one of the five in every meeting. That's a formula that can lead to a mechanical and less fulfilling small group. Instead, try to do each of the five in roughly equal amounts over a month, or a quarter. So,

• Intentionally schedule activities for your small group for social activities. That's the easy one, we all like to get together and fellowship.
• Make sure that your group includes discipleship activities - studying God's Word, learning more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
• Plan times when your group will serve others. Maybe someone in your own group is struggling and needs some help with their car, their house, their resume. Or, take your group to help rebuild Compton or Santa Ana on the days when those serving opportunities are available.
• Intentionally plan to develop the ability for people in your group to share their faith in others. Maybe have Horace Willard come speak to your group (949.713.6332) or have your group serve in some low risk outreach opportunities like the "Breakfast Together" part of the motel ministry or include a good small group study like Andy Stanley's "Go Fish" curriculum in your group's study plan.
• And lastly, look for ways for your group to include worship in your group activities. Worship is shown to God by how we live our lives, but there are very worshipful activities that can help our minds and hearts reflect on God and our desire to worship Him. Maybe it's going as a group to the monthly Night of Worship, or adding communion into your group meeting, or buying some praise music and getting people singing or having one small group meeting where all you do is pray.

In the next post we'll bring another "balanced" thought to you.

Our Leadership Training 1 (LT-1) class is not just for Hosts, it’s extremely beneficial for all small group members. But getting your entire group to attend a class on campus might be difficult. So, since LT-1 is being taught online each month, why not host an LT-1 party at your home. Here are a couple of suggestions:

·         If you have wireless Internet, invite your small group members to bring their laptops and participate in the class from your home. They can register for the class and get credit too, or

·         If you have a big-screen TV that you can connect to your computer, your small group members can participate that way.

Give it a try and tell us your experience. The next online LT-1 class will be publicized by email and on this blog.

When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question. If silence doesn't bother you, it won't bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response with a simple "thanks" or "great answer." Then ask, "How about somebody else?" or "Would someone who hasn't shared like to add anything?" Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren't ready to say, pray, or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will blossom over time.

This tip is from Saddleback's Leader Training 1

The most exciting part of being in a small group is experiencing life change, and there are simple ways to maximize the opportunity for spiritual growth in your small group.

Just remember these two tips:

 

1. If you’re a gifted teacher, members of your small group are not your students. Your best gift to them will be to teach them how to learn, not to have them sit at your feet and listen to your great teaching. While the latter might make you feel good, it won’t help them grow. Life change happens rapidly when people begin to engage with God’s Word. That means when they chew on it with others. If you’re talking, they’re not chewing. But, wonderful things happen when instead of just feeding people, we help them feed themselves.

 

2. Give everyone in the group an opportunity to facilitate (not lead) the group. Some groups have a rotating schedule and everyone is on it. Make it easy. You can do like many people do and provide a quick outline – start the group at this time, have someone open the group in prayer at this time, finish worship music at this time, have the discussion end and prayer requests start at this time, close the meeting at this time. Then provide positive reinforcement to everyone when they facilitate.

 

Don’t worry if people are resistant at first, and don’t be in a hurry. It might take a little time. But, you will find your group getting a new excitement and a new energy for the group when everybody gets to facilitate group meetings. And, you'll notice that people's lives are changing, including yours.

 

So, you know someone from out of the area who you think would be terrific to invite to speak at your small group. Only one problem, they don't live in this area. What do you do?

How about having them visit your group online? All you need is a laptop, an internet connection and a webcam. Here's how you do it:

Go to www.tokbox.com on your computer. Sign up - it's free. Then find a convenient place to put your laptop in the middle of your meeting area. You'll need wi-fi for your laptop - or a long Internet cable.

When it's time for your meeting, connect to Tokbox on your computer, contact your pre-arranged guest, and start a Tokbox chat with them. It's a very good idea to do a dry run with your guest a day or two ahead of time so you can have this worked out.

You will probably need some small computer speakers hooked to your computer so you can turn the volume up. Then simply introduce your guest and let them talk. When they're done talking have your group ask questions.

You'll be surprised at the guests you can get to your group when all they have to do is talk on their computer. Try this and you'll have a fun and exciting way to liven up your group.

Here's a way to give your small group a little fresh air. Invite a guest to speak at your group. Maybe it's someone you met at church who has a great testimony. Or, someone involved in leadership in one of the ministries. Maybe it's a pastor - okay, you probably can't get Pastor Rick but there are lots of pastors to choose from. How about your Community Leader. This is a veteran of small groups who is in leadership in the ministry in service to your group and as many as 2-3 dozen other groups. Your Community Leader talks to these groups on a regular basis and so they have stories of things that are working for other groups that they can bring with them when they visit. They can also tell you about what they do to support your group - they're an invaluable resource that only the smartest groups take full advantage of. How about someone on the PEACE team? They're great speakers and they love small groups. Or, ask your Community Leader or Area Leader for some ideas of guest speakers. Don't know your Area Leader? This is the staff pastor responsible for caring for your group and several hundred others. Your Community Leader reports to them. In fact, your Area Leader might even be willing to be a guest speaker at your group. Others to consider - visiting missionaries, musical guests (lots of people play instruments and sing - ask them to visit!), visiting pastors (sign up to host pastors who visit the church from out of the area, then ask them to speak to your group), you get the idea.

A guest speaker breaks up the routine, brings a new and often very fresh message to the group, and gives your group the breather that keeps things interesting. You can even have a guest speaker via online - we'll talk about that in the next blog post

Serving the Lord's Supper in your group

"...The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink, in remembrance of me.'  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."  (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Steps in Serving Communion

1. Open by sharing about God's love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, commitment, tenderheartedness, faithfulness, etc., out of your personal journey (connect with the story of your people in the room
2. Read the passage "...The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'
3. Pray and pass the bread around the circle (could be time for quiet reflection, singing a simple praise song, or listening to a worship tape
4. When everyone has been served, remind them that this represents Jesus' broken body on their behalf.  Simply state, "Jesus said, 'Do this in remembrance of me.'  Let us eat together," and eat the bread as a group
5. Then read the rest of the passage "...In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'
6. Pray and serve the cup, either by passing a small tray, serving them individually, or by having them pick up a cup from the table.
7. When everyone has been served, remind them that the juice represents Christ's blood shed for them, then simply state, "Take and drink in remembrance of Him.  Let us drink together
8. Finish by singing a simple song, listening to a praise song, or having a time of prayer in thanks to God.

Several Practical Tips in Serving Communion

• Prepare the elements simply, sacredly, and yet remember, symbolically.
• Be sensitive to timing in your meeting.
• Break up pieces of cracker or soft bread on a small plate or tray.  Don't use large servings of bread or grape juice.  We ask that you only use grape juice, not wine, so you will not cause a brother or sister to struggle.
• Have all of the elements prepared beforehand, and just bring them into the room or to the table when you are ready.

Communion verses:  Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; I Cor 10:16-21, 11:17-34

This is the second-part of the previous post in which we share a few keys about serving, or how your group ministers to others. 

4.       Involve everyone in the group, because serving is a heart builder. When members of your group are the hands and feet of Christ in service they start to understand Christ’s heart for people.

5.       Don’t force a ministry on anyone. People are at different levels. Some are ready to go feed people on skid row. Others have trouble meeting strangers. Let the individuals decide what they want to or don’t want to get involved in. Bring the willing. Over time, their excited stories of what God did through them will help the others get used to the idea. People are more likely to do what they have done before or those ideas to which they have become accustomed.

6.       Along with number 5, it’s okay if some want to do something else. Your group bonds through serving together but some people just won’t want to serve in something that everyone else wants to do. It’s okay. Give them permission to not get involved.

7.       Follow the passion. If someone in your small group has a heart for a particular ministry, unless the group is booked for serving already, let them present their idea to the group and encourage the group to try the idea. Your group just might discover that this ministry is exactly what they love doing, but would have never thought of.

 

 

 

One of the most awesome qualities about Saddleback small groups is that they balance the Biblical purposes from the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. So, each small group finds their own ways to worship God, join in fellowship together, grow in discipleship, reach out to others who don’t know Christ, and also to serve or minister to others. Many small groups have a “champion” for each of these five purposes, using the “Don’t Lead Alone” CD set that every person gets when they attend Leader Training 1. Some use the “250 Big Ideas” book that’s also given free at LT1. But in this post, we want to share a few keys about serving, how your group ministers to others.

1.       There is no one way or one ministry in serving. Your small group may feel drawn to get involved with a campus-based ministry, like baptism or CLASS. Or, people may love the idea of serving those less fortunate through rebuilding Compton or Santa Ana, or serving in the motel ministry. Just do what suits your group.

2.       Try different ministries until you find one that clicks. Don’t dismiss a ministry opportunity because “it doesn’t feel right.” It might not initially, but your group might find that it’s a great growth opportunity that takes everyone out of their comfort zone and makes them more receptive to what God wants them to learn.

3.       Serving regularly builds your health. Don’t just do one project a year, check it off of your to-do list and call it good. That’s like going to the fitness center once a year and thinking that you’re helping your health.

[to be continued]

Now that the holidays are over and small groups are raring to go, here are some ideas on what your group can study next.

There are thirteen weeks between New Year and Easter. “God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions” Small Group study is finally in the Pavilion bookstore on the Patio. So are the re-done small group studies for Foundations. So your group could start with “God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions” right after New Years. That’s a six week study with a book to go with it. Then you could do the four week study on "Jesus" from Foundations, leading up to Palm Sunday. After Easter, your group could do the four week Foundations study on "The Holy Spirit" leading up to Pentecost, followed by the four week Foundations study on "The Church." These Foundations study guides are all new.

Or, click here for more curriculum to consider. You'll find 10 pages of our best ideas for where to take your group next.

Happy New Year!

There are so many things to get done this time of year. But don’t miss the chance to give your small group members an extra touch in the next couple of weeks. Christmas is a time of joy, but it can also be a time of loneliness and sadness for many. Take a moment to call each member of your small group and wish them a joyous holiday. Then, just listen. If you don’t hear joy from them, if instead you hear softness or busy-ness or even stress, take the time to tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t be insincere, be genuine, reflect back to them the things you appreciate about who they are. Tell them that you are grateful for God having brought them to your group. Tell them that they are loved. That’s what good families do. That’s what good small groups do.

Have singles in your group? Make sure everyone has somewhere to go for Christmas day. Don’t assume that they’re covered, that someone has invited them. Make sure. And if they don’t have anyplace to go, it’s your opportunity to minister to them by inviting them to your house. A small group is a family and even if you have a houseful of your immediate family for Christmas you can teach your family about putting love in Christmas by making a place for those who otherwise would sit home alone. If you're a single and don't have any place to go, plan a birthday party for Jesus at your house on Christmas day and invite others to join you.

If you’re traveling, ask other members of your group to invite those who don’t have a place for Christmas. In your small group, make sure no one is alone for Christmas.

Your small group party doesn't have to be elaborate, it just has to happen. Have it on your regular group meeting night. Make it a potluck party where everyone brings food. Have a "red" and "green" potluck, where every food has to be red or green, even if it requires food coloring. Nothing like lime jello and cranberries!

Put someone in charge of finding words for Christmas carols and printing enough for everyone.

Take the whole group out into the neighborhood the night of the party for Christmas caroling - just 4-5 homes will get everyone in the spirit. Don't let the naysayers keep the group from doing this. Be a little forceful, lead people out, everyone will have fun and thank you later.

Have someone read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20.

Maybe one member of your group is a storyteller. Have them make up a Christmas story and tell it at the Christmas party.

Have a "white elephant" gift exchange.  Play some Christmas games like Secret Santa. Spend just a few minutes on the Internet and you'll find hundreds of games for Christmas parties.

Don’t let the busy-ness of the season interfere with your small group meeting. Just know that there will be a little pressure to “take a break,” but gently remind your group of Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Here are a few ideas to get your group in the mood of the season right away:

·         Start singing Christmas carols in your group meetings.

·         Schedule your small group Christmas party for an upcoming meeting night.

·         Find a Christmas small group project to help others and get the kids in the group involved.

o   Adopt a child through Angel Tree

o   Serve at a homeless motel on a Sunday

·         Plan one of your meetings as an "open house" small group meeting when everyone invites their friends to the group for food, fun and fellowship.

·         Do a Christmas study like the Purpose of Christmas. 

·         Get the group involved in making an Advent Calendar .  

More ideas coming in a future post. If you have a great idea that you have tried in your small group post a comment to this post and let everyone else hear about it.

Next week, have your small group meeting on Wednesday or Thursday and bring your entire group to the Worship Center at 7pm for special Celebrations for all small groups. Choose either night, November 18 and 19. It’s going to be a wonderful night that combines Night of Worship and a time of reflection and celebration for what God has done during the Life’s Healing Choices campaign. Pastor Steve Gladen and Pastor Buddy Owens will be leading the evening and you’ll enjoy lots of worship, great stories and a time of greater bonding for your small group.

When Kool and the Gang sang that song in the 80’s it became the Friday night anthem for lots of people. Fortunately, the idea is still sound. No matter what is going on in your group, there’s always a reason for a celebration. Just finished a study, celebrate. Just did a ministry project together, celebrate. Just went on a mission trip as a small group, celebrate.

Have you planned the celebration in your small group now that your group has gone through Life’s Healing Choices? No? Well, make your next meeting after the end of the study a party! Here are some ideas:

Meet at a restaurant, maybe some place no one has been. Try something different. How about Peruvian food? How about someplace where you can just order a bunch of food, put it in the middle and everyone tries some of everything?

Have a progressive dinner. Start at one house for one course, go to the next house for another, and to a third for dessert.

Combine food with fun. Go bowling and eat there. Go to Boomers and eat there. Go to the beach and have a bonfire and eat there. Hmm. Notice the common thread? Eating!

Have a potluck dinner with everyone bringing something a favorite family recipe.

These are group celebrations. Most importantly, make sure you celebrate what God did in your midst. Have a time when everyone in the group is quiet and can share how they were impacted by the study, what they see differently now, what they are doing now as a result of what they learned, how their future has changed.

Don't miss the celebration. It's the party to honor God for what he is doing.

By Todd Olthoff, Married Life Pastor, Saddleback

In the last post, I talked about what could happen with what seems like an innocent connection on Facebook. I shared one idea for how to keep yourself out of danger. In this post, I'll share several more ways you can keep yourself safe from the perils of social networks.

- - - - - - - -

Second, if you are writing things you would never want your spouse to see, stop it now. Have an open check and balance system in your marriage when it comes to Facebook. Allow your spouse access to your account. Only use your account when your spouse is in the room. Let your spouse know who all your friends are and even have the freedom to check your email account when you get updates. If you are not willing to be open you are probably already having conversations you shouldn't have.

 

Third, don’t "friend" old flames or people you dated in the past. It is probably a good idea to not even have the temptation around. You can completely avoid the temptation by just not “friending” people who could step into this kind of role in your life.

 

Fourth, avoid the instant chat feature and texting. If the only form of communication is to write on the other person’s wall, you avoid the long drawn out conversations that feel private that can lead to the kinds of emotional affairs described above.

 

Finally, limit your online social media time. Don’t get consumed in living in the never ending, always on world of social media. Only check your Facebook page once a day when your spouse is present. Don’t substitute real live face to face relationships for online virtual relationships. You have a real life to live!

 

Hopefully you will consider the potential hazards of allowing social media to dominate your life and do everything you can to protect your marriage and family. I haven’t met a person yet who said they went on Facebook to find someone to have an affair with. It is something that snuck up on them and happened subtly over time. They thought they were immune when they first started so just be wise in how you engage and interact with these services. While you may never act on or have an affair, having anyone that you compare your spouse to in an unfavorable way will negatively effect your marriage.

 

By Todd Olthoff, Married Life Pastor, Saddleback

With the advent of new technology, things never before considered possible are now just a key stroke away. Who would have ever thought we could catch up  with old friends and family to see how they are doing and what their lives are like no matter where they are located in the world? Those old high school buddies and prom dates that you always wondered what happened to them can be found with a simple search and an invite to connect as friends. It’s like a huge high school reunion without having to buy new clothes, get a makeover, and lose weight. What an incredible service, right?

 

Well for many, Facebook has become a source of pain and caused the breakdown of their marriages and relationships.

 

It all starts off innocently really. You find an old high school flame or someone you may have had a crush on. You become friends and see that he/she turned out great. You begin to write on each other’s walls and eventually discover the ability to live chat when you are both online at the same time. You catch up on old times and share stories about your lives now. Pretty soon you start sharing personal things about your life including your struggles, maybe even problems in your marriage, seeking advice on what to do. You start to realize this person you are talking to seems to be perfect in every way and you both struggle in your current relationships. As you commiserate together, you begin to wonder “what if?” What if we had dated beyond high school? What if we had gotten married instead of marrying our current spouse? What would life have been like? You begin to believe that all of your dreams that you left behind could have really happened if you had married this person instead. You begin to compliment one another and even flirt a little. Pretty soon you both share that you have feelings for one another. The excitement of being complimented and wanted by someone else, and new feelings of possibilities, causes you to want to meet. Now your conversations are more hidden as you realize that if either of your spouses found out what you were talking about it could cause real conflict and of course you both care about the other person’s spouse and family and would never want to see them get hurt. The more you talk, the more secretive your conversation gets and you find yourself quickly closing your chat sessions and developing codes you use with one another to let the person know the spouse is in the room. Eventually you decide to meet and without meaning to, an affair happens. 

I could go on with the story but you get the point. Facebook “hook ups” are happening more and more as people begin to discover this new technology. Does that mean Facebook is evil? No, not in itself. What it does mean is that you need to be aware of the dangers of entertaining a “what if” scenario and put some checks in place to guard your heart against the potential emotional connection that can happen through this and other types of social media.

 

First, the same rules that apply to face to face meetings should apply to Facebook. You would never have ongoing dates with members of the opposite sex to discuss your life and marital problems in public would you? ( If you answered "yes" then that is for another article). Of course not because you know that is not right. Also, it would cause all kinds of problems with your spouse and with others who would see you and suspect you might be having an affair. The same is true for Facebook or any other social media service. Just because no one can see you doesn’t mean it is ok.

 

Some small group Hosts feel compelled to buy the small group study materials for their group. The common rationalization is that it's easier (translation: less uncomfortable) and besides "it's our ministry."

 

If you are the Host of your small group, just don't do this. Instead, calculate the total cost for all of the study guides and any other materials (DVDs, books, etc ) that you'll need for your group, then divide that total cost (don't forget tax) by the number of members in your group. Then collect from each person before buying any materials.

 

One tip: don't decide what the group will study without involving the group in the decision. People don't enjoy paying for things they don't want.

 

When your group members pay for their own study materials, they have an investment in the study. Remember, it's human nature to believe that things are worth what we pay for them. That's the law of perceived value. You may be surprised to see how much more people value the study and how committed your members are to the group once they have made even this very modest investment.

What happens after your small group meeting is over? Do you automatically shift to the next thing, erasing all memory of what just happened? Does your Outlook calendar click you into the next meeting, appointment, event or responsibility? Was small group just one of an endless line of “things to do,” like planes lined up to land at a major airport?

Here are a couple of ideas to help you get the most out of your small group AFTER the meeting is over:

1. On your notes or study workbook, draw a star or asterisk (*) in the margin next to one or two points in the meeting that you thought were really interesting. Then when you get home, immediately take the point(s) you starred and write them down. If you’re an electronic person, put them as a “task” in Outlook or send them as a text to someone who will answer back. Then they’re in your system. If you’re a paper person, write them on a piece of paper and tape it to the mirror in your bathroom. Then read it every morning and every night. And think about it.

2. Have your own “lunch and learn.” Take the one or two points and chew on them as you have lunch. C’mon, you don’t have lunch meetings every day, or power lunches. Give yourself permission to feed your heart as you feed the rest of yourself. Philippians 4:8 says this, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”

When you get back to your group next week, you’ll have allowed these important points to marinade in you, seeping into your thinking and ultimately into who you are becoming. And, you’ll have some amazing insights for the others in your group.

Have you noticed that your group just doesn’t seem to pick it up quickly? You think they should go out and evangelize to the homeless by living for a week on skid row and they’re just not that excited about the idea. Or, you want to have everyone using Greek and Hebrew to do a sixteen-week study on the minor prophets, and everyone else is thinking that maybe watching YouTube videos would be best.

The disconnect comes from the difference between where the group is and where you want them to go. Your best strategy is to simply help them take the next step, rather than try to convince everyone to jump out of a plane over dark jungle with nothing but a Bible and a compass.

Think about it this way.

One day when you were just an infant about 5 months old, you stood right up on your feet and took off out the door. For the next 20 minutes no one could catch you because you were running as fast as you could.

Of course, that isn’t the way it happened. Just like the rest of us, you started out crawling first.

And the next step for your small group may just be to take a crawl step. Find that step that is easy for people to take and they’ll do it. Just make sure it’s a step in the right direction.