David Rudd

Small Group Training -- Why Small Groups

Page history last edited by David 2 yrs ago

Week One

Objectives:

Introduce Group Members to One Another
Introduce Book Why Small Groups
Discuss member's previous experience with Small Groups
Assign Chapter One

Relational Time:

Have each group member share:
- Name
- What would they want as their "last meal"

Discussion Time:

Guide a discussion to help group members talk about their own group experiences. The goal is to let them talk about their positive and negative experiences as well as to give them an opportunity to express their own ideas about what makes groups successful and not successful. Use the questions below as "jumping off points":
- Talk about a great experience you have had in a small group setting. How did it it impact you? What factors caused this experience? Could an experience like this be had by anyone? Why or why not?
- Talk about a bad experience you have had in a small group setting. How did it impact you? Could this have been avoided? How or how not? Do you think this is a common experience? Why or why not?

Assignment:

Have everyone read chapter one of Why Small Groups. Have them prepare to answer the questions at the end of the chapter.

Week Two

Objectives:

Continue to develop relationships among group members
Introduce the biblical idea of "sharing life"
Discuss group member's critiques of chapter one.
Talk about the three elements of Calvary LIFEGroups

Relational Time:

Pass out random "Imaginif" cards to group members.
Have them answer the question for themselves and the person 2 spaces to their left

Discussion Time:

What impressions do you have from your reading this week?
What comes to mind when you hear the word "community"? How are the different ways this word is used?
How important are relationships in the spiritual development of a Christian?
Talk about John 13:34
Answer questions 2-5 from the book.
- According to the author, what four goals should each small group share?
  - How are these similar to and different from the words we use to describe LIFEGroups at Calvary (formative, caring, missional)?
- In simple terms, how would you describe the difference between justification and sanctification?
- Why is the Christian life "inescapably corporate"?
- What role do other Christians play in our progressive sanctification?
What are some practical ways some of these things might be implemented in a LIFEGroup?

Assignment:

Read chapter two in Why Small Groups?

Week Three

Objectives:

Have group members learn something new about each other.
Explore the Biblical patterns of "sharing life" (fellowship)
Identify practical methods by which to increase "life-sharing" experiences
Assign Chapter Three

Relational Time:

Have each group member write on a card three sentences about themselves that no one else would know (spouses excluded)
Have one person collect all the cards and be "the reader"
After each card is read, have the group guess who it is. Discuss as appropriate

Discussion Time:

What general observations do you have from your reading this week?
How would you define "fellowship"? Why?
Can you name an activity you once believed to be fellowship, but which is actually not?
Look at the "House Rules for God's Family" on page 23. Have the group identify specific and practical ways (give examples) these things can be carried out in a small group setting. Do as many as possible.
Read question 4. Ask people to talk about how a group leader could facilitate this kind of discussion/activity in a group.
Of the four hindrances to fellowship (pg25-27), which do you think are most common? Why? Are there others that aren't listed here? How can these be avoided?
If you were leading a group, what 1-3 activities would you prioritize (in or out of group time) in order to build "life-sharing" relationships?

Assignment:

Have everyone read chapter three of Why Small Groups. Have them prepare to answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
Have them select one of the "house rules" from page 23 and attempt to enact it with one person this week. They will be asked to report on their experience!

Week Four

Objectives:

Have group members discuss each other's "giftedness".
Explore the role of a "LIFEGroup Member"
Create a simple LIFEGroup Member "Job Description"
Assign Chapter Four

Relational Time:

Have every one complete the "Car Part" handout (identify which group member would be which car part)
Go around the room, have everyone share what "part" they assigned to each person
Have everyone speak briefly about their own perspective of their giftedness

Discussion Time:

What general observations do you have from your reading this week?
Who do you think is "most" responsible for the progress of a group? How did this chapter impact your feelings about this?
What different levels of ownership might exist for members of LIFEGroups?
Look at the "Small Group Member Job Description" on page 37. What did you like? What did you not like? What surprised you? What was missing?
Have each person take a couple minutes and write down the three most important things they would put into a "job description" for group members.
As a group, create a short job description for small group members. Use the items from each person's list. You can pattern it after the book's version.
How would you go about instituting a job description like this? How do you see this as different from "group covenants"?

Assignment:

Have everyone read chapter four of Why Small Groups. Have them prepare to answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
Pass out the handouts on group covenants (from "Leading Life Changing Small Groups" and "Small Group Ministry in the 21st Century"). Ask everyone to look them over, and come back next week with responses.

Week Five

Objectives:

Provide an opportunity for group members to get to know each other better.
Briefly interact with each other about the value or lack thereof of group covenants.
Explore the role of a "LIFEGroup Driver"
Identify characteristics of a "succesful" group meeting
Assign Chapter Five

Relational Time:

Have everyone write their name on two pieces of paper. Place the papers in a box and have everyone draw out two names (they cannot have their own).
Give everyone 3-5 "Loaded Question" cards. Each person must choose one question from their cards to ask to each of the people whose name they have been assigned. That person must answer the question as best they can.

Discussion Time:

What were your thoughts from the material regarding group covenants? If you were leading a group, would you do a "covenant"? Why or why not? What might it look like?
What general observations do you have from your reading this week?
Who do you think is "most" responsible for the progress of a group? How did this chapter impact your feelings about this?
Why does a small group provide a positive "context" for spiritual growth? In what ways might a small group provide a negative "context"?
Look at the box on page 49. How do you respond to this? What is good about the questions being asked here? Do you see any problems with these questions?
What is your opinion of the 10 qualifications the author lists for small group leaders? Which ones do you agree with? Which ones do you disagree with? Do you think such a list is necessary? Helpful? Why? What might you add to the list?
In your estimation, what makes a "healthy" discussion? List some characteristics of a quality small group discussion.

Assignment:

Have everyone read chapter five of Why Small Groups. Have them prepare to answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
Pass out the handouts on Leading Discussions. Ask everyone to look them over, and come back next week with responses. Ten_Commandments_of_.pdf

Week Six

Objectives:

Provide an opportunity for group members affirm one another.
Discuss the characteristics of a good discussion.
Determine the necessary characteristics of a "caring" group
Identify simple steps for "inter-personal confrontation"
Assign Chapter Six

Relational Time:

Give everyone as many cards as their are members of the group.
Have them write down one thing they have appreciated about each person, using a separate card for each group member. Once they've finished, have them fold each card over and write the person's name on the outside.
Place all the cards in stacks in the middle of the table and have everyone collect all the cards with their name on them.
Allow everyone a moment to read through the cards, then have each person share with the group the one card they liked the most.

Discussion Time:

What were your thoughts from the "10 commandments of discussion leading"? Which commandments did you agree with? Which ones did you wonder about?
What general observations do you have from your reading this week?
What items would you place in a list of "Characteristics of a 'Caring' Group"? Why? Which of these are most important?
What might a group do to impress it's members that "giving" care is more beneficial than "receiving" care?
Why would a small group ever need to worry about conflict resolution? Which of the advise in this chapter is most helpful for conflict resolution?
Read the following passages and discuss how they can form the foundation for "conflict resolution" strategy.
- Matthew 5:23-24
- Matthew 18:15-20
- Romans 14:1-22
  - v.1 -- disputable
  - v.3 -- look down on vs. condemn
  - v.19 -- summary
  - v. 20 -- do not destroy

Assignment:

Have everyone read chapter six of Why Small Groups. Have them prepare to answer the questions at the end of the chapter.

Week Seven

Objectives:

Allow group members to have a time to reflect on how they've grown during this class.
Discuss the positive and negative sides of "comfort" in a small group setting
Develop appropriate steps for implementing change in a group setting
Assign chapter seven

Relational Time:

Give everyone a chance to talk about one or two ways in which they've grown during this class. Possibilities include:
- ideas they've developed
- opinions they've changed
- suggestions they've considered
- lifestyle changes
- tension they're wrestling with

Discussion Time:

What general observations do you have from your reading this week?
Do you agree with this statement: "Jesus wants you to be out of your comfort zone?" Why or why not?
How concerned should church leaders/small group leaders be with keeping people comfortable?
What are some situations which might cause positive discomfort in a small group?
The end of this chapter talked about "releasing new leaders". How would you suggest a small group leader identify, equip, and release the leaders within his/her own group?
The second paragraph of this chapter says, "Constant change is here to stay." How can a small group leader make the difference between effective, healthy change, and ineffective, unhealthy change?
As a group, develop 5-10 "principles of healthy change" which would be useful for small group leaders.

Assignment:

Have everyone think about "principles of healthy change". If you didn't complete the list together, have people come back next week with lists.
Have everyone read chapter seven of Why Small Groups. Have them prepare to answer the questions at the end of the chapter.

Week Eight

Objectives:

Provide an opportunity for group members to reflect on this study and to discuss their next step.
Discuss means and measurements of spiritual growth and the role of the church
Identify proper contexts and methodology for group confession
Evaluate the book's assertions regarding the importance and nature of church membership
Determine whether or not this group needs to take a next step together

Relational Time:

Have each person talk about how this time together has changed them, and what they believe their next step will be.

Discussion Time:

What general observations do you have from your reading this week?
Is it essential that a Christian be part of an identifyable local church body? Why or why not?
What role does the church play in spiritual growth?
- What is spiritual growth? How does it happen? Can it be measured?
- What is the nature of the church? Organization or Organism? Does it matter?
What are your feelings about group confession? In what circumstances might it work? When might it not work?
What does James 5:13-20 teach us about this?
What expectations should a church have of its members? Are any of these universal? Why?
How do you respond to these two potentially controversial questions? Should they be controversial?
- Are you currently pursuing any career goals or hobbies that compromise your commitment and contribution to the church?
- Are you submitted to your pastor's spiritual authority? Would others agree with your assessment?
What does it mean for the church to be at the "center of your affections"? What would it mean for the church to be at the "circumference"?
Does this group need to take a "next step" together?