August 2010

School teachers know that it’s no use trying to enforce the rules if they aren’t posted. So, in many classrooms, you will see the teachers’ rules prominently displayed. These guidelines bring order to the group and clarify the teachers’ expectations for their class.

Likewise, every Small Group in church should have a vision and/or certain expectations from its members. You might think of these as “ground rules” that everyone should follow. Without these rules, the group will be unfocused, and attendees may even have competing agendas.

A few years ago, Serendipity House published suggested ground rules for small groups. These are expectations that would help almost any small group become (or stay) healthy. You can adopt these or make up some of your own:

PARTICIPATION: Small Group is not a spectator sport. Everyone participates.

HONESTY: Small groups are imperfect groups for imperfect people in an imperfect church.

RESPECT: Differences of opinion are honored, and “dumb” questions are encouraged.

MISSION: Small groups are always open to new people, and newcomers are welcome.

CONFIDENTIALITY: Anything said in the room stays in the room.

ATTENDANCE: Small Group meetings are given priority – except in case of emergency.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Small Group members are free to share each week on their spiritual walk with Christ.

Incidentally, I've been a fan of Serendipity Bibles since being called into the ministry sixteen years ago. Serendipity Bibles have all kinds of questions for discussion that can help anybody facilitate a great learning experience. I’ve often said that if I can come up with 10 good questions, I can lead any group in a terrific Bible study for at least an hour.

I have a stack of Serendipity New Testaments in my office and, if you don’t have one, I’d love to give you one free of charge. The notes are moderately academic and application-based. The majority of the discussion questions on every page are timeless and will help deliver a great Bible study. I use at least one question a week in preparing for my Wed. night (Small Group) adult Bible study. It helps to set the tone so that, with God, we can learn from each other.

In the next Small Group blog, I’ll be sharing with you how our Small Group structure at Fort Johnson will be changing a little bit next year. If you’re looking for a new challenge, wanting to narrow your discipleship focus, or even feeling burnt out, help is on the way!

July 2010

The Small Group concept is nothing new. It's been around since Jesus chose and trained the twelve disciples. Jesus obviously knows how to lead them better than anybody, and so we'd be wise to observe and learn from how He did it.

Small Groups should be focused on horizontal relationships (personal) and the all-important vertical relationship (spiritual). Jesus' disciples were lifelong partners and fellow learners, but more than that, they were constantly being pointed to God. Many Small Groups are successful in connecting people with each other, but are less ambitious about encouraging a dynamic relationship with the Lord. Leaders, let me encourage you to be very diligent about your own walk with God and consistent in your daily quiet times with Him.

When it comes to your small group focus, ask yourself how much class time is being spent on chatter about television, sports, hobbies, politics, pet peeves, families, common interests, and shared experiences. Now how much class time is being spent on Bible study? The former will be helpful in relationship development, but the latter is absolutely vital.

I'm constantly hearing from Small Group leaders that are fighting a slippery slope toward become nothing more than a social gathering, Christian clique, or personal platform. If the Small Group becomes one of these, it will become exclusionary and will eventually frighten off new members and cause the group to wither and die.

Ask yourself if lives are being transformed. Does your teaching encourage regular Bible study? Are you teaching your "sheep" how to feed themselves from Scripture? Are you showing members how to apply what they're learning to their own lives?

The goal of your Small Group should be changed lives. As our Small Groups grow, Fort Johnson grows.

June 2010

Years ago, when President Ronald Reagan was being rushed to emergency surgery to remove a potential assassin’s bullet, he asked his surgeon, “Are you a Democrat or Republican?” The surgeon wisely replied, “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.” The national crisis had brought the country together and set aside political partisanship. All Americans were part of the same family.

We need to remind ourselves that we, Christians, are all a part of the same family. Minor issues have a way of allowing us to become conflicted in the Body of Christ. Today, the church finds itself with a declining influence and declining spirituality in America. If we ever want to reach the lost, then we don’t need to be fragmented as a family. We need to come together in unity, focus, and purpose.

A bereaved family reminded me last week of how important it is to be a part of a Small Group. As members of Fort Johnson, they shared with me how moved they were by the outpouring of love and support they received from their class. It is times like that that remind us that we shouldn’t take our relationships for granted. Perhaps now, more than ever, we need to come together as God’s children who are part of God’s family. In church, we learn (and practice) how to love each other, care for each other, and pursue unity in our family of faith.

What will you do this summer to build up the family of God? The summer offers some great opportunities for fellowship. Would you be willing to host a fellowship for your Small Group? Would you be willing to reach out and make the extra effort to invite those on the “fringes” of your group that desperately need to be included? Would you be willing to plan an outing and include EVERYONE on your class roll?

May 2010

Just like you, I love to teach God's Word. What a thrill it is to communicate God's truth and see the lightbulbs going on above the heads of your learners! How gratifying it is to see eager students of the Bible seek to apply it to their lives.

Just like you, I'm always looking for new and innovative ways to improve my communication. I've found that one tool that keeps teaching fun (and fascinating) is the use of objects. Conventional teaching is auditory in nature, but communication that stimulates multiple senses can really make an impact. When was the last time you gave a lesson that not only involved hearing, but also sight, touch, smell, or taste? I promise you that you'll have greater class interest if you can bring more of the whole person into the learning process. You'll keep their attention and help long-term retention, as well.

Let me give you some examples. This past week, I led a Senior Adult Bible Study on the topic of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. As I thought and prayed about the Garden theme, I asked myself what kind of object lesson might make an impact. From my own gardening experience, I know that Miracle-Gro helps plants reach greater potential for health and growth. I began the study with an explanation of what Miracle-Gro does; I even read the benefits off of the box label! I compared it to a resource that Jesus often drew from in order to fulfill His mission: prayer. Prayer is like Miracle-Gro for Christians; it helps us to reach greater potential for spiritual health and growth. Having that simple tool in front of me arrested the attention of my learners.

In two weeks, I'll be starting the Letters to God series, in which I've petitioned our church members to submit questions for God. It has been an eye-opening experience to see what people are concerned about and what issues they struggle with. I have a stand-up mailbox that I'll be leaving on the stage during the series to capture the theme. It's corny and gimmicky, but it will work to establish our purpose for those weeks.

I've been told that the sermon series' that people most remember have been linked to multisensory object lessons: the Gilligan series on the Seven Deadly Sins, the Spiritual Treasure series that incorporated a weekly treasure hunt, and the Benaiah sermon in which I narrated his story with dramatic music playing in the background.

Object lessons are not just for children. Adults love them, too. Why don't you try incorporating a few and see how it goes? Here are three guidelines to help you as you branch out into more effective teaching:

1) Start simple. Don't begin with complicated elements. Use a simple prop like a tire iron, golf club, bottled water, salt shaker, magnet, trumpet, basketball, or piece of fruit to make a point. Once you've mastered the simple lesson, you can move on to more complicated elements.

2) Keep it manageable. Trying out a new teaching method can make you feel self-conscious. Make sure your object lesson complements (and does not distract from) your lesson. Your prop should create intellectual clarity, not confusion. Don't force it.

3) Make it biblical. If your sermon has biblical authority, there are all kinds of elements you can incorporate without compromising the message. Jesus and the prophets serve as excellent examples of how to use simple object lessons to drive home a point (for example, when Jesus used fishing equipment to illustrate His authority and mission).

Make plans to use an object lesson this month. Make it compelling. Make it understandable. Make it unforgettable!

April 2010

In our pressure-packed, time and safety-conscious society, door-to-door visitation has all but disappeared. However, many people with active lives still feel comfortable talking on the phone. A telephone contact with a prospect or a recent visitor to your Small Group may be the most energy-efficient way to help your group grow. (You could always send an e-mail, but that lacks the intimacy and warmth of a personal call).

I make about a dozen calls each week to visitors and prospects while I'm riding in my car from one appointment to another. I very rarely encounter someone who doesn't appreciate the thoughtful contact. It makes a positive impression on a newcomer. It also can be encouraging to someone on the margins of your Small Group, drawing them closer to the center of church life.

Phones are so much a part of daily life that it's natural to assume that everyone is born with the ability to use them. But, like driving a car or using a comptuer, telephone visitation is an art that can be learned and improved with practice. In making calls, try to cultivate these qualities:

1) An appealing voice - your call should ahve a congenial, personal quality that reflects Christian love. Be warm and friendly. Use the other person's name, and be upfront about your identity and purpose: "Hey, I'm so-and-so from Fort Johnson Baptist Church. I teach the Small Group you visited last week, and I'd love to know if the experience was a good one for you..."

2) A sympathetic ear - share the "air" with the person on the other end of the line. Don't just speak; listen well, too. You shouldn't sound like you're reading from a script. Ask follow up questions to comments: "How did your children like their group? How long have you lived in the area? What motivated you to try our Small Group?"

3) An informed mind - be ready to call upon biblical resources to meet the needs of the person on the other end of the line. You have a powerful, life-giving message. This other person will surely benefit from it. Don't hesistate to solicit prayer needs if that seems appropriate: "Would you mind if I made this a matter of prayer? Can I share this with the rest of the Small Group?"

4) A caring heart - recipients of church-related calls can tell the difference between hollow-sounding routine contacts and warm, personable calls that stem from genuine motives. Be sincere. Don't ramble, don't mumble, and by all means, don't be drawn into an argument about doctrines, biblical interpretations, or social issues! Be brief and thank them for talking with you.

If you're not already in the habit of making a few phone calls each week, let me encourage you to start. God wants your group to grow, and this is one of the best ways to be a good shepherd to those He has entrusted to your care.

March 2010

What an exciting thing to consider that God has called you to the teaching ministry of His church! He is helping those in your Small Group become more Christlike through your faithfulness and availability. As you plan to teach each week, consider these four principles that will make your lessons “stick” in the hearts of your people:

1. Teach so they’ll remember. You’re not just telling your Small Group about the Bible; you want them to remember the essentials of what you teach. If they don’t remember from one week to the next what you’ve taught, then you’re not establishing knowledge; you’re just transmitting information.

It helps to give your Small Group the objective for the day. For example, “At the end of this hour, you’ll be able to list the pieces of the armor of God from memory.” It helps to have an outline; surely you have a mental picture of where you want to go with this lesson, right? It helps to actively review all during the hour. You can even have the Group repeat key points from memory throughout your lesson.

2. Teach so they’ll understand. You’re not just helping your Small Group recall facts about the Bible; you want them to live them in a consistent way. Most people at Fort Johnson “know the Bible,” but they do not understand what the Bible means. They can give answers, but do they understand the answers?

It helps to begin with simple concepts and then move to more complex principles that meld these concepts. For example, to explain what it means to “speak the truth in love,” you may want to start by defining truth. And then love. Then explain how some people speak the truth – while losing their tempers. Explain how some people speak lovingly – while ignoring the truth of wrongdoing. How do you do both at the same time?

Set up a target for understanding. Ask yourself again and again: “How do I explain this? What examples or illustrations can I share? What confuses people about this concept?”

3. Teach so they’ll personally respond. You’re not teaching the Bible; you’re teaching people about the Bible. Make sure your Small Group is an environment in which your people feel free to share experiences, opinions, or feelings. There must be an atmosphere of freedom and openness. If there isn’t, your people will keep their ideas and experiences to themselves, and you’ll be lecturing and not teaching.

Ask subjective questions to improve openness. For example, “If you were in this situation, what would you have done?” Or “What experiences of forgiveness have you had?” Also, give attention to how you respond to wrong answers. Be sensitive. One of our Fort Johnson members tells me that she loves to watch how I handle “wrong answers” during our Wed. night discussions. There is an art to affirming everyone’s contributions without humiliating or belittling anyone.

4. Teach so they’ll relate. You’re not just teaching; you’re providing opportunities for your Small Group to work together. The greatest drawback of lecturing is that people focus on the teacher, not on each other. Give your people occasions for bridge-building among themselves.

Vary the group size. Break up into smaller groups. Try husband-wife pairs. Or men and women-only groups. Or randomly divide them. By all means, plan gatherings outside the classroom. Think about a mission project. Give an assignment that will force them to work together outside of class and do the Word.

Your Small Group meeting is a success if you’ve hit the target you set up. Teach. Explain. Review. Involve everyone. Encourage a commitment.

February 2010

One of the greatest indicators of the health of any Small Group is: are the members anticipating their next meeting? When people think about next Sat. or Sun., what do you suppose would stand in the way of their being there? Do they want to be there? Do they even think about it at all during the week? If people arrive early each week to Small Group, that’s a great indication that they want to be there. If they drag in late (or if they’re chronically absent), that’s an indication that something is wrong.

Typically, Small Groups fall into one of three categories (and the leaders have a significant impact on this division):

Generative groups produce spiritual power. Like a generator in a home, they make an impact. They don't squander their potential. There is a strong sense of mutual purpose. Much like what we’ve been talking about in our sermon series, there is a sense of a singular vision, a clear direction for why the group is meeting. The combined effort of everyone in the group leads them to accomplish bigger things than any one individual could. There are no benchwarmers. Everyone participates and everyone grows in one way or another (and I’m not just talking about through eating donuts!) They grow in their love for God, in their understanding of His plan, and in their awareness of their giftedness. A generative group will have conflicts at times (that’s the nature of working with people), but will try to become better and closer through it. This kind of group also inspires other people; people on the outside want to be on the inside. The early church is a great example of a generative group. (See Acts 2:42).

Habitual groups are repetitive in nature. They’re the ones who keep meeting and doing because they’ve always been meeting and doing. They’ve forgotten the reason for their existence, and yet they are comfortable with seeing the same faces year after year and don’t want to face the challenge of growing the group and risking failure or changing the group dynamics. There’s a general lack of passion. There’s no courage or sacrifice. Making things happen is not exciting to this group. Habitual groups want to duck their heads and run away from challenges. They deny or ignore their problems. They sweep things under the rug or play “nice” to each other. They’re confused why, in their attempt to keep everything comfortable, there always seems to be a little fever of conflict over trivial things. (See 1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Toxic groups are poisonous. Like toxic air or chemicals, they make people sick. They’re filled with people who operate from a me-first spirit. They measure everything from the standpoint, “What’s in it for me?” Toxic groups are marked by low morale (no sense of future or vision) and a tendency to blame others (“Someone else is at fault for all our problems”). They also drag down the church as lots of energy is spent by the leadership trying to do damage control. People get cynical, burned out, slanderous, and bitter. This kind of group is dangerous to younger people and to new Christians. Instead of seeing people get plugged in to the life of the church, they see people leave the group and, sometimes, the church. The church at Laodicea is a great example of a toxic group (See Rev. 3:15-16).

I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about Him this way, but Jesus was the ultimate Small Group leader. He lead a Small Group of 12 through some incredible circumstances. He showed us that the key to leading a generative group is to motivate them to seek and save the lost (See John 4:36). He asked them to surrender familiarity and safety, control and recognition. He gave them the courage to think differently.

What kind of Small Group are you leading? What steps do you think you could take to help your group be more generative in nature?