Small Groups are essential in a new Small Groups are essential in a new churchchurch

For pastoral careFor pastoral careFor creating authentic communityFor creating authentic communityFor discipleshipFor discipleshipFor localized outreach For localized outreach For ministry trainingFor ministry trainingThere are churches that want to do all these at There are churches that want to do all these at

Worship…Worship…We call these…We call these…

First Steps of Small Group DevelopmentFirst Steps of Small Group Development

-You started with a small group as the coreYou started with a small group as the core

-How can you keep this going when you move How can you keep this going when you move forward?forward?

-Multiply by geography, or affinity, or day of week…Multiply by geography, or affinity, or day of week…

-Need new leaders & new ways to get people into Need new leaders & new ways to get people into the groups…the groups…

-Start with a small group strategy that you can Start with a small group strategy that you can keep building on rather than changing it drasticallykeep building on rather than changing it drastically

-As you grow, how can you keep expanding the As you grow, how can you keep expanding the number of small groups.number of small groups.

One of the Best Way to get many of your One of the Best Way to get many of your adults in Small Groups is a “Church-Wide adults in Small Groups is a “Church-Wide Initiative”Initiative”

- where the message theme and the- where the message theme and the- small group curriculum coincide- small group curriculum coincide- many of these churches have more- many of these churches have moreadults in Small groups than attend adults in Small groups than attend

SundaySundayOne to check out is “Chazown” by One to check out is “Chazown” by LifeChurch.tv LifeChurch.tv This is a series that helps your people understand their unique This is a series that helps your people understand their unique vision for life and ministry.vision for life and ministry.

Go to Go to www.open.lifechurch.tv and and type in Chazown. There is also a book by type in Chazown. There is also a book by that title by Craig Groeschel that can be that title by Craig Groeschel that can be used by the groups.used by the groups.

This is the Life Development Plan for This is the Life Development Plan for LifeChurch.tv LifeChurch.tv

Another way to do small groups – Another way to do small groups – different strokes for different folks:different strokes for different folks:

(4 Kinds of Groups: (4 Kinds of Groups: A.C.T.SA.C.T.S.).)

A = Affinity Groups – for fellowship & funA = Affinity Groups – for fellowship & funC = Covenant Groups – Bible Study & C = Covenant Groups – Bible Study & growthgrowthT = Task Groups – for Ministry & missionT = Task Groups – for Ministry & missionS = Support Groups – Prayer & S = Support Groups – Prayer & accountabilityaccountability

EG. Can your Ministry Teams all be EG. Can your Ministry Teams all be “small groups?”“small groups?”Primary Focus for meetings is T = Primary Focus for meetings is T = MinistryMinistrySecondary Foci make it a small groupSecondary Foci make it a small group

A = Affinity for fun & fellowshipA = Affinity for fun & fellowshipC = Appropriate Bible Study & C = Appropriate Bible Study &

trainingtrainingS = Prayer for each other & trainingS = Prayer for each other & training

This means your other groups major in their primary This means your other groups major in their primary area, but also have the other 3 areas as secondary area, but also have the other 3 areas as secondary foci.foci.How do you train and coordinate leaders?How do you train and coordinate leaders?

Another way to offer small group options…Another way to offer small group options…NewSong, Irvine, CA offers six options.NewSong, Irvine, CA offers six options.Each of their six types of groups has one Each of their six types of groups has one area of emphasis, but combine two other area of emphasis, but combine two other functions to make it a small group ministry.functions to make it a small group ministry.NewSong Leadership Handbook www.newsong.netNewSong Leadership Handbook www.newsong.net

How can you start new groups?How can you start new groups?-Staffed Small Group booth in entry Staffed Small Group booth in entry eg. Sanctuary eg. Sanctuary listlist

-Give the 4 or 6 options-Give the 4 or 6 options-Leader focused: -Leader focused:

-Leader leaves to start new group-Leader leaves to start new group-Apprentice leaves with part of group-Apprentice leaves with part of group-Apprentice leaves to start new group-Apprentice leaves to start new group

-Thematic focusThematic focus-Eg. “Doing Life Together” pastors.com Eg. “Doing Life Together” pastors.com You launch 6-week groups – often You launch 6-week groups – often continue.continue.

Another size of group: Another size of group: The “Community The “Community Group”Group”Different Sizes for Different PurposesDifferent Sizes for Different Purposes

The Connecting ChurchThe Connecting Church, Randy Frazee, Randy FrazeeEGs: Axxis, C3, Northpointe (Atlanta) EGs: Axxis, C3, Northpointe (Atlanta) or like youth or like youth ministries that pack a house… or may work well in an urban or ethnic ministries that pack a house… or may work well in an urban or ethnic environment…environment…

-Usually meet monthly by geographic region-Usually meet monthly by geographic region-Help transition people from the “Crowd” to the Help transition people from the “Crowd” to the “Cell” or vice versa… “Cell” or vice versa… -Many small groups connect to a community Many small groups connect to a community groupgroup-Offer a “congregational size” experience – Offer a “congregational size” experience – 25+25+ or offer “Social Space” (see Joe Myers; or offer “Social Space” (see Joe Myers; The Search to Belong The Search to Belong on 4 kinds of on 4 kinds of space)space)

-Usually led by a Lay PastorUsually led by a Lay Pastor

Purposes of Community Groups:Purposes of Community Groups: - to provide a more intimate worship - to provide a more intimate worship

encounterencounter- to provide for pastoral care - to provide for pastoral care - to provide a geographic option for - to provide a geographic option for

connectionconnection- to provide a safer, less - to provide a safer, less threatening place for guests to threatening place for guests to check out the churchcheck out the church- to have mission & outreach- to have mission & outreach- to have a place for all ages- to have a place for all ages- to start small groups like Alpha - to start small groups like Alpha or Bible Studiesor Bible Studies

ConnectionConnectionHave a strategy for…Have a strategy for…

11stst time guest time guest (before, during & after the service)(before, during & after the service)

22ndnd time guest – invite to community time guest – invite to community groupgroup33rdrd & 4 & 4thth time guest – Pastor’s Dessert time guest – Pastor’s DessertKey… How to turn attenders into Key… How to turn attenders into members and partners in ministry and members and partners in ministry and missionmission

Connection time after the service Connection time after the service is important to helping people is important to helping people “stick!”“stick!”

Connection and Life TransformationConnection and Life TransformationEG: C3EG: C3

Have great coffee and snacks Have great coffee and snacks and a celebrative atmosphere.and a celebrative atmosphere.