simple small groups

Developing a Missional Small Group Part 1

What can you do to increase the missional heartbeat during your normal group time? The next post will help you cultivate hearts for others outside of your normal group time.

Developing hearts for others DURING group time from Southeast Christian Church on Vimeo.

 

 

Staying Spiritually Vibrant as a Leader

If you lead anything for any length of time you will get worn out. So how do you stay spiritually vibrant as a leader? Give this video a listen and let me know what you think? 

Staying spiritually vibrant from Southeast Christian Church on Vimeo.

 

New Groups Training Tips

Conducting A Great First Group Meeting from Southeast Christian Church on Vimeo.

 

Accountability and Confession in Mens Groups

One of the greatest strengths of a healthy mens group is the opportunity for a guy to share what’s really going on in his life. Many men can testify to the importance of their accountability group or the freedom that comes from confession of sin. But getting to that point takes work, so here are some principles to keep in mind when setting the stage for accountability and confession.

• Don’t expect too much too soon. It takes weeks if not months before most guys will really open up. Guys who open up on the first meeting are either in a crisis or really weird.
• Speed of the leader/speed of the team. You will set the tone and guys will take your lead. If you want guys to confess sin, you’d better be prepared to do it.
• Create a non-judgmental environment. Guys will only open up if they feel you are for them and encouragement. If the first words from your mouth are, “Man, you are messed up!” No one will ever share anything in your group again. Most men hide because they are afraid of rejection.
• Thank each guy for confessing. It’s a big deal for any guy to admit failure. You could even say it’s unnatural. So when a guy does the unnatural thing of admitting failure, thank him for having the courage to lay it out there.
• Don’t badger anyone in the group. If a guy doesn’t confess don’t put him on the hot seat. He won’t be honest with you simply because you stare him in the eye.
• Finally, it’s not your job to “fix” a guy. Some sin patterns take years to develop and one quality time of confession in a group probably won’t change a bad habit that extends back 20 years. Your job is to hear the confession and pray for the guy and let the Holy Spirit do His work.

 

What NOT to do When Starting a Group

Believe it or not, there are a few things you can do right away with your new group that will completely mess it up. These are not as obvious as you might think. I’m confident all leaders mean well, but let me give you some advice on what NOT to do in the first few weeks with your new group.  

• Don’t invite them to join your multi-tiered, network-marketing, what-would-you-do-with-$5000-extra-a-month, personal business. In fact, if you are a group leader, avoid inviting anyone in your group into any of your business adventures.
• Don’t demand they open up and share their true feelings in the first several weeks. It’s great if you get there, but it’s freaky if you lead off with this. If you have any manly men in the group they will look for the closest door and run for it.
• Don’t cry. You might be the kind of person who cries at Hallmark commercials. That’s great. Nothing wrong with that. Just save that for after a few meetings. Let the group get to know you first.
• Don’t confess sins and demand others do the same. Hopefully, this will come, but you have to really know a person before you share your deepest challenges.
• Don’t talk about politics. It is not a safe assumption that everyone in your group shares your political persuasions. You can quickly alienate people who don’t agree with you. Remember, you are a group leader, not a political action committee.