Simple Small Groups


Book Description

Over the past two decades, small groups have gone from spontaneous gatherings among friends to a major and elaborate phenomenon in the church. Many evangelical churches have some form of small groups ministry in place. But there's just one problem, says Bill Search--what started as a simple get-together has become a complicated process, especially for small group leaders. They are often not sure what is expected of them or what to expect from their groups as a result of their efforts. In Simple Small Groups, Search lays out the three C's of small groups--connecting, changing, and cultivating. This paradigm helps to simplify leading small groups in a way that is helpful, rewarding, and life changing. Unlike many other books geared toward small group leaders, Simple Small Groups does not require a church-wide adoption of an intricately designed system of assimilation, making it useful to any small group leader looking for guidance.




The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders


Book Description

Most small-group leaders don't have time to read a book on small groups. Most barely have time to lead a group, much less explore the ins and outs of group ministry. They just want to know how to lead their group well! In this book, you'll find simple, clear answers presented in quick lists so you can easily find what you need.




Small Group Leaders' Handbook


Book Description

What do we mean when we talk about small groups? And more importantly: what do we expect to happen when people gather in this way? The small group that wrote this book—made up of current and former campus ministry professionals with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship—explores these questions and gives you everything you need to know about small groups, including foundations, key components, life stages, planning, communication, conflict, leadership and more!




Leading Small Groups That Thrive


Book Description

Nearly every church is trying to help their congregants build relationships with others, grow as disciples, and/or engage in meaningful service through small groups. Many have argued that these small groups are the preferred vehicle for relationship building, disciple making, and membership assimilation in the local church, especially in large, multisite churches. Leading Small Groups That Thrive shows small group leaders, step by step, how to plan for, launch, build, sustain, and multiply highly effective, transformational, healthy small group experiences where people grow spiritually together. Based on a large-scale research study of small group pastors, leaders, and members, Leading Small Groups That Thrive gives church leaders both what they want--practical, straightforward, actual small group member voices and experiences, and compelling guidance on how to build transformational groups complemented with real-life examples and data of successful small groups--and what they need--substantial, challenging insights and a data-driven model grounded in the latest research on church small groups.




The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry


Book Description

Assessment and solution for seven commonobstacles to building small groups.It’s one thing to start a small group ministry. It’s another tokeep the groups in your church healthy and headed in thesame direction. Whatever your church’s approach maybe—whether it is a church with groups or of groups—sooner or later, as a leader, you’ll need to do sometroubleshooting. That’s when the expert, to-the-pointguidance in this book will prove its worth.The beauty of this book lies in its unique diagnosticprocess. It allows you to assess, diagnose, and correctseven common “deadly sins” that can drain the life fromyour church’s small group ministry.In The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry, whatwould take you years to learn through trial and error isdistilled into some of the most useful information you canfind. Drawing on the knowledge they’ve gleaned fromworking inside Willow Creek Community Church, fromconsulting with hundreds of churches, and fromconducting conferences and seminars worldwide, smallgroup experts Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson furnishyou with proven, real-life solutions to the toughestproblems in your small group ministry. This is not theory—it is hands-on material you can read and apply today.




Community


Book Description

Community within the church today is hemorrhaging. Attention spans are dwindling, noise levels are increasing, and we can't seem to find time for real relationships. The answer to such social fragmentation can be found in small groups, and yet the majority of small groups—at least in the traditional sense—are often not the intentional, transformational community we really want and need. Somehow we need to get our groups off life support and into authentic community. Pastor Brad House helps us to re-imagine what gospel-centered community looks like and shares from his experience leading and reproducing healthy small groups. With wisdom and candor, House challenges us to think carefully about our own groups and to take steps toward cultivating communities that are able to glorify Jesus, bless one another, and participate in the mission of God.




Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team


Book Description

Practical exercises and hands-on tools to bring to life the timeless advice found in the author’s best-selling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team In the years following the publication of Patrick Lencioni's best seller, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, fans have been clamoring for more information on how to implement the ideas outlined in the book. In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni offers specific, practical guidance for overcoming the five dysfunctions, using tools, exercises, assessments, and real-world examples. He examines questions that all teams must ask themselves: Are we really a team? How are we currently performing? Are we prepared to invest the time and energy required to be a great team? Written concisely and to the point, this guide gives leaders, line managers, and consultants alike the tools they need to get their teams up and running quickly and effectively.




Group's Emergency Response Handbook for Small Group Leaders


Book Description

You want to help -- a church member faces a terminal illness, good friends of yours just lost their child, a member of your group is struggling with an addiction, the death of a child, divorce, addiction, terminal illness--but you feel unsure how to help. Prepare yourself with practical ways to love others through their greatest challenges. People face difficult, painful stuff in life--and they shouldn't struggle alone. But what do you say? How do you help? What if you make things worse? This rapid-response handbook gives you and your small group the confidence to share God's love and comfort with hurting friends. You will be prepared to respond with 12 chapters focused on twelve emergencies that people you care for may encounter. Each chapter includes: Real Life Narrative -Learn from someone who has been there Care and Counseling Tips -Practical ideas to personally reach out in love Tips for your entire small group -Great ways your group can offer support What to say and What not to say -Positive encouragement to help the hurting, and advice on what not to say You'll also find Scripture connections, guidelines for referring your friend to a professional counselor, additional resources, and ways your group can stand by your friend in need.




The Naked Truth about Small Group Ministry


Book Description

Tired of reading books by pastors of large churches who could put a stick in the mud and it would grow a fruit-bearing tree in a week? Exhausted with doing ministry the same way, expecting different results? Exasperated by the lack of ownership among the members of your existing groups? Then this book is for you! Pulling no punches, Neighbour diagnoses the problems surrounding small group and cell group ministry in America today, offering practical suggestions that work.




The Field Guide for Small Group Leaders


Book Description

The Field Guide for Small Group Leaders provides basic training and support to help small group leaders succeed in the critical mission of leading others toward spiritual growth and transformation. The premise of serving as a small group leader sounds simple: Invite people to join you in studying the Bible. But the real-world implications of that role are incredibly complex. Today's small group leaders are asked to function as semi-experts in theology, psychology, evangelism, worship, apologetics, counseling, education, and nutrition--all in service to God and His church. Most of today's group leaders receive little or no training on how to carry out this important work. They are told to "Go and make disciples," then left to figure out the details on their own. Sam O'Neal (a small group leader himself), wrote The Field Guide for Small Group Leaders to help fellow leaders navigate this confusion and map out a plan for successful, transformational, and rewarding meetings. The Field Guide provides helpful information on: Curriculum and planning. Learning styles. Icebreakers and learning activities. Crafting discussion questions. Worship and prayer. What to do when things don't go as planned. And more. Whether you lead a small group, life group, or Sunday school class, this guide will give you confidence and practical tools for fostering meaningful connections, genuine community, and spiritual growth that so many are desperate for.