Cooper Mountain Presbyterian Fellowship

Getting BIG Results with Small Groups

a Small Group Leaders Training Manual Web Sample by Rev. David Weidlich, Pastor, Cooper Mountain Presbyterian Fellowship

Introduction

Six Needs of People Today

-Gallup Poll

• To believe life is meaningful and has purpose.
• To have a sense of community and deeper relationships.
• To be appreciated and respected.
• To be listened to and heard.
• To feel I am growing in my faith.
• To have practical help in developing mature faith.

All of these needs can be met in a Small Group!

(from Rev. Dale Galloway, Small Group Seminar, Charles E. Fuller Institute.)

The Four Objectives of Any Christian Small Group

C.A.L.M.

1. Community (Koinonia)

Acts 2:44-46 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

2. Adoration of God

Acts 2:47: ...praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

3. Learning God’s Word Through Effective Teaching

Acts 2:42: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

4. Mission

Acts 2:47: And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 5:42: Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Our Small Groups strive for "The CALM Balance."

Small Groups may stress one area over the others. For example, a ministry team or committee would spend more time with "mission." A Bible study group would spend more time on "learning." A couples group might spend more time in "community." But all Christian small groups will be at their best when they include some element of all four types of activity.

Here's how...

An Agenda for a Balanced Small Group Meeting

Community Time, Part 1 (10 minutes)

Welcome (Words and Opening Prayer)

Icebreaker or Warm-up Questions

Learning Time (35 minutes)

Catch-up and Introduction of Text

Bible Study Questions

Open Questions

Dig Questions

Reflect Questions

Summary Statements

Adoration & Community Time (30 minutes)

Singing

Prayer Requests

Suggestions for Praise (Prayer Journal)

Prayer Time

Mission/Outreach Time (10 minutes-- most Outreach time takes place outside the regular meeting time)

Brainstorming, planning, reporting on Outreach projects

Between Now and Next Time (5 minutes)

Announcements of any get-togethers & special church functions between now and next meeting

Suggestions for preparing for the next meeting

Good-bye

Community Time (afterwards)

Refreshments and Social Interaction

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes