Most of us would agree that few things are more important to the building of community within a small group than group members sharing heartfelt prayer needs with one another in a safe environment, and celebrating with one another as they see how the Lord responds to those needs. However, we’ve all been in groups
Small Group Monday: Facilitating a Small Group Discussion
By Brian Daniel Based on my own personal experience leading groups and learning from other group leaders, we have taken a different approach to the leader’s guide of the short-term releases in the Bible Studies for Life (BSFL) series. Due to teaching styles, levels of experience, and personal preferences, many group leaders prefer study material
Small Group Monday: Emphasizing the Visual
By Sam O’Neal Note: this post is third in a series on the different features of Bible Studies for Life that make it ideally suited for group learning and transformation. Here are the previous entries: Closed Questions vs. Open Questions The Value of “The Point” For most of the 20th century—and for several centuries before—much
Small Group Monday: The Value of “The Point”
by Sam O’Neal Note: this post is second in a series on the different features of Bible Studies for Life that make it ideally suited for group learning and transformation. The first post focused on Closed Questions vs. Open Questions. Take a look at these two pictures. Both of them represent a style
Small Group Monday: 5 Myths that Keep Churches from Starting New Groups
Today on his blog, small group expert Mark Howell talks about “tall tales and downright whoppers” that keep churches from launching new groups. Read his list and his responses, and see how many of them your church has bought in to. Remember, it is the nature of healthy things to grow! Read more…
Small Group Monday: 4 Undeniable Small Group Realities That May Change Everything
One of the most overused phrases in everyday conversation is “Well, that goes without saying.” The fact is, very few things really do go without saying, and the moment someone uses that phrase, it means they have just said something that needed to be said; otherwise you wouldn’t have said “it goes without saying” in
Small Group Monday: Reflecting on the Impact of “Pressure Points”
“Historic.” That’s the word I was looking for as my wife and I reviewed the day we had just had, looking for just the right word to describe it. A cast on my leg, two car tows, a cracked engine block, and crutches converged on that sunny September day to make it such a historic
Small Group Insights: Closed Questions vs Open Questions
If you’ve used material from Bible Studies for Life this fall, you understand that things have changed in a major way compared to recent years. But you may not have noticed all the subtle shifts and tweaks that separate Bible Studies for Life from other curriculum options. More important, you may not understand why we
Small Group Insights: What’s In a Name?
This week, Bible Studies For Life’s small group advisor Mark Howell asks, “What do you call your leaders?” Does it matter whether you refer to them as “teachers,” “leaders,” “shepherds,” “hosts,” or something else? Actually it does. Language shapes perception, and on his blog, Mark helps us navigate the nuances of what each term means.
Small Group Insights: 6 Ways to Help Your Senior Pastor Make the Small Group Ask
Last Tuesday, we shared a post from Bible Study For Life’s Small Group Advisor Mark Howell that talked about 5 commitments that propel a thriving small group ministry. One of those was that “The senior pastor is the primary champion/spokesperson for the small group ministry year in and year out.” But what if he isn’t? This