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I’ve been doing some more thinking about living and loving in a small group. Our church has long had house groups or bible study groups, but the last couple of years has upped the ante in this area and our large and growing church really encourages everyone to ‘do life’ with others in a small group setting. I suppose I see it as a kind of micro-church, one that can fit around a table and let everyone share in the same conversation.
We’ve had a small group in our home for the last couple of years, which we host and lead – but my husband does the real leading (I think I’m more of a backseat driver). We’ve been doing some reflecting on what it means, or what it might mean, to be a small group leader, and thinking about how well we do this and how we might do better. Then I found this list and thought it was helpful as a yardstick. Would be interested to hear what others think too though. What should a small group leader do?
10 GREAT WAYS TO CARE FOR YOUR GROUP MEMBERS
10. Pray for your group members each morning.
9. Meet a group member for coffee.
8. Invite the group over for dinner.
7. Send a note of encouragement.
6. Ask questions.
5. Celebrate with them, literally…birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
4. Notice when they’re absent.
3. Make ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ the most important part of your interactions.
2. Call them out…challenge them in areas where they need to change.
1. Get them serving others.
It’s perhaps notable that it doesn’t say anything about bible study, theological understanding or being a gifted speaker. It does, however, offer a strong model of leading by serving, amongst other things. It’s not rocket science, to coin a phrase, but it is practical.
My friend Brunette Koala is, and has gone so far as to forgo Christmas presents this year and instead is inviting people to give money to a couple of great charities.
One is Edinburgh Sick Kids Foundation, which my own wee family feel very indebted to as our daughter has had two stays in there over the last 3 years, and the other is a pregnancy crisis centre, well worth supporting too and close to BK’s heart. If you are feeling generous and would like to bless one or both of these amazing organisations go to brunette koala’s blog and follow the links on the right hand side.
I have just discovered that our awesome children & families pastor has a blog, which I’d like to introduce you to as well. I’m very amused that it’s called Help I Work With Children. I can totally relate to that, although often it’s the parent/s who are the greater cause of cries for help here where I work.
Okay, it’s unlikely that any group of people is actually going to be perfect in a literal way. But I genuinely believe that, warts and all (not that any of them are particularly warty), the small group of fellow believers and followers of Jesus who gather in our home are a pretty perfect little collective.
I find myself thinking about what it means to live in meaningful community more and more. I came across this post about that very thing, and about how we do this in troubled times, and it says it so simply and so well I would like to commend it to you.
Ha ha. After yesterday’s post, I have just been jarred by Keri Smith’s 100 Ideas. I have just printed it off as it has some good ideas I am hoping to use with a couple of the children’s clubs I do at work. How funny that number 35 in the list (which is still a work in progress, up to 95 so far) says:
Give away something you love
Hmm. Or even – gulp. I am challenged, and I’m telling you so you can hold me to account and check up to see what I do with that. And if you happen to be the recipient of the ’something I love’, forgive me if I’m weeping when I hand it over, and feel free to pry my fingers away from the item, using force if necessary.
I’ve been intermittently using a book called God360. It’s a series of devotionals which I’ve dipped in and out of for the last wee while. I’ve enjoyed the spirit of it although I’ve been pretty pants at actually doing what I’m meant to do with it, in fact the very thing which makes the devotional different. They’re experiential devotionals which means I’m meant to do something each time I read one. Hmmm, just as well I have a good imagination!
Anyway. A wee while back one of the devotionals linked with something our small group from church was doing, and it has really made me think about giving stuff up. We got together a while ago and did a car boot sale to raise some money for a (as yet undecided) worthy cause. The plus for all of us was we got a chance to get rid of some stuff which we no longer needed or wanted. However, after reading this I got to wondering what I’d felt so good about…
What would I be willing to give up, that cost me something in the process? Could I hold things so open handedly that you can take what ever you want – even what is most precious to me.
Don’t know. I’m not even sure if I’m willing to try.
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