Starting a Small Group

This blog is about starting a small group. The topics include defining what is meant by a “small group,” identifying characteristics of effective groups, describing the steps for starting a small group, providing an agenda for group meetings, and giving an example of a group agreement.

A small group is an intentional gathering of three to twelve people who come together on a regular basis for the common purpose of biblical community.

Effective groups meet on a regular basis, for a common purpose, facilitated by a committed leader who provides an environment for community and fellowship, spiritual formation, outreach and service. (Donahue, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups)

To begin the process: invite 2 or 3 others to help start the group. Ask one of these to be your support person or co-leader. Together, think of an affinity that would bring the group together, a thread that the individuals would have in common: e.g., age, needs, marital status, location, ministry, spiritual journey.

The next step is agree on meeting agenda topics. These could include a one-sentence description of the kind of group that you are forming, an agenda for most meetings, an approach to Bible discussion, and a group agreement for the first meeting. Now you are ready to set a date for the first meeting and personally invite possible participants.

When planning your first meeting, realize that there are three phases to most small group meetings, especially those that focus on Bible study. These are gathering, Bible Study, and caring and prayer.

(1) Gathering occurs during the first 10-15 minutes. It is a time of fellowship and welcome. This helps participants begin to reconnect.

(2) Bible study takes place in the next 20-30 minutes. Discussion questions are used for exploring content, meaning, and application.

(3) And, caring and prayer are emphasized in the last 15-20 minutes for sharing needs, celebrations, prayer requests, and actually praying.

Different kinds of questions are asked during each phase of the meeting. Following are examples of each kind.

• Gathering Questions: What topic(s) in our lives can help us connect with the Bible passage?
• Bible Study Observation Questions: What does the passage say? What are the facts?
• Bible Study Interpretation Questions: What did this passage mean to those who first received it? How are we to understand it today?
• Bible Study Application Questions: How should we (I) respond?

At the first small group meeting, it is good to develop as group agreement. Here items that are usually discussed. It is good to summarize these in writing and distribute them to group members after the meeting. Guide the group in reaching consensus on each of the following statements.

• The purpose (or purposes) of this group is (or are) ________________ (Purposes could include a combination of things such as Bible study, prayer, fellowship, spiritual conversations, service projects, accountability.)
• We will meet ____ times monthly, on ______ (day) from ____ to ____ (time) and start and close on time.
• We will meet at _____ (place) or rotate locations.
• We will agree to one or more of the following: participation: to share responsibility for the group, confidentiality: to keep personal confidences,
• accessibility: to give one another the right to contact each other in time of need,
• other areas.

This has been an overview of the process of starting a small group. We have defined small groups, described characteristics of effective groups, and given suggestions for getting started. Two resources that I especially appreciate on this topic are the following. These may be purchased by clicking on the related links or from Virtual Resource Center.

Donahue, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups.
Osborne, Sticky Church.

To view this blog as a YouTube video, click here.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Spiritual Disciplines

What are your spiritual practices? How are you growing in faith? Spiritual disciplines are those practices that help nurture spiritual growth. This blog defines the spiritual disciplines, provides a foundational Scripture passage, describes twelve representative disciplines along with a selected Bible passage for each, and lists recommended resources for those who may want to pursue the topic further.

The Spiritual Disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by the people of God since biblical times (Whitney, p. 46, Kindle edition).

The disciplines are spiritual activities that are practiced, not as prescribed procedures, but that emerge from a voluntary, internal desire to grow in Christ. They are expressions of loving and personal discipleship, not to be thought of as legalistic or as required practices. They come from a joyful heart that has a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

One key Scripture passage for thinking about spiritual disciplines is 1 Timothy 4:7-8. Paul writes to Timothy, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The challenge here is for Timothy (and for us) to be training himself in godliness. This training is contrasted with physical training. We do well to ask, “How are we training ourselves in godliness?” “What are the practices that we currently follow, how can we do them better, and what new practices might we consider?”

Unlike Spiritual Gifts or the Ten Commandments, there are a seemingly unlimited number of spiritual practices in the Bible. This blog describes the twelve disciplines identified in the classic work by Richard J. Foster, The Celebration of Discipline. Other resources that were used include Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (Calhoun), Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Whitney), and The Spirit of the Disciplines (Willard). These include additional disciplines.

There are three avenues (or movements or categories) of spiritual discipline. They are “Inward Disciplines” that promote self-reflection, quiet contemplation, growth, and renewal; “Outward Disciplines” which are for making a positive impact on others and the world; and “Corporate Disciplines” for strengthening our relationships with others and God. Let us now identify each discipline in greater detail along with a representative Bible passage for each.

Meditation is a long, ardent gaze at God, his work and his Word. It involves slowing down and giving one’s undivided attention to God (Calhoun, p. 10).
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 98).
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

Fasting is the self-denial of normal necessities in order to intentionally attend to God in prayer. Bringing attachments and cravings to the surface, opens a place for prayer and is a reminder to turn to Jesus who alone can satisfy (Calhoun, p. 245).
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… put oil on your head and wash your face… your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18).

Study gives priority to in-depth study of Scripture for purposes of observation, analysis, evaluation, and application. Study should also include other resources that help us understand life and God’s world.
Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Simplicity is living according to the knowledge that all that we have is a gift from God, that we are cared for by God, and that what we have can be made available to others when it is right and good.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).

Solitude involves scheduling enough uninterrupted time in a distraction-free environment to experience isolation and being alone with God. Solitude is a “container discipline” for the practice of other disciplines. - Calhoun, p. 128
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35).

Submission is freely yielding to God’s word and will and to one another out of love and reverence for Christ (Calhoun, p. 134).
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority (Hebrews 13:17).

Service is a way of offering resources, time, treasure and expertise for the care, protection, justice, and nurture of others. Acts of service give hands to the second greatest commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Calhoun, p. 167).
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Confession embraces Christ’s gift of forgiveness and restoration while setting us on the path to renewal and change (Calhoun, p. 101).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Worship happens whenever we intentionally cherish God and value him above all else in life. Worship reveals what is important to us (Calhoun, p. 49).
God is Spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Guidance. God guides groups as they seek to understand and act on God’s will and way for their life together. This guidance is informed by the written Word, the Holy Spirit’s presence, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the dignity of each participant.
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and elders met to consider this question (Act 15:5, 6).

Celebration is the engaging in actions that orient the spirit toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving. It is delighting in the reality of a Trinity-fueled life (Calhoun, p. 28).
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy (Psalm 47:1).

This has been a brief overview of twelve spiritual disciplines: meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. The books used for this post provide greater clarity, depth, and tools for practicing the disciplines. These may be purchased by clicking on the related links or from Virtual Resource Center.

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.
Foster, Richard J. The Celebration of Discipline.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines.

To view this blog as a YouTube video, click here.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Older and Bolder: Reflections on Ageing Outrageously

The book, The Gift of Years, by Joan Chittister offers a perspective on ageing that invites the elderly to live outrageously. While ageing is often viewed negatively and is associated with limitations, withdrawal, uselessness, loneliness, purposelessness, and illness; author, Joan Chittister, provides a life-transforming perspective that shows how being an older person can be one of the most meaningful and exciting stages in life. This blog provides one paragraph summaries of 10 of the 40 chapters in her book.

Newness
Life is full of changes and transitions. It is a personal choice to have an attitude that looks at life as “accepting the old” or “discovering the new.” We can find fresh and glorious experiences at any stage of life, and especially as older persons, if we seek to make new discoveries.

Meaning
In the past we have ascribed meaning and even our self-worth through accomplishments, jobs, income, and titles. Living meaningfully more rightly springs from cultivating life-qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Joy
We can allow ourselves to be mired in the muck of anxiety, bitterness, and doubt of our past. Or we can, rather, look for reasons to be grateful for each day, being intoxicated by the beauty of life and celebrating its serendipitous moments, however large or small they may be.

Possibility
Getting older and being retired opens opportunities for new adventures. Instead of withdrawing from social experiences, there is a freedom to launch into new encounters. Tiredness breeds more tiredness. Activity, even when forced and done reluctantly, awakens the spirit, provides fresh insights, gives birth to new ideas, and stimulates creative thoughts.

Forgiveness
Only forgiveness can free us to rise above many of the pains in our past, even if this forgiveness is not acknowledged, requested, or accepted by others. Forgiveness is more important to the wellbeing of the one who forgives than the one being forgiven. Because it is not possible to make amends for all of our past failings, we do well to claim the forgiveness offered by Jesus, reflect it in our relationships with others and self, and start each day afresh.

Dreams
Essential to vibrant living, dreaming (daydreaming, aspirations, hopes) helps us move beyond resignation and into anticipation. Dreaming about what could be is the first step in achieving it. Our dreams can help us achieve what must yet be finished in our lives, and even in the world. The older we get, the stronger is the foundation for imagining and acting on possibilities for a better future.

Relationships
Some stay locked into and limited by relationships in their past. Others, as they get older, withdraw and disengage from social involvement. However, it is never too late to begin new relationships and cultivate new friendships. Older adults are rich in experiences and can be happily enriched by sharing these with one another. The efforts of caring for others as we do for ourselves provides mutual blessings.

Wisdom
Wisdom comes from time and experience. It is a development of life-understanding that is earned by the old who, with it in their possession, have responsibility for sharing it with those who are younger. It is the privilege of those no longer in the “normal” workforce to be thinkers, insight-givers, and encouragers of others in what they have found to be good, and true, and right.

Outreach
Many of the elderly live in isolation from society. They stay in their homes or are in retirement communities or in assisted living facilities. The choice of the elderly is that of staying in (their homes or rooms) or stepping out. Will we withdraw, or will we reach outside of ourselves to manage the life that we have in ways that benefit and bless others? And, wonder of wonders, those who give to others find themselves being blessed!

Future
Older people generally have a state of mind that fits into one of two categories. One is, “I’m getting older. I just can’t do that anymore.” The other says, “I am free from many of the responsibilities and obligations of the past. This my big chance to live outrageously free, outrageously involved, outrageously fun-loving, outrageously adventurous, and outrageously alive!” Treasuring the time that remains, now is the time to, in faith, imagine the impossible, attempt the unthinkable, and plan the incredible.

Conclusion
This has been an overview of selected topics from the book, The Gift of Years. It has summarized the areas of Newness, Meaning, Joy, Possibilities, Forgiveness, Dreams, Relationships, Wisdom, Outreach, and the Future from a positive, life-transforming perspective. Following is additional information and a link for those who would like to purchase the book.

The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister
“Joan Chittister, one of our most celebrated spiritual writers, invites us to embrace older life age as a natural part of life that is both active and contemplative, productive and reflected, and deeply rewarding… and shows us that this is a special period of life – maybe the most special of them all.” Quoted from the book jacket.

This book may be purchased by clicking here. This blog is also available as a narrated YouTube video by clicking here.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.