The Grapevine

Small Groups In Prison Ministry

2006-08-10T16:58:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the fourth night of a weekly small group I have had the pleasure to help lead in a prison. What a great experience!

The men are genuinely hungry and need such a format for their mutual confirmation and edification.

I am seeing positive results using the discussion group format that I also use during our Sunday Morning group discussions. Even though the men are less spiritually mature (in my humble opinion) than most in the Sunday School setting, I am actually seeing a better interaction because we are not pressed for time 2 hours versus 1 hour.

Tonight ought to be fun...Freedom is available inside a jail cell - always has been and always will be.

Recording the Small Group?

2006-06-20T22:00:00.000-05:00

I had the idea to record our small group and put the results on the internet so that others can interact; and, if a group member misses the class they can compare notes....however: my wife and others think it would stifle the conversation

As it turns out the thing failed anyway because the microphone was ok but would only record if held up to your lips....that would stifle the conversation for sure, not to mention slow it down and perhaps just kill it....so I gave up on the idea (for now)

What do you think of the idea if the technology was available where you did not have to pass a microphone around?

Is it worth it or do I shut it down?

I am confident it could help some lost people somewhere in the world...hmmm maybe another format...oh well back to the drawing board

Progams versus Relationships

2006-04-17T17:41:00.000-05:00

Last week I was reading Josh McDowell's new book "The Last Christian Generation". In the book he talks about how churchs need to focus less on programs and turn our attention more to building relationships - with God, each other and the lost.

I immediately thought of the small group concept and how appropriate it is for such a process.

The Best Discussions

2006-03-26T21:10:00.000-06:00

My wife and I were talking about our small group discussions today and we "discovered" a mutual point of agreement. We believe that the best discussions occur in small groups where group members share his or her experience with, application or non-application of the Biblical principal(s) we are discussing at the time.

This type of discussion is more of a step of faith for the member and is more risky in terms of being subjected to inappropriate judgment from other group members. In non-Christian or Biblical small group formats members would naturally be reluctant to share intimate personal experiences. This reluctance is the natural result of a lifetime of interaction in various types of groups such as school, work, families where the following can occur:

a dominant opinion or person can dictate the "acceptable" procedures for offering comments or opinions
group members can ridicule others
GroupThink can set in
group members might not participate honestly by withholding thier true feelings due to not feeling comfortable in a group they percieve as hostile or ill-intentioned
trust may be based on a shared value that is self-centered e.g. "scratch each other's back etc"

What is so different in a Christian small group scenario is the basis for being there and the shared common value system. Although you may have chosen the groups to join in a work, school or family small group experience, often there are a wide variety of beliefs systems. Some may be shared among the group members but often they are not, especially in school and work circumstances. Christian small groups are different in that each member is or is purporting to be seeking a relationship with God Almighty and is therefore disposed to set selfish motivations aside. They willingly defer a focus on self and allow for a mutual focus on building an individual relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ.

Small Life Groups Versus Large Life Groups

2006-03-25T08:26:00.000-06:00

Let's compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.

After all, both group versions exist and if we establish there stregnths and weaknesses, then we can effectively evaluate their suitability for a weekly Bible Study.

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Strengths of Large Groups:

There are more potential future leaders of new groups.

There are more skills available for ministry or mission projects.

There are more experiences to draw from for sharing and learning.

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Weaknesses of Large Groups:

Harder for new folks to become involved in discussion.

Less time for discussion opportunities for all attendees.

Less intimate setting, feels like a "class".

Harder for the leader to allow for participation time for each member.

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Strengths of Small Groups:

Easy to allow time for participation of all group members.

Can physically fit small group format in homes, churches, schools, libraries etc

New folks will be more obvious to the "veterans" and will be ministered to

Friendship and bonding can occur easily between and among multiple members

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Weaknesses of Small Groups:

New folks (and veterans) may prefer a large group as a place more easy to "hide in"

A feeling of insignificance can creep into member perspectives if the group is especially small

Facilitation of discussions is a learned art and may take some time to develop in small group leaders

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What are some other strengths and weaknesses?

Neighborhood Discovery Group

2006-03-23T08:11:00.000-06:00

I attended the Billy Graham evangelistic Association training for counselors for the Celebration of Hope in New Orleans recently following Hurricane Katrina. The training was excellent and the organization of the whole program was really something to behold. They are EXPERTS at organizing and training volunteers (see previous post).

I then attended the Neighborhood Discovery Group training seminar in the event there were men who would seek to lean more after coming forward at the Celebration of Hope. It was excellent training also and I really like the discussion format they use. It is very similar to what I have used in the past.

I attended both sessions of the Celebration of Hope and had the honor to lead a man to the Lord! I am very excited about that. Also I am excited to say that the Association has asked me to lead a Neighborhood Discovery Group in my area. Of the eight men I have been asked to contact only two have responded positively but I know the Word of God never comes back void.

How Do You Keep Your Small Group from Becoming a Clique?

2006-02-23T07:54:00.000-06:00

clique 'klEk, 'klik

a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially : one held together by common interests, views, or purposes

Nothing wrong with common interests, views or purposes but the great commandment tells us we cannot be exclusive because we love God and people, therfore we are to share the Good News and not become or stay exclusive

The Five Purposes and Small Groups

2006-02-12T16:53:00.000-06:00

Today I was exhorted by church leadership to develop all five purposes in small group settings. After some thought, here is how I could structure that in my small group:

1. Worship - We were planned for God's pleasure - that's Worship. We should use small groups to get to know and love God better.

2. Fellowship - We were formed for God's family - that's Fellowship. We should use small groups to show love for fellow believers.

3. Discipleship -We were created to become like Christ - that's Discipleship. We should use small groups to grow our character.

4. Ministry - We were shaped to serve God. We should use small groups to serve God by serving others.

5. Mission - We were made for a mission - that's Evangalism. We should use small groups to share the Good News.

This adaptation was taken from the Purpose Driven Life Book, by Rick Warrren

What A Small Group is According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

2006-02-04T22:40:00.000-06:00

I just finished the Christian Life and Witness Course put on by the Billy Graham evangelistic Association. This course introduced their version of small group study which they call Discovery Groups. By the way, the training was first class and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Their stated purpose of the small group format they introduced is to provide follow up for inquirers or new believers. Each of their Discovery Group studies is focused on just a few verses per week and is designed to discover:

What God's Word says
Understand what it means
How to apply the truth learned in one's life

I like their format very much and think it is a wonderful tool for the discipleship of new believers. I am looking forward to studying their material for more good ideas and praise God for their efforts and focus on the lost.

A Small Group Can Be Friends

2006-01-16T07:11:00.000-06:00

I believe a small group can be or become:

A group of friends rather than acquaitenances. Maybe they always start out as acquaintences, but when you start dicusssing the matters of life - eternal life - that lasts forever, of our common status and the nature of our existence in relation to Jesus Christ, of our individual and common need for a saviour to rescue us from our meager lives of temporal nothingness without Jesus Christ; then I believe we can become friends, true friends.
Friends of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Chapter 15 verse 14 "You are my friends if you do what I command." (from New International Version). Who would you rather be friends with? What a priveledge!
True friendships in small groups are not uncommon when Jesus Christ is the mutal focus and friend.

One can only be a friend of Jesus if we do what he commands.

What I Do NOT Believe About Small Groups

2006-01-05T19:08:00.000-06:00

I believe small groups are not:

The only way for Christians to fellowship, study and learn and meet
A vehicle for "Group Salvation"
An autonomous body separate from the church from which it's members are derived
More effective with, or proper employers of peer pressure
Ineffective if they meet only in homes and/or churches
The answer to a supposedly ineffective current church model

With that said, I will now think about what small groups are....

About This Blog

2006-01-01T13:38:00.000-06:00

I am starting this Blog to share my thoughts and ideas regarding the effectiveness and suitability of different tools and techniques involved in teaching the Word of God in small groups.

I am not a full time minister, I am a volunteer. I have decided to devote a large portion of my time to improving my abilities in teaching and facilitating small groups towards a better understanding of the Bible.

I have taught several different Bible classes in various formats. For the past year I have been leading a small group in a study of the Gospel of John. I believe small groups are best for the following reasons:

In a small group, it is easier to get to know your fellow group members (fellowship).
When everybody knows everybody it makes it easier to speak up (participation).
Member needs are more easily identified and met in small groups (ministry).
In any meeting the amount of time available for individual member participation is limited by the amount of potential participants, assuming the time is divided equally. The smaller the group, the more potential time is available for each member's participation (belonging).
Overall, it is easier to belong, participate and therefore LEARN in small groups than in the big group set up...go small and grow large (inside)

I am, and always will be, a student first and a teacher second. If you would like to share your insights with me on effective learning for small groups please do so. I plan to ramble on electronically until further notice.

The Grapevine

2005-12-28T21:45:00.000-06:00

I will submit my first post on January 1st, 2006.