Holidays and more!

We hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and have some great new years plans. Check back here after the first of the year for more updates, tools and plans. A lot will be happening with small groups at Glenkirk in 2007!

How do you grow a small group? Part II

Last week, we looked at traits that weren’t responsible for group growth or multiplication. So what is responsible? Here’s some more info from a post on Joel Cominskey’s book, Home Cell Group Explosion. Remember, these factors aren’t just important if you’re trying to multiply. They’re also useful if you’re trying to grow. And growth is important because it means more people are becoming a part of our community!

Factor #1 – The Leader’s Prayer Life
The leaders’ devotional life consistently appears among the top three most important variables in the study. There was a definite correlation between multiplication and the leader spending time with God. As a matter of fact, those who spent 90 minutes or more in daily devotions multiplied their groups twice as much as those who spent less than half an hour.

The one factor in the survey that seemed to have the greatest effect on whether a group multiplies is how much time the leader spends praying for group members. The study showed that daily prayer by the leader for the members is essential for a healthy, growing group.

Factor #2 – The Leader Setting Goals to Multiply
The 700 leaders surveyed were asked, “Do you know when your group is going to multiply?” Possible answers were “yes,” “no,” or “not sure.” Leaders who know their goal – when their groups are planning to multiply, consistently do so more often than leaders who do not know their goal. In fact, if a leader does not set goals that the small group members remember, he/she has about a 50/50 chance of multiplying [the] group. If the leader does set goals, the chance of multiplying increases by 50%.

Factor #3 – The Leader Receiving Effective Training
Comiskey’s research found that small group leaders who feel better trained multiply their small groups more rapidly. However, training is not as important as the leader’s prayer life.

Let’s pause for a quick plug … At the beginning of next year, Glenkirk will kick off a new small group leader traning process called Launch. New leaders will participate in three small-group-style gatherings where we’ll talk about why we do small groups, how to lead a small group, and more. In a short period of time, people will have the opportunity to grab some practical tools for leading plus connect with others who are starting out in the same journey. If you’re a leader now who would like to either go through the training or help mentor new leaders, email me at glenkirkgroups@gmail.com.

Factor #4 – The Group’s Outreach Efforts
There were a couple of interesting finds here: First, there is a direct correlation between the number of visitors in a group and the number of times a leader multiplies the group. In other words, if you have lots of visitors, new people, you’re more likely to multiply your group or team. In addition, Comiskey also discovered that immediate follow-up on newcomers (a phone call, a note, a personal visit) was vital to a growing, healthy small group that would be likely to multiply. The research found that the quicker follow-up occurs, the more likely a person is to return.

Secondly, the research found that small group leaders who weekly encourage members to invite ungrouped people, double their capacity to multiply groups – as opposed to leaders who do so only occasionally or not at all. Weekly encouragement to invite newcomers is crucial.

Factor #5 – The Group’s “Outside” Gatherings
I call this the “FUN FACTOR.” The research found that groups that meet more frequently outside of the regular small group gathering, just for “fun” were more likely to multiply than those that didn’t. This may seem strange, but with this one I think it’s simple – when people see other people enjoying each other and having fun together, they want to be part of it. Maybe that’s a part of what was happening in Acts where it says the Christ-followers were “enjoying the favor of all the people.” (Acts 2:47)

So what are the simplist ways for groups at Glenkirk to grow? We’ll look at that question next. Plus we’ll give some ideas for what to do when your group starts to get too big (trust me, that’s a good problem!).

-Jon

Weekend Review – Dec. 17, 2006

 

Here’s a summary of what happened this weekend at Glenkirk. Feel free to use it to answer any questions that come up during your small group time!

MESSAGE

Sanctuary Services: Agnus Dei
A Christmas musical based on music by award-winning composer Michael W. Smith.

Center Service: Christmas: What Did You Expect?
By Jennifer Graffius, Director of Student Ministries

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• In January we will begin a “Walk Through The Bible” focusing on specific characters within the Bible through devotional readings, small group questions, and Wednesday night study. We’ll begin the study on Adam’s family on January 1st, and readings will be available on the web and in the bulletin.
• For more upcoming events, check here.

How do you grow a small group? Part I

We weren’t meant to live this life alone. And small groups are one of the best ways for a group of friends to consistently get together and be intentional about having spiritual conversations and following Christ. They’re a great way to live out the things we learn about in Sunday worship. They’re a great way to connect the unconnected people who come to church on Sunday to the life of the church – and to a life in Christ.

So if they’re that important, it’s important for us to grow our existing small groups and start new ones, right? But how is that done? How can we grow our groups? How can we invite new people into our lives and become a part of their lives?

Well, to start the conversation, let’s first look at a few things that aren’t responsible for group growth and multiplication - you might be surprised. This info comes from Jon Ferguson’s blog and is out of Joel Comiskey’s book Home Cell Group Explosion.

Jon says that “the book was written based on his research of the most prominent and fastest growing small group based churches in the world. … He spent an average of 8 days in each one. More than 700 small group leaders completed his 29 question survey, designed to determine why some small group leaders succeed and others do not when it comes to connecting the unconnected and reproducing their small group.”

So, here are a few things that don’t affect growth…

1. The leaders gender, social, class, age, marital status, or education were not a factor in their ability to multiply their small group. Maybe you’d never say it out loud, but quietly thought that one gender or the other or more highly educated leaders would likely be more successful in growing and reproducing small groups. Comiskey’s research says, “no.”

2. The leaders’ personality type was not a factor in their ability to multiply their small group. Both introverted and extroverted leaders multiplied their groups. Whether you’re a lion, otter, beaver, golden retriever, made no difference – not a factor. Do you think becasue you’re a high “D” or high “I” on the DISC profile, you’re more likely to be effective in small group leadership? Comiskey’s research says “no.”

3. The leader’s spiritual gifting was not a factor in their ability to multiply their small group. We might think that someone with the gift of leadership for example would be more successful in multiplying a small group, than say someone with the gift of mercy or shepherding. Comiskey’s research says that’s not the case.

It may be freeing to realize effective small group leadership isn’t about personality, gender, education, or gifting. God can use each of us!

Stay tuned, because next week we’ll follow up with a few ways small groups do grow.

Resource roundup, part II

Do conversations in your group sometimes drag or feel a little stale? It can happen even in the healthiest groups. Here are a few articles you may find helpful when facilitating small group discussion…

No More Mr. Nice Group
5 practices that take small groups beyond polite “sharing” to the disciplines that change lives.

How to Lead a Discussion
This article centers on how to lead any discussion – not just in a small group context, but it’s filled with useful tips on everything from how to pick an opening question to how to work with different types of personalities.

-Jon

Weekend Review – Dec. 11, 2006

Here’s a summary of what happened this weekend at Glenkirk. Feel free to use it to answer any questions that come up during your small group time!

MESSAGE

Celebration of Ministry, Tom Taylor (Listen here)
Tom’s final sermon at Glenkirk

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Church leaders stressed that there are no plans to change the Center service in this transition time. It has been a successful service and will continue to be held.
• For more upcoming events, check here.

WORSHIP

Blended Services

• List of songs not available – sorry!

Center Service

• Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• Not to Us
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• What a Wonderful Maker
• Blessed be Your Name
• I’ve Found Jesus

NEXT WEEK

Sanctuary Services: Agnus Dei
A Christmas musical based on music by award-winning composer Michael W. Smith. Featuring our Sanctuary Choir, youth choirs, soloists, and instrumentalists. Admission is free.

Center Service: Christmas: What Did You Expect?
By Jennifer Graffius, Director of Student Ministries

Leadership Gathering review

Wow. It was exciting to have so many of you at our leadership meeting last Monday night! I enjoyed meeting many of you for the first time and hearing what God is doing through your small groups and the other places he’s using each of you. For the sake of those who couldn’t make it (and for people like me who can be a little memory-challenged at times), here’s a quick review of what was discussed, plus links to the resources that were presented.

Weekend Review – Dec. 3, 2006

Here’s a summary of what happened this weekend at Glenkirk. Feel free to use it to answer any questions that come up during your small group time!

MESSAGE

The Smug Church, Tom Taylor (Listen here)
Revelation 3:14-22

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Congregational meeting Sunday, Dec. 10, at 11:50 a.m. followed by a Reception in the Event Center to honor and say farewell to Tom, Jan, Aaron and Ryan.
• Invite cards are available for Glenkirk attenders to invite guests to the holiday services.
• There are still chances for your small group to get involved with the homeless housing project in January. About 600 food slips and 48 jobs are still open. If you are interested in helping with this ministry or have questions, please see Roger or Karen McClain.
• If you pre-ordered a live wreath from the Student Ministries Mississippi Mission Team they are now in (available in room 21 on Sundays).
• For more upcoming events, check here.

WORSHIP

Blended Service

• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
• Immanuel
• I Give You My Heart

Center Service

• Holy Is the Lord
• O Come O Come Emmanuel
• What A Wonderful Maker
• I Will Not Forget You
• Not to Us
• My Glorious

NEXT WEEK

Tom will preach, followed by the congregational meeting after the last service.

Share: What’s the shape of your group time?

We’re going to try something here even though the site is new. We want your feedback!

We talked at our meeting earlier this week about how groups of friends look different and do different things. In the same way, each small group will look a little different. The best ones will fit the type of people who are involved in the group.

So here’s the question. What does your typical group time look like? What do you do first? Second? Third? Are there things you do that you think are unique to your group?

Even if you feel your meeting style is fairly typical, add it to the comments. Let’s see what we have in common as well!

To answer the questions, click on the link below this article that says “comments”. It will take you to a form where you can add your thoughts.

- Jon

Resource roundup

We’ll be posting a review of Monday’s leadership gathering soon. But until then, here are a few articles from around the web that stood out to me recently. If one interests you, click on the link to read the article.

Drawing Men into Small Groups
A proven plan for reaching reluctant men

Asking Better Questions
Sincere questions convey an interest in your opinions and insights and demonstrate a desire to know who you are and what you really think. The process of responding to those questions lets group members make discoveries about themselves. Here are some tips on asking good questions.

Share the Load!
Dividing responsibilities not only eases your leadership burden, it helps your group members grow. Don’t do everything yourself! Here’s how to start sharing.

- Jon