Our church (First Baptist Roanoke) just wrapped up a leadership training session called "Contagious!" The material was great and I compiled my notes for our Koinonia class members to have. The information was directed toward Life Groups and small groups, but once I got it typed up and saw it on the page, I thought it would be applicable for any Christian group! So I've decided to "cast this bread upon the waters" and trust the Lord to send it wherever it needs to go!
Five Practices of a
Healthy Christian Group
Each of these has 2 applications: micro (happens each week
within the group) and macro (practice outside the group).
1. Welcome – Building
Community. Touch people! A “touch” has 3 components: eye contact, verbal greeting & a physical touch –
look them in the eye, say something welcoming, shake hands or hug (if
appropriate). Micro: Everyone in your
group (visitors and members alike) should have 4 “touches” before they reach
their seats. Macro: follow-up emails, calls & visits during the week.
2. Worship – Invoking
the Presence of God. This doesn’t require music or singing! Micro:
“Popcorn” prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Macro: personal daily
worship.
3. Word – Allowing God
to Speak to You. Micro: It’s the responsibility of
the teacher to ask good questions and lead the group through observing the
text, understand its meaning and then how it applies to our lives. Macro:
pray and read your Bible daily.
4. Works – Putting the
Lesson Into Practice. Micro:
pray for each other during class. Macro: service to each other during
the week (meals, visits, helping with projects, etc)
5. Witness – Becoming
a People-reaching Group. Have faith that we can reach people, pray daily
for each member and for our witness, love people (don’t judge), invite friends,
work as a team, present the Gospel, give people the opportunity to pray to
receive Christ, have parties, share testimonies, celebrate conversions.
With which “W” do you think your group is strongest?
With which “W” do you think your group needs to improve?
David Loyed: Hooking
Visitors
Start on time, smile and be friendly, be positive (no
complaining), listen actively (make eye-contact and pay attention), engage your
“visitor radar” and be ready for them, “Forever Touch” – you never know when
your contact will be one that leads them to an eternal change.
Jason Hall:
High-Definition Teaching (aimed at
teachers, but good for anyone in leadership)
Understand your teaching style and incorporate new skills
and techniques to keep the class engaged. Prayerfully consider your strongest
and weakest attributes, and ask the Lord to show you ways to grow and improve.
Understand the three different types of learners: Auditory
(listeners), Visual (seers), Tactile (doers).
Nehemiah Hanson: Un-church
Your Church
Make a point to avoid “churchy” phrases and “church-speak”
because we are no longer a society with a Christian heritage. One in three
American adults are unchurched and, according to the Barna Research Group,
America is the 4th largest unreached people group in the world. (YIKES!)
Reach out without selling out - don't compromise what you believe. Use culture to reach the
unchurched - understand what's happening in the world so you can know what people are hearing. Be “in the world” but not “of the world” - be salt and light. Be all things to all
people - Jesus went to where the people were and ministered to them there.
Don’t be political – Jesus is a
Theocrat, not a democrat or a republican. As Christians we need to help people
understand why they’re here, what their purpose is, and where they’re going
when they die.
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