Comments on: State of Small Groups Part 4 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/ Looking to Stand on the Shoulders of Giants Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:02:56 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: joanna http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 joanna Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:17:42 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-2125 While i have been in groups put together by a third party and handed material do not that well at all, I've also been in groups that were also put together by a third party and given material that worked wonderfully. I think the factors that make a difference for the groups that made the difference were - People actually wanted to be there and weren't under any pressure to get involved. So frustrating when you have to coax along people who would rather be somewhere else. - While the group members were diverse in many ways, they had some things other than being Christian in common and there weren't differences that caused personality clashes which can so easily disrail small groups. If people wouldn't click normally shoving them in a room together for 2 hours a week isn't going to help. - We did stuff other than small group meetings. Shared meals, played card games, went shopping together even just hung out playing with someones new puppy. While i have been in groups put together by a third party and handed material do not that well at all, I've also been in groups that were also put together by a third party and given material that worked wonderfully. I think the factors that make a difference for the groups that made the difference were
- People actually wanted to be there and weren't under any pressure to get involved. So frustrating when you have to coax along people who would rather be somewhere else.
- While the group members were diverse in many ways, they had some things other than being Christian in common and there weren't differences that caused personality clashes which can so easily disrail small groups. If people wouldn't click normally shoving them in a room together for 2 hours a week isn't going to help.
- We did stuff other than small group meetings. Shared meals, played card games, went shopping together even just hung out playing with someones new puppy.

]]> By: Thoughts about Nothing Best Post | Thoughts about Nothing*com http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-2095 Thoughts about Nothing Best Post | Thoughts about Nothing*com Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:43:29 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-2095 [...] The State of Small Groups This post was a four part series that dived into the state of small groups inside the church. [...] [...] The State of Small Groups This post was a four part series that dived into the state of small groups inside the church. [...]

]]> By: Kyle Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1459 Kyle Reed Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:21:06 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1459 Great point Josh. You are exactly right, growth is the key to community. I like the 3 areas you gave as well. thanks for giving those. Great point Josh.
You are exactly right, growth is the key to community.
I like the 3 areas you gave as well. thanks for giving those.

]]> By: Joshua Long http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1454 Joshua Long Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:44:20 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1454 Not all groups fulfill the same purpose because people are at different places in their spiritual journey. Some people are scared of bible study and would get bored because they have not reached the level of maturity required for bible study. Some have moved beyond the place where bible study alone is enough. However, no matter what the group is like, every single group should have this in common: the goal is growth. Growth happens in these 3 areas: intimacy with God, real relationships, and mission. The job of the leader is to shepherd the people God has placed in his care. If this is happening, the rest is details. Not all groups fulfill the same purpose because people are at different places in their spiritual journey. Some people are scared of bible study and would get bored because they have not reached the level of maturity required for bible study. Some have moved beyond the place where bible study alone is enough.

However, no matter what the group is like, every single group should have this in common: the goal is growth. Growth happens in these 3 areas: intimacy with God, real relationships, and mission. The job of the leader is to shepherd the people God has placed in his care. If this is happening, the rest is details.

]]> By: Joshua Long http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 Joshua Long Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:43:35 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1453 Not all groups fulfill the same purpose because people are at different places in their spiritual journey. Some people are scared of bible study and would get bored because they have not reached the level of maturity required for bible study. Some have moved beyond the place where bible study alone is enough. However, no matter what the group is like, every single group should have this in common: the goal is growth. Growth happens in these 3 areas: intimacy with God, real relationships, and mission. The job of the leader is to shepherd the people God has placed in his care. If this is happening, the rest is details. Not all groups fulfill the same purpose because people are at different places in their spiritual journey. Some people are scared of bible study and would get bored because they have not reached the level of maturity required for bible study. Some have moved beyond the place where bible study alone is enough.

However, no matter what the group is like, every single group should have this in common: the goal is growth. Growth happens in these 3 areas: intimacy with God, real relationships, and mission. The job of the leader is to shepherd the people God has placed in his care. If this is happening, the rest is details.

]]> By: Resource of the Day #70 | Thoughts about Nothing*com http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1349 Resource of the Day #70 | Thoughts about Nothing*com Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:06:59 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1349 [...] The Blog post: The State of Small Groups Overview The State of Small Groups Part 2 The State of Small Groups Part 3 The State of Small Groups Part 4 [...] [...] The Blog post: The State of Small Groups Overview The State of Small Groups Part 2 The State of Small Groups Part 3 The State of Small Groups Part 4 [...]

]]> By: Briony http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1347 Briony Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:58:34 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1347 I get what you mean...although my drink of choice would be coffee. Haha It's being around people that understand you, they may not agree with you or even be in the same state of life as you but they 'get' you. In order to really understand someone you have to know them. Everything else is just based on your opinion or observation. The way this applies to small groups is that true community is rooted in intimacy. Not saying we all need to spill our guts but being part of the group is sharing life together. When you share anything with someone, big or small, you are spending yourself. Most groups fail because the only thing we are willing to give is an hour of our time and a couple words here and there. As for what Grandpa Reed said below. I agree that coming together to just hang out and shoot the breeze isn't really anything but a club, but we aren't talking about that at all. We are talking about a group of believers that are deciding to come together, that are planning on spending their precious time away from their to do lists to discuss a message, book or scripture. I think that our intentions are right...we desire to build relationships and grow in our faith. But the problem is no one is ready to actually jump in and do what it takes to make those two things happen. Or we don't know how. The way we live out our lives, that is our faith in action. So coming together to share about those things is not by any means a club. I also don't think you can blame it all on leadership. You can have the best leader in the world in your group but if you don't have people willing to open their hearts, life, mouths...that leader will flounder like the rest of them. Just some thoughts from my end. I get what you mean…although my drink of choice would be coffee. Haha It's being around people that understand you, they may not agree with you or even be in the same state of life as you but they 'get' you. In order to really understand someone you have to know them. Everything else is just based on your opinion or observation.

The way this applies to small groups is that true community is rooted in intimacy. Not saying we all need to spill our guts but being part of the group is sharing life together. When you share anything with someone, big or small, you are spending yourself. Most groups fail because the only thing we are willing to give is an hour of our time and a couple words here and there.

As for what Grandpa Reed said below. I agree that coming together to just hang out and shoot the breeze isn't really anything but a club, but we aren't talking about that at all. We are talking about a group of believers that are deciding to come together, that are planning on spending their precious time away from their to do lists to discuss a message, book or scripture.
I think that our intentions are right…we desire to build relationships and grow in our faith. But the problem is no one is ready to actually jump in and do what it takes to make those two things happen. Or we don't know how. The way we live out our lives, that is our faith in action. So coming together to share about those things is not by any means a club. I also don't think you can blame it all on leadership. You can have the best leader in the world in your group but if you don't have people willing to open their hearts, life, mouths…that leader will flounder like the rest of them.

Just some thoughts from my end.

]]> By: Kyle Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1344 Kyle Reed Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:17:43 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1344 I would agree with you on the fact that there is poor leadership and in turn can have a club instead of a group. But, we do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I do not want to study the bible with people I do not know. Here is why struggle with that, one person makes an observation that meant something to me and something different to the guy next to me...then the conversation goes a totally different way and the conversation turns from study to opinion. If I am going to a Bible study I expect some bible studying to be going on, commentaries consulted, etc...but small groups center usually around a curriculum or book that the church is following and has questions for the group. I don't disagree with you on the fact that a group can become a club. But, I think naturally inside of conversation about anything it comes back to what God is doing. I feel like I can talk about what is going on with the health care reform and bring it back to God. I would agree with you on the fact that there is poor leadership and in turn can have a club instead of a group. But, we do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I do not want to study the bible with people I do not know. Here is why struggle with that, one person makes an observation that meant something to me and something different to the guy next to me…then the conversation goes a totally different way and the conversation turns from study to opinion. If I am going to a Bible study I expect some bible studying to be going on, commentaries consulted, etc…but small groups center usually around a curriculum or book that the church is following and has questions for the group. I don't disagree with you on the fact that a group can become a club. But, I think naturally inside of conversation about anything it comes back to what God is doing. I feel like I can talk about what is going on with the health care reform and bring it back to God.

]]> By: Kyle Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1345 Kyle Reed Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:17:26 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1345 I would agree with you on the fact that there is poor leadership and in turn can have a club instead of a group. But, we do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I do not want to study the bible with people I do not know. Here is why struggle with that, one person makes an observation that meant something to me and something different to the guy next to me...then the conversation goes a totally different way and the conversation turns from study to opinion. If I am going to a Bible study I expect some bible studying to be going on, commentaries consulted, etc...but small groups center usually around a curriculum or book that the church is following and has questions for the group. I don't disagree with you on the fact that a group can become a club. But, I think naturally inside of conversation about anything it comes back to what God is doing. I feel like I can talk about what is going on with the health care reform and bring it back to God. Do you think my blog can be a small group? I would agree with you on the fact that there is poor leadership and in turn can have a club instead of a group. But, we do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I do not want to study the bible with people I do not know. Here is why struggle with that, one person makes an observation that meant something to me and something different to the guy next to me…then the conversation goes a totally different way and the conversation turns from study to opinion. If I am going to a Bible study I expect some bible studying to be going on, commentaries consulted, etc…but small groups center usually around a curriculum or book that the church is following and has questions for the group. I don't disagree with you on the fact that a group can become a club. But, I think naturally inside of conversation about anything it comes back to what God is doing. I feel like I can talk about what is going on with the health care reform and bring it back to God.
Do you think my blog can be a small group?

]]> By: Grandpa Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/state-of-small-groups-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-1342 Grandpa Reed Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:39 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2442#comment-1342 Don't mean to be negative, but a small church group meeting in the home if it is not for prayer and Bible Study is just a club, like the local gun club or ladies quilting bee, focusing on things other than God. Sorry, but give the group a title and call it a club. People join a gun club because they are interested in guns and learning about them from someone who knows a lot about guns. I read an article where a preacher was told he was using too much Scripture in his sermon by quoting six verses. He was told to talk more about people's needs and such. A sermon without Scripture is not a sermon, like Granma says, "Pie without sugar is not pie", just as small church groups as you are calling them are just clubs if they don't study the Bible. The reason they are not successful is the people coming are not interested in studying the Scripture and/or poor leadership, in which case they might just as well stay home or join a club. Just my point of view, Don't mean to be negative, but a small church group meeting in the home if it is not for prayer and Bible Study is just a club, like the local gun club or ladies quilting bee, focusing on things other than God. Sorry, but give the group a title and call it a club. People join a gun club because they are interested in guns and learning about them from someone who knows a lot about guns.
I read an article where a preacher was told he was using too much Scripture in his sermon by quoting six verses. He was told to talk more about people's needs and such. A sermon without Scripture is not a sermon, like Granma says, "Pie without sugar is not pie", just as small church groups as you are calling them are just clubs if they don't study the Bible. The reason they are not successful is the people coming are not interested in studying the Scripture and/or poor leadership, in which case they might just as well stay home or join a club.
Just my point of view,

]]>