Comments on: The State of Small Groups http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/ 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: Kyle Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1341 Kyle Reed Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:45 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1341 You finally weigh in. You are the only guy that I know who puts a ton of study and thought into small groups that is why I needed you to correct all my incorrect thoughts. I think you are right on when you said that people are not ready for real community. I think that the church does a very poor job of defining what a small group is and to that matter what community is. I like the ideas you listed that you are trying, sounds interesting to me. You finally weigh in. You are the only guy that I know who puts a ton of study and thought into small groups that is why I needed you to correct all my incorrect thoughts.
I think you are right on when you said that people are not ready for real community. I think that the church does a very poor job of defining what a small group is and to that matter what community is.

I like the ideas you listed that you are trying, sounds interesting to me.

]]> By: Joshua Long http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1334 Joshua Long Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:47:59 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1334 These are great questions, Kyle! You said in your first post that you want to hear from me, but I've been listening because I can learn a great deal from this conversation with all of the fresh perspective. It's easy to get stuck in a mindset and just keep pushing up against a wall. Jordan Plumier had some excellent points in the first post about mission. The orienting principle of community should always be common mission. The problem is that not everyone is ready for real community. Pseudo-community is bound to happen all over the place because it takes a certain level of spiritual and relational maturity to engage in this type of relationship. Most groups have a wild mix of participants...people who want to play softball, people who want to make friends, people who want to have a bible study, and people who want to pursue a mission sacrificially within a community. When all these folks are thrown together in one group, chaos ensues. I'm currently experimenting with the idea of allowing for fun, unintentional communities so long as the leader is intentional about guiding the participants to deeper community and a growing connection to God. I'm also allowing groups that want to do bible study short term and not ready for a lifetime commitment to any group. Lastly, I'm providing resources and support for that third type of group, a covenant community that intentionally engages in transparency, accountability, etc. Can't wait to see what could come of this! These are great questions, Kyle! You said in your first post that you want to hear from me, but I've been listening because I can learn a great deal from this conversation with all of the fresh perspective. It's easy to get stuck in a mindset and just keep pushing up against a wall. Jordan Plumier had some excellent points in the first post about mission. The orienting principle of community should always be common mission.

The problem is that not everyone is ready for real community. Pseudo-community is bound to happen all over the place because it takes a certain level of spiritual and relational maturity to engage in this type of relationship. Most groups have a wild mix of participants…people who want to play softball, people who want to make friends, people who want to have a bible study, and people who want to pursue a mission sacrificially within a community. When all these folks are thrown together in one group, chaos ensues.

I'm currently experimenting with the idea of allowing for fun, unintentional communities so long as the leader is intentional about guiding the participants to deeper community and a growing connection to God. I'm also allowing groups that want to do bible study short term and not ready for a lifetime commitment to any group. Lastly, I'm providing resources and support for that third type of group, a covenant community that intentionally engages in transparency, accountability, etc.

Can't wait to see what could come of this!

]]> By: Kyle Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1323 Kyle Reed Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:38:29 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1323 Some of the best small groups that I have been apart of meet inside of a dorm room every night. Those are the times I look forward to. Some of the best small groups that I have been apart of meet inside of a dorm room every night. Those are the times I look forward to.

]]> By: Joshsherif http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1319 Joshsherif Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:36:40 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1319 You know it seems that the best small groups are formed naturally. A group of friends sitting around discussing issues and united by some common bond. It works sometimes the other way(forced) if the group's purpose in meeting is important enough to hold the group together. And of course there always needs to be weeding and pruning of the group. I have found that in forced groups some people need to leave and find another group and some groups will need to intentionally look for some key people to join their group. You know it seems that the best small groups are formed naturally. A group of friends sitting around discussing issues and united by some common bond. It works sometimes the other way(forced) if the group's purpose in meeting is important enough to hold the group together. And of course there always needs to be weeding and pruning of the group. I have found that in forced groups some people need to leave and find another group and some groups will need to intentionally look for some key people to join their group.

]]> By: Kyle Reed http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1311 Kyle Reed Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:50:58 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1311 Thanks for the links I will share all the links that I have gathered on Friday and these two will definitely be in there. I am curious as well to hear from others who've been part of churches moving to deeper community within their groups. Stay tuned. Thanks for the links I will share all the links that I have gathered on Friday and these two will definitely be in there.
I am curious as well to hear from others who've been part of churches moving to deeper community within their groups.
Stay tuned.

]]> By: Kevin Ring http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1309 Kevin Ring Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:36:32 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1309 The church I was part of when I lived in San Diego (Kaleo <a href="http://www.kaleochurch.com)" target="_blank">www.kaleochurch.com)</a> has invested a lot in developing communities and shifting its "church model" (if you will) to emphasize these communities as a high priority and central aspect of what it means to "be the church" as part of Kaleo. Drew Goodmanson (<a href="http://www.goodmanson.com)" target="_blank">www.goodmanson.com)</a> is an elder of Kaleo and writes a lot about their Missional Community strategy. The church I'm now part of is at a place where we understand the value of a true community of believers both as being a primary expression of the Gospel and as a better way than programs for achieving many of our desired goals as a church. But to actually move into deeper commitment within our small groups requires a level of intentionality and a tremendous amount of faith and were struggling through both. I'd be curious to hear from people who've been part of churches moving to deeper community within their groups. The church I was part of when I lived in San Diego (Kaleo http://www.kaleochurch.com) has invested a lot in developing communities and shifting its "church model" (if you will) to emphasize these communities as a high priority and central aspect of what it means to "be the church" as part of Kaleo. Drew Goodmanson (http://www.goodmanson.com) is an elder of Kaleo and writes a lot about their Missional Community strategy.

The church I'm now part of is at a place where we understand the value of a true community of believers both as being a primary expression of the Gospel and as a better way than programs for achieving many of our desired goals as a church. But to actually move into deeper commitment within our small groups requires a level of intentionality and a tremendous amount of faith and were struggling through both.

I'd be curious to hear from people who've been part of churches moving to deeper community within their groups.

]]> By: Tweets that mention The State of Small Groups | Thoughts about Nothing*com -- Topsy.com http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1301 Tweets that mention The State of Small Groups | Thoughts about Nothing*com -- Topsy.com Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:05:50 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1301 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Community Ninja and Kyle Reed, Kyle Reed. Kyle Reed said: Tackling the state of small groups in the church this week on the blog: http://bit.ly/3HDYXM Your participation is needed #fb [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Community Ninja and Kyle Reed, Kyle Reed. Kyle Reed said: Tackling the state of small groups in the church this week on the blog: http://bit.ly/3HDYXM Your participation is needed #fb [...]

]]> By: austinklee http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1294 austinklee Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:39:11 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1294 I have been thinking about this for a while now! Thanks for posting, Kyle! My wife and I actually started a new community group last night and I told them about your post and how I wanted us to really be a community and not merely a place to hang out. Thanks for your thoughts and words. I have been thinking about this for a while now! Thanks for posting, Kyle! My wife and I actually started a new community group last night and I told them about your post and how I wanted us to really be a community and not merely a place to hang out.

Thanks for your thoughts and words.

]]> By: Jeremy Wight http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1291 Jeremy Wight Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:12:49 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1291 Interesting post. I have never been involved with the first type of group*. * - I have been involved in groups that I believe not everyone was fully committed and engaged in, but if you look at the dynamics of groups this is almost always the case. You have concentric circles of leadership with those people who are less committed/engaged on the fringe of the group. The reason I think I have never been a part of the first group is I have always gone into it with the mentality that I wanted to be a part of a group and was committed to it. I really hope that your prediction is incorrect... What we need now more than ever is authentic community. @jeremywight Interesting post. I have never been involved with the first type of group*.

* – I have been involved in groups that I believe not everyone was fully committed and engaged in, but if you look at the dynamics of groups this is almost always the case. You have concentric circles of leadership with those people who are less committed/engaged on the fringe of the group. The reason I think I have never been a part of the first group is I have always gone into it with the mentality that I wanted to be a part of a group and was committed to it.

I really hope that your prediction is incorrect… What we need now more than ever is authentic community.

@jeremywight

]]> By: klreed189 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/the-state-of-small-groups/comment-page-1/#comment-1287 klreed189 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:42:08 +0000 http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/?p=2404#comment-1287 These words are very very wise. I am going to check that out and maybe just do a post with these words. Good stuff, this was the expertise that I was looking for. How are you guys intentionally doing this in your community groups? These words are very very wise. I am going to check that out and maybe just do a post with these words. Good stuff, this was the expertise that I was looking for.
How are you guys intentionally doing this in your community groups?

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