09.30.08
BIG Ideas for SMALL Groups
As a Small Group Pastor, have you ever wanted to be creative and think “outside of the box” and give your leaders some amazing ideas for their next Small Group meeting? Are you in need of some really neat and creative ideas to help make your Small Group Leader’s next meeting more fun and exciting? Here is a fun idea! One of our Small Groups has been together for a few years and they wanted to try something “out of the box.” One person in their group came up with an idea that I have called “Potluck Gone Wild!” or “Spin the Meal!” Whatever name works for you…use it!
Here is how it works: First of all you need someone who is creative and good with a computer and have them make three “spinning wheels”. If you have ever watched Wheel of Fortune, you know what I mean. After that you label each of the three wheels accordingly:
· Wheel #1 is labeled with different COLORS.
· Wheel #2 is labeled with different TEMPERATURES.
· Wheel #3 is labeled with TEXTURES. (Soft, chewy, crunchy, etc.)
· Optional Wheel Ideas could include: Which one of the four food groups or is it an appetizer, main entree, dessert, or salad.
Secondly, have each group member spin the three wheels and that will give them a description of the food that they will prepare and bring for the next Small Group meeting. Have Fun!
Thanks to Todd and Kandi Jones’ Small Group for sharing another BIG Idea for a SMALL Group!
Let us know in what ways your Small Groups have been creative and fun!
09.22.08
Small Group Exchange
If you are a Small Group Pastor, you will definitely want to check out www.smallgroupexchange.com. The Small Group Exchange feature articles, ideas, curriculum reviews that will prove to be a huge asset for any small group pastor. Go and check it out www.smallgroupexchange.com
09.16.08
Leader Man vrs. Servant Leader
I came across this blog the other day from a fellow leader and he had some huge thoughts about the difference between “Leader Man” and “Servant Leader.” It could challenge the way that you lead today! After you read it, please let me know your thoughts.
You can find the original Blog Spot here: http://branthansen.typepad.com/
Leader Man verses Servant Leader:
LeaderMan: Wants a platform on which to say something
Servant Leader: Has something to say
———–
LeaderMan: You almost feel you know his family, because he’s your Leader
Servant Leader: You allow him to influence you, because you know his family
———–
LeaderMan: Wants you to know he’s a Leader
Servant Leader: You’re not sure he knows he’s a leader
———–
LeaderMan: Loves the idea of the Gospel, and the idea of The Church
Servant Leader: Loves God and the actual individual people God brings across his path
———–
LeaderMan: A great speaker, but self-described as, “Not really a people person.”
Servant Leader: Makes himself a people person
———–
LeaderMan: Helps you find where God is leading you in his organization
Servant Leader: Helps you find where God is leading you
———–
LeaderMan: Gets together with you to talk about his vision
Servant Leader: Just gets together with you
———–
LeaderMan: Resents “sheep stealing”
Servant Leader: Doesn’t get the “stealing” part, since he doesn’t own anyone to begin with
———–
LeaderMan: Wants the right people on the bus
Servant Leader: Wants to find the right bus for you, and sit next to you on it
———–
LeaderMan: Shows you a flow chart
Servant Leader: Shows you his whole heart
———–
LeaderMan: A visionary who knows what the future looks like
Servant Leader: Knows what your kitchen looks like
———–
LeaderMan: If it’s worth doing, it worth doing with excellence
Servant Leader: Not exactly sure how to even calculate “worth doing”
———–
LeaderMan: Talks about confronting one another in love
Servant Leader: Actually confronts you in love
———–
LeaderMan: Impressed by success and successful people
Servant Leader: Impressed by faithfulness
———–
LeaderMan: Invests time in you, if you are “key people”
Servant Leader: Wastes time with you
———–
LeaderMan: Reveals sins of his past
Servant Leader: Reveals sins of his present
———-
LeaderMan: Gives you things to do
Servant Leader: Gives you freedom
———–
LeaderMan: Leads because of official position
Servant Leader: Leads in spite of position
———–
LeaderMan: Deep down, threatened by other Leaders
Servant Leader: Has nothing to lose
09.08.08
Don’t Do It ALONE!
1) Identify an apprentice. Find someone in your area of influence where you can pour your life and leadership skills into their life. This person can be someone who is not a current staff member but someone who might be experiencing God’s call into ministry. Can you name the person that you are investing your life?
2) Recruit a volunteer intern. This is a person who loves to communicate. They can help write the weekly emails, call those that are seeking a new Small Group, send out reminders to your leaders, or just help you make sure everyone is in the communication loop.
3) Have a volunteer Event coordinator. The details of planning an event can become extremely time consuming. Do you have someone at your church that has the gift of planning events? Look for someone who has creativity, administration skills, great eye for current trends, and someone who is available. This person could help you with hours of details and organization.
4) Enlist a prayer partner. Do you have someone who prays for you and your leadership on a daily basis? Many times we forget that we are in a spiritual battlefield. Make sure you have someone in your life who you know prays for you and your family. Have someone that you know cares for you and wants to see you be successful as a person. If you do not have someone you regularly call and share your life with, I encourage you to enlist that person today!
5) You come up with one! Think outside of the box. Allow people to help and to feel involved and needed. Many times people become disconnected from their Small Group Pastors because they do not have a sense of ownership. They sense that they are not important or valued. God has surrounded us with individuals that can help a leader and actually help the person grow in their relationship with God and with you!
What are some ways that you are allowing people to share the leadership and allowing you to do the leadership journey with others?
09.05.08
More than we can IMAGINE!
More than we can IMAGINE
Thousands of people from all over the Vegas Valley packed into the auditorium last evening at the Henderson Campus as we came together to celebrate First Wednesday! God totally showed up and amazed us! The excitment was in the air and as I pondered on it last night afterwards, all I could think of is the verse…Ephesians 3:20, “He..who is able to do more than we could ever ask or IMAGINE!” God is so AWESOME!
I had the opportunity last evening to see many of our Small Groups together serving, worshipping, taking communion, and just hanging out together! What an amazing night it was! The worship team did an awesome job as they rocked us in some of Central’s favorites. I think probably some of the highlights were:
1) Seeing many people taking the next step in baptism.
2) Watching Kurt have the privilege of baptizing his son, Austin!
3) Having a special prayer time for the Two Campus Launch happening this weekend! (Southwest and the Online Campus)
4) Breaking the “Glow Tubes” so we could rock out to “We Shine”
5) Having communion together!
Jud did an awesome job as he challenged us with the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. One of the take aways from his talk was:
“As you are going on the journey…make disciples.”
First Wednesday is an opporunity to gather all of the campuses and Small Groups at ONE location for an awesome night of baptism, celebration, worship, communion, and a challenging talk.
What are some ways that you get your Small Groups together outside of their normal every week group time?
09.01.08
Happy Labor Day!
Hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day! I am sure many of you are trying to rest and download from this busy time of the year. As we celebrate this Labor Day, let’s remember all of those being displaced from their homes located on the Gulf Coast.
I have a question for you…You know as Small Group Pastors, people are always asking us for advice. Recently, I was asked this same question three times in one week.
“One of the challenges we are having with our group is the lack of
participation during the study. We have a very faithful group that say that they love to come to the group and all socially interact with each other but when it comes time to discuss the questions everyone just clams up. They are all interested in what I have to say but I don’t want it to be about me. Any suggestions?”
What suggestions would you give this leader?
centralcouples
