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Small Groups: Wave of the Future

Small Groups: Wave of the Future. How to Organize and Run Small Groups. Hi. My name is Pen Cil, and I’ll be your guide through this course on small groups. Personally, I belong to a small group called the “Pen Cil Box.”. What will we learn?. - What a small group is.

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Small Groups: Wave of the Future

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  1. Small Groups: Wave of theFuture

  2. How to Organize and Run Small Groups

  3. Hi. My name is Pen Cil, and I’ll be your guide through this course on small groups. Personally, I belong to a small group called the “Pen Cil Box.”

  4. What will we learn? - What a small group is. - Kinds of small groups. - How to organize a small group. - How to run a small group. First of all.. . .

  5. Introduction Small Groups: Wave of theFuture

  6. Unit 1 - Introduction The biblical and Spirit of Prophecy basis for small groups. What is a small group? Why are small groups important?

  7. What is a small group?

  8. A “small group“is usually understood as a quantity- a small number of people, about 6 to 10.

  9. To function properly, a small group must be more than a collection of individuals.

  10. Principle # 1 A successful small group is more than numbers - it is an organism, a fellowship, a type of community.

  11. Definition of a small group • In this study, a “small group” means: • a small number of people . . . • who have formed a bond . . . • directed toward fulfilling a purpose.

  12. Principle # 2 The group will only be effective, and survive, as it focuses on that purpose and its accomplishment.

  13. What small groups are not!

  14. Not automatic. Not easy to run. • They lack stability. • They take time. • They take commitment. • They take a lot of work. Not cure-all for church problems.

  15. Not a substitute for regular church functions. • Sabbath or Sunday schools should still be the mother of all “small group” functions . • The worship service, the regular activities of the church, the departments all still function.

  16. Big Precaution! • Don’t try to enroll your entire church in a small group system all at once. It won’t work!!! • Start with one of two groups and let the program grow over a period of time.

  17. ? Why are small groups important?

  18. “Small groups force people to think about and articulate what they believe in a way not usually possible with sermons and traditional Sabbath School lectures. They prompt dialogue and can bring a person to greater ownership of belief.” Ron Havermast, Christianity Today, Feb.7, 1994, p. 29.

  19. Biblical and Spirit of Prophecy Basis for Small Groups

  20. Received the word Grew daily Baptized Positive witness Instructed Reached out Fellowship Biblical basis for small groups. Acts 2:41-47 Gathered Together

  21. Spirit of Prophecy basis for small groups “Preach less and educate more, by holding Bible readings, and by praying with families and little companies. . . .” Gospel Workers, p. 193.

  22. Spirit of Prophecy basis for small groups “The formation of small companies as a basis for Christian effort is a plan that has been presented before me by One who cannot err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church members, but for unbelievers also.” Evangelism, p. 115.

  23. Small groups in an SDA context • We have a Spirit of Prophecy mandate to do so. Small groups ought to be highly successful in the SDA context. • We have a biblical mandate, through the okios system, to use small group technology.

  24. Do small groups work? • Not notably successful in some SDA churches - why? • SDA churches are ”institutionally” organized. • SDA members are caught up in the secularized world-view of society- without realizing it. • A significant number of SDA members are not disciplined

  25. Do small groups work? (Cont.) • to take the time required for small group ministry. • No church,SDA or otherwise, except one or two in the entire world, has successfully achieved majority participation in small group ministry. • Much of what passes for small group ministry in the SDA church is in reality a small quantity of people listening to a lecture!

  26. Stop the Video! Discuss the following: 1. Review the three main principles of small groups studied so far? 2. Discuss and analyze the definition of a small group.

  27. Unit 2 Mission groups Outreach groups Mini churches Nurture groups - Types of small groups

  28. Principle # 3 Small groups are linked to the members personalities, needs and level of discipleship.

  29. Nurture groups • Family /marriage issues. • Church life issues. • Bible studies for spiritual growth. • Obedience/thought life issues. • Work issues. • “One another” biblical injunctions.

  30. Outreach groups • Outreach groups can study any issue, but they add the element of outreach/soul winning. • Outreach groups deliberately attempt to grow, regardless of the topic under consideration.

  31. Outreach groups • Outreach groups use the oikos principle of soul winning

  32. Outreach groups • Oikos is the Greek word for a person’s social network of friends, relatives, work associates, and social acquaintances.

  33. Outreach groups • Outreach groups use the “empty chair” technique.

  34. Outreach groups • David Yonggi Cho, who has the largest church in the world, has built it based on small groups whose goal is to win 2 new converts a year.

  35. Mission groups • Mission group are primarily interested in church planting, branch Sabbath Schools,

  36. Mini-churches • We’ll study more about mini-churches later on.

  37. Principle # 4 Nurture groups have short life-spans. Outreach groups have longer lives.

  38. Stop the Video! Discuss the following: 1. What is the difference between nurture and outreach groups? 2. Why is the outreach element so important in small groups?

  39. Unit 3 - Organizing small groups Leadershipand training. Basics. Program and schedule.

  40. What will we learn? Understand why small groups succeed or fail. Meeting people’s needs. Converting small groups into effective evangelistic agencies. Building a long-term small group system in a church.

  41. Principle # 5 “There are many ways to encourage, built, and run a small group system.” .

  42. Basics of small group management

  43. Basics • It takes from three to six months to adequately plan, organize, and launch a small group system.

  44. Why?

  45. Basics Small groups must have a clearly defined, well-articulated purpose.

  46. Basics Small groups must have adequate, consistent leadership.

  47. Basics Small groups must have informed, spiritually gifted teachers.

  48. Basics Small groups must have an organized, well-developed curriculum.

  49. Basics • Small groups do not have a long life span. • Usually 8 - 10 weeks. • Must re-covenant after that period of time.

  50. Basic logistical questions. • What is the purpose of this group? • Where will the group meet? • When will the group meet? • How long will the meetings be? • For how many weeks will the group meet?

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