Ending Small Groups

Does every small group have a distinct life cycle?
Every small group has a beginning, a middle and an end. We hear a lot about starting small groups and helping the group to establish trust. But planning for the end of a group is seldom discussed. Each small group needs to be helped to have a realistic understanding that the group is going to end. Both ends of the life cycle need an equal amount of attention.
What do group members need to know to prepare for their group finishing?
People often think that if something is really good it will continue. If the group is helpful and beneficial to those in it, the group will grow. But when a group begins to plateau and some members are increasingly absent, often group members feel guilty… they feel that the group has failed. Group members need to be aware that this point will come regardless of how successful or unsuccessful they have been. Leaders need to be aware upfront of the fact that there will always be groups dying and groups being born.
What problems occur when a group is not prepared for termination?
If you don’t help people deal with the loss of their group, then they may be emotionally blocked from going into a new group experience.
What is a healthy way to help a group come to termination?
Before ending a group the members need to tell their stories. They need to give thanks where thanks is due and to identify and discuss significant experiences of Christian growth or new understanding that have taken place within the group. They need to talk about how the group has left its mark on them.

# A Blessing Exercise ( When Finishing Your Group)
Before a group disbands, it is important that there be healthy closure. Jacob told the angel, “ I will not let you go until you bless me.” When your group discontinues ( as every group will sooner or later), you are –in fact—letting go of one another. Some of the ways you might “bless” one another include:
Prayer. Each member of the group might offer a special prayer for each of the others, such as, “My prayer for you is…” or” May God grant you …”
Forgiveness: In some ways a blessing is a way of saying. “Maybe we have disappointed each other. Maybe we have not met each other’s expectations. And I let you go so that you are free.” this might require forgiving old wrongs and putting your house in order.
Encouragement and affirmation. Often groups finish because members are beginning to wrestle and respond to new calls. Part of blessing is to help people explore these new callings … to help people make decisions and take the next step. They need to move on in their journey with your affirmation and encouragement.

Matthew 5:13-16 - God's Gift of Purpose

Matthew 5:13-16 - God's Gift of Purpose

1. What are the top five moral problems our country is facing?

2. How did Jesus imply that a Christian's positive influence can wane or disappear? (5:13)

3. How are we like light? (5:14)

4. According to Jesus, how exactly are Christians to be like lamps? (5:16)

5. If believers live as they are supposed to live, how will others respond toward God? (5:16)

6. What did Jesus mean when He called His followers salt?

7. How can a Christian lose his or her saltiness?

8. How might a believer hide his or her light?

9. What does light reveal?

10. In light of your gifts, abilities, and interests, what specific problem in our world can you counteract as a representative of Christ?

Psalm 33:1-22

Psalm 33:1-22
1. In what ways are you more schedule-oriented or spontaneous?

2. How does this psalm call people to praise the Lord? (33:1-3)

3. What main theme unifies this psalm? (33:1-22)

4. For what specific reasons did the psalm writer praise God? (33:4-19)

5. What character traits did the psalm writer ascribe to the Lord? (33:4-22)

6. How has the Lord demonstrated His creativity? (33:6-9)

7. How reliable are the plans of people in relation to God's plans? (33:10-11)

8. How is the Lord involved in the lives of His people? (33:13-15, 18-19)

9. What conclusion does this psalm make about self-reliance? (33:16-19)

10. What decision did the psalm writer make? (33:20-22)

11. Why do you think we so easily rely on our own strength rather than trust in the Lord?

12. What does this psalm teach us about the character of God?

13. What talents or abilities do you have?

14. In what area of life do you most need to "wait in hope for the Lord"?

15. What words of encouragement or instruction can you give to someone else concerning his or her future?

2 Chronicles 31:2-21 - Saying Thank You

2 Chronicles 31:2-21 - Saying Thank You

1. What have been the results of projects on which you have worked wholeheartedly?

2. What were the duties of the various divisions of priests and Levites as assigned by Hezekiah? (31:2)

3. How did Hezekiah make sure that the priests and Levites had time to do their jobs properly? (31:4)

4. What was the response of the people when Hezekiah called on them to bring the required portion of their wealth for the support of the priests? (31:5-7)

5. How did Hezekiah and his officials respond to the generosity of the people? (31:8)

6. What sort of distribution system was developed to get the provisions to all of the priests? (31:14-15)

7. Whose needs were provided through the administrators of the offerings? (31:16-19)

8. What qualities characterized all of Hezekiah's actions as king, especially in relation to the temple worship? (31:20-21)

9. What response on the part of the people indicated that the revival that took place during the Passover celebration was a lasting change of heart for many of the people?

10. Why is it appropriate to praise God when His people give generously?

11. What was the source of Hezekiah's guidance for these ambitious projects?

12. How can you say thank you to God for the work His people do?

Small Group Covenant

OUR SMALL GROUP COVENANT
Because life in a small group

• brings special responsibilities as well as privileges;

• thrives in an environment characterised by unconditional love and care;

• provides a unique opportunity of members to grow in spiritual maturity, relationships with one another, and service.

Believing that this is God’s will for the group, I will endeavour to:

1. be committed to the group and to our meetings together.
2. be open and honest.
3. listen to others in the group.
4. regard as confidential all that is shared in group meetings and so foster trust.
5. encourage all members of the group in their walk with God and in developing their gifts in His service.
6. be open to God’s leading, to listen to and to seek to obey Him.
7. be outward looking.
8. be compassionate towards those in need outside the group.
9. pray for other group members regularly.
   

My commitment to this covenant will be for 11 months.
A review will be held in December...

Small Group Goals

Small Group Goals

• To grow in your relationship with God so that it becomes deeper,stronger and more exciting.
• To experience a loving, caring, supportive and healing community of friends.
• To experience the excitement and challenges of growing in your faith with others (getting "stretched" is much more bearable when done with others!)
• Learn more about your spiritual gifts, and provide an opportunity to use them to serve others.
• To learn to relate the word of God personally and practically to everyday life.
• To reach out to other members in your group to bless, encourage and care for them.
• With others in your group, reach our in practical ways to touch the local community and wider world with the love of God.
  

Romans 12:1-8 - Living Sacrifices

Romans 12:1-8 - Living Sacrifices

1. What influences have significantly shaped your life?

2. What is the most reasonable response to God's great mercy? (12:1-2)

3. How is the Christian to be different from unbelieving people? (12:2)

4. What facts should keep a person from feeling superior or inferior to other Christians? (12:3-6)

5. What did Paul use the human body to illustrate? (12:4-5)

6. What are the gifts of God? (12:6-8)

7. How should each person use his or her gifts? (12:6-8)

8. What makes offering our bodies as living sacrifices an act of worship?

9. To what worldly life-styles or values do we typically conform?

10. How can a Christian renew his or her mind?

11. How can the gifts God bestows on Christians help others in the church or community?

12. What is one step you can take this week toward eliminating habits that merely conform to the world's pattern?

13. How can you put a spiritual gift to work for others this week?

Psalm 105:1-45 Celebrate Together

Psalm 105:1-45 Celebrate Together

1. How do you feel when you look at old photo albums or record books of your past?

2. What specific instructions does this psalm give to God's people? (105:1-4)

3. What is the main idea of this passage? (105:1-45)

4. How did the Lord demonstrate His faithfulness to Israel? (105:8-41)

5. What conclusion did the psalm writer draw from his meditation on God's goodness? (105:42-45)

6. What specific instructions are given to us in this passage?

7. How should we respond to God's goodness?

8. Why should we tell others about what God has done for us?

9. How could you keep a record of God's faithfulness to you?