Session 4Small Group Structure

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Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and , lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the world. AmenMatthew 28:19,20

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• The churches needed for the future will be centers of evangelism, discipleship, and pastoral care because they’ve learned how to provide quality care in small, humble structures of ten people who meet together.

---Carl George The Coming Church Revolution p.195

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Signal Counts in Small Groups2 people 2 signals

3people 9 signals4 people 28 signals

5 people 75 signals6 people 186 signals7 people 441 signals8 people 1,016 signals9 people2,295 signals

10 people 5,110 signals4

Multiplying Small Groups(Birthing)

• Jethro Principle• Apprentice is sent out as leader with a few

members. Leader continues with a new apprentice.

• Leader leaves with a few people. Apprentice remains as leader of original group with a new apprentice.

• Start a completely new group with a new leader and apprentice.

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VHS Meetingtwice a month

• Vision: Pastor and Missionary Coordinator• Huddle: 5 Group huddle• Skill: varies according to skill presented

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Vision

• Brief Worship• Motivate• Where is God leading the church?• Why is your ministry crucial to how we are

getting there?• Who are the role models we can cheer and

follow?

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Huddle

• Address Relationships• Identify Successes• Identify Problems• Propose solutions to difficulties• Pray together for concerns.• Adult motivation for learning rises

dramatically in the presence of a problem.

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Skill

• Training on current needs determined by the huddle.

• Listening• Responding• Challenging• Confronting• Evangelism• Vision/strategy• Leadership• Recruitment• Followup• Nurturing• Problem handling

• How to run a meeting• How to facilitate sharing• Discernment• Spiritual knowledge• Bible knowledge• How to reproduce leaders and

apprentices• How to birth a group• Leading worship and music• Managing disruptions• Handling child care• Recognizing abuse

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Skill

• Training on current needs determined by the huddle.

• Time management• Loyalty/Teamwork• Attitudes• Conflict management• Personal disciplines• How to teach about

prayer• How to listen to God

in prayer

• Legal implications• Confidentiality• How to share ministry as a

team• Overcoming shyness• Stewardship/budgeting• One-on-one discipling skills• Pastor/shepherd skills• Affirmation• Referrals

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Relationship-Based Ministry• Helps people move from dependency toward

development.• Empowers people to use their spiritual gifts in

community• Concerns itself more with changed lives than

with methods or curriculum.• Groups people by affinity-based relationships

more than by alphabetization of last name, zip code or age.

• Motivates by example, more than by shame, guilt, or “oughts”.

Carl George Preparing Your Church for the Future pg.63 11

Cell Group Coaches Missionary (Invitational) Coordinator• Works with pastors to

provide support for 5 group leaders.

• Support group leaders in identifying apprentice leaders.

• Keep the pastor informed of strengths and problems in groups.

• Assist leaders in birthing new groups as apprentices develop.

• Maintain group meeting sizes of 10 or fewer.

• Visit group meetings; conduct feedback sessions.

• Monitor participation of group members in training and worship events.

• Substitute for group leaders when appropriate.

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Cell Group CoachesMissionary (Invitational) Coordinator• Participate in VHS

training and worship celebration.

• Model group leadership skills in VHS groups.

• Help group leaders with or to refer EGR’s (extra grace required)

• Be alert to attitude problems and divisive teaching.

• Accompany group leaders and pastors in visiting.

• Be Group Leaders’ friend

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Group Leader-the key person in the life-change process of the church

• Attend VHS meeting and worship celebration

• Make time for feedback sessions

• Watch for emergence of apprentice leaders

• Report group progress and attendance

• Convene group 2 to 4 times a month

• Pray and prepare for group meetings

• Recruit hostess, child care and venue

• Pray for spiritual growth and protection of each member of the group

• Call each member 2 to 4 times a month

• Visit each member 1 time a month

• Notify the church pastor of acute crisis conditions that require priesthood ministry

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Group Leader is Group Pastor• Assure redemptive

agenda via scripture, sharing, prayers, songs, and worship.

• Refrain from divisiveness or teaching contrary to the church position.

• Maintain an atmosphere where all can discover and develop God-given gifts. Include all in reading,…

• Make opportunity for group members to get to know other leaders in the church.

• Refer counseling cases that exceed leader’s experience level.

• Accept responsibility for new growth by using empty chair and other effective means.

• Lead an exemplary life.

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Group Participants

• Attend group meetings.• Encourage those present.• Experiment to discover

spiritual gifts & direction• Sign a covenant

agreement.• Be open for training and

group management skills• Seek a church ministry

activity

• Consider serving as apprentice leader.

• Bring friends and seekers.

• Share in hospitality and child care, as needed.

• Give to the general budget of the church

• Participate in worship services at the church.

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Children

• They are not a part of adult cell groups.

• Each group is empowered to decide how they will handle child care.

• Children’s church• Children’s moment

during adult worship• Sunday school• Family home evenings• Midweek or evening

clubs

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Small (cell) Group Meeting

• Food• Short Prayer• Icebreaker when new people are in

attendance• Covenant when new people attend• Good News• Activity• Prayers

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What Do We Do?• Identify the core team• Get congregational commitment• Establish a Missionary Team• Get the whole congregation involved • Leaders and apprentices start their

groups• Congregation Grows in Discipleship

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Congregational Commitment

• Identify and Establish a core team.• Small group education to the core team: read

and study The Upside Down Kingdom, The Purpose Driven Church and Prepare Your Church for the Future

• Commitment of all core team members to the marathon. This is not a sprint.

• Congregation is educated and determines commitment to the marathon.

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Establish Invitational Team

• Interested core group members• Interested congregational members• Go through The Nine Facets of Effective Small

Group Leaders (dvd and books)• Begin small group with invitational team

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Empower Group Leaders

• Celebrate and set apart before the congregation

• Leaders and apprentices establish groups

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Congregational Challenge

• Every person becomes a member of a group.• Each person becomes an inviter.• Discipleship becomes personal as friends

come to know Christ.• Each person is encouraged and expected to

accept necessary change in order to welcome and excite new people.

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