LifeWay Christian Resources

 Acceptance  Affirmation  Accountability  Acceptance  Affirmation  Accountability

 Salvation & spiritual growth  Acceptance and self-worth  Family unity  Friendships  Financial security  Crisis care  Salvation & spiritual growth  Acceptance and self-worth  Family unity  Friendships  Financial security  Crisis care

 Special Interest Groups  Bible Study Groups  Prayer Groups  Support Groups  Special Interest Groups  Bible Study Groups  Prayer Groups  Support Groups

 Pray for each other and become sensitive to personal needs  Survey women of your church  Develop Bible study groups as foundation  Keep missions and community outreach a priority  Work closely with staff  Pray for each other and become sensitive to personal needs  Survey women of your church  Develop Bible study groups as foundation  Keep missions and community outreach a priority  Work closely with staff

 Find and train dedicated leaders  Hold church-wide special event  Develop nurturing relationships  Work in harmony with other church groups or programs  Stay positive, focused, and pray, pray, pray!  Find and train dedicated leaders  Hold church-wide special event  Develop nurturing relationships  Work in harmony with other church groups or programs  Stay positive, focused, and pray, pray, pray!

Define facilitator Define group Define facilitator Define group

 Love and acceptance  Safety and trust  Confidentiality  Consistency  Empathy and comfort  Love and acceptance  Safety and trust  Confidentiality  Consistency  Empathy and comfort

 Hope and encouragement  Power and control  Openness and honesty  Freedom of expression  Information and perspective  Hope and encouragement  Power and control  Openness and honesty  Freedom of expression  Information and perspective

 Respond to questions about own thoughts and feelings  Share information about your experiences  Model the role of a caring, growing Christian  Share personal hopes, fears, disappointments, and goals  Respond to questions about own thoughts and feelings  Share information about your experiences  Model the role of a caring, growing Christian  Share personal hopes, fears, disappointments, and goals

 Privacy  Starting and ending times  Attendance  Homework  Voluntary participation  Privacy  Starting and ending times  Attendance  Homework  Voluntary participation

 Do not answer a question  Watch for non-verbal signals  Encourage members to talk directly to each other  Encourage members to encourage each other  Know your group  Begin with small expectations  Do not answer a question  Watch for non-verbal signals  Encourage members to talk directly to each other  Encourage members to encourage each other  Know your group  Begin with small expectations

 Help participants understand  Provide adequate discussion time  Be flexible  Help participants understand  Provide adequate discussion time  Be flexible

Level 1 - General Information Level 2 - Personal Information Level 3 - Ideas & Beliefs Level 4 - Feelings & Emotions Level 5 - Intimate Concerns Level 6 - Private Thoughts Level 1 - General Information Level 2 - Personal Information Level 3 - Ideas & Beliefs Level 4 - Feelings & Emotions Level 5 - Intimate Concerns Level 6 - Private Thoughts

 Clear understanding of group goals and purpose  Each member belongs and contributes  Each member’s gifts are used and appreciated  No domination by either leader or member  Clear understanding of group goals and purpose  Each member belongs and contributes  Each member’s gifts are used and appreciated  No domination by either leader or member

 Lack of leader training  Lack of understood purpose  Not taking time for relationships  Choosing lecture over discussion  Not knowing when to end  Lack of leader training  Lack of understood purpose  Not taking time for relationships  Choosing lecture over discussion  Not knowing when to end

Personal Blessings Ministry Blessings Personal Blessings Ministry Blessings

Heart Friends: Beginning & Maintaining a Small Accountability Group, Shirley Moses and Margaret Kennedy, LifeWay Church Resources Leading From Your Strengths 2: Building Intimacy In Your Small Group, John Trent, Rodney Cox, Eric Tooker, Broadman and Holman Publishing Serendipity Small Group Leader Resources Small-Group Kickoff Retreat Ice-Breakers and Heart-Warmers Becoming Small-Group Leaders Destination: Community…Small-Group Ministry Manual Small Group Resource Library Care Rings: Sunday School and Small Groups Side by Side

LifeWay Christian Resources