Big Ideas about Small Groups

Ring in the New Year with You 2.0!

Eric Metcalf **NewThing Adult Champion

Starting this weekend (Jan 3/4) at COMMUNITY we are kicking off what has the potential to be one of the most critical series we have ever done in the history of our church.  You 2.0 is a series that is about us moving from a state of doing church to being the church.

Over the years we have been incredibly passionate about being a Spirit-led church as we help people find their way back to God; asking everyone to become a 3C Christ-follower that celebrates, connects and contributes to the dream of God.

Well, as a part of You 2.0 we are asking everyone to move from a task-list Christianity to a life that is about being not doing.

In fact we have created a DVD Series for all our small groups use.  This NEW DVD series is about 7-10 minutes in length with questions on the DVD that will be sure to take your small group from Church 1.0 to Church 2.0.  Also we created a NEW product that we are handing out to every attender this weekend for FREE - the Big Idea Journal.  This journal has a reading plan, questions to reflect on and ties into our Big Idea: You 2.0...so that we can get even better at hearing from God.

Pick up your DVD with all 4 weeks discussions at a Campus near you and if you want you can downolad the questions and leader guide on www.communitychristian.org.  Shoot me an email if you have any questions ericmetcalf@communitychristian.org

Our Christmas Gift To You

 We here at the CCC Small Groups blog wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  And as our gift to you, here's one more Top 10 list from the year to leave you with. Enjoy!

Top 10 List Of Funny Christmas Quotes


#1) I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.(Bernard Manning) 

#2) Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. (Carol Nelson)

#3) Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money. (Author Unknown)

#4) Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present. (Author Unknown)

#5) Christmas is a race to see which gives out first - your money or your feet. (Author Unknown)

#6) There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.  (Erma Bombeck)

#7) The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C.  This wasn't for any religious reasons.  They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin. (Jay Leno)

#8) Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money. (Author Unknown)

#9) Did you ever notice that life seems to follow certain patterns? Like I noticed that every year around this time, I hear Christmas music. (Tom Sims)

#10) Christmas begins about the first of December with an office party and ends when you finally realize what you spent, around April fifteenth of the next year. (P.J. O'Rourke)

 

Coaching Question: #5 -- How Can I Help You?

Continuing in our series of the 6 important questions to ask of your leaders (out of our Coach's Guidebook--see the left-hand panel to purchase).....

How can I help you?

I (Carter) remember when I first became a Small Group Coach, and I thought 90% of my job was going to be solving all the problems that my small group leaders were going to have. I was surprised to find out that was such a small part of the role (and that I didn't have all the answers anyway :) ). Most of our job as coaches it not to step in with all the answers and solve problems for leaders. However, there are times when our leaders have challenges and they need us to do more than just talk about them with them, they need our help in tackling the challenges.

This can take a number of different forms. Sometimes it means asking the right follow-up questions to help the leader discover the solution on their own. Sometimes it means hooking them up with the right people. Sometimes it means role-playing with them in the moment (like if they need help in having a tough conversation). Sometimes it means pointing them to the right resources that might have the answer. And sometimes it even means attending the next small group with the leader and helping them out on the spot.

Whatever form it takes, the keys to helping always apply:
*Stay humble--don't be "the answer man" or "the solution man", but instead be a fellow leader who partners with them and helps them feel empowered to tackle the challenge the next time it arises; and if it's something beyond even what you can help with, be sure to go to someone else who can help
*Be encouraging--don't let the situation feel overwhelming or hopeless; ensure your leader that challenges are normal for every leader and every group, and that you will be able to work through it together

Coaching Question: #4 -- How Will You Tackle Your Challenges?

Continuing in our series of the 6 important questions to ask of your leaders (out of our Coach's Guidebook--see the left-hand panel to purchase).....

How will you tackle your challenges?

Equipping a leader is not the task of a coaching expert but the task of a coaching guide. If you are like most, taking the stance of a guide when it comes to equipping is no easy task. Who does not want to be the expert? Who, when asked for help by someone, does not want to have the brilliant answer? Resisting the temptation to be the expert but instead guiding your leader to workable solutions to ministry challenges will be the mark of effective coaching. Equipping is about helping your leaders effectively carry out their tasks.

Question 4 is the ultimate test for a coach who struggles with wanting to be an expert instead of a guide! Often once the challenges have been named we want to jump in and start offering advice and solutions to our leaders. There are times when our insights are necessary but more often than not our leaders possess the wisdom they need to solve ministry challenges. This wisdom simply needs to be drawn out of them. Encourage your leaders to think through their challenges and to develop a plan of action to tackle those challenges.

Ask them questions like: What would you like to see happen? What would need to take place in order for change to occur? Who might be able to help solve this problem? What steps can you begin taking to tackle this challenge? The benefit of using questions to help your leaders develop action plans (rather than giving advice or naming solutions).

How's Your Tribe?

Carter Moss | CCC Adult Ministry Catalyst

So I'm reading this new book called "Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us", and I gotta say, I'm really digging it. It's got some great stuff on leadership and on creating movements. It's aimed at the business world, but nearly all of it applies to the church world, and Seth Godin even uses churches/non-profits in many of his examples.

He calls any group/team/community of people a "tribe" (that's just his angle for this book), so that part is pretty obvious. But I like the basis of his whole book--that nowadays, more than ever, individual people (who are willing to lead) can actually have HUGE impact and really make a difference (thanks to things like the Internet). Influence is no longer limited to just those at the top.

I also like that he calls those who are willing to challenge the status quo "heretics." That's got a nice church-reference to it too. :)

So I'm wondering for this blog, whether any of you have read this, and if so, how do you think this relates to the idea of small groups and adult ministry in churches?  Can our small group leaders really have this big impact? Do we even allow them to?  Do you encourage "heretics" at your church, or do you prefer people that will simply do what they're told?

Coaching Question: #3 -- What Challenges Are You Facing?

Continuing in our series of the 6 important questions to ask of your leaders (out of our Coach's Guidebook--see the left-hand panel to purchase).....

What challenges are you facing?

This question provides an avenue for your leader to talk openly about things that aren’t going well. Obstacles and challenges need to be acknowledged and owned before they can begin to be tackled and overcome. These challenges may be related to circumstances (i.e. inadequate meeting space, difficulty
coordinating schedules), people entrusted to your leader’s care (i.e. conflict, personal problems), or your leader’s own skills and/or growth as a Christ-follower.

As a coach, part of your role is to ensure that you provide a safe, confidential, and nurturing environment for your leaders to talk openly about these challenges. Encourage your leaders to look honestly at their ministry and personal leadership and to name those things that aren’t working or could be improved
upon. Affirm their insights and lead them on to Question 4.