Big Ideas about Small Groups

Leadership Pipeline

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Adult Ministry Champion

There are lots of reasons why I love small groups: Bible study, prayer, possibility of friendships, fun, and snacks!  But one of the reasons why I've traded my life to be on staff at COMMUNITY and why I'm so passionate about small groups is the power of the leadership pipeline.

In Exodus 18 we read about how Jethro (Moses' father-in-law) tells Moses to stop meeting with all the Israelites and to instead empower others to meet with them - and then to only bring the really tough cases to Moses.  Its this passage and others (2 Tim. 2:2; Luke 10) that has led us to develop leaders through apprenticeship and coaching.  This intentionality has helped create a leadership pipeline for high-capacity volunteers, staffing, campus pastors, and church planters and it all starts with being an apprentice.

• Apprentice Leader --> Leader
• Apprentice Coach --> Coach
• Apprentice Staff --> Staff
• Leadership Resident --> Church Planter

We have seen people rise time and time again through this trusted process.  Its after these individuals step into leadership where they get the chance to invite others into the journey - reproducing their leadership in others.  So be careful, next time someone asks you to be an apprentice, it might be your first/next step towards planting a church :)

Group Life Conference

Jon Ferguson, CCC Adult Ministry Directors and I are currently at the Willow Group Life Conference and so far Scott McKnight has some pretty good stuff to say...more on that soon...stay tuned.

Exponential Change

David Herrick | NewThing Leadership Resident

I recently read a story about Pat Riley, the former coach of the L.A. Lakers.  Riley led the Lakers to a NBA championship in 1985, but the following year, they lost in the Western conference finals to the Houston Rockets.  So in the season of 86-87, Riley wondered how he could coach his Lakers to repeat as champions.

He came up with an interesting idea.  Every NBA team tries to improve in the off-season, but usually on broad-sweeping areas.  So the Lakers focused their attention on specific goals.  Riley challenged every player on his team to try to improve by 1% in each of five areas during the season.  The five areas were different for each player, but the theory was that if a player was successful in improving his game by 1% in 5 areas, he would raise his game level by 5%.  And for twelve players, that meant that the entire team would improve by 60%!  That year, the Lakers repeated as national champions.

As we launch into a new season of ministry this fall, I wonder if thinking of things in terms of small, achievable goals is important for small group leaders.  What is the 1% we can improve this season?  Finding an apprentices?  Creating serving opportunities?  Helping people find their way back to God?  Helping our group members to contribute?  Sometimes it's the small, 1% change that we make that can add up to the largest impact!

I wanna win!!

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups Champion

I am so pumped about this next year for Adult Ministries at CCC.  We have some big time stuff planned as a team. 

Tomorrow I get the opportunity to present these KO's (Key Objectives) to CCC's Campus Pastors.  If I were them, I would be asking, "How will these KO's strengthen the campus I oversee?"  In other words, "What's in it for me?"  As a Champion, I see my role as a servant to the campus (to CCC) and if I can't prove my worth, then why not use my salary/budget to build up the campus teams instead of a centralized role like the Champion's?  But I suppose I take this as a challenge - and I'm up for it!  I want to see CCC (NewThing) become the most effective at ministering to Adults - so bring it on!  Here are the KO's I'm going to present to the Campus Pastors tomorrow:

• Reproduce a Campus! (more on that later)
• Different ways to Connect (hobbies, sports, service, etc.)
• Adult Spirituality (journaling, praying, Bible reading, baptism, tithing, 3C Christ-following, etc.)
• Health - measuring beyond numbers (www.zoomerang.com surveying leaders asking "health" questions)
• Service in Groups (service groups, service events, service needs)
• 2304 total Connected (+550 net gain from last year!)
• Who's Next Part II (65% groups with Apprentices, Apprentice Manual, Reproduction Plan)

Whew!  That's a lot of stuff to accomplish in one year, but if any team can do it it's these guys:

• Montgomery Campus - Carter Moss & Steve Kerby
• Pilsen Campus - Tony Escobar
• Shorewood Campus - Genea Browne & Aaron Monts
• Yorkville Campus - Beth Kolar
• Romeoville Campus (Carillon) - Jim Semradek & David Herrick
• Naperville Campus (DownTown) - Bill Barton, Diane Dassing, Sue Ferguson, Tony Pelters, Eric Metcalf & Nick Plassman

Go CCC and thanks God for this great chance to honor You and help more peolpe find their way back to You!!

Small Group Video Trainings

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Adult Ministry Champion

In case you haven't watched our training videos for small groups you can now view them by topic by looking over to left hand column and looking under a section titled "Small Group Training Videos".  Here is a sample of what you would find:

The World Was Not Worthy of Them

Bill Barton | Young Adults & Singles Small Groups

I read the final few chapters of the Hebrews letter over the last 2 weeks and it left me stunned and in love with Jesus all the more.

Two and half years ago I joind a small group at CCC.  It soon birthed because it had about as many people as the subcontinent India.  So, I started leading a new small group.  My personal reflections brought me back to that small group.  Chapter 11 of Hebrews in the famous "Faith" chapter.  In chapter 11 it describes a certain group of people and their example as ultimate encouragement.  They are named in the beginning of chapter 12 as, "The great cloud of witnesses."

Let me tell you about my small group of old.  Matt and Anne are in Colorado now leading a regional Young Life Ministry.  Annie has joined the Young Life Staff in my area.  Sara is my staff apprentice in the Young Adult Ministry, which means she's my right hand man (or woman as it were).  Shelley has coached, is still leading and loving a group, and has started the first young adult group at our second largest site, Romeoville Campus.  Mike and Bonnie have faithfully and effectively led, trained new leaders, and multiplied their group and loved more people.  Chris and Tyler have grown faithfully in the Lord and now lead their own group with great love and care.

All I have to say is,

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Chapter 11 also says one more thing about these witnesses of faith: The World Was Not Worthy of Them.  My own life goal is to be a person who lives so faithfully for Jesus that the world "is not worthy of me" ONLY because of how Jesus has changed me and lives in me.  I want the same thing for the rest of my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Looking back at the small group of old, I thank God for such a great cloud of witnesses who have so faithfully used their lives to worship God and love others.

Establishing a Coaching Relationship

Janet McMahon | Neighborhood Small Groups

Janet McMahon currently oversees 450 adults who are grouped through our Naperville Campus' Neighborhood Groups.  Before that she oversaw our Support/Recovery Small Groups.  When it comes to coaching and small group leadership Janet is the one to listen to.

As leaders in the church we must realize the tremendous value in having people in our lives who encourage us, pray for us, and challenge us.  Small Group coaches can do just that, so if you've ever wondered "why do I need a small group coach?" - this skill is just for you (download notes here).

Making the Ask

Jon Ferguson can't be stopped!!  See his latest post on "Making the Ask".  Here is the acrostic (S.C.O.R.E.) he offers to help us making the ask - Jon says to be:

• Specific
• Confident
• Optimistic
• Real
• Energized

Thanks Jon!

Making the Ask? Ask Jon Ferguson.

Jon Ferguson provides some insight on how to "make the ask".  Check it out here. 

And if you want to know more about multi-site, the Big Idea, reproducing church culture, and how to make a "quote wall" for your church read The Big Idea (as seen in Jon's pic).

In Case You Missed It...

We are offering more and more video trainings online - so keep your eyes peeled and check out what we have done in the past!

Carter Moss | Leading an Engaging Small Group

Bill Barton | Caring for People in Small Group

Beth Kolar | Casting a Reproducing Vision

Eric Metcalf | Reproducing Groups and Leaders