Small Group | Multiplication Training

Introduction to Small Group Multiplication Training

The Importance of Multiplication

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God, he gave his disciples one final command: “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). He also taught his disciples that healthy things grow and produce fruit (John 15) Together, passages like these and others communicate a kingdom principle of growth and multiplication. Part of what it means to follow of Jesus is to join him on his mission of bringing people into the kingdom, discipling them, and sending them out to do the same.

At Mile High, we live out the teachings of Scripture and our value of Generosity in the way that we apprentice new leaders who will be sent out to start new groups, lead worship for the first time, and more.

This module helps give a framework for how we go through the process of identifying and training new leaders so that you might feel equipped to do so in your group. 

IRTDMN | Part One

Video: Identify & Recruit Leaders

 

Looking for leaders

  • We are working from the premise that we can’t make leaders, we can only find them (by learning how to look and discern), give them opportunities to serve as workers (2 Timothy 2:2), and release leadership to them as God gives it. 


Whom to recruit?

  • Everyone to work and serve but “Davids” for leadership (1 Samuel 16:7)
    • Consider that you’ll reproduce the lives of those leaders in the church.
    • Consider that you’ll be giving yourself to the leaders.
  • Guidelines in identifying workers and leaders
    • Notice who is naturally leading. Who do people talk about?
    • Listen to and observe what people like to do.


Distinguish between genuinely interested people and opportunists.

  • Don’t be in a hurry! Time is on your side
  • Watch what people do, not only what they say.
  • Be objective! Don’t be over- or underwhelmed by a person’s giftedness, appearance, education, or background.


Build genuine relationship with them.


Be familiar with the needs to be met and the job to be filled (see job descriptions) and give them a true picture of the job.

  • Call them through VISION, not a job description.
  • Relate expectations of time commitment.
  • Let them know the cost.
  • Draw them to commitment.


Character signs

  • Family – How does the person treat his or her spouse and children? Does he or she honor, value and verbally appreciate his/her family? What a person does with his family is what the person will do with the church. Family is a testing ground for effective leadership.
  • Speech patterns – Speech is the microphone of the heart. Is the person slow to speak and quick to hear (James 1:19)? Observe how one talks about others. This is the way he or she will talk about you and the church when you are not around. Look for loyalty; watch out for cynicism.
  • Conduct with others – Does the person work well with a team? Submission is one of the visible assurances that a person has been filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21), as well as a register of the ability to work with others.
  • Money – How a person manages money tells you what is transpiring in their heart. Talk to them about if they are regularly giving to the church sacrificially.
  • Worship – Do they show their devotion to God through worship?
  • Prayer – Do they speak to God as if they had relationship with Him ? Are the prayers spoken as a demonstration of honesty and integrity about life?

 

 

Prayer: Spend 30 days in prayer, asking God to reveal to you someone whom you can apprentice. Consider praying for discernment for yourself, but also for God to be working in their life to prepare for this opportunity.


Hero Maker self-assessment: in the ways I am leading my Small Group, am I trying to be the hero or am I trying to make a hero out of others? Consider the “evidence” (ex. where and how you spend your time) rather than desire.

  • Write down examples of where you see both, and where you would like to shift current practices or behaviors to become a hero maker of others.
  • Take the following leadership self-assessment online.


Strengths self-assessment: God has given you gifts and abilities, life experience and knowledge and much more that you can pass on to an apprentice leader. For this exercise, we want you to take an inventory of your strengths—things that are already in you which you can invest in others.

  • What is my S.H.A.P.E.? Take some time to write a brief summary of how God has shaped you, using a separate paragraph for each area: Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Life Experience.
  • What do I bring spiritually? Take some time to write out what you can offer an apprentice in the following three areas: Skills (ex. spiritual, areas of service), Character, Bible.

 

 

What is an ICNU conversation?

An ICNU(“I-See-In-You”) conversation is one of the most powerful tools in your leadership toolbox. It happens whenever you call out what you see in others and where you see God at work. These ICNU  conversations ignite the spark of what the Holy Spirit is already doing.

We see Jesus having these kinds of conversations all the time with the people he encountered: when calling the disciples, the woman at the well, Nicodemus, etc. While they may seem “simple”, they contain within them the heart of the Father who constantly seeks our best and desires to lead us into fullness of life. Therefore, pausing to intentionally identify and call out how you see God at work in another person is actively participating in the work of the Holy Spirit in their life. 

While we seek to build a culture where we make heroes of others by highlighting their gifting and strengths, we also use these ICNU conversations when we engage in Identifying and Recruiting potential leaders. To this end, we call out how we see their gifts and the work of the Spirit in them to lead others—even in its infant stages of development.


A Sample ICNU Conversation Outline

  • Share the Vision: as a church, we are committed to learning and growing together in creating a Hero Maker culture, producing disciples to the fourth generation (2 Timothy 2:2). What that means is that we’re “winning” as a church in as much as we are continuously inviting others into ministry, apprenticing them, and releasing them to lead others to do the same

  • Share the ICNU: I have been praying for the last month that God would show me someone who would be a great apprentice (leader / worship leader / ministry time leader). Someone who would be ready to be more intentional in their own participation in our small group—but more than that, someone who would also be willing to pass it on to others. I see in you…(be specific!)

  • Share the Invitation: would you consider being my apprentice for (this group / next season / for the next year)? My goal for our relationship would not only be that I pass on to you what I know, do and who I am—but that by the end of it, you would have your own apprentice, and begin doing the same thing.

  • Share the Time Frame: now, I am guessing you will want some time to think and pray about this. Don’t worry, I’m not asking for an answer right now. However, would you get back to me (in 1 week / 2 weeks) with an answer?

 

 

Having spent time praying about potential leaders and self-assessing your strengths and gifts to invest in others, now is the time to recruit a leader(s).

  1. Review the job descriptions in the following lessons for a host, worship leader, and assistant leader. Be clear on what you are recruiting the person to.
  2. Have an ICNU conversation. Pick a person(s), pick a deadline to make the connection—then do it!
  3. Follow up. Often, people will not commit to something on the spot. Give your potential new leader a timeframe to think and pray about the invitation, then follow up.
  4. Repeat. If the person says, “yes”, then move on to Training—and repeat the process with another person and another role. If the person says, “no”, then repeat your efforts by Identifying and Recruiting the next person whom God has highlighted to you.

 

 

Overview

The Small Group Leader’s general responsibility is to oversee, lead and facilitate their Small Group. Without adequate leadership, a Small Group is doomed. Some groups can compensate for other deficiencies and frustrations and still have a healthy life together. But without wise, loving leadership, a group will suffer from an inhibited beginning, stunted growth, and accelerated demise. And who needs that?

Good leadership unlocks a Small Group’s potential. A good music conductor guides the orchestra into producing harmony. A football quarterback coordinates the team with a specific play to score a touchdown. So, the leader of a Small Group helps members clarify their purpose and reach it. With a good leader, people will take off their masks and find freedom to give and receive love. Thanksgiving to God becomes irrepressible. We experience God’s love and extend it within the group and then beyond its boundaries.

As a brief and simple overview, these are the basic requirements for all of our Small Group leaders (below this list is our full Small Group leader job description):

  • Attend MHV services regularly. Small Group leaders attend services regularly so they can know about, participate in, and be a part of the larger work and life of MHV.
  • Know the DNA of the Mile High Vineyard by having completed Rooted.
  • Complete MHV’s leadership training by having completed Discovering Leadership (including all homework and mentoring assignments). This training focuses on character as well as practical leadership practices and is vital and beneficial for all who lead at MHV.
  • Give/tithe regularly to the Mile High Vineyard. Small Group leaders believe in the larger work and ministry of MVH by giving regularly.
  • Attend/participate regularly in an MHV Small Group for at least one full season before leading their own small group. This means they attended the Small Group most weeks, and the leader knew them and verified that they attended their groups.
  • Shadow or co-lead an MHV Small Group with a seasoned leader for at least one full season before leading their own small group. This ensures that new leaders have the space for hands-on experience and application before carrying the full weight of a Small Group on their own.
  • Complete and submit a Small Group Leader Application. Potential Small Group Leaders can get an application (which includes a section to be completed by their most recentSmall Group leader) by contacting circles@milehighvineyard.org.


Prerequisites

Because you will function as role models for others, your lifestyle, character and commitment are important prerequisites to being a Small Group leader.

  1. Character — a love for Jesus and a consistent, Godly walk. You must be:
    • Reasonably stable and in order, be self-controlled, and free from excesses and improper habits.
    • Teachable, trustworthy, and willing to be accountable.
    • Devoted to worship, prayer, ministry, and your family.
  2. Commitment — to the Vineyard and its leaders. You must:
    • Have personal ownership of the vision and values of the Vineyard, both locally and nationally.
    • Be loyal to the pastors and the church, refusing to engage in criticism.
    • Be a “team player,” willing to carry your fair share in terms of time, energy, prayer, and resources.
    • Attend MHV services regularly (at least two-three times per month).
  3. Giftedness and Vision. You must:
    • Have a call from God for this ministry.
    • Have a servant’s heart, being more interested in serving than self-pleasure, and being willing to reach out and care for people on a regular basis.
    • Have the ability to state clearly where you are headed and what you intend to do. This vision must be easily and freely communicated to followers.
  1. Specific Qualifications. You must have:
    • A proven ability to pastor, nurture and lead people.
    • Successfully participated, served and led in a Small Group.
    • Completed the Discovering Leadership class including all homework and mentoring elements.
    • A willingness to lean in areas of ministry of the Holy Spirit and ushering God’s spirit into the Small Group setting
    • Be committed to sacrificial financial giving to the Mile High Vineyard 


Pastoral Responsibilities and Duties

  1. Maintain a consistent general format.
  2. Seek God for a specific emphasis/direction for the group.
  3. Pastoral care of Small Group members
    • Contact each member bi-weekly to find out how they are doing. Contact them at church, telephone, at the Small Group meeting or by personal visit.
    • Provide counseling as the need arises.
    • Make sure all crises and chronic needs are prayed for each week.
    • Be available to call or spend time (or make sure someone else does) with those in special need (i.e., visit at home or hospital when necessary, make arrangements for meals, babysitting, etc., when appropriate).
    • Maintain a close, open communicative relationship with the Host Couple, Worship Leader, Assistant Leader, and other leaders in your group.
    • Communicate special needs or problems to your Leader/Pastor when they are beyond your personal resources or when you need insight or counsel.
  1. Recruit, train, and release other workers/leaders in the group.
    • Invite them to your leadership core prayer group.
    • Invite them to special Vineyard training events.
    • Encourage your group members to participate in the overall life of the church


Reporting Relationships

  • The Small Group Leader should report directly to the Pastor.

 

 

Prerequisites

Because you will function as role models for others, your lifestyle, character, and commitment are important prerequisites for this ministry.

  1. Character — a love for Jesus and a consistent, Godly walk. You must:
    • Have a life that is reasonably stable and in order and you must be self-controlled and free from excesses and improper habits.
    • Be teachable, trustworthy, and willing to be accountable.
    • Be devoted to worship, prayer, ministry, and your family.
  1. Commitment — to the Vineyard and its leaders. You must:
    • Have personal ownership of the vision and values of the Vineyard, both locally and nationally.
    • Be loyal to the pastors and the church, refusing to engage in criticism.
    • Be a “team player,” willing to carry your fair share in terms of time, energy, prayer, and resources.
    • Attend MHV services regularly (at least two-three times per month).
  2. Specific Qualifications. You must:
    • Be hospitable
    • Have a large enough home
    • Have ample parking available
    • Be willing to open home every week for Small Group, and give the Small Group Leader considerable time to relocate if an emergency arises or location needs to change permanently.
    • Be committed to sacrificial financial giving to the Mile High Vineyard


Primary Responsibilities

  1. Provide a neat, clean, warm, and inviting home atmosphere for the Small Group meetings.
    • Have the home ready at least 30 minutes before the meeting is to begin.
    • Seek to make the home attractive when possible (music, comfortable seating, appropriate temperature, etc.).
    • If applicable, make sure children have adequate means to keep themselves entertained or occupied so the flow of the meeting isn’t frequently interrupted.
    • If applicable, make sure animals (dogs especially) are cared for when guests arrive.
  1. Ensure people park in appropriate places, not disturbing neighbors (possibly tell neighbors when you’re meeting, requesting they let you know if anyone parks in the wrong place — seek to make peace before potential problems occur).
  2. Work with the Refreshments Coordinator (if applicable) for snacks for each meeting. If you don’t have a Refreshments Coordinator, keep and announce a list of those responsible for refreshments for each time you meet — don’t do it all yourself.
  3. Communicate clearly to the Small Group Leader:
    • What time everyone needs to be out of your house.
    • Any important rules to you (like not smoking in the house or no shoes).
    • Any problems that arise. Speak the truth in love. Don’t let resentment foster.
  4. Always seek to maintain a growing intimacy with the Lord and right relationships with others.


Reporting Relationships

  • The Small Group Host (or Host Couple) should report directly to the Small Group Leader.

 

 

Prerequisites

Because you will function as role models for others, your lifestyle, character, and commitment are important prerequisites for this ministry.

  1. Character — a love for Jesus and a consistent, Godly walk. You must:
    • Have a life that is reasonably stable and in order and you must be self-controlled and free from excesses and improper habits.
    • Be teachable, trustworthy, and willing to be accountable.
    • Be devoted to worship, prayer, ministry, and your family.
  1. Commitment — to the Vineyard and its leaders. You must:
    • Have personal ownership of the vision and values of the Vineyard, both locally and nationally.
    • Be loyal to the pastors and the church, refusing to engage in criticism.
    • Be a “team player,” willing to carry your fair share in terms of time, energy, prayer, and resources.
    • Attend MHV services regularly (at least two-three times per month).
  1. You must:
    • Have a call from God for this ministry.
    • Have a servant’s heart, being more interested in serving than self-pleasure and being willing interact with and care for people on a regular basis.
  2. Specific Qualifications. You must:
    • Have the ability to lead worship through song (and preferably accompanied with an appropriate instrument (i.e., guitar, piano, etc.)).
    • Have a suitable skill level so as not to be a distraction
    • Have completed Discovering Leadership within six months of starting to lead Small Group worship
    • Be committed to sacrificial financial giving to the Mile High Vineyard


Primary Responsibilities

  1. Worship the Lord privately every day, continually learning to worship, to enjoy worship, and to learn new worship songs well. Chord and lyric sheets can be obtained through Planning Center. (Please contact the MHV office (info@milehighvineyard.org) for access to Planning Center.)
  2. Study worship in the Bible; be prepared to share what you learn.
  3. Seek to learn/teach one new song at least once a quarter.
  4. Faithfully practice your instrument. Keep your instrument in good shape and in tune.
  5. Establish close relationship with the Small Group leader(s), working together on planning the ministry of worship in the Small Group.
  6. Come to the meeting prepared in heart and with either a song list or a sense of flow (if you know the songs well). Lyric sheets are also helpful for the attendees of your Small Group, as they may not know all the songs as well as you do. Help them be able to worship more easily.
  7. Be sensitive to the Spirit and alert to the Small Group leader.
  8. Lead simply and clearly, but without getting in the way; don’t perform!
  9. Attempt to recruit, train, and allow at least one new worship person to participate every six-to-nine months — multiply yourself!
  10. Participate in any Mile High Vineyard Worship trainings and gatherings, as requested by Worship Pastors and staff.


Reporting Relationships

  • The Worship Leader reports directly to the Small Group leader(s) and the Worship Pastor.

 

 

Prerequisites

Because you will function as role models for others, your lifestyle, character, and commitment are important prerequisites for this ministry.

  1. Character — a love for Jesus and a consistent, Godly walk. You must:
    • Have a life that is reasonably stable and in order, and you must be self-controlled and free from excesses and improper habits.
    • Be teachable, trustworthy, and willing to be accountable.
    • Be devoted to worship, prayer, ministry, and your family.
  1. Commitment — to the Vineyard and its leaders. You must:
    • Have personal ownership of the vision and values of the Vineyard, both locally and nationally.
    • Be loyal to the pastors and the church, refusing to engage in criticism.
    • Be a “team player,” willing to carry your fair share in terms of time, energy, prayer, and resources.
    • Attend MHV services regularly (at least two-three times per month).
  1. Giftedness. You must:
    • Have a call from God for this ministry.
    • Have a servant’s heart, being more interested in serving than self-pleasure and being willing to touch and care for people on a regular basis.
  1. Specific Qualifications. You must:
    • Already be serving in Small Group
    • Be designated by the Small Group Leader
    • Be committed to completing Discovering Leadership
    • Have a willingness to lead a Small Group when released
    • Be committed to sacrificial financial giving to the Mile High Vineyard


Responsibilities and Duties

  1. Aid and support the Small Group Leader in carrying out the functions of the Small Group in any way possible.
    • Facilitate the study and application time of the Small Group meeting when asked to by the Small Group leader
    • As often as necessary, lead the entire Small Group meeting.
    • Meet regularly with the Small Group Leader to pray, discuss the group’s posture, brainstorm, etc.
    • Help the Small Group Leader care for and equip the people.
      • Meet with participants regularly to build relationships.
      • Pray for any needs. Be available for ministry in special situations.
      • Counsel when it’s appropriate.
    • Recruit new members to attend your Small Group
    • Help complete administrative details (if there is no Group Administrator).
  1. Other expectations
    • Start a new group within nine-months to a year (in conjunction with the MHV Small Group seasons)
    • Attend Small Group Leader meetings and trainings


Reporting Relationships

  • The Assistant Leader reports directly to the Small Group Leader.

 

IRTDMN | Part Two

Multiplication Philosophy

 

If you’ve been around the Mile High Vineyard for long, you’re sure to have noticed that our groups begin and multiply pretty regularly, usually within just 12 months. Many people have asked us why we do this and how we can be a church that is all about community if we allow our Small Groups to change, expand, and multiply so frequently.

The answer is easy: Relational multiplication is how Jesus intended for it to be and we, as a church, are committed to always making more space for new people. We never want to do anything that would communicate that there isn’t space for one more person.

Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Then, He expected these Spirit-filled disciples to produce His likeness and His ministry in others just as He had done in them. His entire strategy and the fulfillment of His very purpose for coming into the world, for dying on the cross, and for rising from the grave depended upon the faithfulness of His chosen disciples to accomplish this task. It did not matter how small the group was to start with, as long as they reproduced and taught their disciples to reproduce. Jesus built into His disciples the structure of a church that would challenge and triumph over the kingdom of darkness. It may have started small like a mustard seed, but it would grow in size and strength until it would become the largest of trees. This was the strategy in the mind of God: to reach the world through relational multiplication. It was the way the Gospel would conquer. He had no other plan.

Only a few years later it was said of the Christians that they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6 KJV). Apparently, His plan works!

Our principle of multiplication of Small Groups comes directly from Jesus’ own life and ministry. And, as always is the case, Satan wages war against this truth with lies. The truth is this: multiplying a Small Group is healthy both for the group and for the Kingdom of God. The lie states that multiplying is a painful event, a split that severs relationships. So, very few Small Groups, left to their own devices, would ever multiply. It is also true that the group that closes in upon itself in this way will grow stale and die within one to two years. At Mile High Vineyard, we believe in multiplying through relationships. Close relationships that develop are encouraged to stay together and become a core group of a new Small Group.

This process of reproduction becomes a test of ministry. In John 15, Jesus told us that reproducing – bearing fruit – was the purpose of both the vine (Himself) and the branches (believers in Him). He went on to declare that any branch that did not bear fruit was to be cut off; it was useless and worthless. Any branch that lived on the vine had to grow and produce to survive for that was its intended purpose. Small Groups that do not grow and reproduce are a contradiction to this scriptural analogy of a tree bearing fruit and to the whole of scripture.

In addition, He said that those branches that did produce fruit were pruned that they might yield even more fruit. In the context of Small Groups, this pruning is actually multiplying! The Small Group is pruned back by releasing a new leader with a supporting core group, or having the old leader leave with a few people joining them to start a new group. This opens up both Small Groups to be able to bear more fruit by allowing more people to participate in Small Group Life.

We believe that the multiplication of Small Group is the healthiest way a church can grow. As Mile High Vineyard grows, we need new Small Group to accommodate the people. It may be as simple as pure arithmetic. For example, if there are 300 adults in attendance at a church, with 15 people per Small Group, this requires 20 Small Groups for that church. If we were to add these people into existing groups, we would no longer have Small Groups but large groups!

We have seen that starting new Small Groups is the best way to incorporate newcomers. They don’t feel like they are “intruding” upon an existing group. Also, when a new leader is released, we double the number of opportunities for people to be involved in some form of meaningful service and leadership. And if people have something to do, they feel needed, important, and part of the group.

So as a Small Group leader, one of the most important tasks you have is to take what you have learned, pass on to others who will in turn equip even more people. In this way, the Kingdom of God will advance and our city will be impacted to the glory of God.

We have set up our Circles calendar/rhythms to accommodate easy multiplication. Most of our Small Groups launch in the fall of each year, with the intention of continuing on to the following summer. (Think: Labor Day through Memorial Day…or a typical school calendar.) The fall can be used for building consistency and community. It is also a great time for you as the leader to identify people to raise up for leadership. The spring semester can be used to train and release those leaders in your Small Group. Then, they can be released to lead their own life circle by the following fall.

 

General Principles

  1. This process will happen over time and will not be an exactly the same for each person you are training. It depends a lot on their background and level of hunger to learn.
  2. Observe their character and behavior over a period of time.
  3. Spend time with them, have them over for dinner, and develop relationship.
  4. Ask for input from other leaders, especially your Small Group coach.
  5. Communicate vision and direction to them and observe their ongoing response.
  6. Make them “Assistants.”
    • Have regular time with them prior to meeting for input, discussion or intercession.
    • Meet monthly to gain their observations and reflections on the group and give them opportunity to ask any questions.


Specific Training Process

For specific steps to train leaders of various sorts, see the Small Group Leadership Training Course, which covers specific steps in the 5-Fold Discipleship Loop:

  1. You do the ministry
  2. You do the ministry; they watch; you discuss after
  3. You do the ministry together; you discuss after
  4. They do the ministry; you watch; you discuss after
  5. They do the ministry

 

 

Once you Identify and Recruit a potential leader, you must set about the task of Training them—whether that’s in leading worship, the study, ministry time, leading outreaches or simply hosting the group. To do this, get into action around two key elements:


Rhythms of Meeting

  1. When will you meet? 
  2. Where?
  3. How often?


Tools for Training

  1. Review the teaching provided in the Small Group Leadership Training for areas of worship leading, small group discussion leading, and leading ministry time.
  2. Use the training outlines attached below, as guides for the 5-Fold Discipleship Model in various roles.

 

 

To send someone out to minister is certainly a part of the training mission.

Jesus modeled this:

  • The disciples were selected by Jesus, shown how to minister, and then sent out (Matthew 10:1-15).
  • He told them where to go, what to preach, what to do, how to travel and what to expect.
  • This is the beginning of cutting the umbilical cord. They are on their own for a short period of time. They have to succeed or fail. Either is okay.


Deployment has to do with administration and placement of people to carry out the task or goal.

  • The new worker/leader must have a clear idea of their calling and gifts.
  • Each new leader must receive a clear and complete description of expectations and responsibilities.
  • The new leader and their Small Group coach must know what they can legitimately expect from one another so unmet expectations don’t lead to resentment and bitterness.
  • Reporting relationships must be clearly defined. The new leader must know who is “over” them and accept limited relationship with the pastoral staff.
  • Ongoing training, reading, listening, ministry trips, etc., need to be an understood aspect of deployment.
  • Continue to give feedback as you work with your workers/leaders through the training phases.


You must be committed to the success of those you delegate and deploy.

  • Involves a commitment to pray for them.
  • Be available to listen and give ministry for both personal and family counsel.

 

 

  1. Every time the group meets, talk about multiplication as a natural process of a healthy group.
  2. Set a specific date to multiply and make sure your group knows about it in advance.
  3. One to three months prior to multiplication, help the whole group to process and prepare for the actual multiplication (who, when, where, what, how and why).
  4. Set up your new leaders for success – leave them with another strong couple or individuals, a worship leader, host, etc.
  5. Urge everyone to pray for God’s direction as you multiply the group.
  6. Have a celebration to launch the multiplication.
  7. Make sure to inform the Mile High Vineyard office (circles@milehighvineyard.org) about the new Small Group and any changes to keep Small Group information accurate.

 

 

  1. For a successful start, we suggest that the first meeting be a social event for people to get acquainted, to fellowship with a meal or dessert and hear a brief description by the Small Group leader about the purpose of Small Group. This would be an excellent the for the Small Group leader (and others) to share what a group experience has meant to them.
  2. For the first four weeks, invest heavily in getting to know each other and in developing an atmosphere of trust and care.
  3. Commit to servant evangelism. Lead your group in a simple outing in your host neighborhood or community within the first 6-8 meetings. Then, commit to taking them out once every 8-10 weeks. This will keep the group focused on outreach and enhance its long-term health.
  4. Call your coach with any questions. They exist to support and encourage you so please use them!

 

 

Adapted from Roberta Hestenes

Small Groups are not static organisms. They go through stages of life like any living organism. Groups have a life cycle from birth through infancy and adolescence to adulthood and, sometimes, death. Leaders especially need to realize this. Knowing the pattern will help leaders accept their group wherever it is and press on for further growth and fulfillment. These stages are flexible and are not intended to inhibit. They are an effort at giving language to Small Group life based on the assumption that there will be a core group and an influx of new people.

 

Stage I: Developing Relationships and Sharing the Vision—Forming

During this first stage, the group members are looking to the leader for all direction and vision. The leader must be outgoing, open, and transparent and must provide non-threatening group-building/relational activities.

  1. Leader actions and attitudes
    • Displays empathy, warmth, and openness
    • Clarifies purpose, direction, and goals of the group.
    • Models ministry and transparency.
    • Recruits future leaders if not already in place (ASAP)
  2. Group activity
    • Group building: testimonies
    • Ice-breakers
    • Drawing near to God/worship
    • Social activities to foster relationship
    • Community-service project
  3. Emotions
    • Anticipation
    • Anxiety
    • Excitement
    • Insecurity
  4. Group members
    • Developing character
    • Developing interdependenceMile High Vineyard, Sumer 2023 61
    • Developing trust and openness for new relationships
    • Inviting new people.
    • Looking to the leader for direction

 


Stage II: Transition and Trust Development— Storming

This is a difficult but significant stage in the development of the Small Group. The members are deciding to be “kin” and let down the walls through self-disclosure.

  1. Leader actions and attitudes
    • Displays empathy, understanding, openness, and flexibility
    • Models ministry; prepares members for greater involvement
    • Encourages others in self-disclosure
    • Encourages others to minister; identifies/recruits potential leaders
    • Continues to clarify the purpose, goal and direction of the group
  2. Group activity
    • Increased self-disclosure
    • Worship, prayer, and ministry at a deeper level
    • Greater involvement of a few members
    • Personality conflicts surface. *This is not bad*
    • Community-service project
  3. Emotions
    • Uneasiness, discomfort
    • Tension
    • Aggravation
  4. Group members
    • In the process of decision-making:
      • Can I trust these people?
      • Who is leading?
      • Am I heading in the same direction?
    • Ownership emerges
    • Inviting new people

 


Stage III: Fruitfulness—Performing

This stage is a time when the group is actively ministering to each other, individually  maturing in Christ, and developing boldness to minister to others.

  1. Leader actions and attitudes
    • Extended vision, clarification of goals
    • Releases others to minister
    • Recruits leaders for training and deployment
    • Challenges others, encourages risking in ministry
    • Less directive
  2. Group activity
    • Effective ministry in the group and outside the group context
    • Risk taking
    • Shared leadership
    • Community-service project
    • Preparing for group reproduction
  3. Emotions
    • Trust
    • Acceptance
    • Forgiveness
    • Freedom
    • Determination
    • Fulfillment
  4. Group members
    • Moving towards later independence vs. unhealthy dependence
    • Sharing of leadership
    • Inviting new people
    • Development of faith as they minister to each other and to friends and neighbors

 


Stage IV: Multiplication or Stagnation—Reforming or Deforming

An exciting, important and difficult stage as the group prepares to multiply. The leaders must be sensitive and yet strong at the same time.

  1. Leader actions and attitudes
    • Reinforcement of purpose
    • New task clarification
    • Reviewing
    • Incorporates and releases new wave of leaders in the group
    • Reproduces group, deploys leaders to start a new group
  2. Group activity
    • New activities
    • Integrates new people
    • Celebration
  3. Emotions
    • Grieving
    • Warmth
    • Respect
    • Frustration
  4. Group members
    • Reflection
    • Moving on in faith and vision for the Kingdom of God
    • New people share leadership
    • Collegiate relationship with leader
    • Independence and spiritual growth

 

IRTDMN | Part Three

Video: Monitor & Nurture

 

Monitoring and Nurturing are vital for the health of Small Groups, as well as the leaders. While you are not expected to monitor and nurture the leaders you’ve raised up and released on a formal level (leaders/pastors will do that), since you do have relationship with those people and formed trust over a period of time, it can be helpful to periodically check in on your leaders just to care well for them. We never want our new leaders to think we’re just trying to produce, produce, produce. Our focus should always be on relationship.

 

 

In Mark 3:14 we read that Jesus, “appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out…”

Did you catch that? His primary purpose?

Mark tells us that Jesus appointed the twelve so that “they might be with him“. The first and most important part of following Jesus was being with him. As a Small Group leader, you must never forget that those whom you recruit to “send out” and lead in various capacities must first and foremost “be with you.”

Relationship is the currency of ministry. The deeper you have relationship with those whom you are raising up, the more significant your impact in their life and their impact in the lives of others.

When you meet with your leader(s), be sure to spend time caring for them as a person, not simply a leader. You might consider asking questions like:

  • How is your life with Jesus? What is God speaking to you or teaching you lately?
  • How are your relationships (marriage, kids, friendships)? Is there any conflict or tension you are experiencing?
  • How is your body? Are you getting enough sleep, feeling tense or getting headaches?

You might also consider using a simple mentoring model to facilitate deeper conversation (ask these questions in order):

  1. How are you doing?
  2. What are you celebrating?
  3. What are your challenges?
  4. What are you going to do about it?
  5. How can I help?
  6. How can I pray for you?

Lastly, one of the deepest ways you can nurture and care for those whom you lead is through prayer ministry. Spend time regularly laying hands on and praying for them.