Big Message Small Groups UTILIZING SMALL GROUP MINISTRY

Big Message, Small Groups: UTILIZING SMALL GROUP MINISTRY AS A MEANS OF TEACHING AND CONNECTING Thursday, January 25, 2018 (4: 30 PM – 5: 30 PM) Standrick J. Rhodes, M. Ed. Coordinator, All Access Youth Movement (A. A. Y. M. ) Freedom Temple Ministries srhodes@ftmrockhill. org

PURPOSE This session examines the empowerment of the small group leader to perpetuate the message of the church while simultaneously developing their area of ministry and offers tools and techniques for the management of their ministry regarding communication, training, teaching, and technology.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Identify the big messages of the church. Define a small group ministry. Identify current ministry mindsets. Develop small groups and team leads. Train a small group for ministry work. Communicate effectively with members. Identify tools to use for ministry growth.

THE BIG MESSAGE “The Holy Bible has exciting adventures, beautiful poetry, inspiring stories, and wise counsel and instruction, but what is most remarkable is that each author and each book of the Bible expresses God’s love for us and His plan to save us from our sins. ” (Boonstra, 2006, p. 6)

THE BIG MESSAGE “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. ” -James 1: 22 -25

THE BIG MESSAGE “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” -Matthew 28: 19

THE SMALL GROUP MINISTRY Ø A micro-community of 3 to 12 Jesus followers doing the Christian life [of service] deeply together. • Subgroups are necessary for larger small groups. • Intimacy and vulnerability among volunteers is key. 1 Corinthians 12: 26 Follow Jesus’ example…He had his 12, and He had his 3.

A. A. Y. M. EXAMPLE Total Number of Volunteers: 46 Administration Teachers -Teens -Youth -Children Auxiliaries -Jr. Ushers -Youth Choir -Youth Dancers Support Staff -Ambassadors -Hospitality -Supply Inventory -Incentives -Assistants 5 6 2 1 1 5 3 3 3 6

OUR BELIEF SYSTEMS Fixed vs. Growth Mindsets How we view ourselves is ultimately how we view our ministries. failure, criticism, effort, persistence, progress, risks

BUILDING THE SMALL GROUP A pep talk for prospective group members… …establishing an effective small group.

THE PERFECT EXAMPLE

A SMALL GROUP… Disciple Simon Peter James the Elder John (son of Zebedee) Andrew Bartholomew/Nathanael James the Lesser Judas Jude/Thaddeus Matthew Philip Simon the Zealot Thomas Mathias Member A spokesman A loyal background worker An ambitious, action-oriented worker An optimistic evangelist A scholar and searcher of the scriptures A passionate worker of character An outspoken treasurer A social butterfly A recorder/writer A faithful, giving missionary A law/rule follower A verifier A patient follower

The steps: TRAINING & TEACHING THE SMALL GROUP 1. Have an upfront discussion about the purpose and goals. 2. Align goals to specific tools/protocols. 3. Provide demographic information about the target audience. 4. Describe individual role responsibilities, including limitations. 5. Develop a yearly schedule with team leads. 6. Provide opportunities for hands-on training. 7. Plan and prepare for off-site training, when necessary.

COMMUNICATION …should be… 1. MEANINGFUL 2. SPECIFIC 3. CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS’ LIMITATIONS 4. CONSISTENT 5. POSITIVE & SINCERE …to avoid communication BLOCKS: Aggressors | Defeatists | Class Clowns | Storytellers | Controllers

TECHNOLOGY Resources… 1. Google Suite 2. Ministry Websites 3. Planning Center 4. LIVE Curriculum 5. Email Listserv Accounts 6. Social Media Platforms

REFERENCES Boonstra, S. (2007). The sword of the spirit. Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY: Random House. Howerton, R. (2016). Defining Small Groups. Retrieved December 23, 2017, from http: //www. lifeway. com/Article/defining-small-groups. Small Group Communication. Retrieved December 20, 2017, http: //www. speechmastery. com/small-group-communication. html from

Big Message, Small Groups: UTILIZING SMALL GROUP MINISTRY AS A MEANS OF TEACHING AND CONNECTING Standrick J. Rhodes, M. Ed. Coordinator, All Access Youth Movement (A. A. Y. M. ) Freedom Temple Ministries srhodes@ftmrockhill. org