Organic | Relational | Intentional
Create
Community
Creating a loving and invitational atmospheres where honest, gospel-centered community can flourish in the Jesus’ kingdom.
FORMATION GROUP FORMAT
Dynamic and Expectations for a meeting:
Ideally, you'll team up with another couple.
One couple "hosts" the group at their house. The other, is the "group leader".
HOST RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Create a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere for all guest
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Provide some snacks & beverages (some groups eat dinner together, others just provide light snacks)
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Provide some form of childcare/space for kids, if needed.
GROUP LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Keep the night on track and on time.
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Come prepared to lead the conversation, having downloaded the sermon notes from Groups in the app, and be prepared to give a quick recap of sermon, if needed.
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Lead prayer time at the end.
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Keep up meeting schedule in the app and communicate clearly with members of the group within the app.
FORMATION GROUP FORMAT
HOW OFTEN TO FORMATION GROUPS MEET?
We are very flexible with how often these groups meet and the dynamic you’d like to create as a community. If someone plays an instrument, some groups like to sing a few songs at the beginning.
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MEETING schedules can vary!
You could meet weekly, every other week – you could do monthly potlucks, monthly outings, monthly outreach projects, game nights, etc.
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One of the goals is to create an atmosphere of DOING LIFE TOGETHER where relationships can flourish and encourage each other – this can look different!
STRUCTURE:
These times are totally suggestive! As your group dynamic develops, you’ll be able to adjust as appropriate.
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Casual start to allow people time to hang and connect with others, but please END at the same time every week to respect people's time and allow those to leave who need to get home. 7:00pm - 9:00pm is an average group time.
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The group takes turn sharing – don’t dominate the conversation – don’t interrupt!
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Not a teaching – we are sharing life together and exploring topical/scriptural discussions.
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Not a group where we fix other people’s issues; we pray for each other! We don’t take turns giving our solutions to problems! Avoid the group becoming a group counseling session!
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We encourage honesty and create a safe place to share. It may be necessary from time-to-time to ask people to respect others' privacy and to not share things outside the group OR to ask people to give others a chance to share!
7:00PM | ARRIVAL | HANG-TIME | 15-20 mins
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Have some refreshments ready: Tea, Coffee, Chips, Cookies, etc. (whatever!)
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Allow time for people to get to know each other. Have icebreakers ready if you need some help starting conversations. This time will get better and better as people start to know/enjoy each others' company. Initiate conversations with new people!
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​If someone plays an instrument - try singing a few simple worship songs together!
7:20PM | DISCUSSION | 30-60 mins
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DO NOT BE AFRAID of silence, honesty, or disagreements. Allow room for inquiry.
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It may be necessary to do a quick recap of the main points or scripture from the sermon.
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Ask good questions – bring up provoking points and allow others to give input.
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Use sermon notes to either briefly recap topics/points or read certain quotes that stood out.
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What stands out to you as resoundingly true? Did you disagree with anything?
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What additional thoughts/ scriptures has it brought to the surface?
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What was most challenging about it?
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What personal experiences resound/affirm/ or contrast with this topic?
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What other scriptures either affirm or conflict with what was said? What biblical tensions does it bring up? (I.E. Accountability vs. Grace/
8:15AM | PRAYER | 15 mins
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What can we be praying for each other about? What burdens can we share?
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Anyone have relational/ emotional/ physical pain we can ask God for healing?
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Always ask before you lay hands on people- BUT DO IT!
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Never force a person to pray or share
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Do not go around the circle in prayer or sharing for that reason- leave it open.
8:30PM | CLOSE
If you want, ask someone to start praying, let everyone know that anyone can pray if they want, but don't have to, then you close it. (OR you can just open and close it yourself depending on time)
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Try to END the group at the SAME time every week!
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Have a clear ending so those who need to leave can go without feeling obtrusive to the group.
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If you're able, invite people to hang out afterwards!
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BE SURE to invite people to the NEXT CHURCH EVENT!
Download Small Group Format
FORMATION GROUP PHILOSOPHY
ORGANIC | RELATIONAL | INTENTIONAL
01
ORGANIC
Relationships can’t be forced. Our job is to be open, loving, and invitational. The dynamic of a group needs room to breath, to grow and to establish it’s own unique identity. This can only happen when we leave room for organic conversation to emerge. This means:
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We follow the small group template in a relaxed way leaving room for group-led conversation.
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We don’t dictate the meeting by creating a teacher/student dynamic.
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The small group atmosphere is to work through and discuss sermon content as a group, NOT to dictate our personal theology - we can present our perspective but must present the other perspectives, as well!
The point is to allow people to work through the difficult questions the sermon might have provoked and further search scripture as a group.
02
RELATIONAL
Our hopes are that these groups grow to be much more than simply an organized meeting but, instead, a place in which trusted friendships can grow. This means more than a small group, we hope you will "do-life" with these people. Connect over dinners, date-nights, hobbies – and more – outside of your weekly meeting. This is the primary place where the family of God can function as such: to meet needs, pray for one another, and walk through difficult seasons together. Small groups are where the rubber meets the road of Christian community. As a leader, this means sometimes you may want to:
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INVITE the group, as a whole or individuals, to fun stuff you're doing outside of your normal meetings.
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Help each other out when able! (create meal-trains, help move, help with projects...)
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Try to connect others where you know of shared hobbies or interests.
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Avoid demanding they "toe the line" theologically before you will accept and invite them in.
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This means we are playing the "long-game" in relationships, which means it’s OK if they don’t see eye-to-eye on all theological issues. We don't die on secondary theological hills. (See primary vs. secondary resources)
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This also means you have to GO OUT and personally invite people to your group! don't just expect people to show up!!! That RARELY HAPPENS!
03
INTENTIONAL
We aren’t just creating a social club, we are trying to "Be the church". This means we are intentional about leadership, prayer and allowing scripture to inform our meetings.
Always do TWO things BEFORE YOUR SMALL GROUP-
#1. BE prepared and have a plan.
#2. PRAY! Pray for your group BY NAME! Pray for God to use you!
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In the Small group setting, use the sermon notes to walk through different possible topics to discuss.
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Ask questions to guide the conversation but avoid dominating the conversation or allowing it to turn into a group counseling session where everyone tries to "fix" the problems of others.
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Try to create atmospheres where deeper honesty and accountability can happen, however, Small Groups are not the time for personal accountability – these can lead to personal relationships (male-to-male, female-to-female ) where higher forms of accountability can be walked out.
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Always end by asking how we can pray for one another, allow for sharing and then DO IT! Don’t be afraid to lay hands on others and pray right there, when appropriate. But, always be sure people are comfortable and want to be prayed for – ASK before you lay hands on people!
Download Small Group Philosophy
RESOURCES
SMALL GROUP DYNAMIC TRAINING VIDEO:
This training video is for Alpha – which is designed for nonbelievers – however, the goal of creating an open honest atmosphere, drawing people out, creating a safe space to be known- is the undercurrent of the small group dynamic we are trying to create. Watch the whole video! This VERY MUCH describes the dynamic we try to create in our groups!
THE CHURCH APP
The App is extremely important when it comes to THOSE OUTSIDE being able to easily jump in to your group!
This means it’s important for you to keep your EVENT schedule updated in the APP!
Our Website page on small groups will go directly to your group within the app. This means - if someone is looking to jump in a group- they will see your meetings schedule inside the app. If it is not updated, a stranger may show up to your house on a night you cancelled group or rescheduled!
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You will communicate with your group in the app messaging! As people join- they need to be added in group inside the app.
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They can request to join- or as the leader- you can add them.
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Once in the 'group' you will be able to send messages and members can even start chats with the group as well.
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You need to create the schedule of events inside the group- this way- if someone wants to join they can see when you are meeting.
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If you need to cancel- you need to cancel the event in the app and communicate to your group!
Tutorial Videos on managing your group within the App
BIBLICAL STUDIES RESOURCES WE LOVE
Formation groups are all about digging in the Bible! What doest the Bible ACTUALLY SAY about... A. B. C.. etc. ??
In formation groups, we are always wanting to point people to what the Bible has to say about issues- sometimes reading from several places and even reading passages that might seem to contradict- then letting people come to conclusions as to what it means for them!
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Here are a few WONDERFUL RESOURCES we would recommend to explore and implement!
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BIBLE PROJECT VIDEO LIBRARY APP!
Getting lost in the weeds of a book in the Bible and need a quick and easy explainer video on what the book of Romans or Ezekiel is about?
OR explore certain themes in the Bible with the Bible project app! GET IT!
The searchable content is fantastic and an AMAZING RESOURCE when studying the bible in small groups! Don't be afraid to watch relevant videos together in group and discuss!