GRACE Group Leaders
Building followers of Jesus
Christ…
1/17/08
Study this Book of Instruction
continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey
everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 NLT
GRACE – Growing with God’s
Word - Continually taking new steps towards a more intimate
relationship with God, using the Word as the guide and applying it to our
lives.
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New in the Small Groups Library |
Take It to the Limit – 6
Session DVD Study from Andy Stanley
For the first time in over a year, one copy of this study has
landed in my office. This is by far the
most popular GRACE Group study we have ever had. We have nicknamed this study “The Howard
County Syndrome.”
Overloaded? Maxed
Out? Our culture encourages us to live
as if we have no limits. So we fill up
our schedules and empty our bank accounts.
We do as much as we can, spend as much as we can, and acquire as much as
we can – all in an effort to get as much as we can out of life.
In this 6 part DVD, Andy Stanley shows our groups that the secret
to getting more out of life is not doing more, but doing less. We must learn to create margin to live the
life God intended for us as His followers.
We will look at Professional Margin, Personal Margin, Financial
Margin, and even Moral Margin. This
study might just change your life forever.
As always, you can borrow the DVD from the Small Groups Office for the
duration of your group’s study.
Discussion Guides for each member can be purchased at:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=525507&event=1025SBF|907045|1023405
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Shepherding Workshops |
It is time for a new GRACE Groups Launch, which also means
Shepherding 101 & 201 are just around the corner. If you or someone you love has never attended
these workshops, then “What’s the Deal???”
Together these two Saturday workshops helps assure that your group is a
place where everyone is being cared for and every member is pursuing a closer
relationship with Jesus. Who would not
want that for their group?!?! This is
the time. Come on and bring someone from
you group who you would like to invest in for the future.
Shepherding a Small Group 101
- Learn “How To Develop Life-changing Relationships Within Your Small Group.” Saturday, February 16th, 8:30am – 1:00pm.
Shepherding a Small Group 201
- “Creating an Environment for Spiritual Growth in Small Groups.” Saturday, March 15th, 8:30am – 1:00pm.
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Save the Date |
March 31st –
Monday Night – 6:30 – 9:00pm
This
SMALL GROUP LEADERS’ WORKSHOP is for everyone who leads a small group at
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“What is a Small Group Shepherd?” |
As a small group shepherd, you are in
the most strategic position at
First, as a shepherd leader, be
concerned for where people are in their spiritual journeys. You need to know
where people are in order to shepherd them to where they ought to be. Accept
group members where they are on their spiritual journeys. Treat each person
with grace, not judgment. At the same time, help group members grow. Encourage.
Spur each other on. Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.
Second, model a disciple's lifestyle.
Spiritual growth must be happening in all of our lives. We are a model for what
life change looks like to others.
Third, keep providing the context.
Continue to draw the group into increasing levels of authentic community. Don't
give up meeting together, and people will grow.
Fourth, assess where group members are
on their spiritual journeys. A number of useful tools are available to help
group members know where they are spiritually, and will help you develop a
strategy for helping them grow. Here are a few options:
• The Christian Life Profile, by Randy Frazee, which assesses spiritual growth along thirty core competencies.
• Our very own “Spiritual Health Assessment” available at www.gracegroups.net in the leaders section.
• Small Groups Assessment Pack from
Fifth, provide a process for growth to
happen. Do application-oriented Bible study as a group. Don't just study the
Bible. Do what it says! What do you study? The answer comes from knowing your
group and where they need most to grow. Please, ask a GRACE Group coach or me for
more help.
Sixth, have one-on-one mentoring in your
group. Ask group members who are relatively strong in one spiritual area to
disciple a person who would like to grow in the same area. This gets everyone
involved in the spiritual growth process.
Don't view all the group members the
same. You shepherd them individually, because they are at different places in
their spiritual journeys. Some are infants; some are adolescents or teens,
while others are maturing adults.
Finally, develop leaders. Continually
identifying, developing, and deploying new leaders is a part of every group
member's spiritual growth process.
Thanks for all you do!
Information, questions, comments.
240-553-1090 ext. 111
Please feel free to share this newsletter with the members of your
G.R.A.C.E. Group.