Our Mission:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Small Group Focus
- Upward Focus: Knowing God
- Inward Focus: Knowing Each Other
- Outward Focus: Reaching Out
- Forward Focus: Raising up New Leaders
“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47
Small Group Responsibilities
What does my Small Group Do?
- Meets together once a week
- Serves the church together once this season
- Serves the community together once this season
- Plays together once this season
What does a Small Group Leader Do?
- Pray for group members once a day.
- Lead the group once a week.
- Communicates with Team Leader regularly.
What does a Small Group Host do?
- Supports the Small Group Leader by serving and assisting the Group Leader
- Facilitates group discussion multiple times during the season
- Prays for the group
Each week the Leader or Host sends 2 e-mails to the group:
- Record prayer requests and e-mail them to everyone in the group.
- Send an attendance reminder e-mail to everyone in the group each week two days before the group is to meet (and before group events)
Four F’s of Leading a Small Group
1. Fill up
- Sunday Sign Ups/Online Sign Ups (firstbaptistpa.org/smallgroups)
- At church/Connection Table
- Outside of church: friends, neighbors, co-workers
- Pull out your phone & write down 4 people YOU can invite to join your Small Group
*Challenge: Ask one person who does not go to FBC to join your group
2. Follow Up
- Immediate Follow-Up (email with all pertinent info)
- Pre-Group Communication (at least one phone call and a reminder e-mail right before the first meeting)
- On-going Communication (once a week connection)
*Challenge: Don’t let anyone slip through the cracks
3. Focus
- Pray for your group and the individuals who sign up
- Have a plan for your lesson & a place for your group to meet
- Lead the group through the Small Group Commitment & Syllabus
*Challenge: Place your Small Group list in a place where you will see it every day
4. Facilitate
- Begin and end on time every time
- Encourage everyone to participate in discussion
- Don’t let one person ruin it for everyone else
- (4 Types of Problem People: Complainer, Controller, Corrector, Conflicter)
- Provide the “2 C’s” – Care to Small Group Members & Communication to Staff
- Serve the Church, as a group, once this season
- Participate in a Community Service Project
*Challenge: Be present at all your Small Group service opportunities
Possible Itinerary for your 1st Small Group Meeting
- Allow people to arrive, talk, and snack – 15 min.
- Pray – 1 min.
- Have everyone introduce themselves and share what they do, where they are from, and why they decided to join the group – 10 min.
- Introductory game (google small group icebreakers for ideas)…Ask the group if they were stranded on an island and they were to pick 3 things to take with them, what would they take. Any other interactive, fun game. – 10 min.
- Briefly introduce your study. Hand out Small Group syllabus, bookmarks and any other important information. Answer any questions – 15 minutes.
- Hand out the Small Group Commitments. Read through the Small Group Commitments carefully with the group. Explain the points as you read each one. Answer any questions. If anyone tries to be difficult and disagreeable, offer to talk with them individually at the end of the meeting – 5-15 min.
- Explain and ask for volunteers for the different roles within the group: (Play Coordinator, Food Coordinator, etc.) – 5 minutes.
- Share prayer requests and pray together – 10 minutes.
- Talk and eat – 15 minutes.
Feel free to make adjustments to the template of your group, but pay attention to the important elements throughout your meeting time (prayer, study, fellowship).
This training material has been adapted from Nelson Searcy's book: Activate.