!!!!!! Vision & Strategy!!

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Amelia Daisy Stokes
6 years ago
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1 Visin & Strategy

2 Why Small Grups Exist: Therefre g and make disciples f all natins, baptizing them in the name f the Father, the Sn, and f the Hly Spirit. Matthew 28:19 At Christ Fellwship, Small Grups exist t: Make fully devted fllwers f Christ. The gal in ur Small Grups is that each Small Grup member mves clser t being fully devted t Christ. Why Small Grups Are Imprtant: Small Grups are the Primary Pathway f discipleship at ur church. They are the frnt lines fr pastral care, where peple are encuraging ne anther twards full devtin t Christ. Why Small Grup Leaders Are Imprtant: Our Small Grup Leaders help their grup members mature in their faith, fster envirnments where genuine friendships frm, and get them t think missinally. In essence Small Grup Leaders are t guide their grup members twards being fully devted fllwers f Christ. This makes the rle f the Small Grup Leader very imprtant in the life f Christ Fellwship. Small Grup Cre Values In the bk f Acts, we read the stry f the first Christians living a new way f life amng a new cmmunity f Christians (Acts 2:42-47). We see them ding the fllwing three things: They were devted t Gd s Wrd, t the fellwship with ther believers, and t living missinally fcused lives. We believe that if ur Small Grups are ding these three things, they will be healthy, prsperus, and prductive Gd glrifying grups.

3 Devted t Gd s Wrd They devted themselves t the apstles teaching (verse 42) We see that the early church was fully devted t Christ and His Wrd. Therefre, we ask ur Small Grups t study Gd s Wrd, have Christ centered discussins, and encurage each ther twards full devtin t Christ in all areas f life. Key Questins Yu Can Ask as a Small Grup Leader What have yu been studying frm Gd s Wrd? What specifically has Gd been teaching yu frm Scripture? Hw have yu been applying what yu have learned? Devted t Fellwship They devted themselves t the fellwship. (verse 42) We see the early church nt nly being fully devted t Gd s Wrd, but als t cnstant and authentic fellwship with each ther. Therefre, we want ur Small Grup members t frm genuine friendships with each ther s that they can d life tgether. Key Questins Yu Can Ask as a Small Grup Leader: Hw are yur friendships with ther believers? Hw d yu serve and care fr ther members in yur grup? Devted t the Missin...and enjying the favr f all the peple. And the Lrd added t their number daily thse wh were being saved. (verse 47) We see the early church being fully devted t the Missin f Christ by serving the cmmunity, sharing the Gspel with the lst, and develping future leaders t carry ut the missin. Therefre we ask ur Small Grups t be missinally minded and Reach Beynd the walls f the church s that we may serve ur immediate cmmunity and the under-resurced and hurting thrughut Miami-Dade Cunty. We als ask ur Small Grups t develp future leaders wh can in turn impact ther peple. Key Questins Yu Can Ask as a Small Grup Leader: Wh is smene that yu recently shared the Gspel with? Hw are yu serving and reaching ut t ur city? Name a few peple that yu have nt shared the gspel with.

4 Cre Discipline f Small Grup Leaders: A Small Grups is a place where discipleship, grwth and missin can happen, and it all starts with the leader. Everything falls and rises n leadership. In line with Small Grups cre values, here are sme disciplines that we believe every leader shuld strive t pssess. 1. Devted t GOD S WORD a. Surrendered t Christ in every area f life. b. Reads the Wrd regularly c. Prayerfully dependent d. Actively gives e. Articulates the Gspel clearly f. Teaches the Wrd accurately g. Applies the Gspel t life h. Cnfesses and repents f sin i. Believes Gd s prmises 2. Devted t FELLOWSHIP a. Identifies needs in thers b. Asks gd inquiring questins c. Listens t thers stries d. Fllws up e. Mdels transparency in their wn life (sin, struggles, jys) f. Encurages thers in their spiritual walk g. Lvingly cnfrnts sin in thers 3. Devted t the MISSION a. Shares the Gspel with thers b. Builds relatinships with nn-christian c. Serves the cmmunity regularly d. Tells stries f nn-christian relatinships e. Supprts glbal missins thrugh awareness, prayer, giving r ging

5 The Rles f ur Small Grup Team: The Small Grups Directr: Serves the caches. Prvides care, guidance, and encuragement t the caches. Casts visin. The Small Grups Cach: Serves the leaders. Prvides care, guidance, and encuragement t the leaders. Casts visin. The Small Grup Leader: (Insert Name Here) Mdels servant Leadership. Prvides care, guidance, and encuragement t the grup members. Fsters an envirnment where spiritual grwth and genuine friendships amng grup members takes place. Empwers grup members t live missinally fcused lives. Ensures that grup is devted t CF s Cre Values. Leadership Develpment: We train and develp ur leaders thrugh different methds such as: Mnthly Cach & Leader meetings Fcused n discipline, encuraging, guiding, and caring fr the leader. Small Grup Leader Meetings Fcused n equipping the leaders with practical and essential tls fr the develpment f discipleship and the multiplicatin f Small Grups.

6 3 Keys t Launching a Small Grup Pray, Pray, Pray: This may seem like the cliché churchy thing t state, but studies shw that the differentiating factr between grups that succeed and thse that dn t are nt necessarily the persnality f the leader, the lcatin, time, r any typically expected factrs. Rather the mst successful grups are thse whse leaders spend much time praying fr the grup and the peple wh Gd will be entrusting them with. Be sure that yu ask the Lrd t shw yu whm t invite and that the Lrd pens their hearts and draws them t yur grup. Invite Peple t Yur Grup: It s nt surprising that a key part t launching a Small Grup is actually having peple there And n, Gd des nt send the Small Grup strk t drp a cuple f new Small Grup members fr yu. Yu need t lk fr them S as yu pray, invite peple frm church, friends, family members, neighbrs and c-wrkers. We knw this can seem a little challenging, but yu will be surprised at hw Gd starts pening the hearts f the peple. Remember, they wn t cme t yur Small Grup until yu invite them. S start inviting Set a Launch Date and Stick with It: Once yu have prayed and invited peple t yur Small Grup, set a launch date and stay faithful t it. If a start date is nt slidified, the grup launch will be dragged n and will never get ff the grund. Whether it s 10 peple, r just yu and tw ther peple, make sure yu start and watch the Lrd add peple during the upcming weeks What Small Grups Are: Small Grups are NOT: Scial clubs Cunseling sessins Classrm envirnments (Teacher-Pupil) Small Grups ARE: Predictable envirnments where Small Grup members experience: Spiritual Grwth Authentic Cmmunity with ther believers Missinal activity

7 3 Keys t a Successful Small Grup A Welcming and Transparent Envirnment: There is nthing wrse than being in a Small Grup where peple are nt warm and welcming. Be sure that everyne in yur Small Grup makes new guests feel welcme and accepted. We als want ur peple t be pen and transparent. If yu grup members never share what s really ging n inside, they will never really grw spiritually. As a leader, it is imprtant that yu set the pace by being pen and transparent. Remember, when there is penness and transparency, strnger relatinships will develp. Therefre cnfess yur sins t each ther and pray fr each ther s that yu may be healed. The prayer f a righteus persn is pwerful and effective. James 5:16 Fllw up, Fllw up, and mre Fllw Up: A huge part f yur respnsibility as a leader is t be sure yu fllw up with yur Small Grup members. Here are 3 primary ways yu shuld be fllwing up with yur grup members: 1. First time Guest: When a persn visits yur grup fr the first time, make sure yu call r text them thanking them fr visiting yur Small Grup 2. Reminder Text: The day f yur Small Grup, yur members shuld get a reminder text r call, reminding them abut Small Grups 3. Missing Persn: If yu have nt seen smene in a cuple f weeks, it is als imprtant that yu give them a call t check up n them and let them knw they are missed. Have Fun Gatherings Outside Yur Small Grup: As a Small Grup Leader, ne f yur gals is t make sure the peple in yur Small Grup are grwing clser tgether. One f the things that really helps the develpment f friendships between yur grup members is hanging ut with each ther utside f yur nrmal Small Grup. Ging ut t dinner tgether, having a BBQ at smene s hme, r ding a fun activity tgether really ges a lng way in develping friendships. Think abut it, the better friends they becme, the mre pen they will be when they cme tgether fr Small Grup.

8 Wh is in my circle f influence? Wh needs t hear the gspel?

9 Wh am I ging t invite t my Small Grup?

10 FAQ s abut Small Grups 1. What shuld I d if smene asks a questin I can t answer? That will happen Here is yur respnse. I appreciate that questin(s) and I dn t knw the answer t that, but I will d my best t find ut this week and get back with yu at ur next Small Grup meeting. Fllw up with persnal research; call yur Small Grup Directr r Small Grup Pastr t get advice. Yu may nt have the answers at that time, but yu d have ther resurces available t help. 2. What if ne individual wants t dminate ur Small Grup discussin time? R.O.E. Rules Of Engagement. When starting a Small Grup, r when a new member jins yur grup, give clear discussin guidelines. Here are tw that cme t mind: 1. What is said in Small Grup stays in Small Grup. (Cnfidentiality) - Whether it is a prayer request r a discussin statement. 2. In pen grup discussin, please express yur thughts within 2-3 minutes s all can participate. If yu feel a persn dminates the discussin time then yu, as the leader, must react t the situatin psitively. Find a place in the cnversatin as sn as pssible and say, I appreciate yur thughts regarding this matter, I wuld like t g t anther thught cncerning then engage thers in the cnversatin. 3. Hw d I ask thers t pray ut lud in ur grup? Start with yurself. Ease int the public prayer arena carefully. Remember there are tw things a persn fears the mst in cming t Small Grup: reading in frnt f thers and public praying. If yu d ask smene t pray r read in frnt f thers, please talk t them befre yur grup time t be sure it is all right. As yur grup matures, this will nt be as much f an issue as it is fr a new grup.

11 FAQ s abut Small Grups(Cntinued) 4. Hw much time d I need t devte as a Small Grup leader? Here are sme things that everyne in the grup shuld d, especially the leader: ii. 1. Cntact thers in yur grup fr prayer and encuragement 2. Preview the materials yu are presenting if leading the study r discussin. The average small grup meeting takes abut an hur and a half with an additinal hur fr preparatin, phne calls, s, etc. Yu are nt limited t these amunts, give as the Lrd leads yu. Keep in mind that yu may need t meet ne-n-ne with sme f yur grup members wh are struggling r are in need. 5. Where and when can I get Small Grup Curriculum? The Small Grup DVD and materials are available at the beginning f each series. Cntact yur Small Grup Directr t find ut when the next curriculum is available. 6. Hw d I sign up fr a Reach Beynd? iii. Planning a Reach Beynd is easy Yur Small Grup can serve yur cmmunity in any way yur grup feels led t. Yu can sign up fr a Reach Beynd nline by fllwing these steps: 1. Visit cfmiami.rg/reachbeynds 2. Select frm the list f available Reach Beynds frm yur campus. 3. Fill ut the frm at the bttm f the page and click Submit 7. What is an Apprentice? An Apprentice is smene in yur Small Grup that yu see leadership ptential in. It des nt mean that they are ready t lead right nw, but that yu see ptential in them fr the future. Every Small Grup Leader shuld identify at least ne persn in their grup. After an Apprentice is identified, ntify yur Small Grup Directr and let them knw that yu will be investing in that persn t lead a grup ne day.

12 8. Hw can I encurage my Small Grup t get invlved at Christ Fellwship? Encurage everyne t Test Drive a ministry. Invite sme t serve with yu if yu are part f anther ministry. Apprentice tw peple tw lead a Small Grup Pray fr ur Pastrs in yur Small Grup 9. Wh shuld I invite t my Small Grup? Neighbrs Family and Friends There are peple wh yu are clse t wh need spiritual cmmunity in their lives. Sme might be lking fr a place t discuss the Bible, r they might take interest in ur Small Grup studies. Make a list f wh yu think might be interest, and invite them t yur Small Grup Inviting yur neighbrs t a Small Grup can be a great way t fill yur Small Grup. Walk utside f yur huse, r apartment, and make it a pint t knw the names f thse wh live acrss frm yu r next t yu. Invite them t yur Small Grup as a way t reach them fr Christ Yur Church Family There are many peple at Christ Fellwship wh need t be cnnected t a Small Grup. Here are a few pprtunities that yu can use at church t invite peple t yur Small Grup: Peple yu sit next t in the service. Peple yu serve alngside with in a ministry Peple yu meet when yu drp ff yur kids at the CF Kids bth. Peple wh stand in line fr cffee befre and after services.

13 Typical Small Grup Meeting Estimated Time: Between an hur and a half t 2 hurs. Pre-grup time: Cmmunicatin , text, r call members the day befre meeting. Keep cmmunicatins shrt and sweet. Review icebreaker (if needed). Small Grup Lessn Preview lessn & discussin questins. Pray fr yur grup and grup time. Rm Readiness Clean & presentable Gd atmsphere Smells gd TV n with DVD lessn ready Prepare fd (ptinal, but recmmended). Grup Time: Gd s Wrd Watch lessn and have Christ centered discussins. Nt all questins have t be answered t finish the lessn Relax and enjy yur grup Fellwship and Prayer Ask everyne t share hw their week went and what they need prayer fr. Spend sme time praying fr each ther. Plan a fun gathering that the grup can d utside f yur regular Small Grup time. Include ther in bringing fd next week. Missin Make sure t plan and cmplete a Reach Beynd prject at least nce during the series. Encurage peple t share Christ with thers thrughut the week. Pst-Grup Time: Fllw up with thse that might have missed the meeting,

14 Small Grup Leader Cvenant After praying and seeking Gd s directin, I chse t cmmit t the fllwing: Grw in my faith as I seek t lve Christ, lve thers, and help lead thers t Christ. T adhere t the Christ Fellwship Dctrinal Statement Actively invite peple t my Small Grup and Christ Fellwship. Attend The Rally & Small Grup Leader Meetings. Encurage peple in my Small Grup t serve in a ministry. Agree t meet regularly and keep an pen line f cmmunicatin with my Small Grup Cach. T make chices and live a lifestyle that are bth Gdly and abve reprach knwing my life represents my Lrd, my family, and my Church. Develp an Apprentice in yur Small Grup t be a future leader. Uphld unity within the Small Grup and Christ Fellwship. Knw and understand the fur cnnecting pints f Christ Fellwship: Cnnect t Gd (weekend services), Cnnect t Others (Small Grups), Cnnect t Ministry and Cnnect t the Wrld (Reach Beynds) Pray fr my Church Staff and Small Grup members. Sign Print

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