CONNECTION POWER - Rethinking Small Group Methodology

PURPOSE – To create and maintain an atmosphere where people can get connected to God and to each other.

BIG IDEA #1 – Think from the Inside out…not from the Outside in

Conventional Wisdom: Take care of those on the inside first.

New Reality: Small groups that focus on serving their own members rather than on reaching out to others quickly become inwardly focused and stagnant

· The most effective small group strategy will move people from the Community to the Crowd and on to the Congregation.

· Question: How can I get the most people from the Crowd into small groups?

· We have 400 average attendance on Sundays, that means that we have 450 to 525 in our Crowd.

BIG IDEA #2 – Think Larger…Not Smaller

Conventional Wisdom: Smaller groups lead to increased intimacy, deeper relationships and more significant spiritual growth.

New Reality: Groups with 7 members or fewer are difficult to lead and more likely to fail, which means they have little to no chance of fostering healthy relationships or spiritual growth, while groups of 12 to 15 people do both more effectively

· Not everyone who signs up shows up

· Smaller groups make more work for a few

· Allow up to 20 to sign up for each group – that way 12 to 15 will show up each week

· This may mean having fewer groups overall, but each group will report a great experience

· Leave sign ups open even a few more weeks after the groups have started

BIG IDEA #3 – Think Friends…Not Intimacy

Conventional Wisdom: Small groups are a place where intimate relationships are formed

New Reality: Small groups are a place where new friendships are formed

· They are not the place for everyone to form deep and intimate relationships

· They are a place to form new and basic friendships

· When it comes to spiritual formation, both friendship and intimacy are necessary in helping us become more like Jesus

· Small groups are most effective for helping people make godly friends

Four Spaces of Spiritual Growth:

1) Public Space – (Zone 1 – Get a Life) – Weekly Worship Services – a single leader is the focal point

2) Social Space – (Zone 2 – Get a Friend – Small Groups) - small gathering of between 5 to 20 people – everyone will know your name, though they won’t know you personally. Most conducive space for making new friends

3) Personal Space – usually 2 to 5 people – everyone will know some details about each other. This is also private space – outsiders aren’t welcome

4) Intimate Space – only one other person present – you know one another’s secrets; this is a person you consider “family”.

Five Truths about these Four Social Spaces:

1) We grow spiritually and connect with others in all four spaces

2) We need relationships in all four spaces

3) No one space is more important than the others

4) The spaces are interrelated and connected together

5) We have a deficit of social space

Increasingly today Americans value privacy, safety and convenience and stay locked behind many layers of security in their homes. Since there is a breakdown in “social space”, there is a breakdown in both personal space and intimate space. This makes for weak and anemic Christians. Since there are so few “safe” social spaces today, too many look to unsafe places to find personal and intimate relationships.

ACTIVATE PRINCIPLE #1

Provide a place for casual friendships to develop without the forced expectation to form intimacy

People will not get personal or intimate in groups of 12 to 15. When we try to force intimate relationships in our groups, we scare and alienate many potential group members – certainly those in the Crowd of the church – and especially men. No man is going to sign up for a group if he believes he is expected to let people into his personal life.

However, men and women will sign up for groups where they can meet new friends, and hang out socially. Each person will decide who they want into their personal and/or intimate space and those relationships will develop OUTSIDE of the small group.

RESHAPE SMALL GROUPS AS PLACES TO MEET WITH FRIENDS AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS

BIG IDEA #4 – Think Short-term…Not Long-term

Conventional Wisdom: Small groups should last anywhere from 12 months to eternity.

New Reality: The ideal length for a small group is 10 to 12 weeks

A semester-based system, modeled after the American educational calendar works best.

· Do you ever get the urge to go out a buy school supplies in early September?

· Don’t you feel like the world winds down to a crawl around Christmas and New Year’s?

· Do you find yourself eager for a fresh start when spring arrives?

Because we have all grown up in an educational system, based on semesters, we are wired to associate feelings of “new beginnings” and “natural endings” with certain times of the year. Why not do small groups the same way?

This structure WILL promote the best spiritual growth and encourage the greatest number of people to sign up.

Thus, time bound groups are the best way to foster and maintain spiritual growth. When we put time bound groups in place and mold them around the natural flow of the academic year, we will encourage more people to sign up and we will guard against both stagnation and leadership burn out.

PEOPLE TODAY WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC START UP DATE AND ENDING DATE BEFORE THEY WILL CONSIDER PARTICIPATING

ACTIVATE PRINCIPLE #2

People grow over short periods of time (stress). Then they need to rest (release). After the period of rest, they can grow again (stress)…and the growth cycle continues. Remember growth is change and change can be painful.

6 Advantages of Time-Bound Groups:

1) A clear beginning and end date

2) Easier for people to make short term commitments

3) Allows time for groups promotion and sign-ups

4) Easier for people to get into a group when everyone is starting at the same time

5) More groups options – new groups/topics offered each semester

6) Matches the academic educational calendar

ACTIVATE PRINCIPLE #3

I don’t grow if I’m not stepping out of my own comfort zone and exposing myself to new people and new ideas.

BIG IDEA #5 – Think Promotion Months…not ongoing sign-ups

Conventional Wisdom: Small group sign-ups should be ongoing, so people can get involved with a group at any time all the time.

New Reality: A shorter, focused sign-up period increases small-group participation and excitement

Note: There will be a few groups with “open sign-ups” so that new people can “connect” quickly

Power of Promotion: Six weeks before time for the new small group to start will be “promotion power”. This will point everyone in the church in the same direction at the same time.

· Preaching on “connecting” and spiritual community

· Church-wide email campaign

· Direct mail pieces

· Drama presentations, skits and/or human videos about “connecting”

A “Simple Church” is an Effective Church -

1) Clarity – the ability of our Process to be communicated and understood by the people –

To increase Clarity in our church we must consider the following:

· Clearly define “how” we make disciples. This is our Process.

· Illustrate our Process so everyone can grasp it

· Measure the number of people moving through our Process

· Discuss our Process consistently with leadership teams

2) Movement – the sequential steps in the Process that causes people to move to greater areas of commitment

To increase Movement in our church we must consider the following:

· Place our programs strategically along our Process

· Place our programs in sequential order based on our Process

· Intentionally move people from one program to another

· Utilize a new member’s class and a clean next step for new believers

3) Alignment – the arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple Process

To increase Alignment in our church, we must consider the following:

· Recruit and hire those who are committed to our Process

· Offer accountability for the implementation of the Process

· Implement the same Process in each ministry department

· Ensure new programs/ministries always FIT into the Process

4) Focus –the commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of our ministry Process.

To increase Focus in our church, we must consider the following:

· Eliminate programs that are outside of our Process

· Do not add programs to our Process

· Limit “special events”

· Ensure our Process is easy to talk about and easy to understand

3 Benefits to Implementing the same Process in the entire church:

1) Understanding is increased –

2) Unity is promoted –

3) Every family experiences the same Process –

BIG IDEA #6 – Think church “of” small groups…not church “with” small groups

Conventional Wisdom: Small groups are just one of many programs that the church offers to its attenders

New Reality: small groups are the most effective when they stand alone, rather than having to compete with other church programs

1) Church “with” small groups – offers its attenders a buffet of ministry options to choose from – different programs and ministries to meet various needs and occupy people’s time. Small groups are just one among many options for spiritual community and friendship formation.

2) Church “of small groups – focuses and runs all ministry through the small groups system. The church’s full attention is centered upon the weekend services and small groups. Everything that happens in the church happens by way of these two entities. NO other programs or extra ministries vie for the attention of the members in any way that could limit the effectiveness of small groups.

When we decide to structure our process/system for growth – FOCUS is the key!

There is no way we can ask attenders, at any level of the Circle of Commitment, to attend weekend service, mid-week service, softball game, prayer meeting, AND be in a small group.

ACTIVATE PRINCIPLE #4

If you give people too many options, their involvement will be so spread out that you won’t have their full participation or momentum in any one area.

We must run everything we are passionate about through weekend services or small groups. Everything we do must either expand weekend services or advance small groups.

BIG IDEA #7 – Think Easy…Not Hard

Conventional Wisdom: People are willing to go through a multiple-step process to join a small group

New Reality: One-step sign-ups, which make getting into a group faster, easier and less intimidating, will greatly increase the number of people who decide to join a group

The more difficulty and stress we as leaders can keep from people’s lives, the happier they will be and more supportive.

Connecting Groups Catalog

· Create a catalog of small groups in 3 categories:

1) Spiritual Life Groups – Deeply spiritual in purpose; leader must be highly qualified in teaching the Word and leading in prayer; not for unsaved people; these groups will be prayer and Bible study focused

2) Practical Life Groups – Less spiritual in purpose; leader must be strong believer but the focus of these groups will not be prayer and Bible study; practical life and life issues will be the focus; apologetics; reading an appropriate best-selling book, life skills, etc.

3) Social Life Groups – No direct spiritual purpose; social groups; hobby groups; affinity groups; sports groups, etc; leader must be proficient in which ever “theme” the group will have

NOTE: The length of each group meeting will be determined by each group. They may be 1 to 3 hours long depending on the group, the category and the leadership.

The catalog will assign a numbering or lettering system to identify when the groups meet. For example Monday groups may be M101, M201, M301, etc. and so on. The first number designation which Category the group is as listed above.

The goal is to have at least one small group in each category on each day, which is at least 3 groups meeting each week day, and/or Saturday as appropriate.

A new small group information card will be prepared and used to get people signed up. We will certainly use these during the “promotional” months between small group semesters.

BIG IDEA #8 – Think and Plan Ahead…Not Behind

Conventional Wisdom: Thinking about upcoming small groups a month out gives you plenty of time to plan and prepare

New Reality: For these small groups to be successful, we need to start planning and preparing 3 to 4 months in advance of their start date.

The Power of a SYSTEM – a good system saves us stress, time, energy and money.

Save Yourself Stress Time Energy Money

BIG IDEA #9 – Think Apprentices…Not Experts

Conventional Wisdom: Groups leaders need to be biblically knowledgeable, longtime Christians, and must then undergo extensive training in order to lead a small group effectively. This disqualifies more people than it qualifies.

New Reality: Leading as a servant coordinator in a group will prepare potential leaders to lead a life-changing small group on their own. There is no extensive training necessary.

More people in the church qualify to lead the small groups in this system.

Key Leadership Principle:

1) I do and you watch

2) I do and you help

3) You do and I help

4) You do and I watch

· Let potential leaders know that the small groups are discussion-based, not lecture-based. They will serve as a facilitator and coordinator.

· Have an approved list, in the catalog, of curriculums, books, teaching materials that can be used by Category 1 and 2 groups.

· Make sure leaders know they can say “I don’t know”. Never feel any pressure to give an answer you do not have. Contact a pastor.

· Never ask the leaders to be experts…just facilitators

· Release centralized control – let the Body DO the ministry

BIG IDEA #10 – Think Decentralization…Not Staff Control

Conventional Wisdom: To ensure successful groups, paid staff must be in control

New Reality: Groups will multiply faster and be healthier when we trust God with all our lay leaders and trust them with the people.

ACTIVATE PRINCIPLES #5 & #6

As long as ministry is controlled at the Pastoral Staff level there will never be multiplication of groups and of leaders.

You can structure for control or you can structure for growth, but you cannot structure for both.

Diversity encourages growth:

1) The availability of different topics decreases the chance that a group will become inwardly focused. People’s interest will be in the topic or theme of the group and NOT in it’s leader.

2) Different types of groups – sports groups, mom’s groups; reading groups, prayer groups, hobby groups, affinity groups, outreach groups, entrepreneur groups, music groups, tutoring groups, etc. – will make nonbelievers and seekers, who are in the Community and Crowd levels of the church, more willing to sign up.

3) People will grow faster when they are connecting with something they have an expressed interest in.

4) Men will be more willing to join groups when they are based upon intriguing topics and/or built around activities or affinities.

ACTIVATE –

Good ideas are common – what’s uncommon are people who’ll work hard enough to bring them about!

FOCUS, FORM, FILL AND FACILITATE

Each month focuses on only one “F”

FIRST YEAR CALENDAR 2008:

October 2008– FOCUS - “Connection Power” promotion begins -

November 2008 (and beyond) – FORM - Catalog of small groups is prepared along with Information cards. Wednesday night children’s programs are discontinued. Saturday evening Prayer is cancelled. Wednesday night becomes worship/prayer/intercession since God is “breathing” fresh on it.

December 2008 – FILL – sign-ups for new small groups

January 2009 – FACILITATE – Small groups begin the first week in January – they will each go 10 to 12 weeks

April, August and December are OFF months. No groups meet.

Spring Semester – January to March

April – Off month – Promotion/Sign-up of New Groups

Summer Semester – May to July

August – Off month – Promotion/Sign up for New Groups

Fall Semester – September to November

December – Off month - Promotion/Sign up for New Groups

Standard Annual Calendar:

December: FILL – Off month - promotion month for the spring small groups semester, which begins in January and lasts until March (10 to 12 weeks)

January: FACILITATE – Spring groups begin. Staff follows up to equip leaders and ensure that groups are going well

February: FOCUS – Begin planning for summer small groups

March: FORM – Start forming your summer groups by asking people to be group leaders and/or hosts, and begin nailing down meeting locations, days, times and topics.

April: FILL – Off month - Summer small groups promotion/sign-up month

May: FACILITATE – Summer groups begin. Staff follows up to equip leaders and ensure that groups are going well.

June: FOCUS – begin planning for fall small groups

July: FORM – start forming your fall groups by asking people to be group leaders and/or hosts, and begin nailing down meeting locations, days, times and topics.

August: FILL – Off month - Fall small groups promotions/sign-up month

September: FACILITATE – Fall groups begin. Staff follows up to equip leaders and ensure that groups are going well.

October: FOCUS – Begin planning for spring small groups

November - FORM – Start forming your spring small groups by asking people to be group leaders and/or hosts, and begin nailing down meeting locations, days, times and topics

December – Off month – FILL – Promotions/sign-ups for Spring groups

NOTE: During the summer months special “monthly” events will be planned for children and youth to keep them “connected”. Details will come later

POWER PRINCIPLE: Connection Power releases people into ministry by connecting them with those with similar interests in their sphere of influence. This is accomplished by doing what they are going to do anyway but understanding they are doing it for the Kingdom. That is it! Why would God require someone to do something they are NOT equipped and/or gifted to do? This is what religion does, but God would never do that.

In Mark 14, when the woman anointed Jesus’ feet with ointment, some were troubled by that. They objected at the seeming “waste”. Jesus rebuked them and said, “leave her alone…she has done what she could do.”

Every group leader is simply going to do what he or she loves to do and invite others to do it with them!

Remember – Sunday ministry teams are NOT being absorbed into this new small group dynamic. They operate in Zone 1 and will continue to do so.