Resources

Free Resources

Virtue Women

Calvary Women Bible Studies

Classroom by Bible Project | FREE Graduate Level Bible Classes

Free 90-Day Reading Plan

Women’s Bible Studies

Groups Ministry

Right Now Media

Free Online Learning About Theology & Life

Leadership Resources

Teaching Tips for New Group Leaders

How to Identify and Empower New Small Group Leaders

7 Signs of a Healthy Small Group

Six Practices for Managing Your Group's Prayer Time

A Community Devotional based on 1 Thessalonians 1

What Compels People to Join a Small Group?

4 To Do's When You Feel Like Quitting by Peter Clow

Why Must Spiritual Maturity and Emotional Maturity Go Together? | Peter Scazerro

Leading Through Influence

Challenge for Leaders: As a group leader, you are an influencer in ALL areas of your life!  How do you utilize your leadership influence where you live, work, and play?  I.e.: at home, at work, in the community (store, kids’ games, restaurant, etc.), in your group, with your friends, on social media, etc. Is it me-centered, or is it you-centered?

The Product of Disciple-making

5 M-A-R-C-S of a Disciple:

Missional - Am I living on Mission where I live, work, and play?

Accountable - Am I being held accountable to live on Mission? 

Reproducible - Am I making disciples?

Communal - Am I living out the “one-anothers”?

Scriptural - Am I disciplined in reading the bible, journaling the bible consistently, and memorizing the bible weekly?

Leader Challenge: Take a look at the 5 Marks of a Disciple. Ask yourself these questions, and how are you infusing that into your Group?

How to Increase Regular Commitment to Small Groups

Handling Commitment Issues
The challenge for Leaders: Over the years, as I’ve led various groups, there are questions I ask myself when I find that there is a lack of commitment amongst the group. Granted, there are many reasons why some don’t commit; however, sometimes it could be as basic as these self-evaluation questions.  1.  Am I giving away responsibilities/leadership so that everyone feels valued and has an important role in this group?  2.  Are we still growing and being challenged in our spiritual journey?  3a.  Have we been meeting too long as a group?  3b. Could it be that it’s time for the group to multiply and birth so that others can lead and/or grow?  4. Am I being vulnerable and transparent with my group to build authentic relationships?  

Implosion Inventory Self Evaluation | Eric Geiger
 The challenge for Leaders:  Let’s be proactive rather than reactive!  Do you have a mentor or someone full of Godly wisdom who can come alongside you?  Always remember our Pastors are here for you too!

"Mental Health and Social Isolation Small Groups"
 The challenge for Leaders: Please watch this 55-minute video. This video contains some really great information to equip yourself as a group leader.

Emotionally Healthy Leader | Practice Sabbath Delight
 The challenge for Leaders: What step can you take toward implementing a weekly, 24-hour Sabbath?

Recommended Readings

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande

Gaining By Losing by JD Greear

Leading Small Groups by Chris Suratt 

Go Make Disciples by Drew Steadman

The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero

Weekly Materials

Study Questions and Message Notes

Soul Care

As you care for others, be reminded that you can't give what you don't have.  So as you lead and shepherd your group, we want to pour into you by giving you some encouragement from our staff, Pastors, Elders, and fellow Group Leaders!  Check out these videos below.  

Ashely Grant, Groups Participant Coach and Women’s Group Leader

Jason & Heidi Krull, Mixed Group Leaders

Jenny Stoner, Mixed Group Leader

Brian & Julie Dixon, Mixed Group Leaders

Executive Assistant, Brittney | Yoga

Elder Bob | Philippians 1:3-6 , 2 Peter 1:3, 1 Cor 15:58

Elder David | Philippians 1:27

Pastor Kasey | Philippians 4:4

Elder Warren | Isaiah 52:7-8, Galatians 6:9-10, Acts 8:29-35

Pastor Jonathan | Romans 12:12

Pastor Kevin | Mark 6:30-32

Pastor Shane | Hebrews 10:24-25

Training

Module 1: Purpose of Groups

 

Module 2: What We Do In Groups

Module 3: Care and Support for Groups

Module 4: Additional Resource Training

Leader Training Materials

Southbrook Resource Guide

Group Strategy doc  

Discipleship Model 

Discipleship Map

Community Group Leader Training Manual

Take Your Group Online!

1. Pick a platform

2. Curriculum/Content Use  

  • This is the link for the weekly message.  Or you may also use Facebook Live. 9:00 is service.

3.  Tips on How to hold a Virtual Group  

  • Welcome your group!  Build in some time at the beginning to catch up with those as you wait for some to trickle in. 
  • Remind folks to utilize their "mute" and "unmute" button to help with sound feedback.  
  • Do an quick icebreaker to warm up the group and allow everyone to answer.  
  • Engage in the study questions (have these ready to go prior to the start of the group)
  • Towards the end, share prayer requests. 
  • Don’t rush through this time together online. This might be a great opportunity for someone to share some hardships they may want to work through as a group.
  • End the video meeting with prayer.

4. General virtual tech tips 

  • Lighting: Be sure the lighting is shining on your face (not behind you).  Where in your home do you have the best lighting?
  • Quiet Location:  Be sure to have selected a quiet place in your home.  
  • Camera Angle:  Be sure that your camera is angled in the right position.  You may want to use something to elevate your device to have your camera at a good angle.   
  • Prior to the start of your group, have your group download the appropriate software/app to their devices.  Have them test it and get familiar with the mute/unmute buttons as well.

Virtual Group Leader Facilitating Tips

  • Embrace and normalize that "virtual "is not ideal but we can make it great!  Admit/embrace/address that going virtual is not ideal. Being light hearted that it is abnormal and weird that we are all in these little boxes and we interrupt each other all the time, only normalizes the process and says what everyone is thinking. Stating this each time takes away some of the oddity of it all.
  • Set ground rules that help everyone win. The person who is shy LOVES when the leader sets rules FOR THEM - they are too shy to speak up and the leader needs to defend them.  Set early "everyone wins" rules. What is said here is safe. We want to give space for everyone to process, think and share. Some people are more verbal, some take a few minutes to let a concept work its way out verbally. Don't feel like dead air is bad for a few seconds. That could be the time and space that helps someone share. (With teenagers I used to joke that we don't need a valedictorian of the Sunday school class that has all the answers but the leader would have to know how to have fun with her/his groups). For instance, after setting the ground rules I may say, "Raina if you think this is your talk show and do all the talking I found a way mute your line!" :).
  • Personalize questions when calling on someone directly.  If you ask or call on someone by name, try to personalize the question or set them up for success. For instance, if Dan led this past week he may say, "Nate, you work in the food industry, I am curious your take on feeding the 5k." Many people hate to be called on but if the leader personalizes the questions, #1 it shows they know their group and #2 it really makes the person called on "an expert" which honors them and most likely would be a win for them and they would feel flattered to answer.
  • Ask open-ended Q's, but lead the way as the leader by going first then sitting back and facilitating.  If asking open-ended questions, ask the question and follow up as the leader with, "That is my question, I will go first to get the ball rolling. Here is what I think that passage is saying...".
  • Pick topics/scripture that are easy to follow and paints a clear picture - virtual is even a tougher platform to hold attention.  With virtual, stories from scripture translate best. Jumping around in scripture could be hard to follow. For instance, I chose one story of feeding the 5k to sit on that one topic and really let it simmer. I hoped that it would allow people to leave with one clear picture in their head with multiple points rather than multiple points being pieced together to make one picture.