Big Ideas about Small Groups

Leading Without Knowing all the Answers

Nick Plassman | CCC Naperville Campus Neighborhood Groups Director

Do you ever find yourself on the other end of a spiritual question you can’t answer?  How about a bible study where a tough question comes up? Or when life hits harder than we can handle?

I know when those times happen I wish I had all the answers, but the shocking truth is, I don’t.  I know…I got my degree from Bible College, and I have been in professional ministry for several years, so I should have all the answers, right?  Wrong.  I don’t have all the answers and I am honestly relieved that I can now admit it.  You see, when I was a new believer, I thought I could all of the sudden answer any and all tough questions life had to offer.  God would somehow supply me with the wisdom and smarts to answer anything.  Well that was a hard lesson to learn. 

I actually remember answering a question just after I became a Christian.  It was from a woman who was chronically plagued with pain.  She asked why she should become a Christian and what good it would be for her. (I actually lay awake at nights thinking about the horrid, ignorant answer I gave her.) I told her if she became a Christian then God would heal her. Now don’t get me wrong, I do believe God has the absolute power to heal this woman, but who am I to promise a miracle?  I was trying to convince this poor woman that the reason she was in pain in the first place was because she wasn’t a Christian.  I can’t believe that God didn’t kick me out of life.

Thankfully God gave me a second chance, well more like a 3rd, no 4th, no…53,998th…  well you get the point.  What I do know is how to say: “I don’t know” usually followed by: “but I would love to study that with you.”  That statement has given me more credit than any answer I was able to ignorantly muster up in a pinch.  I love the freedom in saying I don’t know, and I encourage you to practice it. 

Also, I have learned and used several tools in searching for answers. Here is a list that I keep close.  These are certainly not exhaustive, but they are a great set of tools that help along this journey of leading without knowing all the answers:

• NIV Study Bible:  This great bible is also a great tool.  Each page has an upper half that includes the scripture, and a lower half that gives background and information about the scriptures.  Before each book there is a summary of background, author, intention, and audience.  Also there are a ton of maps, and great information included throughout each book.
• Christian Counseling, A Comprehensive Guide by Gary Collins:  This book has been invaluable in understanding many different and difficult human behaviors.  It also is an excellent reference for biblical foundations for counseling, and appropriate approaches to almost any scenario.
• Armed and Dangerous:  A small book that lists many different tough questions and biblical answers.
• Know Why You Believe by Paul E Little:  A book that has can give a good foundation for Christian belief.  Biblical examples and a good formulation of Christian doctrine.
• The Case for “Faith, Christ, Creator, Real Jesus” Lee Strobel: A series of books written by a man who began his spiritual journey by trying to prove God doesn’t exist.  Excellent apologetic arguments.

There as several more great resources from philosophical to educational that I would be glad to share. 

It's UFC Time!

This week we begin a brand new series at CCC: UFC the Ultimate Family Challenge!  This should be a great series for anyone who was ever part of a family, as we tackle sibling issues, parenting, marriage, and other family relationships.

We have put together a really good Big Idea Discussion Guide to help guide you in personal devotion time, family discussions, or small group times. Get your free copy HERE!

One More "Life's Toughest Questions"

We are tackling one more tough question submitted by many of our attenders, as we end our Life's Toughest Questions series. This week's question is: Why does God allow suffering?

This should create a reallly insightful small group discussion as well, so we have put together our guide to guide you (because that's what a guide does).

Because of the nature of this series, we do not have a full booklet to download. Instead you can download a 1-page discussion guide for each week/question of this Big Idea series. Get this week's HERE.

Making Small Group Vision Stick

Genea Browne | Small Groups Director | CCC Shorewood Campus

We just finished up a 6-week run of a Turbo Group at our campus and it went great! We laughed, cried and learned from each other. Throughout the 6 weeks one of the things that I prayed about most was making the vision of small groups stick. How do I get this group of leaders to feel the passion and excitement of being on this mission for God by leading a small group? In “Making Vision Stick”, Andy Stanley says that one of the greatest challenges of leadership is making vision stick. Isn’t that the truth? So what do we do?

Find what sticks for YOU!

For me it’s all about the relationships and life-changing stories that I hear come out of small groups. Relational, Relational, Relational! And the amazing people in the Turbo Group confirmed that even more for me last night. Most of them expressed that the one thing they feared the most as a small group leader was also the one thing they were most excited about – creating and cultivating true and authentic relationships in a group! When that happens with God at the center, we see life-change. That’s when people get excited and the vision sticks! You see, I can throw all of the reasons why we do small groups at them and even top it with numbers and fancy KO’s but if I don’t have a true and real story to back it up, what good is it?

You know the vision is sticking when you can literally see the paradigm shift in a leader’s life. There was one particular person in our turbo group who inspired the rest of us because of his excitement and passion for small groups. Even more so because of the change he made over the 6 weeks and the vision he embraced. After the very first turbo group he sent me an e-mail saying that he was reluctant to come to the first week of the class because he said “I didn’t know what I was getting myself in to!” I received an email from him on the last week of the class expressing his desire and calling from God to start a group of his own. In a matter of 2 weeks, he has lined up a host, apprentice, ideas for service projects, childcare and has 6 people committed to his new group!

So find what sticks for you and then share it!  We need to be excited and passionate about it.  That's contagious and people will be standing in line to be a part of it!!

Leadership Pipeline

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Adult Ministry Champion

There are lots of reasons why I love small groups: Bible study, prayer, possibility of friendships, fun, and snacks!  But one of the reasons why I've traded my life to be on staff at COMMUNITY and why I'm so passionate about small groups is the power of the leadership pipeline.

In Exodus 18 we read about how Jethro (Moses' father-in-law) tells Moses to stop meeting with all the Israelites and to instead empower others to meet with them - and then to only bring the really tough cases to Moses.  Its this passage and others (2 Tim. 2:2; Luke 10) that has led us to develop leaders through apprenticeship and coaching.  This intentionality has helped create a leadership pipeline for high-capacity volunteers, staffing, campus pastors, and church planters and it all starts with being an apprentice.

• Apprentice Leader --> Leader
• Apprentice Coach --> Coach
• Apprentice Staff --> Staff
• Leadership Resident --> Church Planter

We have seen people rise time and time again through this trusted process.  Its after these individuals step into leadership where they get the chance to invite others into the journey - reproducing their leadership in others.  So be careful, next time someone asks you to be an apprentice, it might be your first/next step towards planting a church :)

More Life's Toughest Questions

We are tackling another one Life's Toughest Questions this week through our Big Idea. This week's question is: What does God really have to say about the issue of homosexuality?

This could create an important small group discussion as well, so we have put together our guide to guide you (because that's what a guide does).

Because of the nature of this series, we do not have a full booklet to download. Instead you can download a 1-page discussion guide for each week/question of this Big Idea series. Get this week's HERE.

Organic + Programming

Bill Barton | CCC Naperville Campus Young Adults Pastor | Organic Community Specialist

“Sure, I’ll play softball.”

“Can we keep hanging out.”

“I’d like to organize a service activity.”

“I think God sent you into my life.”

“Why is the Christian life so exciting.”

“I want to get baptized.”

These are all things my neighbor, softball teammate, and now…fellow brother in Christ has said. My friend and I met each other at our apartment community(organic) and played on a park district softball team together(program). We decided after the season ended we wanted to keep hanging out with each other(organic). So, we decided to gather a group of our apartment neighbors together(organic) to help provide Christmas meals to local families through the town food pantry(program). Some where in there, we started talking about God(organic) and then my friend started coming to church(program). He liked church, so we kept talking about God(organic) then he joined my small group(program). We read Scripture together, prayed together and continued to meet outside of small group and church to both hangout and talk about God(organic). Now my friend is giving his life to Christ for the very first time and about ready to be baptized. The end result of this partnership between, God, myself, my friend, programs and organics is simply this…a new disciple for God’s glory.  Programmed and Organic Community working together for God’s glory!

Life's Toughest Questions

Carter Moss | NewThing Adult Ministry Catalyst

So we have this new series starting next week called "Life's Toughest Questions" where COMMUNITY (you) came up with the quesitons!  We actually had about 100 suggestions for questions, but we narrowed it down to 3 questions that we will be addressing over the next 3 weeks (starting Apr 27)

• Can you be scientifically and intellectually honest and still be a follower of Christ?
• What does God say about homosexuality?
• Why does God allow so much suffering?

Because of the nature of this series (not planned 13 weeks out) you will be receiving a downloadable discussion guide for each week/question of this Big Idea series HERE.

Extreme Neighborhood Makeover: Night-out Edition

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Adult Ministry Director

On Friday, May 9, 2008, at 7:00pm, COMMUNITY's Naperville Campus Women's Small Groups will be holding its annual dinner, dance and silent auction at the White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville.  This year's event is called "Extreme Neighborhood Makeover: Night-Out Edition".  All the money raised at the event will benefit the building of a Habitat for Humanity home in East Aurora and the Naperville's Women's Small Groups Ministry at COMMUNITY.

Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased at a campus near you on the weekend, or by contacting Rachel Green at rrgreen86@yahoo.com.  Donations for the silent auction are welcome.  Please contact Theresa Wilson theresa.m.wilson@sbcglobal.net  if you have an item you wish to donate.  Click here to dowload an invitation to send to a friend.

Summer SLUMP

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Adult Ministry Champion

Summer is quickly approaching and I have to say, I haven't looked forward to summer like this since I was in 5th grade!  Chicago's weather this year has been ridiculously cold and wet - lots and lots of snow.  I'm not complaing (ok, I am) I love Chicago, but I need some fun in the sun.  Anyway, with summer season quickly approaching we have an opportunity before us as small group leaders to slump or not to slump.

Usually small group conversations start like this, "So it sounds like everyone's going to be pretty busy this summer, how about we take a break and catch back up again in the fall." or "I think we should take a break this summer, I know I could use it." or something like that.  Now, I understand the temptation to do this, because I love summers and it seems reasonable to take a break and enjoy it.  However, my encouragement to us as leaders is to keep plotting the spiritual course.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24, 25)

I guess schedules and life were a challenge or the early church too.  Here are a few suggestions from small group leaders at Naperville's last Leadership Community (1st Saturday of every month, 9am) on how to take advantage of the summer weather:

• have a monthly BBQ
• take a retreat day together
• meet weekly with whoever shows up!
• rotate hosting throughout the summer and plan more fun nights
• (do you have other ideas?)

At this past Leadership Community we also challenged one another to stay faithful and keep growing in our relationship with Jesus throughout the summer:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24)

So take on the summer challenge and don't allow the summer slump to get you and your small group.