Monday, October 29, 2007

Don't "Box" Ministry

Something that came up in my 1:6 group that may or may not have come up in yours is the idea that when we talk about "ministry" in the church, we are talking about Sunday School teacher, usher, pianist, deacon, etc. I want you to know that while all these are definite parts of ministry, there are many other things that are ministries that don't require a title.

When talking about "Every Member is a Minister" I guess we should preface it with "Ministry is using what God gave me to serve him and others". There is NO title there. No one should be told to minister to God or to others, we just need to be doing it. If God has blessed you with being able to listen to others, then you need to seek ways in the church where that is what you do. If God has allowed you to go through a rough situation and someone else is now going through that same thing, go and comfort them. Don't ever wait for the Pastor/Administer to get a committee together, just do it.

We don't want 300 Sunday School teachers for a church of 350. God didn't give us all that gift. But we do want 300 people actively seeking ways to serve and minster to God and others.

There is a lot of good in the offices/committees/ministries that have been put in place at the church and the leadership needs to (and we are working on it) make sure people understand the importance of these ministries and make sure they function correctly. They provide opportunity for the Pastor/Administrator to teach people the work of ministry. However, these church organizations are NOT the sole ways that people can minister.

I guess what I am saying is that we don't want to put "ministry" into a box. Think outside the box when you are looking for ways to serve/minister.

Quick Reminder

I will write more later, however I want to get this out early this week since I was sick last week and didn't send out a Thursday 1:6 Update.

We will be meeting in the church office on this Sunday, November 4 at
8:45. Please bring a "roster" of those who have been attending your 1:6
group. Also, we will begin talking about the Winter/Spring session.


More Thursday morning.

Friday, October 19, 2007

1:6 Weekly Blog

I would like to get together again on Sunday November 4 at 8:45 AM in the church office. Let me know if that will NOT work for you.

Here are a few questions to begin 1:6 groups with this week, Sunday, October 21.

1. Share a time when you felt as though God wanted you to do something, act on something, etc. and you didn't. (This might be a bit too personal? ? ?)

2. Share about how someone you know who has a disability "copes" with that disability.

3. Share a talent (wacky or serious) that you have that few others can do.

4. Share a time when you willing disobeyed your parents. What was the result?

Three things from last time that I think we need to emphasize is

1. The "Pastor" is the ADMINISTRATOR; the member are the MINISTERS
2. Ministry is using whatever God has given me to serve him and the needs
of others
3. God wants to use me to help the church grow.

If you could remind your group about these three things weekly, that would be great.

Please remind people about next weeks GOTO. We need "tailgate food". Everything starts around 5 PM. Remember to wear a sports jersey, etc. if you have one.

The Thank Offering Service is November 4 at 7 PM. Chad Shaffer is speaking.

I have the student syllabus for week three done but will wait until after Sunday to put it in your mailboxes so it isn't confusing. The next 1:6 is Sunday, November 11.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Helpful Hints on Thursday 2

Steve Gladen suggests that you only need to have obedience and a caring heart to be a good small group facilitator. In an interview with www.buildingsmallgroups.com, Steve answers questions like "What are some of the biggest challenges facilitators face?"; "What are good ways to deal with difficult people?"; and "How can we move from having shallow relationships to deeper relationships in our groups?" and much more.
Please take time to look at this very informational article. Check out the entire article HERE.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Weekly 1:6 Blog

Seems like 1:6 groups went pretty well . . . at least with those who I have talked with. Dean seemed pleased with the number of people who showed up . . . Aaron was excited (He usually is) with how his group went . . . We had some good discussions in my group . . .

I want to emphasize how important the announcements and prayer requests are that I will be sending out on the Thursdays before 1:6. We need to keep everyone updated and informed as much as possible. Also, if there are prayer requests from your group that can be shared with the pastoral team you could comment on the blog, email them to us or get them to us in another timely matter.

Three things from last week that I think we need to emphasize is

1. The "Pastor" is the ADMINISTRATOR; the member are the MINISTERS
2. Ministry is using whatever God has given me to serve him and the needs of others
3. God wants to use me to help the church grow.

If you could remind your group about these three things weekly, that would be great.

Today I am working on getting the Student syllabus for week two in your mailboxes. I plan to do week three next Thursday so we will be a week ahead. I will do "crowd breaker questions" next Thursday.

Please let me know how your group went this past week.

I would like to get together again on Sunday November 4 at 8:45 AM in the church office. Let me know if that will NOT work for you.

Helpful Hints on Thursday

How to Lead a Small Group
10 practical suggestions to help Christians grow.
From the Church Leaders Answer Book

The success of any small group starts with the leader. Effective leaders are not teachers or lecturers. They are facilitators and catalysts whose primary job is to get people to interact with each other. Almost anyone can lead a dynamic discussion by following certain guidelines.

1. Come to the study prepared. Ask God to help you understand and apply the passage to your own life. Unless that happens, you will not be ready to lead others. If you are using a good study guide, it will probably take you an hour to read the passage, work through each question in the guide, and become familiar with the leader's notes.

2. Pray for the members of your group before the study. If the Bible is to have an impact on their lives, the Holy Spirit must be at work in their hearts before, during, and after the study.

3. Begin the study on time. If people know the study begins on schedule, they will work harder to arrive on time.

4. Explain that the studies are meant to be discussions, not lectures. Encourage everyone to participate, but realize some may be hesitant to speak during the first few sessions.

5. Encourage more than one answer to each question. A good question should have more than one possible answer, and each person has his or her unique perspective. Ask, "What do the rest of you think?" or "Anyone else?" until several people have responded.

6. Affirm people's answers. People often are reluctant to speak up unless they know you appreciate their insights. Simple words such as "That's a great insight," "Good response," "Excellent idea," or "I hadn't thought of that before" are enough to show people you value their comments.

7. Don't be afraid of silence. It usually seems longer to you than to the other members of the group.

8. Resist the temptation to answer your own question. Rephrase the question until the group understands what you are asking. A group will become passive and silent if they think you will do most of the talking.

9. Never reject an answer, even if you think it is wrong. When you reject people's answers, they feel rejected as well, and they may decide it is too risky to give their opinion again. A better response would be, "Which verse led you to that conclusion?" Or let the group handle the problem by asking them what they think.

10. End the study on time. A healthy small group will do more than study the Bible together, so leave enough time for other activities such as sharing and prayer. If these are merely tacked on at the end, the health of the group will suffer.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

1:6 Leader Helps - Lively Discussions

I would encourage you to read the following. It is taken from www.buildingsmallgroups.com. You can find the entire article here.

Facilitating Lively Discussions
Learn from these often-overlooked keys to making the most of your small-group lessons.By Terry Powell

As a small-group leader, how you respond to group members' inquiries is important to the life of any discussion. What you say and do when they pose a question either enhances or stifles further group interaction. But responding to their questions is just one of a number of discussion-leading skills you'll need to cultivate. Other competencies have to do with your reaction to their answers to questions.

This article examines a taken-for-granted aspect of discussion-leading. Below, you'll find several important things to keep in mind when responding to group members' participation.

Exhibit enthusiasm
When you lead quality Bible discussions, people will find fresh, "I've never thought of that before" insights. In response to a study question, participants may notice a truth for the very first time, especially if they're recent converts. Then they verbalize their discovery for others to hear. As a leader, this is the time to reward their participation with positive reinforcement. Express excitement over their discoveries as if each one is new to you.

What you say right after someone contributes is crucial. If her point is elementary to you or something you've known for years, your instinct may be to gloss over it with polite acknowledgement. But your verbal reaction should express fascination with the participant's discovery! I'm not advocating mushy, superficial remarks or positive reinforcement of an incorrect response. But I am encouraging you to speak a few sentences that dignify legitimate answers. Give verbal applause that recognizes a person's textual investigation. Public congratulations will encourage people to keep delving into Scripture and participating in the discussion. Help them build confidence in their study skills and convince them that God's Spirit can unveil biblical truth to them.

Show sincerity
Here's the flipside of the positive reinforcement coin: Temper your enthusiasm in relation to the quality of a group member's answer. Indiscriminate praise without regard to the quality of their answers backfires because your commendations come across as insincere. Group members hesitate to give serious thought to a question if you treat every answer the same. So reserve the highest praise for the best answers, or for feedback that reveals critical thinking on the issue you're discussing. Also, be sure to praise participants for thought-provoking questions they raise and for input that shows an honest effort to wrestle with the text.

One way to show sincerity is to make your positive reinforcement as specific as possible. Which part of a group member's response hit the bull's eye? Notice how the following reinforcements shine the spotlight on distinctive aspects of learner contributions:

• "Excellent answer, Valerie. I like the way you referred to Jesus' words to support your conclusions."
• "Way to go, Bryan! You did a good job of putting Paul's remark in context."
By pointing out particular elements within learners' remarks, you motivate them to keep participating. You prove that you listened carefully to what was said.

Win with waiting
Brad takes pains to pepper his Bible study with thought-provoking questions. That's why the absence of stimulating discussion in his group puzzles him. The answers he receives are terse; seldom does anyone piggyback on the first response.
"Why aren't they more responsive?" Brad wonders aloud during a breakfast appointment with David—Brad's best friend and a member of the group. David decides to shoot straight with him.
"I don't think you're aware of how little time you give us to think after you pose a question," he says. "No more than a couple of seconds pass before you answer it yourself. Brad, you've already thought about your questions during the week. But the rest of us haven't."

When you pose a question, how long do you wait before answering it yourself or rephrasing it? How many seconds elapse before you feel obligated to get things moving? Do you view silence as a threat to effective discussion? Discussion leaders tend to answer questions themselves if no one responds within three to five seconds. But it often takes learners longer than that to examine a Bible passage and form a response.

One way to lower the amount of "wait time" that's needed is to have learners read verses on which a question is based before you ask it.

Notice the nonverbal
While leading a women's Bible study, Betty posed a question about secrets to contentment. The second she finished the probe, Betty shifted her eyes away from the group members to the notes in her lap. Elaine started to say something, but her interest evaporated when she noticed Betty's preoccupation with her notes. After a few seconds of silence, Betty looked up and answered the question herself, referring to a specific verse for support. Elaine had seen the same point in the text, and she had planned to illustrate it from her own experience.
Betty's poor eye contact hindered interaction. Whether you're engaged in a casual conversation or leading a Bible study, your communication comes across through three modes: actual words, tone of voice, and nonverbal cues. To maximize effectiveness, package your message in a way that utilizes all three avenues of expression.

During discussion time, when is your nonverbal communication most potent? When others are talking! As participants answer or ask questions, what message is your body language sending? Do you come across as tense or relaxed? Interested or impatient? What you say without speaking can either fan the flames of group participation or throw icy water on them. Take special note of these two nonverbal cues:

• Body movement and posture: If you're sitting in a circle, lean forward or inch closer to the edge of your chair whenever others contribute. They'll feel that you're listening with your heart, not just your ears.
• Facial Expressions and Eye Contact: In the Bible, one's "face" often represents the whole person, whether human or divine. When God's face shined upon Israel, he was blessing them.
When he turned his face away, he was withdrawing his favor. Why did the Holy Spirit use "face" as a metaphor for the sentiments of the heart? Perhaps it was because without the aid of words, one's face usually expresses his inner convictions or condition.

When your group members participate in a discussion, does your face convey boredom or enthusiasm? Do you nod to let them know you're following their line of thought? Do you rivet your eyes to the person who's talking or shift them back and forth between the participant and your notes? You may hear everything a group member says without looking at him, but listening requires eye contact.

Follow-up their feedback
Not all answers to your Bible-study questions are fully developed. Often a group member is onto something, but his comment needs clarification. Or what she says is fine as far as it goes, but needs elaboration. Follow responses of this sort with probing questions. Your follow-up probes should spur a group member to modify or expand his initial answer, beef up its support, illustrate it, or think more critically about it.

Probing for extensions of original answers is challenging. You need on-the-spot sensitivity because you can't prepare follow-up questions or comments in advance. Yet just being aware that follow-up questions can be helpful is a start toward using them.

Increase involvement
Some discussions are nothing more than a question-and-answer dialog between the leader and one other participant. Only one volunteer responds to a question before the leader kicks in with either commentary or the next question. Or a group member poses a question, and no one but the designated leader addresses it.

A discerning discussion leader broadens the base of involvement, especially when a question has several possible answers or during a brainstorming session on application ideas. She often encourages multiple responses to a question before adding her own research or going to the next question. When a participant asks a question, a good leader often taps the wisdom of others by redirecting the question to the rest of the group. The more mature and biblically literate your group, the more you should strive to expand participation.

Terry Powell is director of the Family and Church Education Program at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina.
Excerpt from Now That's a Good Question by Terry Powell. © 2007 Standard Publishing,
www.Standardpub.com. Used by permission.

Reminders and Announcements for 1:6

The "Student" sheets are in your mailboxes (since Tuesday). They are a half sheet, front and back. If anyone needs a larger edition, let me know.

Also in your mailboxes are the sign-up sheets and a couple "get connected" fold overs. Please have a couple people take one of those and have them invite someone else to come to a 1:6 group.

We are planning to meet in the church office on Sunday for about 15 minutes or so for prayer and last minute stuff at 8:55 AM.

Let me know if we need anything else. I am really not good at thinking ahead.

Prayer for 1:6 groups:

Tonight's prayer focus for the church is the different women's Bible studies at the church, the college students and the AWANA Program.

There will be a bunch of teens going to "Scare Mare" in Lynchburg on Oct 20 - 21. Please pray for this trip. Some of the kids are unchurched.

Some announcements for 1:6 groups:

Next Sunday is Communion Sunday.

The next 1:6 group meeting night is October 21.

One way you could begin to use what God gave you to minister is to sign up to be on the "GOTO Crew". This is for everyone. We need greeters, idea people, publicity people, workers (for set up, tear down, etc.), technical people, and prayer people. We are looking for people who will talk with guests about the evening in the hopes that the conversation will lead to a decision for Christ. We could use some people who would just be available on GOTO nights to be "gophers". If any of these things fits what God has given you, then we would like you to talk to Aaron. He will be able to give you more information.

Our next GOTO night on October 28 will be a sports related theme. Yaccov Yisreal, a former Penn State football player and current Pittsburgh River Rats football player will be our special guest. There is a good possibility that we will have a former Penn State field hockey player as well. We are planning to have a "tail gate" fellowship in the Family Life Center beginning around 5:30. We are asking people to bring some sort of tail-gating food item(s) to share. Also, if you would like, wear some sort of sports jersey that evening. There are plans for a sports trivia game, video or two and an interview with Yaccov. Pastor Paul will conclude the evening with a talk about "de fence". Invite some people to come along with you to this unique, fun and energetic evening.





Monday, October 1, 2007

Everyone is Verified - 1:6 Groups Start Sunday Night

It looks like everyone has now verified their email and will get the updates in their inbox as I post them. If you ever need to go to the website, the address is www.rmconesix.blogspot.com.

I will normally be posting and working on 1:6 groups on Thursday mornings. However, this week I will be working tomorrow as well. I will hopefully have "student" worksheets in your mailbox by Wednesday night - if you want to get them before Sunday.

Please let me know if there is anything else you need.

Remember, we are planning to meet this Sunday morning, October 7 in the office. Wives are included in these meeting if they desire.