A quick list about crisis counseling types, phases, counseling goals, psycological first aid, and referrals.  If you have members of your small group that are experiencing some really difficult times, this is a great place to start. ...

What are you supposed to think when nobody shows up to your small group? ...

Sometimes when a new group starts we can experience some challenges in building relationships in the group.  It can be even tougher to get people to open up and get involved with group discussion.  Here is a quick reference sheet with some questions to help you think about what your group needs and changes you may need to make. Bring each other up to speed on how this topic pertains to your group. Put yours ...

Earlier this week, I facilitated discussion for the second week of a marriage focus group.  This first week went off without a hitch.  Everyone participated.  The conversation was uplifting, enlightening, and productive.  This week seemed quite the opposite to me. ...

In every small group there should always be a tension felt on the topic of openness and intimacy. Openness would mean that the group is inviting others to be a part of it. Intimacy defined as deep, lasting relationships where spiritual transformation takes place. ...

(Guest blogger - Brian Jones, Senior Pastor at Christ's Church of the Valley) A few years ago I brought in a nationally recognized pastor to do some consulting for our church. One of the things I remember the most about my time with him was a side conversation we had about small groups. “I haven’t really figured out the small group thing,” I confessed to him. ...

Guest blogger - Brian Jones (Senior Pastor at Christ's Church of the Valley) For reasons that still escape me, soon after becoming a Christian at age eighteen, Deron Brickey, Dave Polonia, Jeff Snyder and I started hanging out with one another. Soon that group grew to 10-12 friends. We laughed together, prayed together, studied the Bible together, ate together, evangelized together, and served the poor toge ...

Guest blogger - Brian Jones (Senior Pastor at Christ's Church of the Valley) When I attended my very first church growth conference in 1992 a nationally known small group “expert” stood up and said, “The way we say it at our church is, ‘If you can read, you can lead.’ If a Christian can read the questions in our study guide, they can lead a small group at our church.” ...

Guest blogger - Brian Jones (Senior Pastor at Christ's Church of the Valley) Would Jesus join a small group in your church? Think about that for a moment. Forget about your goals. Forget about your motivations for offering them. Forget about all the supposed benefits of participating in one. Do you honestly think Jesus would join, lead, or start a small group within the existing structure of your small grou ...

We all have to deal with conflict in our relationships.  Sometimes its in our marriage, sometimes its with our families, other times it creeps up in our friendships.  However, as a small group leader we all know as our groups become more intimate and like family... we begin to fight like family.  Here are some of my thoughts on conflict. ...