simple small groups

Complementary Strengths - The Power of 2

There are three key convictions to a relationship that values complementary strengths:

• We complement each other's strengths.
• We need each other to get the job done.
• He or she does some things much better than I do, and I do some things much better than he or she does.

In their book, The Power of 2, Wagner and Muller discovered an ancient Biblical truth - healthy relationships celebrate complementary strengths. The Apostle Paul wrote about this very concept in Ephesians 4:11-16 and Romans 12:3-8. Paul taught that each Christian is endowed with gifts from the Holy Spirit in order to build other believers up. Here's the deal, as much as we'd like to be independent, we are very interdependent. 

Wagner and Muller put it this way, "...most people see themselves as more well-rounded than they really are, above average where they are weak, and close to average where they are incredible. But they're wrong. Instead of complete circles, people are puzzle pieces."

A strong small group is not made up of "circles" but of "puzzle pieces." Each person interlocks with the others. One person might be a good teacher, another person has a servant gift, another keeps track of details and organizes the group, while another hosts with their gift of hospitality. No one person has it all together. We are better together than we are on our own. Great communities are made up of people who complement each other. It's an ancient truth in a modern context!

Made for Collaborating - The Power of 2

"Humans are made for collaborating." That is an amazing sentence from Wagner and Muller in their new book, The Power of 2. In their introductory chapter they explain what that means then they address some of the barriers to relationships:

"Yet over time, humans created so many conveniences that we now can survive without each other. we live indoors rather than in the elements. We can eat microwavable dinners instead of hauling in a fish net with someone else. we no longer tell real stories around the fire; we turn on the TV and watch familiar strangers pretend."

Later they point out that, "Isolation is bad for you. it poses dangers as serious as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or lack of exercise, one research summary concluded. Conversely, the more good partnerships you have in your life, the more likely you are to say that you experienced the feelings of enjoyment much of the day yesterday, that you recently learned something interesting, and that you've been doing a lot of smiling and laughing - all key measures of your happiness." [taken from pages 2-4 in The Power of 2]

So here's what hit me right between the eyes - God wired us for community. At the very beginning of the story he made humans in HIS IMAGE which means we are created in the image of the God who lives perpetually in community as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have a void in our lives that only can be filled through human relationships. God made us that way.

So here are two Gallup research writers who discover that the data concludes that we are "made for collaborating" and we live healthier, happier lives if we have partnerships in life! I love it when secular researchers discover ancient truths!

Power of 2

I just finished reading The Power of 2 by Rodd Wagoner and Gale Muller (http://gmj.gallup.com/content/121931/power-of-2.aspx). It's the next must read for any small group leader, coach, director or pastor! Even though published by Gallup and targeted for business leaders, it's easily transferable to community life people. The authors unpack eight key elements of successful partnerships:

1. Complementary Strengths
2. A Common Mission
3. Fairness
4. Trust
5. Acceptance
6. Forgiveness
7. Communicating
8. Unselfishness

What amazes me is how their research backed up the basics of a healthy, Biblically-based small group! It's not just business partnerships their work will help. Anyone who is trying to grow a group will benefit by their clear, simple descriptions of each key element. I found 7: Communicating particularly helpful.

Summit of Small Groups "Experts"

Do you wonder where the small groups "movement" is headed? Listen in on February 18 at 11:30 EST to a group of experts discuss and debate the state of group life. It should be an interesting conversation with some old voices like Carl George and Lyman Coleman who are founders of the modern groups movement. Also aboard will be veterans like Greg Bowman who spent years at Willow Creek, Steve Gladen who created the groups system at Saddleback Church, and Randall Neighbor (a legend among Cell Group people). Though you have to wonder about a summit of experts if yours truly is on the panel ;-). Check out the website:

http://www.lifeway.com/event/?id=362

Johnny and Chachi give some phenomenal advice for group leaders!

Canadian Small Groups

I just finished training hundreds of Canadian brothers and sisters in Christ in Edmonton, Alberta. I spent a few days at Break Forth Canada - a Christian conference with over 12,000 people. It continually amazes me how similar group issues are regardless of size of church, whether the group is from a small town or a big city, and regardless of nationality. People are people. Strong groups have members that are connecting with each other, changing to be like Jesus, and cultivating hearts for others.

What's so simple about small groups?

It sounds simple, but since organized small groups hit the church scene they have gotten more and more complicated. Are they intense bible studies for the truly devoted? Are they support groups for the broken? Are they accountability groups for the addicted? Are they dinner clubs for the socially challenged? Are they outreach groups for the spiritual seeker? It seems that small groups, like politics have gotten bogged down in philosophies and people have chosen positions like they choose political parties.

Simple small groups is an attempt to clarify what makes a group healthy. The way I see it, there are three biblical patterns of a healthy group. The relational pattern [CONNECT] is about how group members relate to one another. The growth pattern [CHANGE] is about how group members help each other become more like Christ. The missional pattern [CULTIVATE] is about how a group impacts others for God. It’s not a matter of choosing one pattern over another, but rather coordinating all three in a way that results in a  healthy, growing community.

 

Share Your Spiritual Journey

Watch this short video for a simple exercise you can do that will get your group connected like never before!

Southeast Preachers

Southeast's preachers, Dave Stone and Kyle Idleman have a blog.

"As ministers at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, we want to use this blog to share what God has placed on our hearts. Our hope is that this site will be a place where you will learn just a little more of God’s unfailing truth and love."

www.southeastpreachers.com

Three Stages of Group Growth

At Southeast we have identified 3 key stages of growth that we would like your group to experience:

Connecting to one another
If your group doesn't connect, you can't go anywhere. One clever quip goes something like this, "The relational bridge must be strong enough to hold the weight of truth." For you to move onto the next stage, you have to be connected.

Changing into the likeness of Jesus
Real life change happens within community.  Your group needs to be a place where people can help each other learn, grow, and experience transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Cultivating a missional life of service
Your group needs to help others explore how they are uniquely made, apply that to life, and impact others for Christ through a life of service. We encourage groups to seek ways to serve together.