Why Small Groups?

By Michael Lanphere

I created this book for a threefold purpose. First, to aid Small Group Leaders with tips on leading a small group, second to provide curriculum for six sessions on the purpose of small groups from a Biblically based perspective and finally it can be used by pastors for training small group leaders.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Lanphere
• Release date: Nov 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310149948

Michael Lanphere

Mike and Linda Lanphere married in 1969 and have been in the pastoral ministry since 1979. They were asked to come on staff at a large church in Southern California to oversee the Home Group ministry, where under their direction the Home Groups went from 13 to 70 over a period of three years.Since that time they have served on staff of several large churches where they directed Pastoral Care, Counseling, Men’s, Women’s, Single Adults and Adult Christian Ed Ministries. They have planted two churches, one in Moreno Valley, Ca. where they served for eight years and in Yorba Linda, Ca. where they served for five years.Conversion Experience.Linda came to know Christ in 1972 after a dramatic personal experience with Jesus in the hospital the night before having a spinal fusion. Shortly thereafter she began attending a Home Group. A year later Mike also committed his life to Christ when he also began attending the group. According to Mike, “at a time when I was not very lovable, this group of people loved me into the Kingdom of God. As far as I was concerned this experience encapsulated all of the good I had heard about Christianity, that is, true love, acceptance and forgiveness. My life was supernaturally changed forever. I have been involved in home groups every since”.Ministry Outreach.The Lanphere’s also became associated with the University of Nations, the educational arm of Youth With A Mission. YWAM is the largest missionary organization in the world and as such have had a tremendous effect worldwide for the cause of Christ. Mike and Linda have been teaching at bases located around the world since 1987. Their primary training classes have been in the Foundation for Biblical Counseling, Crossroads, and School of Strategic Missions. Additionally, they conduct seminars on Marriage and Family, TEAM building and Leadership Development.Mike has a BA degree in Christian Counseling and is and certified to administer and interpret the Myers Briggs Personality Sorter and train facilitators for the Prepare and Enrich Pre-Marital/Marriage Assessment. Mike and Linda have also written a book called “In His Image”.

Book preview

Why Small Groups?

Should Your Church Develop A Small Group Ministry?

By Michael & Linda Lanphere

ISBN: 9781310149948

Discover other titles by Michael E Lanphere at smahhwords.com

For In His Image in eBook, http://bit.ly/1pFgafb

For In His Image in a hard copy, http://bit.ly/1lnjGVI

Discussion Guide for In His Image. http://bit.ly/1iPphJU

Leaders Discussion Guide for In His Image http://bit.ly/1o4ZPzh

Copyright 2013 By Michael & Linda Lanphere

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Some Benefits Of Small Groups

Types of Small Groups

Small Group Mission

About You The Leader

Meeting Tips

A Word About Affirmation

Chapter 1. Because The Church Is Rooted In Small Group Gatherings

Chapter 2. Because They Nurture Group Members; Fourfold Pattern.

Chapter 3. Because They Promote Koinonia - A New Kind of Relationship

Chapter 4. Because The Byproduct of Small Groups Is The Supernatural

Chapter 5. Because They Promote True Benevolence

Chapter 6. Because They Make A Difference

Epilogue

A Devotional For Small Group Leaders

Small Group Job Descriptions

About The Authors

Introduction

The purpose of this booklet is to be a support for the local pastor and small group leaders. It is purposely designed to be a simple and short read (Maybe 1 to 2 hours) and can be used as a handbook for new group leaders. More experienced leaders can go directly to the weekly lessons. To answer the question, why small groups, I have created six small group lessons that will look into why every church would benefit from a small group ministry. You can either read the six short chapters or my suggestion is to actually experience the small group environment as you go through the lessons in a small group to measure the value of these meetings in your church.

Most churches have had some level of experience with small groups and at minimum have recognized the tremendous potential this ministry can have in the local church. There is a lot of flexibility in the kind of small group ministry a church can initiate. I will outline some of the major benefits of having a small group ministry and then talk about the variety of types of small group and how you structure them.

Some Benefits of Small Groups:

One of the best ways to assimilate new people into the life of a church is through small groups. It is possible for small groups to take responsibility for contacting visitors and give them a personal invitation to their group. When the church is located in a metropolitan area small groups in a particular zip code area can call visitors in their geographical area.

One of the best ways to keep people at a local church is through small groups. Everyone is different and usually have some particular ministry they want to see at a church when they are looking, i.e., preaching, worship, children’s or youth ministry, etc. But one thing that keeps people at a church through changes and difficult times is the relationships they have developed. People don’t have a problem leaving church ministries, but it is very difficult to part with friends. One thing small groups do well is develop friendships.

One of the best ways to train the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). Everyone in the group will have an opportunity to be developed at some level of service. Types of ministry like visiting new attenders, hospital visits, prayer coordinators, facilities set up, leaders (discussion facilitators), assistant leaders, worship leaders, etc. The list goes on. I have developed job descriptions for 10 positions within a small group. There can be more than that. The idea is that everyone does something, even if it's a small job. In my experience people that do something, even small things, want to begin to do more.

Types