OTHER RESOURCES

BETTER TOGETHER GROW WITH GOD GROW WITH EACH OTHER SERVE TOGETHER OTHER RESOURCES

SMALL GROUP AGREEMENT

Small-group covenants are an important part of community ministry. They help group members understand exactly what will happen in the life of a group, and they provide a tangible symbol of commitment to the group's core values and standards of behaviour.

Download SMALL GROUP AGREEMENT

MEETING IDEAS

STARTING/RESTARTING YOUR GROUP

Review the Small Group Agreement (and discuss)

Download a copy of the Small Group Agreement and read it together as a group.
What makes a small group different from just another social gathering?
Why is it important for everyone to be clear about expectations?
Read through the Group Ground Rules and give an example of each one.

Set Group Goals (some examples)

A. Growing With God

Explore a spiritual discipline and practice it as a group
Experiment with different ways of praying
Do communion together

B. Growing With Each Other

Spend time together outside of meetings
Meet more frequently
Share stories
Learn to work through conflict

C. Reaching Out To Others

Invite new members to join your group
Serve together
Move towards birthing/multiplying your group

Set Personal Growth Goals

How is God leading you to grow in your spiritual journey?
How are you responding?
How can the group support you?

ADDING NEW MEMBERS

Pray about someone who’s not in a small group that you could invite to join you.
Warmly welcome the new member.
Play an icebreaker as a fun way to get to know each other.
Review group expectations from the Small Group Agreement.
Avoid “insider” language and/or explain any “insider” jokes.

EVALUATING YOUR GROUP

1. Small Group Evaluation

On a scale of 1 to 5, evaluate how your group has been doing in each of these two goals:
A. We support each other to grow in following Jesus
B. We walk together through life’s ups and downs
Share 1-3 examples of how the group has done well in each area.
Share 1-3 examples of how the group could grow in each area.

2. “Words of Encouragement” Exercise
Get a sheet of paper for each person in your group and have each one put their name on the top of their sheet. Then, have everyone pass their sheet to the person on their right. People will then write something that they appreciate about that person. Continue passing the sheets to the right, until every person has words of encouragement written on their sheet from every member of the group.

3. Traffic Light (“Getting Back On Track”) Exercise

What are some things you think your group should STOP doing?
What are some things you think your group should DO LESS OF?
What are some things you think your group should START doing?

In a few weeks, check in with your group to see how you’re doing with these goals.

LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR

Have a party! (Choose a fun theme.) Reflect on the past year together.

Celebrating Growth
Have each person share one area where they’ve experienced growth. Have them share how they would like to continue to grow in the coming months. Pray for each person after they share.
“Memorial Stones”
Bring enough rocks for everyone in the group. Have each person take a rock. Read Joshua 4:1-7. Have each person share about how they’ve experienced God’s faithfulness this year. After sharing, have each person place their rock in the centre. Conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving.
The “Hot Seat”
Have each person take turns being in the “hot seat”. The rest of the group will finish this sentence: One thing I’ve appreciated about you this year is…”
“Past, Present and Future” Exercise
What is one way we’ve grown as a small group?
What is one lesson I’ve learned this year?
What is one thing I’m most looking forward to?
“Remember When” Exercise
One of the funniest memories I have of our group is when…
One of my favourite memories of this group is when…
One of the most fun times we’ve had is when…
I really sensed God’s presence in our group when…

Meet socially over the summer. Schedule day trips, vacations, sports, dinners, small group retreat, etc.

Find opportunities to serve together. Host a barbecue and invite your neighbours and friends, help out with the Loonie Car Wash.

ENDING YOUR GROUP WELL

The end of your small group marks the end of an era. It’s a time to remember and celebrate what God has been doing in and through your group. This can be a powerful way of encouraging, thanking and blessing each other. Doing these exercises can help fill up your hearts with faith and gratitude and prepare group members for their next potential small group in the future.

“Vive la difference!”
Take a few quiet moments to reflect and list the ways God has made a difference in your life over the years because of this group. Then, share your lists.

“My Main Prayer”
What would be your main prayer for your brothers and sisters in this group as it wraps up? After each member shares their “main prayer” for the group, then go around the circle, and actually have each member pray their prayer.

Encouragement Exercise
Get a sheet of paper for each person in your group, and have each one put their name on the top of their sheet. Then, have everyone pass their sheets to the person on their right. People will then write a word that describes the thing they appreciate most about the person whose sheet they have. Continue passing the sheets to the right, until every person has words of encouragement written on their sheet from every member of the group.

Lessons Learned for Next Time

What is one positive lesson from your experience in this group that you would like to carry into and apply to your next small group experience?
What is something that you feel this group could have done better, and how might this impact the way you approach your involvement in future groups?

Encouraging group members to join or form another small group

Sign up for the next Group Launch
Get a Starter Group Kit and form a new group

ONLINE TIPS

Step 1:
Choose the Online Platform

Choose an online comfortable you’re most comfortable with.

Zoom
Google Meet
Skype

Wondering which one to use?

COMPARE PLATFORMS

Step 2:
Use the Sermon Study Guides

We encourage small groups to discuss our weekly sermon study guides in their meetings.

Download the weekly SERMON STUDY GUIDES

During certain seasons, groups may also consider doing a video study from Right Now Media.

Sign up for a free account RIGHTNOW MEDIA

Step 3:
Plan your Small Group Meeting

Allocate 60 to 90 minutes for your small group meeting.
Warm-up (15-25 min): Connect with each other and catch up. Use these icebreakers to help you get started.
Discuss (35-50 min): Download the Sermon Study Guide ahead of time and discuss the questions together.
Pray (10-15 min): Share prayer requests and pray for each other.

Below are tips and resources for using Zoom in your groups and meetings. (You can also find helpful information and videos on Google and YouTube.)

How to set-up a meeting

Zoom Video Tutorial

Download Zoom (zoom.us)
Open Zoom and create an account
Click “Meetings”
Select “Schedule a New Meeting” and follow the instructions
opy the Meeting Invitation and email to your group members

When it’s time to meet:

Login to your account
Click “Meetings”
Find your scheduled meeting and click “Start”
Make sure you join with both Audio and Video
Group members don’t need a Zoom account to login — they only need to click the meeting link that was sent to them and download the Zoom application.
Note that free Zoom accounts normally have a limit of 40 min, although they seem to have extended this in light of the current situation. Create a New Meeting if you get cutoff. You can also get a paid Zoom account for extended meeting times.

How to protect against "Zoombombing"

Video on Zoombombing

Zoombombing is when an unwanted guests attempt to disrupt your meeting

Keep your meeting link private. (Don’t share it on social media or on public forums.)
Use a password when scheduling your meeting.
Enable the Waiting Room so that you can admit all participants into the meeting.
Control the Screen. (Consider limiting access to those who can share their screen.)
Lock down your meeting. (Once everyone is in the meeting, go to Manage Participants and select Lock Meeting preventing others from joining.)
Remove them from the meeting. (Under Manage Participants, you can Remove members from the meeting.)

Video tutorials for leaders

Zoombombing is when an unwanted guests attempt to disrupt your meeting

Keep your meeting link private. (Don’t share it on social media or on public forums.)
Use a password when scheduling your meeting.
Enable the Waiting Room so that you can admit all participants into the meeting.
Control the Screen. (Consider limiting access to those who can share their screen.)
Lock down your meeting. (Once everyone is in the meeting, go to Manage Participants and select Lock Meeting preventing others from joining.)
Remove them from the meeting. (Under Manage Participants, you can Remove members from the meeting.)

How to share your screen

How to share your video

How to create breakout rooms

How to use meeting controls

More tutorials from Zoom support

Make sure your face has sufficient lighting, no light is coming from behind you and you’re centred in the camera.
Select the quietest location you can find and try to use only one device per household. (Using two devices in one location produces feedback.)
Mute your computer unless you’re talking to minimize noise and improve sound quality.
Give your full attention, don’t multi-task. Engage as if you were physically together!

How to use Zoom

https://youtu.be/hIkCmbvAHQQ

How to share your screen

https://youtu.be/YA6SGQlVmcA