Ideas for a Great Meeting

1. How is God leading you?
2. How are you responding?
3. How can we help?

How do you get a group of people to start talking? How do you get them to start being real? Story Cards are an exciting way to encourage people to share about their lives and spiritual journeys. You’ll be surprised by how Story Cards draw your group into deeper reflection and more meaningful conversations.

The Story Card pack contains 45 different photographs depicting a variety of emotions, thoughts, and experiences, plus an instruction card to help you use the cards effectively.

Please contact Pastor Jeremy if you’re interested in borrowing a pack of Story Cards for your small group meeting.

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.

Have a party! (Choose a fun theme.)

1. Have clear expectations.
2. Meet consistently and regularly.
3. Share authentically and openly.
4. Encourage each other to take “next steps”.
5. Have leaders who pray for the group.
6. Reach out to others (through serving, inviting, etc.).
7. Work through relational differences in a mature and biblical way.

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?

• 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.

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