How to Lead a Weekly Men's Small Group
How to Lead a Weekly Men's Small Group
By Patrick MorleyFew things have changed my life like the small groups I have been in over the last 30 years.
Currently I'm in two - a leaders discipleship group and, for 25 years, a weekly one-on-one meeting for fellowship and prayer. The most intense learning, growth, sharing, encouragement, accountability, prayer, and fellowship I've experienced has taken place in small groups.
However, most men's small groups peter out. Ironically, the same small group that can bring about great change is also fragile to sustain. The goal is to "create, capture, and sustain disciples". How can we overcome inertia? To make disciples we need momentum - we must "create, capture, and sustain momentum". So what's the secret? The secret of momentum is to "create, capture, and sustain value".
I would like to show you how small groups open the door to creating, capturing, and sustaining all three - disciples, momentum, and value.
WHAT MAKES A GROUP LAST?
Value is what makes a group last. Every time a man shows up, he has decided not to do something else. Most men have many choices, so your small group has to meet the "real and felt needs test" or it won't last.
So what do men find valuable? Life can be brutal. Every day men must manage their lives against the Fall. Because life is so hard, men need to be encouraged. They need a hug from God. They need the human touch. And this, while wearing the skin of a loner.
The mega-answer? Care. Caring creates, captures, and sustains value, momentum, and disciples. Men will come if they sense you really care about them. If they don't, they will eventually drift away - but rarely tell you why.
You will know you have succeeded when you hear men saying: "I really feel like my group cares about me personally"; "The leader makes sure I get a chance to air my thoughts"; and "I cannot believe how my life is changing".
Read the article here http://www.maninthemirror.org/alm/alm94.htm