Group Think Archives - Page 2 of 2

December 2, 2012

By Michael C. Mack Question: How do you kill an unhealthy group? Answer: I believe this question begins with a faulty premise. I agree that some small groups are unhealthy, but I don”t think that warrants killing them off. Perhaps the person who asked this question read Brian Jones”s controversial column in the January 23, 2011, Christian Standard titled, “Why Churches Should Euthanize Small Groups.” “Modern-day small groups are led, for the most part,” Jones wrote, “by people who have attended the church, had a conversion experience, led a reasonably moral life, and can read the study-guide questions, but

November 25, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Big Picture Questions about Small Groups

By Michael C. Mack QUESTION: What is the purpose of small groups? Are they to evangelize or edify? Is the emphasis on fellowship (helping people in the church get to know one another better), assimilation (getting new people connected into the body so they don”t leave the church), ministry (serving others outside the group), or multiplication (growing the church by growing the number of groups)? Can small groups meet at the church building on Sunday morning (like Sunday school), or must they meet at a different time in a different place? ANSWER: These are all great questions, but I think

October 30, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Does Your Group Have the GUTS for Community?

The New Testament describes a kind of community we experience too seldom in the church today. Your group can take steps to correct that problem. By Michael C. Mack Did you see any of the Tour de France in July? One of the most remarkable elements in the race is the peloton, when cyclists ride in tight packs to save energy by drafting. In a well-formed peloton, there is up to a 40 percent reduction in drag. But there are many more advantages of the peloton, including the encouragement from other riders and the teamwork involved. I enjoy cycling in

September 15, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Facilitate so Your Group can Participate

By Michael C. Mack Question: Last year, I struggled to get my group involved in discussion, serving together, or doing much of anything else outside meeting times. As we restart our group this fall, what advice would you give me as a leader to help my group participate more? Answer: Great question! Here are 10 ideas from my experience to help get your group more involved. 1. Plan. Before getting started, decide on some plans and goals for the group for this fall and beyond. People want a purpose for being together, a sense that the group is striving

August 28, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

What”s the Point of Your Small Group?

By Michael C. Mack Why does your small group exist?Â What”s your purpose? What are your goals? Bill Willits, director of group life at North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Georgia, tells what happened when that church first began meeting in the convention center in Atlanta. The electronic marquee that thousands of people would see every day advertised the church as “No Point Church.” The sign engineer could not fit the entire name on the marquee, so he took some creative liberties. Of course, Willits says, this became the joke of the night, but it also provided Andy Stanley an opportunity

July 28, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church Leadership

Don”t Lead Alone!

By Michael C. Mack How many people can you effectively lead, shepherd, and disciple? Let me ask the questionÂ another way: If you want to see true transformation of people”s lives, into how many peopleÂ can you invest your life? How about Jesus? How many people did he disciple? Three of his four disciples, Peter, James, and John, became Jesus” inner circle or what could be called his core team. Jesus poured his life into these three men, investing into them and modeling a life surrendered to the Father. He took these three away with him to pray and heal, as well

May 31, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Eight Vital Characteristics of a Life-Changing Small Group Leader

By Michael C. Mack One of the fundamental differences between healthy and unhealthy small groups is the spiritual vitality of the leaders. Healthy leaders have a soft heart that God can use to accomplish his will. While imperfect, they are highly committed first to God, and then to the group. Healthy leaders have the followingÂ attributes: Healthy small group leaders have been transformed. One of your main functions as a small group leader is to build an environment where spiritual transformation is experienced. This happens best when you have first experienced transformation yourself. What happened to Peter and the other

May 10, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

The Most Vital Small Group Principle

By Michael C. Mack I want to lead a healthy, growing small group. What is the single most important thing I need to know? In 20-plus years of leading groups and talking to and with many others leading groups, I”ve learned this: There are many skills and techniques leaders can use to make their groups better. But the best way to determine if your small group is healthy involves self-diagnosing one particular vital sign. A healthy group is Christ-centered. Christ is the real leader, and the group is primarily focused on him, experiencing his presence, carrying out his purposes, and

April 6, 2012

Michael C. Mack

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Breaking the Ice

By Michael C. Mack Every good small group leader knows a great first meeting starts with some introductions, usually using a fun icebreaker. One of my favorites is called “two truths and a lie.” See if you can identify which of these are factual and which is fictional: (1) I graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Cincinnati where I was a cheerleader. (2) I graduated from Cincinnati Christian University with an MA in church growth, and edited the school newspaper, The Purple & Gold. (3) I founded a ministry called SmallGroups.com and wrote a column called