Weekly Tips
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for Small Groups...
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What to Do and How to Do It
As you establish your purpose, it is helpful to think of your use of the group's time together in four complementary quadrants. The first quadrant represents a time of sharing. After the men have known each other for a while, they will want to tell each other what has been going on in their lives since the last meeting. On the way to first, the goal of the sharing time is not that the men would feel vulnerable (as some would suggest) but that the men would feel comfortable while they talk about their lives.When men feel comfortable in an atmosphere of safety, they will open up and be authentic. The goal, therefore, is acceptance and understanding, not confrontation. That will come later and, at the right time, it will be very beneficial to the growth of the entire group.
The second quadrant represents a time in God's Word. We want to hear and discuss what God says about our lives. This quadrant is for Bible study and discussion. The third quadrant represents prayer time-praying for one another and mutual concerns brought up during the sharing and Bible study. Many groups find it helpful to keep a journal of answers to prayer. This encourages praise and thankfulness. The fourth quadrant represents our task-our mission of growing in Christlikeness and any special activities in the church or in the community that may imply.
As the group moves around the bases, the proportions of the quadrants will shift. Your first few meetings may center on just getting to know one another. After awhile, the Scriptures can be introduced. As the group matures, the quadrants may be more balanced. If you are centered on a task, the task portion may take up much of your time. Certain meetings may revolve entirely around prayer. In any case, flexibility is the key.
Questions
1. What do you think of the four-quadrant method to keep the group moving?
2. What would you add to those quadrants?
3. About how much time do you think this process would take? Why?
4. About how much time do you think can be used effectively in a small group?
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