Small Groups

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Benefits and components of Small Groups

Three Types of Small Groups

Rhema Life's Cell Leaders

Steps to Become a Small Group Leader

Small Group Leader Commitment

Method of Conducting a Small Group Meeting

What Is A Small Group?

A small group is a place where people gather in Christ's name on a regular basis to experience the transforming power of Jesus Christ through vital prayer, the application of the Bible to daily life and close caring friendships. Small groups have been an important part of Christian life from the beginning of the church. "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47) Small groups provide an opportunity for people to be known, loved and accepted. In larger groups it is easy to get lost in the crowd. However, the small group offers a sense of community and the likelihood of establishing lifelong friendships. Small group is compulsory for all members because it makes you connect to the church.

Benefits and Components of Small Groups

What Are The Benefits Of Small Groups?

  • . Becoming a close, caring family.
  • . Learning to apply the Bible to daily life.
  • . Sharing life with others: not feeling alone.
  • . Experiencing effective personal care.
  • . Giving and receiving encouragement and edification.
  • . Providing opportunities for meaningful service.
  • . Having a non-threatening way to share Christ's message of love and Forgiveness with unchurched friends.
  • . Supplying a supportive environment for discipline new Christians.
  • . Finding the support and accountability needed for personal spiritual growth.
  • . Developing the leadership potential of group members.

What Are The Components Of Small Groups?

  • . Participation
  • . Immediate response to needs.
  • . Worship and prayer.
  • . Spiritual growth through Bible application.
  • . Mutual edification and encouragement.
  • . Outreach and service.
  • . Love and unity.
  • . Friendship.
  • . Loving spiritual leadership.
  • . Relaxed atmosphere.
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Three Types of Small Groups

Acts 2 Groups

Acts 2 Groups are available for adult singles, married couples, men, women youth, young adults, ministry to children and through neighborhood groups that are a mixture of people from all of these ministries and life stages. Most Acts 2 Groups use the weekly lesson, which is written to correspond with the topic and scriptures, used for the weekend sermon. However, Acts 2 Groups are free to use other study materials that fit their group as long as they secure the approval of their pastoral leader.

The uniquely identifying characteristic of all these Acts 2 Groups is that they seek to emphasize each of the four areas in the "values circle:" Sharing Life, Seeking God, Growing spiritually and Serving Others. Acts 2 Groups are the best single ministry activity for helping each member participate in fulfilling the mission, vision and values of our church. (Review the Introduction to Ministry section to see where 2 Groups Acts fit in our Mission, Vision, Values and Strategy).

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Need Meeting Small Groups

As a part of our mission outreach, many of our small groups address specific areas of need. Examples of these need meeting ministries include groups for family’s growth, marriage communication, anger management, grief recovery, divorce recovery, separation survival, successfully single and life recovery groups for drug or alcohol abuse.

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Cell Meeting

Is a weekly meeting that is held one day of the week, were members get to know each other’s that lives around there area, some work together, some are the same profession, some are the same place, they all choose a meeting date during the week, and talk about the word of God and how it can be applied in their various life and business.

Each Cell member is to be developed for leadership after being committed to the Cell for a period of at least 3 months.

Rhema Life's Cell Leaders

Bible Study Class Teacher

In the space of 3 months, a Cell member must have a Soul winning record of at least 3 committed members to the Cell. This qualifies him to be a Bible Study teacher within the Cell. This means that at every Bible Study meeting, he teaches a number of 3-5 people with the Bible Study outline that is produced by the Church for all leaders on a monthly basis.

Assistant Cell Leader

With growing commitment of the Bible Study Class Teacher and increased class membership (this means that he must be able to win more souls into his class), he becomes an Assistant Cell leader. There could be more than one Assistant Cell leaders in a Cell at a time. When a Cell reaches a size of division [fifteen (15) members in attendance for more than 4 consecutive meetings], then the first Assistant Cell leader becomes the new Cell leader. See involvement in cell activities.

Each Cell member is to be developed for leadership after being committed to the Cell for a period of at least 3 months.

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Cell Leader

The Cell leader, who pioneers the new Cell, continues with the vision of the system by winning and disciplining souls. If a Cell leader pioneers up to three (3) Cells, he is qualified to become a PCU leader.

Pastoral Care Unit, (PCU) Leader

A Cell that has produced about three (3) Cell Units becomes a Pastoral Care Unit (PCU) with the erstwhile leader made a PCU leader. Please note that the PCU leader should not have Cells, rather he attends the Cell meetings of all the Cells under his PCU (visiting a Cell twice a month) and observes their activities and gives feedback to his PCU Coordinator. A PCU leader with five (5) PCUs is qualified to be a PCU Coordinator.

Pastoral Care Units (PCU) Coordinator

As the new PCU continues to grow and expand, it could divide into more PCUs and the original PCU leader becomes a PCU Co-ordinator. The PCU Co-ordinator is a leader among several PCU leaders, in his group. He is also a member of the Central Working Committee of the Extension Ministries. A PCU Co-coordinators does not handle a Cell.

Pastoral Care- Fellowship (PCF) Leader

He is the President of the Pastoral Care Fellowship and oversees the overall activities of the PCF as a body. All other leaders are under his authority. He is also a member of the Extension Ministries.

Each Cell member is to be developed for leadership after being committed to the Cell for a period of at least 3 months.

STEPS TO BECOME A SMALL GROUP LEADER

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STEP 1. MEET WITH A PASTOR OR MINISTRY DIRECTOR Small groups usually form in the fall, although they may begin at any time. Whenever a small group leader begins to lead a group he or she should plan to continue to lead that group until the following summer. Small group lessons are available each week of the year so those groups may continue to meet.

STEP 2. ATTEND THE "STEPPING UP!" CLASS Stepping Up! is a class which seeks to discover one's unique profile of spiritual gifts, personality and passion for ministry. The class provides an overview of the ministry opportunities that are available and help in selecting the best place to serve.

  • 1. Complete discipleship training using Steps toward Spiritual Growth with one of the following options:
  • a. Be discipled using Steps Toward Spiritual Growth.
  • b. Disciple someone else using Steps Toward Spiritual Growth.
  • c. Complete Steps toward Spiritual Growth in a class format.
  • 2. Complete the following small group lessons from Steps toward Ministry:
  • a. Leading a Small Group Meeting
  • b.Small Group Dynamics
  • c. Sharing Leadership in a Small Group

Step 3: Determine Where the Group Will Meet

  • 1. Host home
  • 2. Church
  • 3. Restaurant
  • 4. Other (offices, hotel conference hall, etc).

Step 4: Build a Small Group Leadership Team

There are three vital small group leadership positions: the leader, the assistant leader, and the host. When leadership is shared, it encourages others to serve as leaders; it lightens the leadership load and makes the group more successful.

Each Cell member is to be developed for leadership after being committed to the Cell for a period of at least 3 months.

Step 5: Secure Lesson Material for 14 Groups

A standard lesson will be provided each week, which usually corresponds to the Scripture and topic of the weekend worship services. Other small group materials maybe available through your pastor or ministry director.

Step 6: Invite People

The best results will come when the leader, assistant and host create and invitation list and make personal contacts with each prospect. DO NOT EXPECT PEOPLE TO ATTEND WITHOUT A PERSONAL INVITATION. Build a prospect list from the following categories:

  • 1. Friends from church
  • 2. Neighbors
  • 3. Friends from work
  • 4. Family
  • 5. Church members who don't have a small group
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Step 7: Begin Leading the Small Group

Begin meeting regularly with your group even if you only people attending are your leader, host and assistant leader. It often takes time for people to respond to the invitation to attend the group.

Step 8: Complete the Weekly Reports

Commit to completing a Weekly Small Group Report. This report will help keep you connected with the leaders of your ministry and the overall ministry of the church.

Step 9: Attend Required Meetings

  • 1. Weekly worship services.
  • 2. The monthly L.I.F.T. (Living in Focus Together) rally.
  • 3. Meetings with your pastor and lay pastor leader

SMALL GROUP LEADER COMMITMENT

I will commit to leading a small group at Rhema Life Ministry. I accept the following responsibilities:

I Will COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING FOR MINISTRY I will complete one-to-one discipleship using Steps Toward Spiritual Growth and the small group lessons from Steps Toward Ministry.

I Will BUILD A SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP TEAM IN MY HOUSE AND PLACE OF WORK I will share the ministry with others by creating a small group leadership team: leader, assistant leader, and host.

I WILL INVITE PEOPLE TO THE GROUP I will not expect people to attend without a personal invitation. Instead, I will create an invitation list and make personal contacts with each prospect.

I WILL COMPLETE A WEEKLY SMALL GROUP REPORT I will submit a completed small group report each week.

I WILL ATTEND REQUIRED MEETINGS I will attend weekly worship services, the monthly L.I.F.T. (Living in Focus Together) rally and personal meetings with my pastor or lay pastor leader.

I WILL SEEK TO HONOR CHRIST IN MY LIFE I will seek to honor Christ with my time, talents and finances, seeking to live a life of moral purity and integrity, through the Holy Spirit's power.

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METHOD OF CONDUCTING A SMALL GROUP MEETING

1. The first few minutes of the meeting are usually reserved for the sharing of life. Making the newcomers connect.

  • A. You can ask a new believer that join you some week back to give his or her testimony to open the veil in the eyes of the new once on that day
  • B. Introducing the meeting with sword of the spirit( looking for how fast your cell members can open the bible)
  • C. You can also open a card and ask them to fill in some personal information to see how best each of you can identify whose card you are holding after the exchange. The first few minutes of the meeting are usually reserved for getting better acquainted.
  • D. Share quiet time Bible Reading Highlights, significant entry from your spiritual journal or insights from personal Bible study.
  • E. Break into review groups and review a new verse that you have memorized within the past month.

2. Welcome everyone, and go into opening prayer

3. Introduce guests.

4. Ice breaker or Share about what has happened throughout the previous week. Conversational prayer is a very effective way to pray in a small group. It is a prayer that unites people in conversation with God and with each other. Use the Prayer Focus now or at the close of the group meeting

5. DISCUSSION: Lesson Title: ____________ (Scripture: ____________) [Using your small group lessons, discussion is necessary to open a clear understanding of the lesson with each other; everyone has to participate in the study. Leader should learn to ask for other opinion on the topic been discussed so that everyone can have a clear knowledge of the lesson]

6. Always remind your group that God has called us to serve one another within the church and together to serve those within the community.

7. Sometimes you should spend time planning how your group will work together to serve the church, others as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love.

8. Ask your group, what should we pray about today that would make a difference for you? Spend time in praying for each other, for those that could not make it that day, for your church, and your leaders To maximize prayer time and allow greater opportunity for personal sharing, break into subgroups of 3-4 people. This is especially important if your group is more than eight people.

9. CLOSING:-Thank Everyone For Coming. Remind Them Of The Next Meeting. Enjoy Additional Time Together For Refreshments And Fellowship.

For Further Information Contact Smallgroup@rhemalifeministry.org

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Rhema Life Ministry

Location

2700 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Suite 26

Oakland Park, FL 33311

Mailing Address

PO Box 101617

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310

© Copyright 2017- Rhema Life Ministry