Module 4: Small Groups · the youth group, to a small group Not be committed to Christian...

Module 4: Small Groups Background reading: Toward an Adult Church, A Vision of Faith Formation,

By Jane E. Regan

Handouts: Acts 2:42‐47, Biblical Reflection Wesley’s Faith Formation System River of Life Adult Faith and Discipleship Faith Formation Flow Nurturing Adult Faith and Discipleship (Grid) Nurturing Adult Faith and Discipleship – Guide for Use Blakemore UMC Adult Formation Blakemore UMC Children’s Formation Homework for Module 4

Goals: By the end of Module 4, participants will be able to:

1. Identify needed knowledge and skills for nurturing Christian faith and discipleship 2. Describe various audiences for small groups 3. Assess current small groups and classes offered in your congregation 4. Analyze gaps and set priorities for new small groups and classes

Selected Bibliography and Helpful Web Sites: Glover. Dan & Lavy, Claudia (2006). Deepening your effectiveness: Restructuring the local church for life

transformation. Nashville, TN: Discipleship Resources.

Plant, Marian R (2009). Faith formation in vital congregations. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.

Dykstra, Craig (2005). Growing in the life of faith: Education and Christian practices, 2nd ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Matthaei, Sondra Higgins (2000). Making disciples, Faith formation in the Wesleyan tradition. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Regan, Jane E (2002). Toward an adult church: A vision for faith formation. Chicago: Loyola Press.

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These free resources for understanding, planning, leading, and evaluating your ministry of Christian education and formation can be downloaded from www.gbod.org/education.

• Comprehensive Plan for Teacher Development. A chart showing a continuum of skills from “do no harm” to “do all the good you can” for teachers and group leaders. URL: http://www.gbod.org/atf/cf/%7B3482e846‐598f‐460a‐b9a7‐386734470eda%7D/COMPPLANTEACHERDEV_9‐29‐11.PDF

• What Every Child Should Experience in UM Congregations (booklet) http://www.gbod.org/atf/cf/%7B3482e846‐598f‐460a‐b9a7‐386734470eda%7D/WHATEVERYCHILDSHOULDEXPERIENCEUMC_2011.PDF

• Development through the Life Span. A chart showing age‐level characteristics, development in various areas, needs, gifts, expectations, and more. URL: http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=6053319&ct=7303981&notoc=1

• Foundations: Shaping the Ministry of Christian Education in Your Congregation. This expresses core beliefs in Christian education and formation. Work with your team to unpack what this means in your own place, experience, and specific ministry plans. URL: http://www.gbod.org/atf/cf/%7B3482e846‐598f‐460a‐b9a7‐386734470eda%7D/FOUNDATIONS.PDF

• The 2013 Guidelines (available for purchase from Cokesbury in the fall of 2012) provide information on various ministry areas, including establishing appropriate measures. See Christian Education, the age‐level and family ministries volumes, and others.

• iTeach. A free monthly e‐letter for teachers and leaders on various aspects of Christian education and formation leadership. URL: http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.5457135/k.57B4/emiTeachem_newsletter.htm

• Conducting a ministry of Christian education and formation. Articles on recruiting teachers, forming a leadership team, working with curriculum, creating a budget, and more. Visit: www.gbod.org/education.

• Pathways to Congregational Vitality #2: Christian Education and Formation Ministry URL: http://www.gbod.org/atf/cf/%7B3482E846‐598F‐460A‐B9A7‐386734470EDA%7D/CE‐monograph2.pdf

• Pathways to Congregational Vitality #4: Equipping Teachers and Small Group Leaders URL: http://www.gbod.org/atf/cf/%7B3482E846‐598F‐460A‐B9A7‐386734470EDA%7D/CEmonograph4.pdf

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Module 4: Small Groups, Participant

Small GroupsModule 4

New York Conference Vital Congregations Incubator

November 18‐19, 2011

Goals for This ModuleBy the end of this module, participants will be able to:

1. Identify needed knowledge and skills for nurturing Christian faith and discipleship

2 Describe ario s a diences for small2. Describe various audiences for small groups

3. Assess current small groups and classes offered in your congregation

4. Analyze gaps and set priorities for new small groups and classes

Lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)God. (Colossians 1:10).

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Lovingg

Formation Questions

1. Since we last met, how have you experienced the presence of God?

2. With whom have you met in ti t kyour congregation to work on

goals?

3. What are you learning about being a spiritual leader?

Homework Review1. Tell about the responses you

received to sharing success stories from chapter 4 of Unbinding the Gospel.

2 Which exercise did you use with2. Which exercise did you use with leaders? (Paying the Rent, Ministry in Focus, or Faith Sharing in Three Chapters) How did it go? What did you learn about evangelism in your congregation?

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LearningLearning

Small Groups & the Church

Fundamentally the church exists in order to further the kingdom, or reign, of God.

Toward an Adult Church:

A Vision of Faith FormationA Vision of Faith Formation

Jane E. Regan

Small groups provide a setting for exploring God’s self‐revelation and what our response could be for our context.

Safiyah Fosua & Carol Krau

The soul and the body make a [person]; the spirit and discipline make a Christian.

Causes of the Inefficacy of Christianity

Sermon 122, 1789,

John Wesley

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Entry Points for Small Groups

Belonging

Believing

Behaving

Faith Formation

Cultivating identityCultivating identity

Discovering purposeDiscovering purpose

Making meaningMaking meaning

Mature faithMature faith

Extending God’s kingdom

Connecting the church’s inner life and outer work

Sanctification

Faith Formation

Cultivating identity

Discovering purpose

Making meaning

Mature faith

Extending God’s kingdomExtending God’s kingdom

Connecting the church’s inner Connecting the church’s inner life and outer worklife and outer work

SanctificationSanctification

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Small Group Exercise

• What do (group) need to know?

• What do (group) need to be able to do?

• What do (group) need to experience?

Audiences for Small Groups

Cautious

Curious

Committed

Professing

Inviting

Cautious

Faith / religion may be largely unimportant, even unknown

They may be cautious because of unfamiliarity

They may show some interest, but carefully

They may have a history of pain or distrust

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Curious

Have sufficient interest to merit investigation

Be willing to engage some personal experience orpersonal experience or experiment, perhaps through a secondary entry point

Have a friend who invites them and attends with them

Committed (to something)

Be interested enough for regular attendance in some aspect of the congregation’s lifeBe committed to the pastor, to the youth group, to a small groupNot be committed to Christian discipleship

Note: These adults may have “joined the church.”

Professing

Identify Jesus as Savior, Redeemer, and/or Lord

Take initiative for learning about the Bible, Christian spiritual practices, and other aspects of the Christian faith

Look for opportunities to serve in the church and community

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Inviting

Living a life of active discipleship

Serving as a mentor and role model with others to help them develop as Christians

Moving toward a life that reflects the mind and heart of Christ

Faith Formation “Flow”

Encounter Explore

Embody

Embrace

LeadingLeading

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Putting It All Together

Intentional planIntentional plan

Explicit expectationsExplicit expectations

Focused on Focused on the church’s missionthe church’s mission

Developed in context

Rooted in our Wesleyan heritage

Aligned for impact

Putting It All Together

Intentional plan

Explicit expectations

Focused on the church’s mission

Developed in contextDeveloped in context

Rooted in Rooted in our Wesleyan our Wesleyan heritageheritage

Aligned for impactAligned for impact

Nurturing Adult Faith and Discipleship Grid A Planning and Assessment Tool

CAUTIOUS CURIOUS COMMITTED PROFESSING INVITING

BIBLICAL LITERACY

PROFICIENCY IN USING SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

REGULAR PARTICIPATION IN

SERVICE & OUTREACH

ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION

GROWING CONFIDENCE IN TALKING ABOUT

ONE’S EXPERIENCE OF GOD

LEADING LIVES OF HOSPITALITY AND

GENEROSITY

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Blakemore UMC, Adults


BIBLICAL LITERACY

• Retreat: Getting to Know My Bible

• Bible from Scratch, OT

• Bible from Scratch, NT

• Sunday school classes

• Disciple 1, 2, 3, & 4

• Lectionary Discussion Group

• Jesus and the Gospels

• Communities of Practice?


• Retreat: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition

• Retreat: Walking with God

• Three Simple Rules

• Opening Ourselves to Grace

• Companions in Christ

• Covenant Discipleship Groups


REGULAR • Blakemore

Housing Trust • United Methodist

Men

PARTICIPATION IN SERVICE & OUTREACH

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• Living the Questions

• Covenant Discipleship Groups




• Story-telling (Wednesday)

• Witness?

UM HERITAGE

• Orientation to Blakemore (2 hr. intro offered 4X a year)

• Seminar: Methodism 101

• Being Methodist in the Bible Belt

• By Water & the Spirit

• This Holy Mystery

CHURCH YEAR

• Pancake Breakfast (Shrove Tuesday)

• Easter Egg Hunt

• Advent workshop • Twelfth Night • Jazz Mass (Mardi

Gras)

• Advent studies • Lenten studies

• Writing Advent or Lenten devotionals

Blakemore UMC, Children


BIBLICAL LITERACY

• • Sunday school • VBS • Retreat: Getting to

Know My Bible

• Retreat: Getting to Know My Bible


• • • Way of the Child • Sprouts?

REGULAR PARTICIPATION IN

SERVICE & OUTREACH

• Sprouts?

SERVICE & OUTREACH


• Sprouts?



•

UM HERITAGE

• • Worship readiness (sacraments)

• John Wesley

CHURCH YEAR

• Pancake Breakfast (Shrove Tuesday)

• Easter Egg Hunt

• Advent workshop • Twelfth Night • Jazz Mass (Mardi

Gras) • Ash Wednesday

• Journey to Jerusalem (Wednesday)

• On the Way to Bethlehem (Wednesday)

Individual Reflection

Reflect on your own congregation, using the grid. Add categories based on your own assessment of what is needed in your context for people to grow in faith and live aspeople to grow in faith and live as disciples. You might want to begin with one age group, assigning current classes, small groups, retreats, etc. to various sections of the grid.

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Homework1. Continue working on your grid with one

or two leaders from the congregation. Be prepared to share it at our next meeting.

2. Discuss with one or two leaders in the congregation what kind of leaders arecongregation what kind of leaders are needed for the small groups you are considering. Consider how you will equip those leaders.

3. Develop a strategy for encouraging participation in small groups. Be prepared to share it at our next meeting.

Evaluation

What went well?

What did you learn?

What would you revise to make the module more effective for use in your congregation?

What else do you need to plan well for small groups?

Closing prayerInvite participants to close the

meeting with the following sentence prayers:

Today, I thank God for…Today, I ask God for…

(As with Mutual Invitation, participants may pass if they do not wish to pray aloud.)

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Handouts:

Module 4

Small Groups

Handouts: Module 4, Small Groups

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Biblical Reflection For Module 4: Small Groups The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. Acts 2:42‐47 (CEB) What practices characterized the early Christian community? Which of those practices are effectively present in your congregation? Which practices need to be improved? What other practices are present in your congregation? How is the nature of God's reign/kingdom revealed through this passage? What response does this passage elicit for your life? For your congregation?


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Faith Formation Flow

Encounter

Faith Formation Flow © 2010, Carol F. Krau, Ph.D., General Board of Discipleship. Used by permission.

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Nurturing Adult Faith and Discipleship Guide for Using the Grid

Adults grow in faith in many ways. To deepen their relationship with God and neighbor, adults need knowledge, skills, practice, and experiences. Faith includes what adults believe, what adults value, what adults do, and what adults experience. Leaders who plan adult ministries need to identify the knowledge, skills, practice, and experiences that adults in their congregations need in order to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. These leaders also need to remember that adults have varying levels of experience with the Christian faith and the church. The attached grid is designed for charting current opportunities for adult faith formation, to identify gaps, and to consider possibilities that will address the gaps. Across the top of the grid are words to describe varying levels of knowledge and experience of adults. Beginning at the left, the words describe adults with little to no experience with the Christian faith or the church. As you move across the continuum, the words describe deeper levels of experience. These words can be modified to describe markers along the journey of faith in words that best fit your context. Here is a description of what the words on the top row of the grid mean: Cautious Faith/religion are largely unimportant, perhaps unknown; some interest shown, but carefully. Perhaps history of pain or distrust; perhaps cautious because of deep unfamiliarity Curious Sufficient interest to merit investigation. Willing to engage some personal experience or experiment, perhaps through a secondary entry point. Perhaps willing because a friend takes interest and involvement by inviting and attending with Committed (to Something) Interested enough for regular attendance at something (may not be worship). Commitment may not be to Christ, but to the pastor, to the person who invited, or to group through which person has entered Professing At a point of personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior; will take some initiative for learning about Christian spiritual practices and involvement in a church community.

Inviting Living a life of active discipleship; taking responsibility for being a mentor and model with others to help them develop as Christians; moving toward a life that is entirely within the mind of Christ. The left-hand column of the grid includes knowledge, skills, practice, and experiences that will help adults grow in Christian faith and live as disciples of Jesus Christ. This list is descriptive, not exhaustive. Leaders of adult ministries in your congregation should modify and add to this list to fit your context. Here is a description of what the categories in the left-hand column mean:


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Biblical Literacy: Biblically literate adults are intimately familiar with the Bible. They know how to read, study, “listen to,” and apply Scripture in their lives. Biblically literate adults have developed knowledge, skills, and expertise in the following: 1. Find books, chapters, and verses in the Old and New Testaments 2. Retell the major biblical stories, identifying correctly who is in the story and what happened 3. Summarize how the Bible was developed (who wrote the various parts; what was the

context; what was the writer’s purpose; who decided and how did they decide what should go into the Bible)

4. State the various categories of literature in the Bible (law, prophets, writings, gospels, epistles, etc.)

5. Identify and describe various literary styles in the Bible (prose, poetry, story, metaphor, parable, etc.)

6. Use a commentary, concordance, and Bible atlas 7. Use lectio divina and other methods for devotional reading 8. State the role of the Bible in their lives (influences beliefs, values, and behavior; provides

guidance; offers comfort; challenges one to think in new ways; etc.) 9. Analyze the overarching message(s) of the Bible (grace, justice, righteousness,

discipleship, etc.) 10. Analyze how one particular story, saying, or event fits into the larger picture of the

overarching message(s) of the Bible Biblically literate adults not only have knowledge and skills in these areas, but also they choose to use this knowledge and skills to intentionally deepen their knowledge and love of Scripture. Proficiency in Using Spiritual Disciplines: As adults mature in faith, they know how to use spiritual disciplines and regularly practice the spiritual disciplines as individuals and in group settings. Adults who are proficient in using spiritual disciplines have developed knowledge, skills, and expertise in the following: 1. Name and describe a variety of spiritual disciplines (prayer, reading and studying Scripture,

worship, fasting, Christian conversation, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and imprisoned, advocating for justice, etc.)

2. Use various spiritual disciplines on a consistent basis 3. Locate resources that assist in using spiritual disciplines (devotional guides, instructions for

a particular spiritual discipline, Advent or Lenten studies, etc.) 4. Develop a familiarity with various writers throughout the Church’s history (St. Augustine, the

Desert Fathers and Mothers, Teresa of Avila, Richard Foster, Joyce Rupp, etc.) Adults who are proficient in using spiritual disciplines not only have knowledge and skills in these areas, but also they choose to use this knowledge and skills to intentionally deepen their love of God and neighbor.


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Regular Participation in Service and Outreach: As adults mature in faith, they become more compassionate people, seeking the welfare of all people and of the earth. Adults who regularly participate in service and outreach have developed knowledge, skills, and expertise in the following: 1. Name and describe spiritual gifts (teaching, hospitality, leadership, etc.—see 1 Corinthians

12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4) 2. Identify personal spiritual gifts and increase commitment to use those gifts in their daily

lives 3. Find opportunities for serving the needs of people in their local and global community 4. Discover specific needs in their communities 5. Analyze root causes of social issues, such as health care, poverty, and the environment 6. Advocate for justice for all persons Adults who have knowledge and skills in these areas use this knowledge and skills to intentionally deepen their love of neighbor. Ability to Engage in Theological Reflection: As adults mature in faith, they increase their ability to reflect on what they believe, integrating what they believe into a “way of being” in the world. Adults who can engage in theological reflection have developed knowledge, skills, and expertise in the following: 1. Name and describe sources that influence theology (Scripture, tradition, reason,

experience) 2. Identify what sources of theology are most important for them 3. Increase their ability to articulate what they believe and how that belief has been confirmed

in their lives 4. Recognize how their theology shapes their “way of being” in the world (ideas about

forgiveness, justice, compassion, etc.) 5. Examine their assumptions about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the church (why do they

believe what they believe) 6. Consider alternative perspectives about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the church (why others

believe what they believe) Adults who have knowledge and skills in theological reflection use this knowledge and skills to intentionally increase self-awareness, appreciation for the diversity of theological thought, and ability to engage in healthy dialogue about matters of faith. Growing Confidence in Talking about One’s Experience of God: As adults mature in faith, they grow in their ability to recognize God’s presence in their lives and are increasingly confident in sharing their experiences of God.


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Adults who are growing in their confidence to share their experiences of God have developed knowledge, skills, and expertise in the following: 1. Identify and describe an experience in which they felt the presence of God 2. Know and use the vocabulary of the church to describe their experiences of God (grace,

justification, sin, reconciliation, etc.) 3. Listen to and respect others’ experiences of God 4. Develop confidence in talking to others about their experiences of God Adults who have knowledge and skills in talking about their experience of God use this knowledge and skills to witness to God’s love and grace in their lives, share their struggles, and identify the significance of their experiences. Lead Lives of Hospitality and Generosity: Adults who lead lives of hospitality and generosity demonstrate the “fruit of the Spirit” (see Galatians 5). They live out of a sense of God’s abundance. Hospitable and generous adults have developed knowledge, skills, and expertise in the following: 1. Identify biblical stories of hospitality to strangers and generosity with others 2. Share accounts of when they have experienced hospitality and/or generosity from others 3. Describe accounts of having experienced God’s generosity and/or hospitality in their lives 4. Consider situations in their families, congregations, and communities that call for hospitality

and generosity 5. Welcome newcomers to their congregations and communities 6. Use their time, money, and gifts to support the ministries of their congregation and to serve

the needs of their local and global communities Adults who have knowledge and skills in living hospitable and generous lives use this knowledge and skills to witness to abundant life through Jesus Christ, to combat a culture of scarcity, and use all that God has given them to participate in God’s purposes for all creation.


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PAR

TIC

IPA

TIO

N IN

SE

RVI

CE

&

OU

TREA

CH

• B

lake

mor

e H

ousi

ng T

rust

•

Uni

ted

Met

hodi

st

Men

AB

ILIT

Y TO

EN

GA

GE

IN

THEO

LOG

ICA

L R

EFLE

CTI

ON

• Li

ving

the

Que

stio

ns

• C

oven

ant

Dis

cipl

eshi

p G

roup

s •

Com

mun

ities

of

Pra

ctic

e?

GR

OW

ING

C

ON

FID

ENC

E IN

TA

LKIN

G A

BO

UT

ON

E’S

EXPE

RIE

NC

E O

F G

OD

• S

tory

-telli

ng

(Wed

nesd

ay)

• W

itnes

s?


25

UM

HER

ITA

GE

•

Orie

ntat

ion

to

Bla

kem

ore

(2 h

r. in

tro

offe

red

4X a

ye

ar)

• Se

min

ar:

Met

hodi

sm 1

01

• B

eing

Met

hodi

st

in th

e B

ible

Bel

t •

By

Wat

er &

th

e Sp

irit

• Th

is H

oly

Mys

tery

CH

UR

CH

YEA

R

•

Pan

cake

Bre

akfa

st

(Shr

ove

Tues

day)

•

Eas

ter E

gg H

unt

• A

dven

t wor

ksho

p •

Twel

fth N

ight

•

Jazz

Mas

s (M

ardi

G

ras)

•

Ash

Wed

nesd

ay

• A

dven

t stu

dies

•

Lent

en s

tudi

es

• W

ritin

g A

dven

t or

Lent

en

devo

tiona

ls

MIN

ISTR

Y IN

D

AIL

Y LI

FE

• In

tro to

Spi

ritua

l G

ifts

• 6

Wee

k st

udy

of

spiri

tual

gift

s •

Com

mun

ities

of

Pra

ctic

e?

• B

ook

Clu

b •

Circ

les

• D

oubl

e N

icke

ls

• A

nnua

l ret

reat

•

Tues

day

Tabl

e Ta

lk


26

Bla

kem

ore

UM

C

Nur

turin

g C

hild

ren’

s Fa

ith a

nd D

isci

ples

hip

C

AU

TIO

US

CU

RIO

US

CO

MM

ITTE

D

PRO

FESS

ING

IN

VITI

NG

BIB

LIC

AL

LITE

RA

CY

•

•

Sun

day

scho

ol

• V

BS

•

Ret

reat

: Get

ting

to

Kno

w M

y B

ible

• R

etre

at: G

ettin

g to

K

now

My

Bib

le

PRO

FIC

IEN

CY

IN U

SIN

G

SPIR

ITU

AL

DIS

CIP

LIN

ES

•

•

•

Way

of t

he C

hild

•

Spr

outs

?

REG

ULA

R P

AR

TIC

IPA

TIO

N

IN S

ERVI

CE

& O

UTR

EAC

H

• S

prou

ts?

AB

ILIT

Y TO

EN

GA

GE

IN

THEO

LOG

ICA

L R

EFLE

CTI

ON

• S

prou

ts?

GR

OW

ING

CO

NFI

DEN

CE

IN T

ALK

ING

AB

OU

T O

NE’

S EX

PER

IEN

CE

OF

GO

D

•

UM

HER

ITA

GE

•

•

Wor

ship

read

ines

s (s

acra

men

ts)

• Jo

hn W

esle

y

CH

UR

CH

YEA

R

•

Pan

cake

Bre

akfa

st

(Shr

ove

Tues

day)

•

Eas

ter E

gg H

unt

• A

dven

t wor

ksho

p •

Twel

fth N

ight

•

Jazz

Mas

s (M

ardi

G

ras)

•

Ash

Wed

nesd

ay

• Jo

urne

y to

Je

rusa

lem

(W

edne

sday

) •

On

the

Way

to

Bet

hleh

em

(Wed

nesd

ay)


27

Module 4, Small Groups Homework Please complete the following prior to our next session in February:

1. Continue working on your grid with one or two leaders from the congregation. Be prepared to share it at our next meeting.

2. Discuss with one or two leaders in the congregation what kinds of leaders are needed

for the small groups you are considering. Consider how you will equip those leaders.

3. Develop a strategy for encouraging participation in small groups. Be prepared to share it at our next meeting.


28

Module 4: Small Groups · the youth group, to a small group Not be committed to Christian...

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Transcript of Module 4: Small Groups · the youth group, to a small group Not be committed to Christian...