Put it on paper that "what is said here and happens here, stays here." Small groups should be comfortable and informal. In fact, a mentor once told me that my goal as a small-group leader was to never tell when I could ask. Companioning is about supporting people, Having people participate—even if their comments are off-topic—is a good thing. On the other hand, sometimes tangents lead to excellent discussions. You are a leader, not a teacher. Why do we really have to do it like that? Here are some of the common "challenging people" that you may encounter, and some tips on approaching them with grace: Remember—the end goal of a group discussion is life change, not perfect discussions or getting through all the material. True application requires group members to identify a specific response or action they will take within a specific time frame. 3. They also make sure that group members are validated in their sharing and understood by other group members. That's all we've got to do. In my experience as a Small Groups Pastor, I have found that #1 is the most important yet least done. Develop an awareness for barriers for learning (cultural; social; experiential, etc). In this order, you'll finish your discussion by actually applying it to your lives. Almost all will have a designated leader or leaders. The key to a productive discussion is asking the right questions, so come to the meeting well prepared. What Old Testament characters are mentioned in this passage from Hebrews? How to use tech to facilitate small-group work. When your discussion goes off on a tangent, acknowledge the new topic's importance, and suggest that you table the topic until later—either after the current discussion or after the meeting. Whether planning to facilitate a group as a volunteer, as a student or professional-in-training, or because of your own personal life experience with loss and grief, you know how important it is to find validation, companionship and a sense of belonging at this most vulnerable time in a person’s life. I want to give you some ideas to help facilitate positive discussion in your small group: 1. Theyrequire group members to consider the meaning of the text, using their own experiences and perspectives. We are simply creating an environment for community and life change to happen. People might be thinking, so stop talking. A group of two or three generally doesn’t need a leader to have a good discussion, but once the number reaches five or six, a leader or facilitator can often be helpful. Realize, though, that these questions allow group members and guests alike to answer—because the answer is right in the text. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to group members through the study materials, helping them to understand and apply the text. This construction process is greatly helped by the provision of frameworks, structures and mental models that help learners to begin to organise and arrange knowledge in ways that are meaningful to them. Adjust the structure of group discussion based on how many members you have. While knowing your Bible and having Christlike character are the more important factors, there are also a number of skills which go a long way in leading an effective small group. Examples: Christianity Today strengthens the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. For many small-group leaders, one of the more intimidating things we do is facilitating a group discussion. effectively facilitate a small group. Examples: Facilitating Small Groups 1. And who was it writt… When will you practice this discipline? On one hand, small groups can provide a warm, secure atmosphere for individuals to speak their mind and share burdens that they would not normally voice. Facilitate highlights the key dynamics of small groups that will give a leader confidence to minister to those in the group. Good questions are the key to facilitating well, but you'll also need to keep a few things in mind in order to successful string these questions together into a lively, life-giving discussion. They are open about their experiences and use them to connect with group members on a personal level. Allow group members the time they need so everyone can participate in the conversation. So stay open to the Holy Spirit during each group meeting and follow where he leads. What was it like? Just keep steering the conversation back to the main topic. First, make sure to cover the privacy and safety issue in your group guidelines, or covenant. The truth is that God will use this leadership role to further develop you, so enjoy the journey. Sign Up For Our Newsletter If students in your group aren’t already friends, it’s important to give time for them to develop relationships. What role did the Bible have in your childhood home? Be patient – On your first night, the small group discussion is not going to be extremely deep if it is your first time with this small group. Conferences and preachers speaking to massive auditoriums full of 1000’s of people are great, but the true life change happens in the weekly home group Bible studies! Never underestimate this. For some, this opportunity is exciting and thrilling. —Carter Moss; used with permission of Community Christian Church and the NewThing Network, © 2008. I define a small group as a group of people (4-15), who meet regularly for the purpose of spiritual edification and evangelistic … Empower others to discover the truth of Scripture for themselves by asking great questions. What would you say to someone who disagrees with that? Are we saying that … ? Create an environment for life change with these simple tips. That includes me! Design your group sizes based on the task and the skill level of the individuals. Its feature Breakout Rooms allows you to split your meeting into 50 separate sessions, excellent for running small group discussions and virtual brainstorming. Facilitate teaches a leader how to listen well, ask questions, train others, involve people, and prepare for the meeting. Why did God design it to work that way? Remember that God is the one who does the work in people's hearts—we are not responsible for it! What changes will you make this week as a result of our discussion on the creation story? Feel free to review these same group guidelines every single time a new person shows up to group. I will wing it.” What a small group leader can do: The secret to dealing with dominators is to remember that the group is usually desperate for the facilitator to do something. Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter That’s why careful preparation is the first step towards facilitating a successful workshop. Don't forget to apply what you've learned! This book shows a potential leader how to develop new leaders to continue the discipleship process. By Annelie Rugg on October 5, 2017. At the same time, never force participation, which would create an unsafe environment. How do you facilitate a small group? Look for a quick breath, no matter how short, to jump in and allow others to contribute. You should begin by working to draw others out. Use a variety of questions to spark discussion and help group members connect with the topic. Too often, leaders ask a question, wait three to five seconds, and then jump in to answer it themselves. I'll leave you with one final tip that has proven incredibly helpful in leading groups. To encourage non-talkers to participate in your discussion, call on them by name. ", or "What do you think?" Thankfully, there are some established practices and principles that can help us accomplish those goals. This is not helpful—your group members aren't participating, and they won't be discovering God's Word for themselves. These questions ask "How? Generally groups should be no larger than 4 or 5 individuals to ensure everyone can be heard, but that there is also cohesion. I will warn you that at first it will feel like an eternity! One of the most important skills in small-group facilitation is not having all of the right answers, but asking the right questions. What every small-group leader needs to know, Four easy things any leader can do to facilitate growth-focused discussions. Expert tips for leading your group members to spiritual growth, How your small group can become a welcoming place for people on a journey back to God, Quick tips for keeping the discussion moving. They seek to clarify what the text says. Continue Reading. Examples: When the group numbers eight or more, a leader or facilitator, whether formal or informal, is almost … Create an environment for life change with these simple tips. So what in the world does that have to do with our lives today? Your group is probably much more to you than a Christian responsibility; it probably feels more like a family—which is exactly how it should be. Examples: Don't put down group members' comments or questions. First of all, know that you will improve with time—this is something any veteran leader will tell you. If you're a Small Group leader, you believe this, so you're working hard to nurture the relationships and spiritual vitality of participating members. Affirm people when they share. Even though I've placed these last, use these questions throughout the discussion to keep the discussion moving and to draw out the main ideas shared. or "Why was this included in the Bible?". Decide who should facilitate the discussion. Listen actively and nonjudgmentally, encouraging other learners to do the same. Peer Facilitators are those who have actually lived the experience being addressed by the group. You have the privilege of working alongside the Spirit to help people grow. As you spend time leading a group, you'll find that these facilitation skills will become more and more second-nature to you. The best icebreaker questions fall into this category: they allow all group members to share from personal experience, and they connect their answers to the topic being discussed. Ask that God would lead the discussion where he wants it to go. This gets everyone involved, and sets the tone for discussion instead of lecture. Instead, use the following types of questions in this order and end your meetings at a climactic point in discussion. These questions seek to summarize and clarify in order to keep the discussion focused. Be gentle in your response. What one thing can you do differently in this next week to start living that out? For others, the task feels daunting. Small group discussions: Break big groups (more than eight) into smaller groups to discuss and then report about the subject. One of my favorite book titles has always been the one I find most true: Everybody's Normal Until You Get to Know Them. Consider what you know about the topic, whether your views are known to students, and whether that makes your role as a facilitator too difficult. You can reword your question to make it clear and concise. You can also ask group members to identify next steps they need to take. Course Goal
This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively facilitate small group sessions
3. Carter Moss is the Adult Ministry Catalyst for Community Christian Church and NewThing. facilitate the group aside from the members, known as “Peers”. It takes time to prepare to facilitate a small group discussion. When you hear other group members start to do this, gently remind them that "this is a safe group, and we're here to listen, not to give advice.". How to Facilitate a Small Group Just like mass gatherings, small groups come with their own sets of pros and cons. In the meantime, be intentional about leading your meetings and offer yourself grace when you make mistakes. Expert tips for leading your group members to spiritual growth, How your small group can become a welcoming place for people on a journey back to God, Quick tips for keeping the discussion moving. Some students might feel nervous to meet in a small group with other kids they don’t know well. This allows them to discover biblical truths for themselves. When there is a person who seems slow to jump into the discussion, graciously ask their opinion or request their input. When someone answers incorrectly, respond carefully. If you must ask a "yes or no" question, be sure to follow it with "Why?". And if no one has an answer, someone will speak up and ask, "What was the question?" And as the leader, be sure to model this safety and confidentiality yourself! Draw everyone into the conversation. This allows them to discover biblical truths for themselves. Elevate the best storytellers & sages of the global church. The goal of the facilitator is to help group members engage in meaningful dialogue with one another. They work from more general to very specific and help group members discover God's truth. Provide structured, positive group activities with a bit of fun and a lot of movement thrown in. If you can’t avoid whole group discussions then at least avoid pointing to someone and asking them directly what they think. 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