Life Group leaders, this is a great little 6 minute video about the importance of fostering a listening atmosphere in your Life Group.  It talks about active listening vs. passive listening and gives some suggestion on how to focus on active listening.

Like so many other, I love to hear myself talk.  I also hate the sound of silence, especially when I ask a question at Life Group and wait to hear the answer.  I usually start talking pretty fast to avoid having to put up with the sound of silence.

How about you?  Do you think you listen well as a Life Group leader?  Do you think your Group listens well?

Just a quick reminder to anyone involved in discipling others.  This pertains to anyone who is a Life Group leader, friend, pastor, Bible study teacher, parent…whatever.

Doctrine is important, it is critically important.  As important as it is though, it can never come before people’s real-life issues.  Sometimes doctrine is the answer to real-life issues, but sometimes people just need counsel or plain old love…not a rigorous debate on theology! 

Don’t leave doctrine out of the discussion, but don’t prioritize it above people’s here-and-now needs!

This is post #3 in a 3-part post regarding our recent Life Group member survey.  If you haven’t already read the first and second posts, I would recommend reading them first and second. 

This post will just include some of the amazing comments that people made as a part of filing out the survey.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

• It is a safe place to ask questions and talk about the things that we all go through as parents, couples, and children of God.
• I love the connection with friends, open and inviting atmosphere, place to feel welcome.
• I appreciate the authenticity of the group participants.

(more…)

This is post #2 in a 3-part post regarding our recent Life Group member survey.  If you haven’t already read the first post, I would recommend reading it first. 

The focus of this post is to help translate the stats we have from the 99 people who completed the survey.  In general, this survey served to reinforce what I already suspected.  Our Life Groups do a tremendous job in capturing the essence of this statement:

A Life Group is a small group of people that get together regularly to have fun, develop closer relationships, and to challenge each other to grow in their walk with Christ.

Who participates in Life Groups…

The biggest reveal in this area is that most people do not jump right into Life Groups when they start attending Grace Point.  In fact, 75% of those responding say that they have been attending Grace Point for 3 or more years.  One cool finding is that 20% of people responding report that their current Life Group is their very first one…we apparently are getting folks interested enough to try them out! (more…)

With the encouragement of our Life Group leaders, we recently asked people who are in Life Groups at Grace Point to fill out a brief survey about their Life Group experience.  The goal was to get some honest, thoughtful reflections on how we measure up to this picture of Life Groups at Grace Point:

A Life Group is a small group of people that get together regularly to have fun, develop closer relationships, and to challenge each other to grow in their walk with Christ.

99 people filled out the survey, which is nearly half of those in Life Groups at Grace Point.  I was very excited to see the results, and want to share some of them with you here. (more…)

Here is a reminder to our Life Group leaders: Always, always, always include an icebreaker when your Group meets.  Why?  They help draw people in from their busy weeks, provide a easy option for newcomers, and are helpful in getting the no-quite-so-willing-to-talk to open up.  They can be a light-hearted, funny way to get the meeting started, or can serve as a great transition from the “secular” to the “sacred”.

Do you need a fresh set of icebreaker ideas?  Try these Discussion Starters.

Having said that, here is a “top-ten” list of bad icebreakers I found on another small group blog…VERY funny! (more…)

You’ve no doubt heard about the recent movie “Fireproof” which follows a couple through the trials of a failing marriage.  The impact that this movie has had on marriages at Grace Point and around the country has been amazing.  We even heard one such testimony this past Sunday morning.  Marriages have been refreshed and renewed, and some have literally been saved! 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXRKrRPlw3c]

Here are a few ways you can allow this movie to impact you:

• Consider using the the “Fireproof” 6-week curriculum in your Life Group.  We may have a copy of the DVD at the Church office, so call before you buy one!
• Pick up a copy of the “Love Dare” book and take the Dare with your spouse.
• Give a copy of the book or the DVD (releases Jan ‘09) to a friend.

How has the movie impacted you?