Loading...

Learning to Lead a Small Group

Preview - Learning to Lead a Small Group

What are small groups? Why do we have them? What does a healthy small group look like? What does the Bible have to say about the importance of small groups and what participation should look like?

Ron Pyle
Learning to Lead a Small Group
Lesson
Watching Now
Preview - Learning to Lead a Small Group

1. Introduction to Small Groups
2. Small Group Leadership
3. Keys to Healthy Small Groups
4. Contracting with Your Small Group
5. Stages of Group Life
6. Promoting Honest Sharing
7. Leading Good Discussions
8. Sources of Power in Relationships
9. Conflict Management


Lessons
About
Transcript
  • What are small groups? Why do we have them? What does a healthy small group look like? What does the Bible have to say about the importance of small groups and what participation should look like?

  • In this lesson, you will learn the importance of small group theology, and it starts with an understanding of God's role in community. Dr. Ron Pyle explains that all of history is essentially a history of God's communal activity with humankind, starting with creation. God is the author and perfector of community, and God establishes its boundaries, identity, and future establishment of a new Jerusalem where God's people will dwell in community with one another and with God.
  • In this lesson, you learn effective small group leadership, fostering spiritual growth and supportive relationships, handling challenges, and developing future leaders.
  • What are small groups? Why do we have them? What does a healthy small group look like? People support what they are part of creating. Plan your first meeting carefully. Different distances invite different types of communication. The behavior you want to sustain, make sure you enact the first time.

  • By studying this lesson, you learn how to effectively create and implement a small group contract to establish clear expectations, improve group dynamics, and foster a supportive and productive environment.
  • Gain insight into effectively leading small groups through the five stages of group life, while learning to adapt your leadership style and navigate changing group dynamics.
  • By promoting honest sharing in small groups, you foster trust, facilitate spiritual growth, and learn effective techniques to create a safe environment, ask open-ended questions, and practice active listening.
  • By leading effective small group discussions, you foster spiritual growth, encourage participation, and create a safe environment for open sharing and deeper connections.
  • You gain insight into power dynamics in relationships, specifically within small groups, and learn to foster healthy power dynamics, ensuring a balanced, inclusive, and constructive group environment.
  • By understanding conflict management in small group leadership, you develop the skills to foster a healthy group dynamic, resolve conflicts, and maintain a positive, collaborative environment.

What relationships are important to you? How do you develop trust? How can you share in a meaningful way with others? When you experience conflict in relationship, how can you manage it in a way that will grow your relationship? What does the Bible say about the importance and purpose of a small group?

Dr. Pyle leads you through the process from planning a small group, creating a contract, the beginning meetings, leading discussions, stages of group life and managing conflict. You will benefit from his training and experience as he gives you insights into the skills you will need and the commitments you can make to lead a group well. He will also give you insight into interpersonal communication dynamics in a group situation that will help you effectively guide and motivate the people in your group to share at a deep level.

Anytime there are people involved there are no guarantees, but there are few activities more rewarding than cultivating authentic relationships in a community of faith. This is class gives you the information and motivation you will need to get a good start and finish well. Don't miss this opportunity!

My name is Ron Pyle. For 33 years, I was privileged to teach in the Departments of Communication and Theology at Whitworth University. One of the courses I got to create and teach is small group ministry. That course and the teaching I do through biblical training is predicated on the fact that God has always existed in community and we being made in God's image exist to be in community as well. Throughout the history of faith. One of the ways that God has grown individuals and communities is through small groups. So I'm excited to talk with you in these nine lessons about some of the most important principles of small group life. Over the course of nine sessions, we'll take up topics such as how you start small groups. The qualities and behaviors of effective small group leaders. The predictable life stages through which groups move. How you promote intimacy in your group by personal sharing. How you lead discussion and how you manage conflict in groups. Here's my heart's desire. I want God's kingdom to be built. And I want you to be equipped to be effective leaders and group members. Welcome to our class.