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refuge small groups


Needs

Good morning, i wanted to say thank you for all you do. I also wanted to make sure that you did not have any needs. I want to apologize about not having the rolls. I have requested them and have not received I will make sure you have them this week. If you have any need please do not hesitate in letting me know.

Building Deeper Connections With Your Small Group (Part 2)

This week we are looking at a few ideas to help get your small group back into a groove toward life-change so you can avoid the rut of simply “going through the motions.”

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Youth Ministry Conference
: Check out the
"Do's and Don'ts of Small Groups"
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TALK LESS

Many youth ministry leaders, especially those who are just starting out, need to learn to talk less during their group time. Somehow many leaders manage to prop up a rather large pulpit in their small groups and spend the precious discussion time preaching. This isn’t the design for a healthy small group…if you need to pontificate, start a blog (shameless plug: seewww.dougfields.com).

Don’t be afraid of silence, learn to endure those awkward seconds (which we know can feel like minutes) because they’ll lead to a good moment if you don’t talk over them. The real light at the end of that dark tunnel is students feeling free to share. This won’t happen if you do all the talking. Great, life-changing discussions don’t appear when adults keep “saving” the group with all their “words of wisdom.”

MAKE THE MOST OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER

Some of the best time to lay a foundation for relational discipleship can be the 10 minutes before and/or after your small group time. In these precious moments, students are relaxed and open to natural conversation. This is often the time to discover important stuff about what’s happening in their lives.

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Simply 

Youth Ministry Conference
: Check out the
"Do's and Don'ts of Small Groups"
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You can leverage this time with a few simple actions. Commit to being completely ready a few minutes before your first student arrives. This is difficult, we know (and we don’t always do this)! And, don’t rush home the minute after AMEN is prayed. Have a few general questions ready to ask as kids arrive. Recall last week’s discussion and follow up on those thoughts and conversations. With just a little intentionality, you can make the most of the “before and after” moments to develop deeper connections.

suggestions

Hey everyone, I wanted to encourage you on a great job. We had a great crowd last night for a Sunday night. I wanted to ask that the high school guys start using the dvd in the study. I also wanted to suggest to the girls to order your books online instead of at the store here in town. They still do not have the books in.

That is all
PS let me know of the fellowship you plan with your small groups as soon as you can.

building deeper connections with your small group pt.1

building deeper connections with your small group (part 1)

Doug Fields & Matt McGill

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January is almost gone and February is knocking on the door. If there was a pause of any small groups (and/or programs), they’re back into full swing after Christmas break. This week we’re going to present a few ideas to help you be more intentional with what you’re doing as a small group leader so you can avoid the rut of simply “going through the motions.”

Think of 99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders, as an investment in your small group leaders.

 
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MAKE YOUR LESSON PREPARATION A PART OF YOUR QUIET TIMES
God is doing great stuff in your life, and your best ministry will happen out of the overflow of God’s Spirit moving in your own heart. As you spend time with God, be thinking about the Scripture text that you’ll soon be teaching on or simply ask yourself this question while you’re reading God’s word: “What can I share from this special time with God with my students?” When you’re teaching from your own times with God, you will be more passionate. A heartfelt passion is always a deeper connection than simply a vibrant personality, wild humor, or cultural relevance.

Of course, we are assuming you are regularly spending time with God! If not, we’d definitely challenge you to focus on building a deeper connection with God before you focus on your students.

PERSONALIZE YOUR CURRICULUM
Good curriculum is an important tool within a youth ministry toolbox. But, curriculum is simply a tool, and it works best when it’s adjusted to take your students into deeper discussions of God’s Word and His ways. Nothing “just works” right out of the box, even the best curriculum requires your adaptation.

Think of 99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders, as an investment in your small group leaders.

 
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A great way to maximize your impact is to shape the teaching time and provided questions to meet your small group’s needs. It’s poor leadership to simply read a word-for-word lesson directly from the book. Make it your own and make it relevant with where your students live. You know your audience better than any curriculum writer. You are the expert on the needs from within your small group. You personalize the material so it best fits your “voice” and heart, which will help move the discussion forward.

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Checking up

Hey everyone I hope that you are having a blessed day. I wanted to take some time and see how things went last night. Also I wanted to make sure that you have all that you need to have your small group. I can not thank you enough.
Requests- please help keep the rooms as you found them since other teachers use them for Sunday School.- please take rolls and set them on the stage in front


Thanks for all you do and thank you for investing in our students here at Westmeade.

First Week

Hey everyone I just wanted to let you guys know that I am praying for you this week. I am excited about the starting of the new studies. I will be leading a dnow in Tylertown this weekend and will not be here. Please pray for me and the group i will be speaking to. I will be leaving Troy in charge if you have any needs please go to him that night.

Rooms
please pick a room accustomed to your sizes. Mark on your roles what room you are in so that we can put that info on your rolls.
Please have students not remove anything in the rooms, if you need to that is fine but just remember to put things back, since mostly these are Sunday school class rooms.
Thanks for helping us out by investing in our students.

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