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Leadership Network recently invited several innovative small groups pastors to explain how they have broken the mythical--and for some churches, seemingly impenetrable--50% participation barrier. These leaders discussed many important issues from the church’s culture, selection and training of new group leaders, but all agreed that strategies only serve to accomplish a single purpose: changed lives.
“Small groups are central to our church’s culture,” observes Dave Enns, small groups pastor for North Coast Church in Vista, CA. “The leadership of our church has made participation in groups the single most important activity for people. Everything we do revolves around this priority.”
Participation in small groups at North Coast is consistent at 80%, and it has spiked as high as 93%. The value of small groups in the life of the church is woven into virtually every communication. The pastors’ messages often refer to the importance of people processing God’s word in groups, and events are planned around the impact they will have on groups.
| The small groups at North Coast Church give people a place to study the weekly sermon with a group of people and then apply it to their lives. |
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One way North Coast is distinctive is their weekly sermon-based curriculum for small groups. During the weekend services, North Coast distributes an outline of the sermon that includes questions to dig deeper into the passage. Their perspective: Imagine what your church would be like if the majority of the people in your congregation went home, studied the sermon and then met with a group of people to apply it to their lives. That’s the purpose of the sermon-based model.
Breaking the 50% barrier doesn’t need to remain elusive any longer. For other examples of clear, shared values and proven strategies that can help any church make significant progress in developing a growing, small group ministry, download Breaking the 50% Barrier: How to Increase Small Group Participation in Your Church by Pat Springle. |
Pat Springle is a freelance writer for Leadership Network and president of Baxter Press in Friendswood, TX. |
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Register for the Sticky Teams Conference |
October 25-26, 2010 in San Diego, CA
Sticky Teams is a conference about expanding your ministry and building a team that lasts for the long haul. Larry Osborne and the team at North Coast Church will be. . .
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A majority of young adults, age 18 to 29, don't pray, don't worship and don't read the Bible according to LifeWay Christian Resources. . .
Preventing Church Volunteer Burnout |
“Managing burnout is a two-person responsibility,” says Jeff Harlow, a leadership development and volunteer management expert who pastors Brosville United Methodist Church in Danville, Va. “The volunteer needs to do some self-examination. . .
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6/8 - Emotionally Healthy Church Leadership
Our guest is Pete Scazzero, author and pastor of New Life Fellowship Church in Queens, New York City, a multiracial, international church representing over 65 countries.
6/15 - The Externally Focused Quest
Authors Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw discuss the difference between being the best church in the community and being the best church for the community.
http://theshow.leadnet.org
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