Group Builders
Group Invite Card – Create a business card “invite” card for adult groups. Leave blanks on the card for class, time and leader information. Encourage adults and teachers to carry “invite” cards with them during worship services and church activities to invite guests to their group.
My Friendship Connection – My Friendship Connection is a complete strategy designed to mobilize your church for a great day of outreach. Resources include sermons, small group lessons, short daily devotionals and variety of promotional materials. The program works well as a high attendance day or special outreach (sowing and reaping) day.
Friend Day – Friend Day is one of the most popular high-attendance day campaigns. Order resources at the Church Growth Institute.
Discipleship
Disciple Making Groups – The disciple-making priority in the local church is accomplished either one on one or through one-on-many groups. One of disciple-making’s most passionate advocates is Herb Hodges. Through Spiritual Life Ministries and his many books and resources, Herb Hodges’ ministry presents the theory, technique, pattern and practice of disciple-making.
D-Groups – Men’s or women’s D-Groups are one person facilitating a structured discipleship process and relationship for three other people (1-on-3). Each D-Group participant is asked to lead another group when the D-Group cycles ends. The goal is producing disciples who make disciples.
D-Groups meet for a defined period, such as twice a month for a total of 9 months (18 meetings). Groups can start at any time and each group is free to determine the best meeting time for its members. Groups meet for 1 hour twice a month and feature study materials readily available with any smart phone or tablet (via the web or a ministry app).
Here’s the outline for a typical 1-hour meeting:
- Group Discussion – 3 observations from reading (15 minutes)
- HEAR Journal – 1 Observation from HEAR journal (20 minutes)
- Accountability Questions (15 minutes)
- Scripture Memory – 1 verse(s) per month (5 minutes)
- Prayer (5 minutes)
D-Group Accountability Questions
Support Groups
Community Soul Care – Dr. Chuck Hannaford advocates the life-changing discipling and ministry implications of a meaningful Soul Care support group ministry to reach hurting members of your church and community. His resources identify the critical factors necessary to launch a meaningful Soul Care ministry and equip churches to help individuals find true healing instead of “medicating” or modifying their souls. Find his book, Picking Up the Pieces Handbook: Create a Dynamic Soul Care Ministry, at LifeWay Christian Stores.
Revival & Spiritual Renewal
Life Action Ministries – Life Action’s mission is to ignite Christ-centered movements of revival among God’s people that display His glory and advance His kingdom throughout the world. Designed for the entire church family, Life Action revival summits (8, 11 and 15 day durations) provide a one-of-a-kind experience of reconnecting with God and transforming relationships. They’re times of seeking God for a personal and corporate outpouring of His Spirit.
Discipleship (Books)
Adsit, Christopher, Personal Disciplemaking: A Step-by-Step Guide for Leading a Christian from New Birth to Maturity (San Bernadino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, 1988).
Eims, Leroy, The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984).
Foster, Robert, The Navigator (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1983).
Henrichsen, Walter, Disciples Are Made Not Born: How to Help Others Grow to Maturity in Christ (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor Books, 2002).
Hodges, Herb, Tally Ho the Fox!: The Foundation for Building World-Visionary, World-Impacting, Reproducing Disciples (Memphis: Spiritual Life Ministries, 2001).
Putnam, David, Breaking the Discipleship Code: Becoming a Missional Follower of Jesus (New York: B&H Books, 2008).
Groups (Books)
Parr, Steve R., Sunday School That Really Works: A Strategy for Connecting Congregations and Communities (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic & Professional, 2010).
Searcy, Nelson, with Jennifer Dykes Henson, Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2007).
Taylor, Allan, Sunday School in HD: Sharpening the Focus on What Makes Your Church Healthy (Nashville: B&H Books, 2009).