Summer…Summer…Summertime!
Summer… Summer… Summertime! Time to sit back, relax, and unwind! I still love summer because it allows us to break from the norm with the kids out of School and everyone at least thinking about some way to take a break. This same kind of mentality effects most of our summer weekly routines including Small Group. Our routines become hectic with vacation, the kids at home, camps, activities, or whatever comes your way. Here are some ideas what you and your Small Group can do this summer:
- Have a Bar B Q with your Small Group or another Small Group in your area
- Invite another Small Group in your area to join you for a one night study
- Do a service project together in the community or in your church
- Plan a Day Trip together, a hike, a ballgame, or host a block party together
- Rotate houses and have group with whoever shows up
- Have a Game Night or a Pool Party
If you have some ideas that have worked for your Small Group or you would like to share your story, please join the discussion and maybe even post some of your pictures at www.centralsmallgroups.com.
Make sure you stay connected this summer and take advantage of having some extra time to do life together!
Have fun!
Tips for Leading Small Group Discussions
Tips for Leading Small Group Discussions
It is Sunday night and our Small Group has just completed the DVD section in this week’s study. Now it is time to open our workbooks and have time for DISCUSSION. But instead of healthy stimulating discussion, there is silence for what seems like an eternity! So how does a Small Group Leader facilitate thought provoking discussions instead of having the dreaded time of silence?
Here are a few tips to help as you navigate your way through discussion time.
• Know Your Material
If you are leading a group discussion, it is important to make sure you’re prepared before the discussion begins. Make a list of potential questions that may come up from the material, be prepared to share from your own experiences, and do extra research to help anticipate more in-depth questions.
• Ask Great Questions
The best questions to ask are those that are open-ended. Closed ended questions are generally not helpful in group discussions. The reason why open-ended questions are more effective is because they do not require a specific answer. Because they don’t require a specific answer, they will not place any limits on the discussion.
• Listen Attentively
First, there is nothing wrong with being quiet. At the same time, you don’t want to be too quiet. However, speaking too much is not recommended. Listen attentively before you speak and it is okay to allow other members to answer or respond.
• Redirect the Discussion
Dominant members are usually a part of Small Groups and they will be outspoken. They will be quick to let the other members know what they think. The quiet members are just the opposite. They will think and form ideas within their minds, and will not be quick to voice those thoughts to the group because they may be shy. As the leader, your goal is to help quiet members present their thoughts to the rest of the group. There are a number of things you can do to include quiet members into the discussion. You can present a question to the group and ask each member to answer it out loud, or you can ask all the member of the group to give their responses to a particular topic or idea.
• Affirm Members
If you don’t show the members that you appreciate the contributions they are making to the discussion, that will make them feel like they are not a valuable part of the group, and this could cause problems. Affirm members by saying, “That is a wonderful idea” or “your viewpoint is always so helpful to the conversation.”
• Use the Acceptance Rule
No matter what is said…Be careful not to judge someone based on their opinions or their personal beliefs. Remember, the real teacher is the Holy Spirit and people are at different places on the spiritual journey. The acceptance rule is “I will accept anyone wherever they are on their spiritual journey.” It would be a great idea to ask your members to commit to the Acceptance Rule before the discussion begins.
What ways have you used to help facilitate discussion in your Small Group?
CityCenter Job Fair at Central Christian
Central Christian Church Henderson Campus
1001 New Beginnings Drive
Henderson, NV 89011
We all know that we’re living in tough times. With the unemployment rate in Nevada now at over 11 percent, there are many in the Central Family and possibly in your Small Group who is looking for employment. In an effort to help serve the needs of those, we are partnering with City Center by hosting a Job Fair at the Henderson campus on Saturday, July 11. If you or someone in your Small Group are interested in more details, please contact Central’s Care Office at 702-735-4004.
Summer Small Group Connection
This weekend, Central is hosting a Summer Small Group Connection. Jud is going to challenge all of us to use the summer as a time to get connected in a summer Small Group. The Connection will be held immediately after each service out on the patio – look for the white tents and orange balloons. If you are searching for new members to join your Small Group, please make sure you have your Small Group listed at www.centralsmallgroups.com. If you have any questions about how to list your group, click here for more information or call Marvin at (702) 735-4004.
Remember, God doesn’t want us to “do life” alone – it’s so much better together! In Small Group, we go through the ups and downs of life with others. Together, we learn to live as a Christ-follower with people on the same journey. Small Groups are all about doing life together, meeting new people, having fun, and growing in your faith. Check it out!
Let’s do the journey together!
Begin the journey of a lifetime…
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Welcome to the greatest adventure you will ever take – following Jesus Christ! Starting Point is Central’s introduction to this journey. Think of it as preparation for a lifetime of learning and growth.“I Apologize!”
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”
I came across this verse in my reading this morning and it reminded me of this video JUDGED. Have you ever felt like someone was judging you and they really didn’t know anything about you? Did you have a Christian or a church push you away because you weren’t good enough or you were not like them? Did it make you bitter and you felt as if you deserved an apology for their behavior? Here it is: “I apologize!” Seriously, “I apologize on behalf of all of us who have looked down our noses in condemnation!” I want you to know that God loves you where you are and He accepts you! His love is unconditional…unlike many of us! Or maybe you are the one who is judging others or you just can’t seem to forgive that person who has hurt you…God wants us to live a free and full life…Go ahead…try living by the verse listed above and don’t be judgmental to others and experience a life of forgiveness.
UNLV Coach Lon Kruger @Central This Weekend
BOOK SIGNINGRunnin’ Rebel Coach Lon Kruger & D.J. Allen
After Services This Sunday, May 17
two42 cafe & bookstore • Henderson Campus
Runnin’ Rebel Basketball Head Coach, Lon Kruger and DJ Allen will be signing their recently released book, The Xs & Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business and Life after each service Sunday, May 17 in the two42 cafe & bookstore at the Henderson Campus. Be sure to stop by!
The Xs & Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business and Life
by Lon Kruger and DJ Allen
Lon Kruger has found a unique formula for success that includes bringing the very best out of his players and teams. He has done it with a dignity and class that is not always associated with the sporting world. Imagine if you could use those same principles to help improve your business or personal life? In The Xs & Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business and Life, Kruger does just that. He lays out his principles for taking over cultures seeking stability and direction and changing them into positive, successful environments that bring out the very best in people. These are lessons that are easily applied in the field of business . . . and in life. Kruger does an outstanding job of weaving his own basketball coaching experiences into quick-moving examples of his performance and leadership principles. By the time you reach the last page, you come away with an excellent understanding of why Lon Kruger is not only such an outstanding coach and person but also a brilliant motivator of people.
(Description from amazon.com)
Need Help?
NEED HELP? Our Care Ministry offers help in the time of any crisis. If you or someone in your Small Group needs help, do not hesitate to ask for it! We want you to know you are not alone. There are people at Central who will walk with you or your Small Group through your time of need.
- Funerals – With a church family the size of Central, there are peaks, valleys, and milestones in between. Sometimes that includes the earthly farewell of a funeral. For more information on the use of a room at Central for a funeral, please contact our Care Ministry at 702-735-4004.
- After Hours Crisis – When you find yourself in an emergency crisis involving death or imminent death after church hours, call our emergency phone at 702-406-6945.
- A Pastor-On-Call is available in your time of need. Our pastors are trained to help you through this difficult time.
- Care Guide Ministry – The mission of Care Guide Ministry it to communicate love and compassion to people in emotional, spiritual, or financial crisis by providing them with resources from the community and church with the goal to move them closer to Christ. Care Guides meet with people who turn to Central for help, assess their physical and spiritual needs, and then guide them through the process of getting help and moving closer to Christ.
- Homeless Ministry – Serving meals to the homeless provides a wonderful opportunity to share God’s love. Our homeless ministry team meets every Saturday morning to pack lunches for about 200 homeless men, women, and children in our valley. They also facilitate inviting the homeless to the church for a shower, a hot meal, and to participate in the worship service.
- Hospital – Visitors bring a word of hope, care, love, and encouragement to others. They go to hospitals to pray with, talk with, and just be with the person in need.
- Weddings at Central – We share in your happiness as you formulate your wedding plans and begin the beautiful adventure of marriage. We are anxious to serve you and to do our best to make your wedding day one that will glorify God and celebrate your commitment to each other. For more details on getting married at Central, click here.
If you or your Small Group would like to volunteer in any of these ministries, click here. Or if you would like to make a financial donation to any of these ministries, click here.
How To “Dump” Your Small Group!
One of the toughest things I did as a teenage boy was to dump my girlfriends. (It was much harder though whenever they dumped me!) No, I am not advocating that you “dump” your Small Group like an old girlfriend or boyfriend, but what I am advocating is a smooth transition when a Small Group leader comes to a season in their life where they can no longer lead their Small Group. Sometimes because of embarrassment or lack of understanding the dynamics of leadership, some Small Group Leaders just walk away and leave a Small Group struggling to understand what just happened. So, the question is, “Is there a proper way to DUMP your Small Group?” Here are some suggestions if you find yourself in a season where you need to DUMP your Small Group:
- Consult with your Father Pray, Pray, Pray before you ever step out of your leadership of your Small Group. Make sure you have peace with your Heavenly Father first. If God gives you peace, then move forward. If not, you may just want to take a brief sabbatical and give your apprentice time to lead.
- Contact your Small Group Pastor or Coach Dumping your Small Group is a HUGE decision. It is very important to call your Small Group Pastor FIRST and let them know what is going on in your life and why you feel you need to dump the Group. I would recommend you schedule to sit down one on one over coffee.
- Alert your Small Group Apprentice This is why it is so important that you do not lead your Small Group alone! All Small Group Leaders need to have someone that can help them lead their Small Group meetings. Make sure you alert your Apprentice and begin the transition to exchange roles of leadership.
- Set a Date Once you have spoken to your Small Group Pastor and your Apprentice, it is time to set a date for the exchange of leadership. If all possible, I would make the transition slowly. I would recommend that you allow at least two weeks to a month for the transition to take place. You and the Apprentice need to formulate and agree upon the start date. Once that is determined, spend a few moments during the regularly scheduled meeting and share what God is doing in the life of the Small Group. It is very important to use this opportunity to model encouragement and unconditional love for your Group members. Be careful not to discourage your members but to make sure they leave on a good note of encouragement and inspiration. It is part of your spiritual journey. Introduce the new Leader and clarify their new role in the Group.
- Celebrate Celebrate all that God has done through the life of the Small Group and point to the future of what He will continue to have planned for the new adventure! Have a cookout, go bowling, plan a party and focus on celebrating your leadership and your Small Group!
- Stay Connected No matter what is going on in your life, do not take a break from authentic community. God created us to be in relationship with others. The Small Group could be your greatest source of strength during this season of your life.
Tell me your thoughts. Have you or your Small Group leader ever had to step down? What type of transition was it for your Small Group?
Highlights from Baptism Celebration Weekend!
What an AWESOME weekend @ Central! We prayed for 500 to be baptized on Baptism Celebration Weekend and God showed up! BIG TIME! If you missed all the excitement, click on the picture and check out the Highlight video! Please say a special “Thank you” to all of your Small Groups members for their prayers and participation! You guys absolutely ROCK!!! If you have someone in your Small Group that has asked Jesus to be leader of their life, then please talk to them about their next step…baptism!
If you or someone in your Small Group was baptized, please let us know and if you have pics, send them our way! Thanks for your leadership…it truly does matter!
P.S. My son, Breydon, was one of the 1,428 that were baptized! The pic is of our special moment! Thanks for all of you that pray for our family! God Rocks!
