Tell Your Story…
 Here at Central, we define a Small Group as…a group of people (2-20) who gather on a regular basis in homes, at a church campus, a coffee shop, park or online for the purpose of growing in relationship with God and each other. Small Groups are all about doing life together, meeting new people, having fun, serving together and growing in your faith.Many of you have been part of a Central Small Group for years and others maybe just for a few months, but no matter how long you have been involved in your Small Group, we know that many of you have some amazing stories of how God has used YOUR SMALL GROUP in your personal life! WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY! Take just a few moments and write down how God has used your Small Group to make a big difference in your life! Once you have it written, please email it to tracey.smith@centralchristian.com |
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| Not part of a Small Group? Thinking of trying out a Small Group? To get connected into a Small Group, or to learn more about Small Groups, visit centralsmallgroups.com. If you have any other questions, call 702-735-4004 to talk with a Small Groups Coordinator. | |
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?
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