Small Group Leader Training Resources
Small Group Info Forms
Small Group Leader Job Description
Hillside Small Group Leader Training Audio
Small Group Training Session 5: Getting People Moving - Jesus says that the difference between a wise and a foolish builder is that the foolish one only hears His words, but the wise builder practices them. People grow when the live out their faith. This session talks about the importance of moving your people from passive to active. notes page
Small Group Training Session 4: Facilitating Prayer - Prayer is an important part of your small group. Praying and teaching people to pray is a top priority in our small groups. This session will give you many ideas for leading prayer in your group. notes page
Small Group Training Session 3: Facilitating Group Discussion - How can you effectively facilitate group discssion? This session discusses how to stay on track, how to ask good questions and how to identify good questions. notes page
Small Group Training Session 2: The Purpose of Small Groups - When you're leading, it's important to remember your purpose and stick to it. What is the purpose of Hillside small groups? How do people grow? What should you do if your group seems aimless? Find out here. notes page
Willow Creek Training Sessions Audio
24/7 Community Throughout the Week - Biblical community requires more than regular weekly meetings, which means it can't be compartmentalized into 1-2 hours a week. Explore ways to help groups move beyond a standard meeting time into an authentic, transforming model of life lived together.
How Transformation Happens - Spiritual formation is a worthy goal, but what does it look like at the individual level? And how can a small group facilitate it? Discover the heart-level process of spiritual formation and the ways small groups can influence that change.
Asking Great Questions - Problem: Many small group leaders don’t know how to make their group a place where masks can come off, intimacy with God can grow, and transformation can happen. Recommendation: Create a safe and loving atmosphere by asking great questions and listening intently.
Teaching Jesus and His Teachings - How do teach the teachings of Jesus in a postmodern culture? Start with the story—the big picture of a Jesus who was theologically shaped for his world. Learn how Jesus' background, life, and the themes of his teaching help us see how he spoke into his world, and show us how we can live the kingdom in ours.
Outward Focused Small Groups - An outward focus is vital for small groups. It binds people together based on passion and purpose. Participants will learn how to lead their small group culture to transition from an unsatisfying inwardness to a dynamic outward focus.
Inductive Bible Study - There's a way to study Scripture that goes beyond the dull, gold-edged Bibles-on-laps routine: manuscript-style study. All you need is scripture printed on paper and a bucket of pencils, pens, and highlighters. See the results firsthand, with this dynamic introduction to a Bible study method that engages seekers and mature Christians alike.
Choosing and Using Curriculum - Problem: Small group and ministry leaders don't know how to find quality, relevant, and life-changing curriculum for their groups. Recommendation: Use these guidelines to recognize good curriculum, adapt curriculum you've already found, or create your own.
Helping Groups Through Crisis - While all Christians are called to care for the hurting, the group leader often assumes a pastoral caregiving role. Learn what is expected of you as a caregiver, how to balance an individual's needs with the safety of the group, how to set appropriate boundaries with hurting people, and how to deal with difficult people during times of crisis.
Leadership Essentials - Where have all the leaders gone? Few issues frustrate so many of us as finding people who will step up and assume leadership responsibility. But is the answer just better leadership development programs? We think not. We have a leadership gap because we have a disciple-making deficit. This breakout focuses on how to build a disciple-making culture out of which grows leaders with the kind of character, call, and competence needed in our time. The breakout leaders are co-authors of Leadership Essentials (InterVarsity Press, 2007) and test their material everyday at Christ Church of Oak Brook (www.cc-ob.org).
More than I Can Handle - It's easy to be overwhelmed by the different personalities and behaviors of a small group, yet God uses these personalities to influence the group and grow you as a leader. Discover why God desires groups to be diverse and messy, the three principles to make diverse groups the Group Life norm, and tips on leading challenging personalities.
Everything is an Experiment - The busy, broken 20-somethings in your church are hard to reach. They're also filled with potential. Discover creative strategies for fostering community among and making disciples of this emerging generation. Examine the unique environment of your church, learn what happens when cultural trends mix with Biblical truth, and discover how to embrace circles of community that already exist.
Misconceptions about Small Groups that Screw Us Up - Using an eastern parable about, well, a monkey and a fish, this breakout eyeballs the misconceptions and assumptions that result in unhealthy small groups, along with the strengths that cause small groups to flourish. Find ways to deal with these challenges and embrace these strengths within the individual contexts of your small groups and church.