Prayer Group

Sundays, 5:15 p.m., Conference Room (B. Lane, W. Kreger)

 

Lake Worth/Azle SDG

1^st & 3^rd Mondays, 7 p.m., rotating sites (W.Kreger, E. Kreger, B. Flaherty)

 

 

Morning Village SDG

Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Conference Room (R. Mullen)

 

All-Church Home Family Shelter SDG

1^st & 3^rd Wednesdays, 7 p.m., All-Church Home. (T. Mullen, S. Gregory)

 

Evening Village SDG

Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Activity Building (R. Mullen, Lee Reeves)

 

Girls/Young Women SDG:

2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Activity Building. (T. Mullen)

 

Reno SDG

2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays, 7 p.m., rotating sites (B.Lindsey, Larry Reeves)

 

Southside SDG

Wednesdays, 7 p.m., rotating sites (C. Dunson)

 

Teen SDG

Wednesdays, 7:15 p.m., Mullen home (D. Corder)

 

Westside SDG

Wednesday, 7 p.m., Stanfield Home (D. and J. Stanfield)

Our congregation began its small group ministry, “Spiritual Discussion Groups” (SDGs), in October, 2004. The elders chose this name to communicate to the congregation some of what we believe small groups can do best.

 

Our first small group focus is on the Spiritual. We believe that spiritual growth and development is best done through an emphasis on prayer and Bible Study. Each group maintains an active and private prayer list. Learning to see all of life through a “Biblical lens” drives our small groups. We try each week to find “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), and to seek “things that are above, where Christ is” (Colossians 3:1).

 

Our second small group focus is on Discussion. Unlike a large worship service, small groups let people ask questions and generate possible answers. Discussion is an informal and open learning process that encourages all members to be involved. The leader is a “facilitator of ideas”, helping participants contribute to the group thinking, rather than a “content expert”. Each member is asked to listen carefully and respectfully to each other and not “strive about words to no profit” (2 Timothy 2:14).

 

Our final small group focus is on the Group itself. As Jesus had His small group of twelve apostles with whom He spent significant time, our SDGs are a place where members and those they invite can build deeper friendships. The group is to be a safe place for people to share their struggles, when they might not share them with the whole church. Encouragement and gentle correction can both occur, as people get to know each other and care for each other.

 

There are other important assumptions behind our small group ministry. Some of these are…

 

1.      …Members are the best ones to determine what they need to learn. Unlike traditional Bible classes, our small groups are learner-driven. In other words, the group decides what topics it will study, how they want to approach them, and ultimately shape their collective learning experience. In this way, the group has more responsibility for its success than when a teacher tells the group what it is “supposed” to learn.

2.      …Members of all ages can contribute something. Our SDGs are intergenerational, not age-divided. Thus, eight year olds often learn right alongside 80 year olds. Each member brings a unique perspective. We believe this strengthens our groups rather than limits them.

3.      …Members learn better skills at dealing with conflict. When differences in personal learning and background come up, rather than avoid them or simply argue over them, group members learn how to manage this ambiguity. We believe that this can help avoid the arguing and division that have plagued many churches. Group leaders are encouraged to show how differing points of view can both have value and application to the topic at hand. Members can have strong convictions, but can also learn to respect the strong convictions of others.

4.      …Members generate more information than a study guide could ever provide. While a study guide can provide more facts, the life experience and spontaneous interaction of the group members stretches the participants into deeper levels of learning. These may not be deeper in information, but deeper in application and retention. Each member can decide what is important, and then contribute to the discussion as desired.

 

I hope this helps you understand how small groups function in this congregation and encourage you to be involved in at least one group.

 

Bob Mullen, Minister, Westworth Church of Christ

 

For information about joining a group or to form a new one, please see any elder.

Spiritual Discussion through

Small Groups Ministries