Questions – One key to facilitating dynamic discussion is generating the right kinds of questions.

• Opening questions – Use an opening question to help the group warm up to each other, get to know one another better, and to let them hear their own voices.
• Launching questions – Knowing the goal of the discussion, the group leader prepares launching questions designed to generate group interaction and feedback.
• Guiding questions – Even the well-prepared leader will need to spontaneously guide discussion at times.
• Summarizing questions – Summarizing after a series of questions allows the leader to acknowledge group members’ contributions while maintaining biblical integrity and direction.
• Application questions – The goal of the small group study is not just information but transformation. The leader can help members apply what they have learned by asking application questions.

Responses – How you and other members of the group respond to questions and statements will either foster or fizzle discussion.

• Affirming responses – These responses acknowledge each person’s value. They promote intimacy and openness. They send a strong signal to group members, telling them they have been heard, understood and respected.
• Participatory responses – These responses invite others to join in the discussion. They not only affirm a participant’s sharing but also invite others to engage in the process.
• Paraphrasing or “going deeper” responses – These responses allows you to repeat the thoughts of others and enable them to share more deeply. It summarizes what has been heard and allows the group to explore personal feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Listening – Active listening involves not only what you hear, but also what you say. This means actively engaging with the person who is speaking, setting aside your personal agenda, and keeping yourself from distracting thoughts.

Listening Skills – Passive vs. Active Listening

Awakening AmazonMP3

Nothing Without You AmazonMP3

Holy Holy Holy AmazonMP3

Lord I Need You AmazonMP3

Offering:

Desert Soul AmazonMP3

“Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful—Christian community is the final apologetic.” Francis Schaeffer

Authentic biblical relationships where love abounds are all about:

Self-Disclosure (To Know and Be Known) – To know and be known we must understand intimacy and overcome barriers to intimacy by exercising appropriate self-disclosure. Friends who ask questions and really listen are like water to a parched throat. To allow others to see deeply into our lives is the greatest gift we can ever give them. To connect and not know/be known fosters the veneer of sociability. The deepening in our communication from clichés to needs reflects a deepening in our self-disclosure (Clichés –> Facts –> Opinions –> Feelings –> Needs).

Care Giving (To Love and Be Loved) – Bold, compassionate, life-giving love begins with listening and remembering. Thoughtful remembering is demonstrated through words and deeds. Remembering means acting like living members of Jesus.  To know and not love produces a casual familiarity at best.

Humility (To Serve and Be Served) – A Christian leader who is not willing to serve is not fit to lead. Do we show people the full extent of our love, our supreme humble love? To be served means that we are needy, something our pride denies. A great way for a group to practice serving is to help people who cannot return the favor or even thank you.

Truth Telling (To Admonish and Be Admonished) – The ministry of admonishing calls people to change, then provides encouragement and teaching to help them change. It is an expression of genuine love and truth from which there can be no turning. Truth is the foundation of any authentic relationship. Speaking and hearing the truth together fosters true trust. Without telling the truth group life becomes shrouded in pretense, shaped by false assumptions, and filled with unmet expectations. Without telling the truth emotions retreat underground, pain is medicated but never relieved, and the relationship we long for becomes just another name on a long list of acquaintances.

Affirmation (To Celebrate and Be Celebrated) – Jesus was a master of celebration.  Jesus’ life was marked by deep joy. Jesus’ joy overflowed when he was with small groups of real people doing life and ministry. Paul who knew suffering also knew joy. He said to the Romans – “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” He said to the Colossians – “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” He said to the Philippians – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Remember we live in an affirmation-deprived culture so do not be discouraged “and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

This is a lot to chew on, so come back to it from time to time. Let the Spirit work within you to help you distinguish between casual relationships and authentic biblical relationships and to appreciate the sweetness of Christ centered, love filled relationships. Work at inching your groups toward more authentic biblical relationships.

Remember we sent out 3 previous tips. They can be found here in order:

http://www.huntvalleychurch.org/expectations/

http://www.huntvalleychurch.org/preparation/

http://www.huntvalleychurch.org/dynamics/

JJM sees a need for the following part-time positions:

Administrator to help organize all of our volunteers and ministries. 

Female Facility Coordinator for our efforts with the young ladies in our facilities. 

Male Facility Coordinator so we  can begin to have a presence at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Business Development Coordinator  who can partner and establish relationships with business owners that will in turn help create employment opportunities for those young people who enter our unCUFFED program. 

Please be praying for wisdom, resources and opportunities as JJM searches out the Father for our next steps.   It is only through great volunteers, partnerships and staffing that JJM will be in a position to help those the Father has given us the great privilege to come along side.

Please contact Eric (yfctheblock{at}gmail.com) for more information.

God of Wonders AmazonMP3

I Stand Amazed AmazonMP3

How He Loves AmazonMP3

Offering Song:

The Cost AmazonMP3

Everlasting God AmazonMP3

May the Words of My Mouth AmazonMP3

Take My Life AmazonMP3

Offering Song:

Children of God AmazonMP3