Archive for community

What is Meaningful Community?

By Ken Braddy · Comments (0)
Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Sometimes a question makes you stop and think. The one posed on page 23 of It Begins with Prayer has that affect on me. The author asks, “What is meaningful community?”

How would you respond to that question? Rather than defining it, the author illustrated it with a story. He described in detail a group of high school friends, current friends and coworkers, and others whom he recruited to be prayer warriors for him and with him. Each person in this group has committed to pray one day a month for Dwayne, the author of the book.

As you can imagine, the prayers and prayer requests vary from day to day. Some of the prayers are work related. Others are of a more personal nature. The common denominator, though, is that you have two people praying for one another on a regular basis.

Over time, the prayer requests have created a special bond between the two people praying. Relationships have taken on deeper meanings for both participants. The author said, “We become bound to each other as we approach the Father on behalf of another. We are going to Him together” (p.24).

A healthy codependency develops when two people pray for each other. Lives are shared. Needs are presented. God is approached. The two people learn to depend upon one another, and upon God. A healthy codependency developes.

This is true community. And it begins with prayer. Strong bonds develop between people who may not be in proximity to one another. Prayer partners can be across town, out of state, or somewhere else in the world. It really doesn’t matter – location is a moot point. What matters is that two people commit to pray for one another regularly. Over time, real community develops. Is this a shared experience? Of course! But this shared experience goes deeper than other kinds of shared experiences.

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Categories : Sunday School
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Mission Projects for Your Group

By David Ludwig · Comments (0)
Monday, October 31st, 2016

commhelpWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Groups have a tendency to become inwardly focused, and to prevent that it is important that we stay focused on the mission.  Jesus said to the disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

We know the importance of studying the Bible together, praying for one another and fellowship, but we must never let the group forget our mission: to be a light and tell others about the Good News of Jesus! (Matthew 28:19-20).

WHAT DO I DO? Meet together as a group and decide what you want to do, and then begin to make plans. Here are a few ideas for group mission projects:

  • Help neighbors with some work around their homes.
  • Clean up a neighborhood park.
  • Have a Backyard Bible Club.
  • Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen.
  • Work with a local school.

Jesus said we are to let our light shine, and we do that by being out in the community and serving others. Be the light that shines for Jesus!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Sunday School
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Using Instagram in Your Group

By Jason McNair · Comments (0)
Thursday, October 13th, 2016

socialmediacloudsWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? We are a visual generation.  Everyone loves pictures and the growth of Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, and so many other video and photo sharing sites are proof that pictures and videos help get a message across. Whether or not all those messages are worth sharing is up for debate.  With the growth of any social media industry comes danger and we must be cautious in how we embrace new media sharing technologies.

We have a message worth sharing.  Week after week, group leaders connect group members to each other and to the timeless message of the truths found in God’s word.  It’s time to redeem Instagram and help connect your group members together by presenting a message worth sharing with the world.

WHAT DO I DO? In a another post, I shared about the importance of creating a closed Facebook group for your group members.  As a group leader, you can link your Instagram posts to this group to help get the message out in creative ways. Remember to make these images and videos “public” if you want them shared beyond your group.

  1. Make a selfie invite video for your next group session: You may not like selfies, but in time, you will get comfortable with it. You only have 15 seconds, so make it short and to the point.
  2. Create an image teaser post about an upcoming event: Connecting your group outside of meeting times is a great way to build community within your group.
  3. Post a creative image of the main point or scripture passage from your lesson: Instagram has filters and the ability to add text to your graphic to get your point across.
  4. Use it to posts icebreaker questions that relate (or don’t relate) to your next lesson topic: Use comments below your question during your teaching time to provide personal illustrations.

What would you add to this list? Use the comment section below or on our Sunday School Leader Facebook page to posts your additional tips and ideas.

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Jason McNair is the Strengthening Churches Missionary for Utah Idaho Southern Baptist Convention. He also coordinates most of the social media promotion for this blog, sundayschoolleader.com.

 

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Sunday School
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Is Social Media Useful for Reaching People in Your Group?

By Jason McNair · Comments (0)
Tuesday, October 11th, 2016

facebookWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? We all want connection.  People inside and outside your group use Social Media every day, trying to find connection with one another.  That is why it is a multibillion dollar industry.  We all want to connect people together and to information we find important.

In fact, you are probably reading this blog article because some form of social media directed you here.  You were sent an email, saw a tweet, or read a post and you clicked it hoping to find a potential solution to a challenge you are experiencing in your group ministry leadership right now.

WHAT DO I DO? Social Media is just what it says it is. Media is information or data. It is anything we speak, hear, do, see, share, or experience that passes along information.  Social is simply the way that media travels, relationally from person to person.  Isn’t that what we are about in our groups ministries: Connecting Socially to share the most important Media known to man, the gospel of Jesus Christ, with those who need to hear it?

Here are a few ways you can use Social Media to reach people in your group:

  • Start closed Facebook groups for all the classes and groups in your church.
  • Use your posting and sharing as a source of encouragement by avoiding negativity on your feed.
  • Share articles and blogs that encourage your group members to think through topics discussed in your group.
  • Be open to ideas that may seem contradictory to your way of thinking, and be prepared to civilly discuss these concerns with compassion and reverence (1 Peter 3:15)
  • Use your social pages and groups to promote community events where group members can connect beyond the group time.
  • Practice typing your Christian testimony in 140 characters or less.

For more information on this topic with additional links to resources, visit:
http://www.smallgroups.com/articles/2015/4-ways-you-can-use-social-media-for-good.html

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Assimilation, Group Life
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