Over the past couple of weeks I have come across a few articles and blogs that I’ve found particularly helpful and edifying. Some of them directly and indirectly relate to your ministries as Small Group Leaders so I thought I’d share them with you. I hope and pray that you too are blessed by these resources.
4 Ways Small Groups Work Together With Sermons – Ryan Kearns does an excellent job explaining how small groups can work in tandem with the Sunday sermon. Perhaps there’s a few nuggets of wisdom you can apply to your small group. I am looking into the potential of doing pulpit curriculum (where small groups discuss and apply Sunday’s sermon/text as the study portion of their meetings) in the future and this article makes a compelling case as to why.
Big Church = Big Sadness – The larger we get as a church, the higher the likelihood that some people in the congregation at any given time are walking through deep valleys. David Murray offers some pointers on how we as a church can effectively minister to suffering and hurting people in the midst of church growth. The more growth God blesses a church with, the harder it becomes for the Elders and Pastors to meet every single need in the church. Leaders must be raised up in the church to help carry this burden – after-all this is the way God designed it to be (see Ephesians 4:11-12). This is why small groups are so important! They become one’s primary means of support during trials and suffering.
A Look at The Gospel Transformation Bible – Here’s a review of a brand new study Bible (ESV) that’s been released. It’s main focus is “to increase your worship of Jesus as you read the text” by showing how scripture bears witness to Christ and by making application in light of the gospel. If someone in your group is looking for a good study Bible, this might be the one to recommend!
Justification and Sanctification: What’s the Problem? – This round-table discussion (video embedded below) explores the relationship between our justification and our sanctification. The panelists discuss related topics such as whether or not we can over-emphasize grace, what legalism is and isn’t, and what should motivate our pursuit of holiness. This is an especially helpful discussion in light of how we’re going through“The Hole in Our Holiness” together in each of our small groups.
You Are Loved!
Will
