THE LEADER’S GUIDE

for

The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation:
Developing a Strategy for Success

The Setting:

While The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation was developed for use in a small group, Developing a Strategy for Success is designed to use in a larger setting. This can include both the small groups from the first study and other members of the congregation.

The meeting place should provide a gathering space with chairs for all the participants as well as tables and chairs for small-group work.

The small groups should be a random mix of those attending each session, though it will be helpful to have at lease one person who participated in The Eight Essentials in each small group. Having them count off by fours would be one way to divide them into the small groups. The one’s would then be at a table, the two’s at another table, and so on. Each group should have a minimum of two people. When possible, each group should have the same number of people.

The Large Group Leader Job Description:

• Should be familiar with The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation. S/he will not be a part of the small group discussions, but will be available in the event that clarification is needed.

• Come to the study prepared.
• Remember that this is a group discussion rather than a lecture.
• Listen to others and respect their opinions no matter how different they are from your own.
• Facilitate rather than dominate.
• Have someone who attended The Eight Essentials as a moderator/facilitator for each small group if possible. Since these people are familiar with the original material, they can offer insight and clarity if needed. This moderator/facilitator may select someone to record the work from their small group discussion, and someone to report it back to the larger group.
• Assign small-group leaders and Essential Players in advance of each session.
• Be prepared to assist the larger group in developing a plan of action. That plan may be to implement something from the study or delegate a team or committee to further research or action. Be sure the plan is recorded in writing!

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on so the large group can easily view it.

-Markers to write with.

-Pocket Reminders for each Session and Section (enough for every participant)

-One copy of the discussion questions/project for each small group. See Appendix

-Scripts for The Essential Players for each section. See Appendix

-Tables with chairs for the small groups.

-Pens/Pencils/Paper at each small group table.

-Breakfast snacks/coffee/tea/etc.

-Arrangements for a quick lunch such as a brown bag or potluck.

Special Notice Regarding Scripts and Skits:

Because not everyone will have attended the eight week small group study on The Eight Essentials, the skits for each section will give a brief topic overview. It is suggested that you ask for volunteers to participate in these skits. The material refers to these participants as The Essential Players. Be sure they have the skits prior to each session. These are simple readings that do not need to be memorized in advance. It can be done as a reader’s theatre or with some action; this would be the participants’ choice. You may have the same Essential Players for each skit, or change out to different people.

Suggested Time Line For Each Session:

• Intro/Opening 15 minutes
• Small Groups 20 minutes
• Report Back 25 minutes
• Develop a Plan 30 minutes

*Please note that this is a “suggested” time line. You may find that your group moves more slowly or more quickly through any given section. Below is an example, beginning at 9:00am and closing by 3:00pm

9:00am

• Welcome and opening prayer.
• *At the first session you will want to explain that the primary goal is to make a plan of action for your congregation, using The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation recently studied in your congregation.

Section 1

• Scripture
• Skit
• Pass out the Pocket Reminders and the discussion questions/project for each small group.

9:15am

• Break into small groups for discussion or project.

9:35am

• Small groups report back their discussion or findings to the larger group. Have someone record the findings.

10:00am

• Develop a plan of action.

10:30am

• BREAK

Section 2

10:45am

• Scripture
• Skit
• Pass out Pocket Reminders and the discussion questions/project for each small group.

11:00am

• Small Groups

11:20pm

• Small groups report back their findings to the large group.

11:45pm

• Develop a plan of action.

12:15pm

• LUNCH

Section 3

1:00pm

• Scripture
• Skit
• Pass out Pocket Reminders and the discussion questions/project for each small group.

1:15pm

• Small groups

1:35pm

• Small groups report back their findings to the large group.

2:00pm

• Develop a plan of action.

2:30pm

• Wrap things up.

• Announce the next session date and time.

• Thank everyone for coming!

• Close in prayer.

Session I Details

Section 1

9:00am:

• Welcome and opening prayer.

• Explain briefly that this is the first part of a much larger process, based on the eight-week study The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation. The purpose of this larger group study is to develop a strategy that, when implemented, will lead to a healthy and thriving congregation.

• Let people know that part of the day will be spent in the large group setting and part of it will be spent in the smaller group setting.

• Read the scripture: II Corinthians 13:10

• Introduce The Essential Players.

• Skit (See Appendix: Session I, Section 1 A)

9:15am

• Pass out the Pocket Reminders: “Set up a Contextual Analysis of Your Church”.

• Have the group count off in fours. Send the ones to a table, the twos to a table, and so on. Be sure to have a facilitator/moderator designated for each small group. Have that person request one volunteer to record what they will report back, and another to make the verbal report.

• Distribute the discussion questions/project to each table. (See Appendix:

Session I, Section 1 B) Announce that the groups will come back together again at 9:35am, and should be prepared to briefly report back their discussion and any findings.

9:35am

• Call the small groups back into the large group. Appoint someone to record the findings up in front where everyone can see them. Ask for someone from each group to report back their work to this large group. Look for commonalities.

10:00am

• Develop a plan of action. Keep a record this plan.

*Example: To form teams or committees assigned to write out, in detail, the church’s history, culture, theology, and relevant experiences in the church’s history. This information will be compiled into one document. This contextual analysis will be made available, in writing, to all leadership in the church to serve as a guide for future decisions.

10:30am

• BREAK

Section 2

10:45am (return to the large group)

• Once again read II Corinthians 13:1-10

• Explain (See Appendix: Session I, Section 2 A)

• Skit The Essential Players (See Appendix: Session I, Section 2 B)

11:00am

• Instruct the group to return to assigned small groups.

• Pass out the discussion questions/project to each table (See Appendix: Session I, Section 2 C)

11:20am

• Have each group report in, demonstrating how they used a contextual analysis. Have someone write each group’s main uses of the contextual analysis so that everyone can see them.

11:45am

• Develop a plan of action for the use of a contextual analysis in the decision making of your church. List some ways it could be helpful to a congregation.

Examples: Developing a mission statement, developing a vision statement, developing core values, developing a welcome statement, pastoral search, programming, etc.

12:15pm

• LUNCH

Section 3

1:00pm

• Read the following scripture passages: Mark 1:14-19

Mark 3: 13-19

Mark 6: 7-12

Matthew 28: 16-20

• Skit (See Appendix: Session I, Section 3 A

• Pass out the Pocket Reminders: “Develop Healthy Leadership”

1:15pm

· Send everyone to their small groups.

· Hand out the discussion questions/project for each table. (See Appendix: Session I, Section 3 B)

1:35pm

· Have the groups report in.

2:00pm

· Develop a plan of action.

2:30pm

· Wrap things up—briefly summarize the action plans.

· Thank everyone for coming.

· Announce the time and date for the next session.

· Close in prayer.

Session II Details

Section 1

9:00am

• Welcome and opening prayer.

• Briefly explain that this is the second part of a much larger process based on the eight-week study The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation. The purpose of the larger groups study is to develop a strategy that, when implemented, will lead to a healthy and thriving congregation.

• Remind people that part of the day will be spent in the large group setting and part of it will be spent in the smaller group setting.

• Read the scripture: Matthew 22:34-40

• Introduce The Essential Players.

• Skit (see Appendix: Session II, Section 1 A)

9:15am

• Pass out the Pocket Reminders: “Practice Loving Relationships”

• Invite them to move to their small groups. You may use the same groups as during the last session, or divide them differently.

• Distribute the discussion questions/project to each table (See Appendix: Session II, Section 1 B).

9:35am

• Call the small groups back into the large group to report back their findings.

10:00am

• Develop a plan of action.

10:30am

• BREAK

Section 2

10:45am (large group setting)

• Read Scripture: Jeremiah 48:11-12

• Skit (See Appendix: Session II, Section 2 A)

• Pass out Pocket Reminders: “Be Willing to Move On and Go Where God Calls You”

11:00am

• Return to the small groups.

• Distribute the discussion questions/project to each table (See Appendix: Session II, Section 2 B )

11:20am

• Return to large group; small groups present reports.

11:45am

• Develop a plan.

12:15pm

• LUNCH

Section 3

1:00pm

• Read the following scripture: Acts 10:1 - 11:18

• Skit (See Appendix: Session II, Section 3 A)

• Pass out the Pocket Reminders: “Open the Doors Wide”

1:15

• Move into the small groups.

• Hand out the discussion questions/project for each table (See Appendix: Session II Section 3 B)

1:35pm

• Have the groups report in to the large group.

2:00pm

• Develop a plan of action.

2:30pm

• Wrap things up—briefly summarize the action plans established.

• Thank everyone for coming!

• Announce the time and date for the third session.

• Close in prayer.

Session III Details

Section 1

9:00am

• Welcome and opening prayer.

• Explain briefly that this is the third part of a much larger process, based on the eight-week study The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation. The purpose of this larger group study is to develop a strategy that, when implemented, will lead to a healthy and thriving congregation.

• Remind people that the day will be spent in both the large and small group settings.

• Read the scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:11-18

• Introduce The Essential Players

• Skit (See Appendix: Session III Section 1 A)

9:15am

• Pass out the Pocket Reminders: “Build Strong Ministry Using Passionate People”.

• Break into small groups.

• Distribute the discussion questions/project to each table (see Appendix: Session III Section 1 B)

9:35am

• Call the groups back into the larger group. Have each group report in.

10:00am

• Develop a plan of action.

10:30am

• BREAK

Section 2

10:45am (Large group)

• Read the Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

• Skit (See Appendix: Session III Section 2 A).

• Pass out Pocket Reminders: Promote a Spirit of Generosity.

11:00am

• Move into small groups.

• Distribute the discussion questions/projects to each table (See Appendix: Session III Section 2 B).

11:20am

• Return to the large group and have the small groups report in.

11:45am

• Develop a plan of action.

12:15am

• LUNCH

Section 3

1:00pm

• Read the following scripture: John 10:10.

• Skit (See Appendix: Session III Section 3 A).

• Pass out the Pocket Reminders: “Reflect the Abundant Life”.

1:15pm

• Instruct everyone to return to their small groups.

• Hand out the discussion questions/project for each table (See Appendix: Session III, Section 3 B).

1:35pm

• Have the groups report in.

2:00pm

• Develop a plan of action.

2:30pm

• Wrap things up—briefly summarize the action plans.

• Briefly summarize the action plans from all three Sessions.

• Thank everyone for coming!

• Close in prayer.