The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation

A Leader’s Guide

Suggestions for Your Group Gathering:

• Maintain a setting for honest and open discussion rather than an instructional setting. In order to do so, focus on asking open ended questions rather than closed ended ones. For example, choose questions that allow for more than one answer, such as: “How do you think our church might work toward accomplishing this?” A close ended question typically allows only for one answer: “Do we do this in our church?”

• Suggested group rules may include, and are not limited to:

Ø Confidentiality: what is shared in the group stays in the group

Ø Recognizing everyone’s view as sacred and worthy of respect

Ø Begin and end on time

Ø Take turns sharing so that everyone is listening respectfully

Ø Recognize that silence is an acceptable way to participate - no one will be required to share

Choose your group rules carefully. They should offer safety and security to your group without excluding or becoming invasive.

• Set a time for these gatherings. It is suggested that one and a half to two hours be allotted for each study. You may wish to adjust this time to best meet the needs of your group.

• Establish a setting that is conducive to discussion. Since you will ask people to bring their study completed each week, an informal circle or “U” shape might work well. You want to avoid people having to turn around to look at whoever is talking.

• Refreshments: Some groups will enjoy a time of refreshments following the session. The leader may ask if anyone would like to volunteer to bring treats for the next week.

• Begin and end with prayer. You may want to ask for a volunteer to lead in a five to seven minute opening meditation before each session. If you choose to do this, it is best to ask for volunteers the week before, in order to give participants time to prepare.

Remember, these are only suggestions. You may wish to add to the list as you see a need.

Session One

Set up a Contextual Analysis of Your Congregation

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on such as a dry erase board or large newsprint

-Markers to write with

-Bible(s)

• Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone

• Open with prayer/meditation

• Establish any ground rules (suggested above)

• Explain the process of what each session will look like including: the start time, the devotional time, the expectation to have each assignment completed in advance, the closing and refreshments.

• Hand out the study so that each participant has one.

• Read over the Introduction together.

• Ask: How many of you enjoy putting puzzles together? (Watch for hands to go up) Could you imagine trying to put a puzzle together if you didn’t have the picture on the box? (wait for responses) Could you do it? (wait for responses) In order to put a puzzle together we need to have the big picture don’t we? This evening we’re going to talk about putting together the big picture of our congregation. The puzzle pieces include our church’s history, culture, theology, and experiences. Let’s begin reading together and see if we can begin to put some of this puzzle into place.

• Have people take turns and read through the scriptures at the top.

• Ask who would like to begin reading the actual study. Have people take turns, but give the OK for folks to not read out loud if they are not comfortable with it.

• When the study has been read through out loud, begin to facilitate the questions for reflection. Write some of the responses so that everyone can see them. For example, when you ask, “So, what is the history of our church?” (write down the responses) Encourage people to write their own responses in the space provided in their studies.

• Allow for different people to respond to these questions. If someone seems to be dominating the conversation ask, “What do some others think?”

• Ask: Do we need to take some time and actually set up this contextual analysis? Would we need a team of people to do so? Who might be on that team? Do we have any volunteers from this group to take on this project?

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Assign the next study for the following session.

• You may wish to ask who would like to open the group with a prayer or meditation the next session, and who would like to provide refreshments (if you choose to go that route).

*Refreshments are optional. If you decide to have a time of refreshments each week, you will likely be the one to bring them that first week.

*If people don’t seem comfortable bringing the opening prayer/meditation, you may need to come prepared to lead that time each week.

Session Two

Develop Healthy Leadership

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

• Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone.

• Opening prayer/meditation

• A reminder of the ground rules from the week before.

• Ask: What are some traits you automatically think of when you hear the word: LEADERSHIP? (write these down for everyone to see).

• Have the scripture read out loud.

• Take turns reading through the study (for those who wish to read).

• Go through the questions for reflection. List responses to the first two regarding Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler where everyone can see them.

• After going through the questions ask: “How do you think we could develop CART leadership in our church?”

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Assign the next study for the next session.

• You may wish to ask for a volunteer to lead in the opening prayer/meditation for the next session, and for a volunteer to bring refreshments.

Session Three:

Practice Loving Relationships

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

• Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone.

• Opening prayer/meditation

• A reminder (if necessary) about ground rules).

• Ask: Why do you think churches should develop a culture of love and appreciation? (write responses where everyone can see them).

• Read through the scripture.

• Read through the material for this session.

• Go through the Questions for Reflection (write the responses to the last question where everyone can see them).

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Assign the next study for the next session.

• You may wish to ask for a volunteer to lead in the opening prayer/meditation for the next session, and for a volunteer to bring refreshments.

Session Four

Be Willing to Move On and Go Where God Calls You

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

• Signal the opening by welcoming everyone to the fourth study.

• Opening prayer/meditation

• By now you shouldn’t have to remind them of the ground rules, but if you believe it’s still necessary, do so at this time.

• Ask: Is there any time in your life that you felt God’s distinct call to move on? Do we have a volunteer to share that personal experience with us? (limit to one person due to time constraints.)

• Read through the scripture.

• Read through the study.

• Go through the Questions for Reflection.

• Where everyone can see it, write down the three choices listed in the seventh question. Then ask which one they circled. Keep a tally to see how similar or different their views are.

• If time permits, spend some extra time on the last question (You may wish to write down the responses where everyone can see them).

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Assign the next study for the next session.

• You may wish to ask for a volunteer to lead in the opening prayer/meditation for the next session, and for a volunteer to bring refreshments.

Session Five

Open the Doors Wide

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

• Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone to the half-way mark in this series of studies.

• Opening prayer/meditation

• Ask them to make a list of every kind of door they can think of: Write them where everyone can see them.

• Read the scripture.

• Read through the study.

• Go through the Questions for Reflection. Spend some extra time talking about what kind invisible doors might be at your church (Refer to the list of doors you made earlier—allow time for discussion).

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Assign the next study for the next session.

• You may wish to ask for a volunteer to lead in the opening prayer/meditation for the next session and a volunteer to bring refreshments.

Session Six

Build Strong Ministry Using Passionate People

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

• Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone.

• Opening prayer/meditation

• Ask: Has anyone ever been involved in an area of ministry that they felt very uncomfortable with? What made you uncomfortable? What do you suppose happens to a church that places warm bodies into open positions without considering people’s passions (record the responses to this last question where everyone can see them).

• Read the scripture.

• Read through the study.

• Go through the Questions for Reflection.

• List responses to the last question where others can see them (Allow time for discussion).

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Assign the next study for the next session.

• You may wish to ask for a volunteer to lead in the opening prayer/meditation for the next session and a volunteer to bring refreshments.

Study Seven

Promote a Spirit of Generosity

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

· Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone.

· Opening prayer/meditation

· Ask: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “giving” in regard to the church? Record answers where everyone can see them.

· Read the scripture.

· Read the study.

· Go through the Questions for Reflection.

· Ask: What has this study opened our eyes to that is different than what is written up on the board? Allow for some discussion as time allows.

· Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

· Assign the final study.

· Remind them that you will (if you have chosen to do this) meet a final time in order to begin to put a plan into place. This plan will involve setting up long term and short term goals that have come out of this study.

· You may wish to ask for a volunteer to lead in the opening prayer/meditation for the next session and a volunteer to bring refreshments.

Session Eight

Reflect the Abundant Life

As the group leader:

• 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

Suggested Materials:

-Something large to write on

-Markers

-Bible(s)

• Signal the beginning by welcoming everyone. Remind them that there will be one more session (if you desire to do this) to help put a plan into place.

• Opening prayer/meditation

• Ask: Why is it important for us to be balanced in our lives in regard to the physical, mental, emotional, sexual and spiritual aspects of the SELF. What happens when we are out of balance? Write these responses where everyone can see them.

• Read the scripture.

• Read through the study.

• Go through the Questions for Reflection. List, where everyone can see them, the responses to “How does your church promote healthy living?”

• Ask: So, for clarification, how does the way we take care of our personal selves influence our church?

• Bring things to a close and end in prayer.

• Thank everyone for their participation in these studies! If your church will continue with this study, you may wish to announce the scheduled date for The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation; Developing a Strategy for Success session(s), as determined by your church leadership. Take a moment to explain what the last session is about. (This will be the opportunity to put a plan into place for your congregation, based on the Eight Essentials you have learned over the past sessions.)

• If you are not doing a last session, take some time to talk about how these studies have impacted people in the group, and how they might impact the church.