There are many components that go into a fruitful small group experience such as bible study, prayer, fellowship, and caring for each other. While all of these elements are of great importance, the small groups team believes that level of authenticity and vulnerability among the group members is one of the key factors to maximize biblical community.

We ran across a list of questions that will help you and your group evaluate how you’re doing at pursuing authenticity and vulnerability with each other. In the coming weeks, pick 2-3 of these questions and work through them together in your small group. These questions are great for cultivating and maintaining authentic relationships in your small group!

• When was the last time you celebrated a victory over sin of another group member another group member’s victory over sin?
• When was the last time you admonished another member of your group in the area of speech, conduct, love, faith or purity?
• When was the last time you shared with your group what you personally read, learned and applied in your life from God’s word?
• When was the last time you discussed a spending decision with your group?
• When was the last time you discussed a giving decision with your group?
• Could you name the “Achilles heels” of others in your group? Could others name your’s?
• In what ways are you encouraging their growth in these areas?
• How have you helped them live wisely/be accountable based on your awareness?
• When is the last time you discussed, as spouses, the strengths and weaknesses of each other’s marriage?
• What was the last conflict in the group and how was it handled?
• When was the last time someone had to ask for forgiveness from the group?

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” Philemon 7

The more I reflect upon Paul’s letter to Philemon the more I see powerful relevance and application that relates to small group leadership. If you weren’t at our closing leaders community this past Sunday we wanted you to hear something very important that we communicated to our leaders.

The small groups team wants to extend our great thanks to you as leaders for doing what Paul commends Philemon, that is, for “refreshing the hearts of the saints”. The word that Paul uses for heart conveys a deeply emotional sentiment (literally: “inward parts”). As you know, the Colossian church met in Philemon’s home. Philemon wasn’t the senior pastor of the community and he may not have even been an elder but because of the Christ-like love he shared with the folks in his home, the body had benefited immensely. Leaders, you may not realize this but you have refreshed the hearts of so many of the folks whom you lead, whether it be through prayer or follow up to a prayer request, a kind encouraging word or through facilitating a fruitful discussion. We want you to know that you are valued and that your ministry magnifies our great God and savior.

We also want to thank everyone who was able to make it to the leaders community over the past 3 Sunday’s. As a small group team we are very curious about which leaders took the opportunity to break and how many groups continued to meet without their leader. If you have a story about what God did in your life personally over the break or how the group benefited during this time, please email your staff contact to share that with us. We are also interested in getting feedback about the leaders community so that we are able to maximize the effectiveness of that time to best serve you as leaders.