Telling Stories……….....
1 ISSUE 4 VOLUME 1
Growing Closer When
We’re Apart………..…2
News & Notes for
Leaders…………..……..2
Telling Stories
Everyone loves a good story...right?
Do you have a favorite story that was
read to you growing up? Maybe one
that you read to your kids?
Stories stimulate our imagination, our
mind creates pictures and we can
relate to what the characters are
experiencing. We use stories to teach
our children about positive character
traits, qualities we want them to
embrace. Jesus used stories to teach
timeless truths about the Father, His
kingdom and the world.
Through stories we also demonstrate
how God is working in the lives of the
people around us. God demonstrates
His love, grace, faithfulness, concern
and involvement in our lives as we hear
stories of what He is doing for people.
We see glimpses of an Almighty, All-
powerful, All-knowing God involved in
the details of our life—transforming our
lives.
We need stories. We need to hear
them, we need to tell them.
March 14, 2010
A weekly publication to encourage and equip
Group Leaders
Group
What stories do you know that you can
focus
share? What is your story? Ask group
members to complete any one or all of
the following statements:
What I like about my group…
What my group means to me…
What I want people to know about
groups…
Why I think people should join a
group…
These stories, your story, demonstrate
God in the business of changing lives—
and we want to share them with others
A form with these questions on it will be
e-mailed to you, it can also be found at
www.NCgrouplife.blogspot.com and
copies can be made in the office to
handout to group members.
Please have your groups answer these
questions in the next two weeks.
Completed forms can be dropped off at
the Connection Center or to the main
office. These stories will be used to
demonstrate God’s work in the lives of
His people.
PRAYER
2
You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable
witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to
pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2
Pray this week for new Leaders. Ask God to show you who you can teach his truth
to so they in turn can pass it on to others. Have you sensed God’s nudge to build
into someone, encourage someone, give opportunity to allow God to use them? Pray
that God will use you to raise up new leaders, teachers, and workers.
Growing Closer
When We’re Apart
...But then I discov-
ered that whenever I
made a midweek con-
nection with a group
member, be was sure
to attend and partici-
pate in our next meet-
ing. Here are some
things my wife and I
have done to help our
group grow closer
when we’re apart.
Visit them at work. I’m
interested in what people
do for a living—and people
are usually eager to show
me this part of their lives. I
ask when is the best time
for me to visit them at work,
so they can show me
Nuts & Bolts for
Group Leaders
We are past the half-way
point of this first semester
of Groups! Wow, it’s gone
fast, but we’re hearing
GREAT things!
Most groups will end the last
week of April. May will be
promotion month for Summer
groups and the week of June 6
our Summer Groups will begin.
Questions to ask yourself or to
talk about with
your coordinator?
How well are
but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
No matter what I did to make our meetings dynamic, it
didn’t guarantee people would attend or interact...
around. When I show interest in
their work, people seem more will-
ing to share other parts of their
lives as well.
Socialize with them. It’s often while
playing and laughing together that
we let our guard down and allow
our real selves to come out. Play
sports together. Attend a retreat.
Go to a concert. Camp overnight.
Take a day hike. Play laser tag.
Serve them. There are obvious
times when people need help—
during illness or when facing a big
move, for example. But don’t over-
look opportunities to be kind in
small ways as well. My wife some-
times offers to baby sit so that
young mothers in our group have
people interacting with one
another?
Is there anything I can do to
improve the interaction
between members of the
group? Are members caring
for each other, praying for
each other?
Are group members learning,
making friends, enjoying being
together?
Am I encouraging members to
take next steps in their spiritual
journey?
Are we accomplishing our
purpose as a group—lifegroup,
studygroup, playgroup?
Did the group dynamic change
after we did something fun
together? After we served
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do,
Hebrews 10:25
time to be alone, go shopping, and
so on.
Write them. Personal, handwritten
notes are becoming a rarity—and
thus precious. I do four things to
make the most of my notes to
group members. I pray for God to
guide my words. I focus on encour-
agement. I include a verse of
Scripture. I tell them I have prayed
for them.
Call them. Many times my wife calls
other women in our group just to
connect briefly—and to have a
same adult conversation after
hours of dialoguing with children.
Casual phone calls communicate,
“You’re my friend.”
together? For better?
What stories can we tell?
What will happen at the end of
April?
• Do I want to continue to
lead?
• Does my group want to
stay together?
• Is there someone in my
group that could lead a
group of their own?
Our hope is that your group
has been a positive
experience for you so far.
Your Team Leader will be
contacting you soon to talk
about your future plans as a
leader and as a group.
We are always wanting to
improve what we are doing, so
Intercede for them. A key to effec-
tive intercession is to identify with
those for whom we pray. What’s
going on in their lives? Are they
lonely? Stressed out with parent-
ing? Struggling in a shaky mar-
riage? Tempted to work to do
something unethical? Put yourself
in their place as your pray
-Brian Mavis
Best Small Group Ideas (vol. 2)
Compiled by Susan Nikaido
God takes full
responsibility for the
life wholly devoted to
Him.
- Charles Stanley
if you have suggestions, ways
we can equip you or communi-
cate with you better, please
share these with your Team
Leader.
May God continue to
encourage you, strengthen
you and direct you in ways to
make a difference in the lives
of someone else.
You are the salt of the earth
and the light of the world.