Jul 11
19
Hello Gospel Community Group Leaders and welcome. What an exciting time for Emmaus Christian Fellowship. Below is a basic guide for the structure of our first meeting. Each week I will update the blog with a new guide and information for that particular week. Feel free to use this guide as much as you feel comfortable. However, please do not disregard it completely, as I would like all of the groups to be on the same page. So please make it a point to check the blog at least once a week.
Sample outline for 1st meeting
1. Prior to meeting with your group, make sure to review the handouts given at the GCG training. This will help you remember the priorities of the group. Review Cloud and Townsend’s Part 4 if you have not already done so. Reflect on the picture model that I handed out and ask the Lord to guide you and give you wisdom as we begin these groups. A recap of the top 7 group priorities are
-Think Life Change
-Cultivate Relationships
-Promote Group Involvement
-Identify Replacements
-Provide Guidance and Care
-Monitor Environment for Love, Acceptance, and Honesty.
-Don’t Neglect Your Personal Spiritual Life
2. Before you start your group, be sure to spend some time in deep and thoughtful prayer. Pray for your group members, the direction of the group, Gods changing power within the group, etc.
3. Begin the group with an introduction of yourself and all the others in the group.
4. Spend the first portion of the group explaining what we tend to accomplish throughout the duration of these groups. Feel free to refer to any of the handouts from the training.
5. Next, spend some time explaining what is expected of each group member by referring to Cloud and Townsend part 5. Allow this to be a time of open discussion as we want everyone to understand their role in the group. A suggestion would be to use each of Cloud and Townsend’s topics one by one; introduce the topic, explain the topic, and get feedback on how the group feels about each topic. Cloud and Townsend list 13 topics beginning on pg. 193
6. Finally, spend some time in open fellowship. Just hang out for a while and get to know one another. Remember, our focus is not on strict curriculum or firm structure, it is about molding oneanother into the image of Christ by oneanothering and truthing in love. Relationships are central.
7. End in prayer.
*Contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am praying for you all and am so excited to see how God is going to change lives in our Gospel Community Groups. To God be the Glory. Grace and Peace to you all.
-Russell
Glen and I would like to sign up for the mixed group community group with Dave and Kathy Andy…how do we sign up
There will be sign up sheets in the back. Place your contact info on the sheet and either I or Cathy will contact you. Thank you for your interest in Gospel Community Groups!
Russell