Layout Image
Jan
05

Small group meetings…online

By Ray · Comments (0)

A friend in ministry targeting missional work showed me a great website recently that allows for a number of different uses, with one intriguing one being a small group setting.

This got me to thinking, let’s take a men’s discipleship group.  Calendars can be difficult, the meeting places not always convenitent, but check this out, we could set a time like 6 am Tuesdays, log on to our meeting room and settle in for an hour of study.  But what really made me think is, what if there is a fella that is hours away that needs connecting, or better yet, a mentor in my life who is states away that could facilitate our group.  Wow!

Check it out:  webChurch Media

Have you come accross other resources like this that could be of use?

Categories : Creative Communication, Discipleship, Small Groups/Sunday School
Comments (0)
May
06

Adult Discipleship Class Idea-Coffee Talk

By Ray Griffin · Comments (0)

Perhaps you have a discipleship hour for adults that coincides with a children’s program.  If so, you know the juggle of the kids programming moving on through the end of a semester, but adult classes ending at 4, 6, 8+ week lengths. 

Recently, I tagged on the end of the semester a coffee talk forum for adults with one week discussion topics led by experts in their fields.  One was on the post-modern culture, and another was a discussion about another world religion.  Both of these stand alone classes were very well received, as was the coffee, tea, and snacks!

Now that I have primed the pumped on this style of class, I am looking forward to an expanded version in the upcoming semester with possible one week topics of:

End-time prophecy

The Temple/Tabernacle

Feasts of the Old Testament

Debunking ancient “finds”

World Religions

Take time to poll the church and find issues that are pressing or of interest.  Also, use your pool of church leaders/experts where you are to discuss the topics that would be a blessing for many. 

Let me know anything like this you may have tried, and as always, have fun!

Categories : Discipleship
Comments (0)
Dec
23

Quick Tips for Promoting Adult Discipleship

By Ray Griffin · Comments (0)

If your church is like ours, your small groups/Sunday School classes kind of motor right along with few breaks if any, and seldom any significant shifts.  However, our adult Discipleship classes, called Equip University, have definite stopping and starting points.  You know the ones…these are the classes like:

Financial Peace University, Beth Moore, Men’s Fraternity/Navigators, One on One with God, DivorceCare, Moody Bible Memory, and One Verse Evangelism to name a few.

So how do I capture the momentum of promotion and registration:

1.  We promote the classes online and in all our print.

2.  We have online registration and registration through the offices.

3.  We have a preview night in Worship to allow full church exposure to the new classes offered, and follow this with an opportunity to sign up at the end of the service.

4.  There is a two week break between the preview night and class starts to allow time for the order and arrival of literature and leader kits.

Most of all, get excited.  If you act like this learning growing opportunity is boring and out of touch, well, your experience probably will be.

Categories : Creative Communication, Discipleship
Comments (0)
Dec
23

Quick Discipleship Study Ideas…

By Ray Griffin · Comments (0)

I am pumped about the discipleship classes we offer each semester at our church.  These classes offer the most flexibility, if you will, in getting creative; allowing teachers and the curriculum to stretch a bit.  Here are a couple of examples I am exploring this semester:

1.  Elementary Greek-Yikes, sounds heavy and serious doesn’t it?  But, what a great opportunity.  We plan to offer a short course in Greek like Mounce’s Greek for the Rest of Us.  This will encourage our folks to stretch themselves to search out the history of this language and enhance and expand their personal study of the New Testament.  In a word, cool!  Of those I have asked for interest, it is very positive!

2.  Round Table Discussions. This will be a weekly discussion class in a coffehouse type setting, casual, and relaxed, while focused on serious theological issues, cultural trends, and hot topics led by church and area leaders.

Let me know of any adult classes you have offered that have been new and fun!

Categories : Discipleship
Comments (0)
Dec
13

How to strengthen Families in the Church.

By Ray Griffin · Comments (0)

Here are a few simple things that can impact families right away in your ministry:

1.  Know that you really CAN have a positive impact on families!  There are some great resources available to grease the wheels of this momentum like Reggie Joiner’s site at www.reThinkgroup.org and conferences like www.theorangeconference.com.

2.  Strategically think about all the family groups currently in your church.  How do you strengthen them?  Don’t worry so much about who isn’t there, begin with who is and the different issues that would be great to address, encourage, and promote with your people.

3.  As I have said before, don’t reinvent the wheel.  Listen for special events in your area and jump on board.  If Tommy Nelson is coming to town, or there is a special LifeWay enrichment event, as long as it is Biblically true and sound, get a group and go.

There is so much more that can quickly impact families positively, let me know what works where you serve!

Categories : Discipleship, Marriage and Family
Comments (0)
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Twitter

    follow me on Twitter

    raygriffin.net


    Visit My316.com
    Ray Griffin | Thoughts on Ministry/Life
    Copyright © 2010 All Rights Reserved
    iThemes Builder by iThemes
    Powered by WordPress