November 7: Community Groups Huddle - NOTES
We loved having leaders join us on November 7 for a conversation about what it can look like for our groups to be more missional. Here is the the information that we used to help guide our discussion.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
Engaging Our World.
How are we to engage our world as committed followers of Christ? How do we reach coworkers, other students, neighbors or people we meet during our day? As community group leaders, how do we inspire members in our groups to reach out to others?
Having a missional mindset is not something we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life. We are called to “love our neighbor” and “be prepared to give a defense for our hope.” But perhaps the fear of messing up can keep us from ever reaching out to someone else.
We don’t have to reach perfection to share our joy with others and we don’t need a ten step plan. We can be missional in everyday ways. Many times a smile, a listening ear and a genuine interest in the other person is a great way to start. Here are some ways:
Walk, Don’t Drive.
If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your campus, neighborhood, or apartment complex. Instead of driving to the mailbox or convenience store, walk to get mail, groceries, and coffee. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don’t know.
Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog or bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Spend time in your front yard. Take genuine interest in your neighbors. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet, and some people.
Know Your Neighbors.
Challenge yourself and your family to get to know your neighbors by name. Even the guy across the street whose dog barks all night. Or the family up the road with yard signs you don’t agree with. Have a BBQ or help organize a neighborhood get together. Garage sales are another great way to connect with neighbors you normally don’t see. Pray for your neighbors by name.
Be a Regular.
Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Go to the same places at the same times and get to know the staff. Smile. Ask open ended questions. Be a regular.
Many people I’ve met over the years who are serving coffee or working the register at a store may have a challenging attitude. A friendly smile or word of encouragement can make a huge difference in their day and open up wonderful opportunities for future conversations. Build relationships. Be a regular.
Hobby with Non-Christians.
Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with people you don’t yet know. Try city league sports or take a cooking class. Share your hobby by teaching lessons. Teach sewing, piano, violin, guitar, knitting or tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Be yourself and have fun.
Talk to Your Co-workers.
Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form a Mom’s group in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively Christian. Schedule play dates with your and your neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.
Volunteer with Non-Profits.
Find a good cause in your part of the city and take one day or evening a month to serve your community. Non-profits are always looking for volunteers. Invite your neighbors, your friends, or your family. Spend time with your community group serving your city. Once a month. You can do it!
Participate in City Events.
Instead of watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, clean-ups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversations. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.
Serve Your Neighbors.
Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, fixing a car. Make it a family event. Are there seniors or handicapped people in your neighborhood? Take your family and rake someone’s leaves. Before long winter weather will give us plenty of opportunities to make friends. Grab a snow shovel and help clean someone’s walkway.
How do we keep this conversation alive in our community groups? As leaders, what are some ways we can encourage our groups along the way?
Lead by example. Do it yourself, and share experiences with the group.
Start small, share one person that you will pray for that week. Follow up.
Keeping this as a focus. Talk about it regularly. Group chat. Place an expectation on the group to notice others around them. Pray about it.
Just go with it. Don’t wait for 100% participation to do a project. Make specific plans to be missional and invite others to join.
Be AWARE. Find needs in neighborhoods, workplaces, friendships. As a group, meet that need.
Recognize how each person is spiritually gifted, and serve in that way. Ask about members’ hobbies/interests, find needs in those groups.
Challenge your group! At the end of each meeting, come up with a challenge based on paper. Start or end each meeting to talk about a “good-news story.” Ask group to pray for someone in particular.
Serve one another within your group. (paint, clean, make meals)
Recruit another group to come along.
Be vulnerable about the challenges / fears / hesitations each of you have. Discuss them and pray about it.