6: When Your Group is Big

06/01/23 • 26 min

In this episode, Kurt Garceau, Jake Rosekopf, and Jermaine Sheppherd talk about some of the practical upsides and downsides of having a big Community Group, as well as tools and skills for Community Group Leaders to utilize to make sure their group is healthy, vibrant, and growing.
EPISODE NOTES:
Community Groups at Vox Church, on average, range from 5-20 people.
Upsides of a big Community Group:

Increased chances of connecting with someone who is like you.
Increase of different life experiences and perspectives so people can learn and grow more.
Increase of opportunity to do fun things with a big group.
Increase of opportunity to meet each other’s needs.
Increased opportunity to develop future group leaders.
Increased community between members outside of the group.

Downsides of a big Community Group:

Potential for a lack of space.
Potential for a lack of participation.
Potential for a lack of shepherding.
Potential for a lack of attendance.
Potential for a lack of childcare.

Practical Tools and Skills:

Subgroup - Start your group time together for fellowship, worship and if you have a video to show for the Bible Study. Then break into multiple groups (subgroups) during your discussion time. We suggest breaking up by gender and in groups of 8-10 for greater participation and deeper discussion. Make sure you have a sub-group leader prepared for discussion. (This is a great tool to actually find future group leaders) Come back together at the end of the discussion time and someone report from each group the highlights of their discussion. Pray to end the time together.
Multiply - Recruit more leaders to take on more leadership roles within the group, or develop another leader who can either launch his/her own group, or take a small part of the group and start a new one. Be proactive instead of reactive, and you'll never let your group become “too” big.
Split up responsibilities - What a great way to relieve the burden for a few people to do all the work required for a big group. This will create teamwork, a spirit of serving, and more committed group members who feel a part of the group.
Recognition/communication of the size of the group needs talked about every so often. This will give people an opportunity to speak up if they believe the group is getting bigger than they are comfortable with. There are options! (Subgroup, multiply)

Check out our Vox Groups Leader Resource on RightNow Media for more practical tools to lead healthy, vibrant, growing Community Groups. https://app.rightnowmedia.org/.../interact.../863245/details

If you don't have access to RightNow Media join today: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/VoxChurch
Keep connected with other CGLs & Coaches by joining our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NHVCGLsCoaches

Increased chances of connecting with someone who is like you.
Increase of different life experiences and perspectives so people can learn and grow more.
Increase of opportunity to do fun things with a big group.
Increase of opportunity to meet each other’s needs.
Increased opportunity to develop future group leaders.
Increased community between members outside of the group.

Downsides of a big Community Group:

Potential for a lack of space.
Potential for a lack of participation.
Potential for a lack of shepherding.
Potential for a lack of attendance.
Potential for a lack of childcare.

Practical Tools and Skills:

Subgroup - Start your group time together for fellowship, worship and if you have a video to show for the Bible Study. Then break into multiple groups (subgroups) during your discussion time. We suggest breaking up by gender and in groups of 8-10 for greater participation and deeper discussion. Make sure you have a sub-group leader prepared for discussion. (This is a great tool to actually find future group leaders) Come back together at the end of the discussion time and someone report from each group the highlights of their discussion. Pray to end the time together.
Multiply - Recruit more leaders to take on more leadership roles within the group, or develop another leader who can either launch his/her own group, or take a small part of the group and start a new one. Be proactive instead of reactive, and you'll never let your group become “too” big.
Split up responsibilities - What a great way to relieve the burden for a few people to do all the work required for a big group. This will create teamwork, a spirit of serving, and more committed group members who feel a part of the group.
Recognition/communication of the size of the group needs talked about every so often. This will give people an opportunity to speak up if they believe the group is getting bigger than they are comfortable with. There are options! (Subgroup, multiply)

If you don't have access to RightNow Media join today: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/VoxChurch
Keep connected with other CGLs & Coaches by joining our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NHVCGLsCoaches

Previous Episode

5: Life together beyond gatherings

In this episode, Kurt Garceau, Jake Rosekopf, and Mickeve Regis talk about the importance of connection and community beyond the regular group gathering and offer many practical ideas to accomplish it.

EPISODE NOTES:
WHY should we focus on life together beyond the gathering?
- Follows the example of Jesus with his disciples.
- Creates family & satisfies the longing everyone has for community.
- Fosters greater authenticity inside gathering time.
- Encourages better attendance at the Community Group gathering.
- It’s a way to invite new people to join your group.
- Growth happens in the context of community.
HOW can we accomplish life together beyond the gathering?

1. COMMUNICATION

Texts and Group Texts
GroupMe
WhatsApp
Instagram
Create a Facebook group
Email chain

2. FELLOWSHIP

Dinner out together
Grill in the backyard and play outdoor games.
Go to a sports game together, or watch a game at someone’s house.
Host a game night.
Go on walks/hikes together and include kids if applicable.
Go boating together.
Mini golf, frisbee golf, virtual golf, regular golf
Trips - Camping trip, Beach trip, Mystic Trip, NYC trip, Boston Trip
Celebrate milestones - birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a child/grandchild, graduations, retirement, and baptisms.
Meet for coffee at a local coffee shop.
Go to a movie or watch a movie at someone’s house.
Go out to lunch after church on Sunday.
Celebrate holidays together – Examples: Christmas Party, Friendsgiving

3. SERVING TOGETHER

Join a servant team and serve together at your campus.
Outreach opportunities (listen to Episode #5 for ideas).
Being there for each other in times of need, heartbreak.
Reach out to members who are sick - Get well soon cards, texts, phone calls.

If you don't have access to RightNow Media join today: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/VoxChurch
Keep connected with other CGLs & Coaches by joining our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NHVCGLsCoaches

Next Episode

7: Summer Plans

In this episode, Kurt Garceau and Jake Rosekopf talk about the pros and cons of different summer plans for Community Groups as well as offer practical ideas for each.
EPISODE NOTES:
1. Some groups keep meeting throughout the summer
IDEAS:

Study "one another" passages and creatively live them out together.
Have a night where people share their testimonies.
Have a worship/prayer night.
Involve the kids in the study.

2. Some groups change their frequency of meetings and/or location.
IDEAS:

If you meet weekly, try bi-weekly. If you meet bi-weekly try once a month.
Schedule group time around people’s schedules and vacations.
Take advantage of the weather! Meet at a beach or a park!
If someone has a pool, meet at their house for a pool party/Bible study.
Grill out on someone’s deck and have your Bible study there.

3. Some groups take a break until the fall.

IDEAS:

Keep communication ongoing throughout the summer.
Make sure everyone knows the fall re-start date and plan!

4. Some groups meet occasionally and do fun things together.
IDEAS:

Decide to meet every other Friday at someone’s house for dinner and a movie, or get a projector, set up a white sheet, and watch a movie together outside.
Watch the 4th of July fireworks together.
BBQ at someone’s house together.
Sit around a fire and make s’mores together.
Serve together. (To find out how, listen to Episode #4)
Take a day trip to the coast, mountains, or nearby state/national park together.
Decide to sit together at church and then head out for the beach after church.
More ideas are listed in Episode #5.