Small Groups and Ministry Teams within a Congregation

1. Canadian Ministries
Leading Moments, LLC
Centered Hearts
&

2. Doxological
Koinonial Missional
A 3-D
Vision

3. Dynamic Shift Number 8] Shift from
primarily audience-oriented programming
(e.g. worship services, classes) to a
balance of audience-oriented ministry and
face-to-face ministry (e.g. small groups,
one-one-one spiritual direction).

4. TRANSFORMATION SHIFTS
that promote FELLOWSHIP
SHIFT # 4 from EMPHASIS ON
FRIENDLINESS to MINISTRY OF
FRIENDLINESS AND HOSPITALITY!
SHIFT # 8 from PRIMARILY
AUDIENCE- ORIENTED
PROGRAMMING to BALANCE OF
AUDIENCE – ORIENTED
AND
FACE TO FACE MINISTRY
SHIFT # 9 from ADDING NEW
PEOPLE TO ESTABLISHED GROUPS
to ADDING NEW GROUPS
PAGE 7-1

5. BALANCING
LARGE GROUP SMALL GROUP
AUDIENCE ORIENTED FACE TO FACE
HIGH INSPIRATION DEEP SUPPORT
ANONYMITY INTIMACY in safe place
MANY ACQUAINTANCES QUALITY FRIENDSHIPS
EXPECTATION- God among us INTROSPECTION- God working
in me
HEARING TALKING

6. Small Group Life

7. BEYOND COFFEE & DONUTS

8. Doxological
Koinonial Missional
The 3-D Church

9. Sometimes we have to re-
think the structures and
approaches that have
successfully inspired spiritual
growth in our past
“In times of rapid change what
you know can mislead you.”

10. Small Groups grow faith,
Friends of the Road and of
the heart, and a desire to
serve others.

11. WORD
SHARE
PRAYER
Send to ministry and mission
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott
Small Group Life

12. Some small group basics.
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

13. “For where two or three come
together in my name, there am I with
them.”
Matthew 18:20
Size: Typically 7 to 10 people. A small
group may be as few as 2 or 3.
Meeting Frequency : Once a week.
Every other week minimally.
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

14. A Small Group
grows disciples
and meets need.
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

15. The Small Group is the
ultimate place of
need-responsive ministry in
the church
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

16. How to Build a Small Group
Step 1: Gain the support of your
pastor, leader or ruling board as
appropriate.
Step 2
Invite from2-3 or 7-10 people,
using either the private approach
or the public approach.
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

17. WORD
SHARE
PRAYER
Step 4: Pattern ongoing meetings with the Discipleship Triangle
Send to ministry and mission
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

18. Prayer:
Subject by subject
Specific
Simple
Short sentences
Silence is OK
Speak up
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

19. Leadership
During the meeting the leader:
Keeps the group on schedule Is
sensitive to the needs of people.
Facilitates discussion
Between meetings the leader:
Ensures follow-up
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

20. Implications
For Jesus Christ, the small group
was not simply an extra activity
inserted into life. No matter what
life demands, make every effort
to begin or get into a small group.
Priority - what will you
accomplish in ministry no matter
what else happens?
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

21. Organizing a
multiplication of small
groups – the Small
Group Movement
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

22. Birthing Strategies
for
New Small Groups
the small group
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

23. Birthing Strategies for New
Small Groups
the small group
Birthing New Groups Using the 5+2 Format
Birthing a new group around an event
Birthing a new group around a leader
Birthing a new group around a topic or a
curriculum
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott

24. Ministry Teams

25. Dynamic Shift Number 10: Shift from a
"leader-using" ministry to a "leader-
developing" ministry; from committees to
ministry teams.

26. Committees (good ones) are characterized by one
priority:
A Task Orientation
• Clear Vision
• Individual Work Assignments
• Timelines and Deadlines
This is all good! What is lacking?

27. The Power of Ministry Teams:
A ministry team is a leadershp group that
grows the discipleship of its members
and the friendships among them while
accomplishing its vision and enables a
continuity of leadership.

28. Question:
Suppose you are a part of a committee or a group that
works to accomplish some vision such as organize
luncheons or oversee the sanctuary sound system or lead a
Sunday school class.
Is there anyone or anything your committee/group does
that deliberately, intentionally, consistently works to
encourage your personal growth as a disciple-follower of
Jesus Christ?

29. •
Three Huge Questions:
•Where in the life of your congregation can people talk
regularly with other believers on a face-to-face basis about
matters of the Spirit?
• Where can they share the ordinary experiences of their
lives with one another in an environment conducive for
interpersonal prayer and be most present to one another in
times of difficulty?
• What percent of your active adult congregation are
involved in some kind of face-to-face fellowship (not
including groups, committees or classes that exceed 14 in
number)?

30. Biblical Pictures of Ministry Teams
Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. Isaiah 21:9

31. The Session
Pastor Moderates/Leads
Model the practices of a ministry team

32. Vision Team
Pastor or Executive Director led
Works with and is subordinate to Session
People of imagination and initiative
Model the practices of a ministry team

33. Staff Team
Pastor led
People of imagination and initiative
Model the practices of a ministry team

34. MinistryTeam
Led by individuals with passion for the vision,
people eyes and leadership ability
Works with and is subordinate to Session
People of imagination and initiative
Model the practices of a ministry team

35. All Teams
Three Dimensional – God, each other & work
Model the practices of a ministry team

36. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
Ministry Team Life =
Small Group + Work
MT = +
MT = Small + Committee
Group
Work

37. Ministry Teams
- five centering practices

38. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
Five Centering Practices that enable us
to:
“Be the people of God before we do the
work of the people of God”

39. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
Five Centering Practices:
Seven Threads of Team Relationships
Team Disciplines:
*Word-Share-Prayer
*Prayer Partners
*Shared Meals
*Annual Retreats (or
regular retreats)

40. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
The Seven Threads
of
Ministry Team Relationships
Chapter 7: Transform Your Church with Ministry Teams

41. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
1.Thread One: Spiritual Disciplines
2.Thread Two: Face-to-Face Relationships
3.Thread Three: Confidentiality
4.Thread Four: Communication
5.Thread Five: Clear Expectations
6.Thread Six: “Loose –Tight”
7.Thread Seven: Loving loyalty

42. WORD
SHARE
PRAYER
Send to ministry and mission
© 2004 E. Stanley Ott
4-7 weeks 90 Days of Prayer Discipleship Essentials (Ogden)
WSP Destiny series Unbinding Your Soul (Reese)
Increasing Level of Commitment
Word-Share-Prayer – 20 Minutes

43. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
Rotating Prayer Covenants
Lord,
Grant me and ____ the grace today to
commit our lives to the Lordship of Jesus
Christ without reservation, and grant me
____ further the grace to know your
strength and your guidance this day.
Amen.

44. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
The Quarterly Shared Meal
(or more often)
Jesus often enjoyed the
“deipnon” – translated supper
or dinner – means “the
lingering meal” – a time of
relationship building.

45. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
Annual or regular Retreats
Often in homes or retreat facilties
Friday evening – begin after supper with a WSP
and then talk briefly about your ministry – and
play a game.
Saturday morning – a short WSP followed by
planning until 12. Then go home!

46. Layering

47. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
Team Work
Planning – Circle of Vision
PPT
Cynevin Cycle
Vision-Goals-Plans
Personnel responsibilities

48. Key to leadership in a time of
change
is the spirit of humility inquiry
and of mobility.
We balance fixity and mobility
We value one another.
We are open to fresh ideas.
We are willing try new things

49. © 2013 E. Stanley Ott
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - Lencioni

50. Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Team Player
– Patrick Lencioni