How to Lead a Skeptic- and Seeker-Friendly Study.
Gather a Like-Minded Team
Gather a Like-Minded Team
Gather a Like-Minded Team
The Chosen Study Team
is a small group with a big purpose.
It is made up of those who have seen something “different” in Jesus and want others to experience that difference as well. The team prays, plans, oversees the meal and invites others to come.
Choose the Film/Study
Gather a Like-Minded Team
Gather a Like-Minded Team
There are two series to choose from:
THE CHOSEN SERIES
THE BIBLE SERIES
Jesus called his followers students. That's who we are and what we do. Series are ten weeks and combine film with the study of Scripture passages.
Invite your Friends
Gather a Like-Minded Team
Invite your Friends
Invite the religious, skeptics, the non-religious, seekers—you name it. This is to be a fun, interactive place that welcomes everyone and respects all viewpoints. We're not here to judge but to stir up discussion and hear out perspectives that are different than ours!
Plan for Food
Review & Multiple your Efforts
Facilitate the Group Process
Our study has the larger purpose of connecting us to God AND to each other. It's hard to think of something that brings people together more than sharing food and the interaction that goes with it. So, we encourage starting with a meal, potluck or finger food.
Facilitate the Group Process
Review & Multiple your Efforts
Facilitate the Group Process
The leader isn't an expert or doesn't need to be a trained teacher. The leader's role is to invite, to welcome people with hospitality and to facilitate the group process with questions. The goal is to lead a productive conversation centering on the main points. See here.
Review & Multiple your Efforts
Review & Multiple your Efforts
Review & Multiple your Efforts
We suggest, early on, you check schedules to plan for the last gathering for a REVIEW--to have some fun, evaluate your experience and celebrate your time.
And then...
look to invite more people to the NEXT CHOSEN STUDY you lead!
The Leader's Core Jesus Study Team
Where to start?
For ongoing input, connect with other likeminded leaders by joining our zoom community. You can begin with just one friend, one-on-one, or look to gather together a new or existing small group. Also see the Resources tab.
The Jesus Study Team
is a small group with a big purpose.
Draw together a core group made up of those who have seen something “different” in Jesus and want others to experience that difference. The team meets together regularly (shoot for weekly) to support the group process and pray. They plan, oversee the food, and invite friends and family to join in. This team can take on the following roles:
--The Group Leader oversees the group’s study and discussion process, and seeks to foster one-on-one friendship evangelism and discipleship within the group. We encourage the Group Leader to send out weekly emails and to model servant/leadership within the group.
--Meal Organizer oversees the food. Many groups provide sign-up sheets for ongoing “potluck theme nights.” Meal Organizers can also keep in touch during the week with group emails. (The first meal will likely be something like a pizza night instead of a planned potluck.)
--Set-Up/Sign-Up/Name Tag/Greeter should be designated, especially for larger groups. For the people who may not feel comfortable at first, you’ll want to extend hospitality and friendship from the start.
--“Tech Person” to oversee film presentation and casting to the TV.
--Small Group Facilitators (for larger studies—eight or more) oversee their group. It is best to sit around small tables with just four to six others (and separate spouses), rotating members weekly.
As interest grows
When a group begins larger or grows (to say, a dozen or so), the larger size presents unique challenges and opportunities. Small groups provide a depth of intimacy that gives members more of a chance to participate. Larger groups can bring together those small groups and offer a breath of give-and-take sharing that highlights the best insights.
Getting the best of both dynamics (meeting in small groups within a larger group context) allows the facilitator to act in the role of a “dialogical (not mono-logical) teacher,” bringing together main points from the small groups and pressing their implications home in the larger group gathering.
As a group leader, your goal is to foster a guided conversation. This is true for small group leaders and for large group leaders, just on a larger scale. High quality large group dialogical teaching brings a soft touch to the larger group interaction, allowing a breath of insight from the best that those among the small groups have to offer. Such a combination can be a thing of beauty!