Today we continue our series on discipleship by discussing some practical tools to help evaluate your small group. (Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, & Part 7).
This first list is from a post by Melissa Deming on HiveResources.com. These are questions you might consider asking your small group members to see where they are in their biblical literacy.
If you prefer, women can do this anonymously and turn it in so you will know how to best teach this group. Or, give them two copies—one to keep for themselves to watch to see where God is growing them and one for you to keep.
Here are the questions to consider:
- Can you articulate the big picture of Scripture and identify it in any given Bible passage?
- Can you read a passage looking for the author’s intent in writing and overall context?
- Do you know how to do a basic word study using a concordance and/or lexicon (or utilize a Bible software)?
- Do you know the different biblical genres (literary types) and the different hermeneutics (interpretative methods) they require?
- Do you have a process for studying a passage or do you start by looking for the application (“What does this passage mean to me?”)?
- Can you explain how a particular passage points to or exalts Christ?
You might want to do this again at the end of the study or several months into an ongoing small group to see what progress has been made.
Now, here are 6 Elements to a Successful Discipleship Group from HiveResources.com. I’ve shared my comments as well.
- Encouraging. Are you encouraging women to be present rather than guilting them into attending? We truly want them there even if they don‘t have anything prepared or don’t bring anything. If they come, at least there is a place where they will hear truth and eventually see the importance of growing. The more they put into it, the more they get from studying truth.
- Strategic. Don’t just show up without a plan in place, even if the Holy Spirit stirs it up in the midst of it. Figure out what to do with children if moms are coming. Have a plan for growth and for the logistical side of your time together.
- Bible-saturated. Again, remember that the Bible is the source of the truth. Although we will talk about how it applies to our lives personally and individually, always point opinion back to biblical truth.
- Missional. Plan some kind of hands on activity for missions outside your group. Women will grow together and in Christ as they serve others together.
- Intentional. Make sure that you make building life-on-life relationships a priority. If you teach truth but do not seek to know and grow together relationally, you really don’t have the credibility to teach. Women must know we care about more than just head knowledge.
- Prayer-filled. Plan to take prayer requests and pray together. Let them know you are praying during the week for them. Send a text before doctor’s appointments and tough meetings they may have during the week. Then check up on answers afterward. If someone mentions a critical need in your group, stop right then and pray for that person.
Watch for one more post as we conclude this 9-part series on discipling women, not just hosting them!
Chris Adams is senior lead women’s ministry specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn. Learn more about Chris here.
