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Authenticity Groups


New prospects will most probably attend a weekend worship service. 

Since that is true, it is wise to speak to them in words & terms they understand. 

I'm certainly not suggesting that God's Word be diluted, 

but what I am saying is to communicate God's truth in words and phrases that anyone can understand.

Jesus adapted His message to His hearers, too. 

Jesus told interesting stories about farming, birds, sheep, and children. He explained Biblical truth in an amazingly fun way. 

However, when Jesus was in a smaller group, He cultivated an environment of give and take. 

If you read John 13-17 for example, Jesus is responding to questions from Peter, Thomas, Philip, and Judas. 

He's even reading facial expressions and observing group dynamics throughout. 

If you're a small group teacher like Jesus, you should create an environment of give and take, too.

If you are a small group leader and you're more committed to delivering a lot of material, 

you actually not following the small group teaching model of Christ, but you are following His large group model and miss applying it. 

As a small group leader, your goal is to create a loving, relational environment that people can grow. 

Realize that you're not going to be able to cover as much material as in the past

1. Realize that the class is not yours, and focus on giving Jesus glory.

2. Ask thought provoking questions.

3. Be gentle as you steer your group.

4. Be faithful to the truth in a loving way.

5. Be quick to admit a mistake if it becomes apparent.

6. Learn from others because God is teaching you through your class.

7. Avoid cutting people off if at all possible.

8. Thoughtfully listen when others speak.

9. Paraphrase back what others say to communicate understanding.

10. Maintain eye contact and smile.

11. Listen to the Holy Spirit as you speak and as others speak and adjust your lesson accordingly.

12. Don't allow unkind comments from participates, but encourage kind and respectful behavior from everyone.

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