Ginger Creek Small Group DNA

As you know, Ginger Creek has been very intentional in making sure each group has the same DNA. Every group should do the following:

Attend Worship Together

Break Into Partnerships

Connect New People

Do Life Together

Equal Your Time

These are important and I wanted to members of my group to understand what Ginger Creek expected out of our group.  Instead of a boring lecture on each one, I created "Case Studies" for our group to work through.  Each couple took 10 minutes and worked through a case study.  We then all came back to discuss each one and how it might impact our group.  Below are the case studies if you care to do the same with your group.

Attend Worship Together

Case Study:

The Watson's small group has existed for just one year.  Overall, they have gotten to know each other, but not on a deep level.  With many couples beginning to have kids their church attendance has not been as consistent. The leader of the group sees the importance of sitting together at church and would like to make this a staple.

1.     What would be the positives of this group sitting together each Sunday?

2.     What challenges will this leader face?

3.     Do you think this is feasible for this group?

Break Into Partnerships

Case Study:

The Smith’s started a small group about 7 years ago.  Although several couples have come and gone, they have had a pretty steady group and they have connected.  Recently the leader decided to try the prayer partnerships at their meetings.  Beth and Tricia began sharing requests.  Beth mentioned to Tricia about how her and Tom’s marriage was struggling.

1.     Should Beth open up to the entire group about this prayer request? Why or why not?

2.     Should Tricia tell her husband about Beth and Tom’s struggling marriage?  Why or why not?

Connect New People

Case Study:

The Marino small group started about 5 years ago.  They are at full capacity for the house they meet in.  Dan, the leader, has been leading the group during its entire existence.  No one else in the group feels called or equipped to lead the group. Several new couples have shown interest in joining Dan’s group.

1.     Should the Marino group split into two groups?

2.     Should the Marino group invite the other couples and try to make room the best they can?

3.     Are there other options for Dan?

Do Life Together

Case Study:

The Bixler small group has been meeting for 2 years now.  They currently have about 6 couples (with young children) in their small group, but new couples continue to join while some couples end up leaving the group.  The leader, Rick, has been trying to incorporate Ginger Creek’s model of “doing life together”.  Recently, he started a monthly dinner club so everyone has a chance to socialize over a relaxing meal at a restaurant.  He has also incorporated a day each month for couples to go to the movie theater.  Finally, he also has started a service project night each month.

1.     What are the advantages of “doing life together” with this group?

2.     What are some things that Rick failed to realize when setting this up?

3.     What are some better ways for Rick to “do life together?”

Equal Your Time

Case Study:

A group of men meet on Friday mornings for a time of prayer and bible study.  This group meets every Friday and consistently has about 15 men attend before heading off to work.  The leader decides to equal their time between bible study and service.  So every other Friday morning he decides to serve the church by doing jobs around the property such as landscaping, gardening, and painting.

1.     Did the leader make the right decision by following Ginger Creek’s guideline?

2.     What is the best way for this leader to incorporate “Equal Time?”