See below for small group content suggestions and practical suggestions to make your small group work.

To view the small group member and small group leader role definitions, click here. For small group commitment document examples, you can find them here.

To join a group, sign up here!

Content Suggestions

Now sure what to study as a group? You might find these suggestions to get the conversation going.
Small Group Editions from NT Wright

Watch these videos and use these discussion guides from NT Wright about different topics and books in the New Testament. These resources are specially crafted for small groups and don't require a lot of preparation work--just watch the video together and discuss. Let WCF staff know if you'd like to do one.

The Bible Project

The Bible Project offers a large range of free videos and discussion guides for getting to know the Bible through main themes as well as Bible book overviews. 

Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Explore your spiritual gifts in your small group with this free assement tool and resource library from Discpleship Ministries UMC. Then read this small group guide from SmallGroups.com.

Bema Discipleship Podcast

Explore the Biblical text with this podcast, from the historical context to the literary genre. The Bema Discipleship Podcast is engaging & easy to listen to, walking through the Bible from the beginning.

The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

This book makes spiritual formation practical. Through a brief survey of thirteen different spiritual disciplines, Foster invites you to practice each one on your journey with God--its a great journey to take in community with others!

The Will of God As a Way of Life by Jerry Sittser

Wondering what God's will is for your life? This book explores this question with the subtitle "How to Make Every Decision with Peace and Confidence". There are included study questions for small groups.

Love Languages Workbook

Learn about yourself and your group by doing this workbook together and explore how to nurture those around you in a language that speaks to them.

The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher Heuertz

What's the enneagram all about? Value the diversity in your group and explore this book to "find your unique path to spiritual growth". 

New Testament Bible Study Guides for Everyone by N.T. Wright

Explore any book in the New Testament with these small group Bible study guides from N.T. Wright. 

 

Overcoming Obstacles for Small Groups

There are some practical suggestions to make small groups work.

This can be a very challenging obstacle for groups. You might consider the following models for childcare: 

  • Hiring a babysitter for all the children to be in another room
  • Having the groups’ adults take turns
  • Letting kids play in another room without adults. Consider putting on a spiritually rich movie and discussing it afterwards
  • Meeting in smaller groups with one parent staying home
  • Creating an alternate schedule (like one WCF small group) where, for example, each month, the large group meets together one week, women meet the next week, men meet the next week, and smaller dinner groups on the final week where children are invited to join. This way, childcare is only needed one week out of the month. 

Consider these guidelines from SmallGroups.com: 

  • "Remember that conflict is good. It's what leads to being closer. Shallow relationships never have conflict; growing relationships do.
  • You don't have to agree, only reach an understanding you can live with.
  • Your relationship is more important than this single issue. Determine that you're going to stay committed to each other while you work through this issue.
  • Keep talking to each other. Relationships dissolve when we isolate. Compromise and commitment come when we stay at it.
  • Talk to each other, not everybody else. We want to validate our feelings by finding people who'll back our position, but this leads to gossip. Talk out conflict with the people involved, not people who aren't.
  • Keep to the facts. Very often conflicts escalate to places that end up being all about hurt feelings and egos, not the actual issues. Recognize your feelings, even voicing them, but remember that the other person has been emotionally affected as well. Keep a cool head, or take a break until you are able to have one.
  • It's okay to fight, but fight fair. Stay away from low blows or cheap shots. Respect the other person and speak in a way that expresses your concern without placing blame. It really goes a long way toward reaching a resolution."

If you're having lots of conflict, in your group, grow in your understanding of yourself and each other with a Conflict Assessment Tool. For example, the US Insitute of Peace has one that can be found here. 

The best way to handle differing expectations is to discuss expectations in your first meeting and to develop a small group commitment document. The following quesitons may be helpful in developing your document?

  • How often should we meet? What are attendance expectations?
  • How will childcare be handled?
  • What does each person want out of the group? Prayer? Bible study? Spiritual advice?
  • Who will host the group and who will lead discussions?
  • How will we respect one another during discussions?

Find some examples of a small group commitment document here.