Small Groups

Small Group Shepherds

We desire Shepherds—both men and women—who will shepherd a small group of men and women who will bear each other’s burdens, share experiences from the Journey, and grow together in unity and love. That “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We desire to see several groups of men and women grow out of ABF who will live an abundant, victorious Christian life together. It is not about what we do in these groups, it’s about who we are together in Christ. There is no program, no plan, and no rules. It begins with godly people who are willing to discuss, initiate, and put into place a model. Only then will we begin the process of growing a community together in love.

I. Detailed Background

The Role

A group of men and women [men leading the men, women leading the women] who will begin [discuss ideas, share vision, pray] a process [not a program] of shepherding, leading, and cultivating small groups of people [dynamic cell groups of believers].

Job description

Shepherding, leading, guiding, caring for, and loving people
- Shepherding- being an example to the flock
- Leading- physical responsibility of cultivating the process
- Guiding- directing the body/members towards the outcome
- Caring- for others, initiating fellowship within the group
- Loving- selfless commitment to the people you lead
Facilitating a small group setting
- Physically and spiritually prepared to aid and guide the process toward the outcome each time the group meets
Training and mentoring future leaders
- Investing in, mentoring, and training a member with a potential for shepherding another cell group
· Discussing the process
- Meeting together to discuss the vision and process of cultivating small groups in ABF.

Outcome

A simple, approachable body of believers who will together learn to live an abundant, victorious Christian life.
- THEORY: A small group of 5 to 7 who voluntarily come to together once a week. No rules, no program. Real people with a relationship with God, enabling a relationship with one another, to learn.
A Biblical model of the Body of Christ actively and passionately ministering to one-another in love.
- THEORY: The group prays together and share experiences from the journey that week: scripture that challenges them, obstacles they are facing, sins they are struggling with, problems they are dealing with, encouragement they receive etc. They are honest and open with each other.
Ultimately, the outcome is the equipping of believers for the work of ministry for the edification of the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Corinthians 12:24-26)
- THEORY: Each member assists one another in implementing his/her role in the body. As the cell group grows, another shepherd will be mentored/trained by the cell group shepherd and another cell group is developed.

II. Thinking it through

How do you describe a Shepherd?

One who simply loves God and loves people.
One who consistently spends quality time cultivating a deeper more intimate relationship with God.
One who demonstrates the ability to lead and assist others on their journeys with God out of a passionate, authentic love for people. (John 10:1-15; I Corinthians 13)
An example, not a master (I Peter 5:3)

How are we as a group of Shepherds going to pursue the outcome?

The Bible
Our Vision
Our Experience
Our Ideas

Contact: Tim Benedict, BBC Box 51, 585-9693 / timbenedict3@juno.com

Dynamic Cell Groups of Believers

Why? To provide an atmosphere for people to live an abundant, victorious Christian life together.
The Problem. People insist on hiding in darkness and fear, hiding from life, and hiding from the joy of Christ. It is easy for people to hide in the cracks, in the “doing” of church, and ultimately behind weathered facades. It makes me wonder. How can we change? How can we be different? How can we be “one body in Christ, and individually members of one another?” (Romans 12:5)
What would this look like? Small groups fulfill the Biblical model of “The Body of Christ.” It is a group of people who meet together to practice the “one-anothers:” to share, to grow, to love, to comfort, to admonish, to encourage one another, etc. To be a body, we must simply be a body—a body of believers who will together know and love God and learn to love others.
What will it take? We need leaders, shepherds—both men and women—who will shepherd a small group of men and women who will bear each other’s burdens, share experiences from the Journey, and grow together in unity and love. That “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). What a joy it would be to experience life together as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Message Board

Small Group Ministry

How has God designed you to serve in the body?

"Are you living an abundant, victorious Christian life?"

The Path to Godliness Leads through the Valley of Suffering

1 Peter 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.