Welcome!!!

It is our goal that no one walks alone at NLC. Let’s do life together.

Thank you for your willingness to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Your investment into the lives and hearts of others will bring blessings to others, as well as upon your own life. We can’t wait to see and hear how the Holy Spirit will use you and your group to help His kingdom advance!!!

Small Group Facilitator Training

What is a Small Group

Small Groups are intended to help us grow as disciples and make disciples by equipping, empowering, and encouraging one another through the Holy Spirit in the Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Evangelism, Generosity, and Excellence.

Each group will consist of 2-6 people who will come together to seek God's presence and activate the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Once a group reaches six members or more, we encourage it to multiply into two separate groups to foster growth and continue the disciple-making process.

Why are Small Groups Necessary?

Our vision and mission for NLC are “We are disciples of Jesus Christ, and We make disciples of Jesus Christ.

It gives us opportunities for outreach, an opportunity to fulfill our call to being disciples and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Small groups are necessary for personal growth (follower, learner, worker, friend), which is important to becoming the disciples Jesus called us to be.
God values relationships. That is how He created us. His nature itself is community based. He is a Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He exists in perfect state of unity.
Helps us figure out who we are in Christ. We explore faith and sort out what it looks like to follow Jesus.
Breaks through barriers
A practical way to serve one another and make disciples.

One Another Verses

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One Another Verses 〰️

Types of Groups

Healthy and Successful Groups

Small groups can also be called cells. A cell is the smallest structural unit of an organism capable of functioning independently. That means each cell/small group has a life of their own contributing to the health or illness of the larger organism. A healthy cell keeps the host vibrant and robust, but the toxic cell can cripple or kill the host. A healthy and fully functional group has four components. It has a theological, relational, restoration, and missional component.

To lay a foundation for healthy Small Group experience, below are the expectation for every Small Group in NLC.

Expectations For Group

All NLC Core Values (The Word, Prayer, Holy Spirit, Evangelism, Fellowship, Generosity, and Excellence) should be present no matter the type of group.

There should not be a time where a small group at NLC meets without opening the Word. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It provides a foundation for life, faith, and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-16; Acts 2:42). Read it, memorize it, and live it!
Prayer. Prayer is the profound but simple heartfelt communication between God and man. The Holy Spirit helps us pray to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Acts 2:42). Pray First! Pray before, during (when needed), and after every group meeting. Encourage your group pray daily and join every church-wide prayer meeting especially, the 21-Day fasting and prayer every January.
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity who empowers, teaches, and helps disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe that the gifts of the Spirit are for today and encourage the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 4:31). Be filled with the Spirit and allow Him to lead.
Evangelism is the first step of discipleship. Through evangelism the Gospel is shared, and people are introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41). Tell everyone about Jesus! Invite people from outside NLC to join your group. They might be open to join a small group than go to church immediately.
Fellowship is community and communion with God and other believers. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 John 1:3-4) Don’t walk alone! The Lord reminds us in Hebrews 10:25 not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Jesus is coming soon.
Generosity is sharing life, resources, time, and talents with others in the love of Jesus. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Timothy 6:18). Live with an open hand! It is in Small Groups that we get to identify needs and be Jesus’ hands and feet.
Excellence is the commitment to live and serve to the best of one’s ability. Excellence calls us to grow and develop the gifts God has given us to serve Him and others. (Act 2:42; Colossians 3:23; 2 Timothy 2:15). Do it well! Without a Small Group, you will grow but not as much as having people who will hold you accountable in your walk with Jesus Christ.

Click here for more on the NLC Core Values.

Expectation for Facilitator

Personal Prayer & Bible Study Life. Spend time with the Lord in prayer and in the Word daily to ensure growth and consistency.

Be present. Regularly attend Sunday services and major churchwide events, making yourself available to the church community. If you need to be absent, communicate this in advance via text, email, or phone call.

Be teachable. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Serve with Excellence. Commit to live and serve to the best of your ability.

Live above reproach. Do not leave room in your relationships and conversation for gossip, accusations, or misinterpretation. Be modest, moderate, and temperate in all things.

NLC Core Values. Ensure that our Core Values are present during every D1 Group meeting.

Signs of a Healthy Small Group

Meets frequently. Helps the personality of the group to form quickly.
There is authenticity and transparency and true vulnerability happens.
Members become loving and knowledgeable.
It is inclusive. Open to receiving new members who will be greeted with enthusiasm and interest. Any healthy group is a growing group.
You serve together within and beyond the group.
New leaders are raised, and new groups spin off.
Everyone has a role to fill.
The Bible is opened often. Spiritual growth comes with exploring God’s Word and then letting it shape conversations, commitments, and relationships.
Your group is praying (for one another and your concerns during the group and between group meetings).
The facilitator is uncomfortable in a good way and aware that God wants to use your group.

Who is a Facilitator

A facilitator is a person who helps a group of people work well together, to understand their common objectives, and plan how to achieve these objectives, during meetings or discussions. A person that makes an action or process easier. A guide. Someone who walks alongside another on a journey.

A Small Group Facilitator is one that assists a group in a way that promotes healthy relationship, deepen faith in God, and equips and empowers group members for ministry. Stated in a different way, you help each other in your group be disciples and make disciples by equipping, empowering, and engaging through the Holy Spirit in the Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Evangelism, Generosity, and Excellence.

Qualifications

Faithful attendee of NLC.
Attends Small Facilitator Training and subsequent meetings.
Accepts and affirm the 16 Fundamental Doctrines of AG.
Shares and supports the vision and mission of NLC.
Is teachable.

Duties & Responsibilities

Pray for the Lord to add to the group and pray for the members of the group.
Promote your group by engaging in conversations and actively recruiting new members; this is the key to the success of your group.
Plan. Serve group members with excellence by planning and being prepared for each meeting. Meet at least twice a month.
Connect with members throughout the week to check in, especially if they are absent or facing challenges. If pastoral care is required, please notify the church office.
Manage group's roster diligently by adding new members upon joining and removing those who depart, ensuring the group remains up to date. Update weekly attendance records to stay well-informed about group participation.
Mentor a group member prayerfully to become a Small Group Facilitator.

Commitment

We are asking for at least 1 year. As the Lord favors and breathe life into you and yours as you lead, I’m sure it will be more than a year. Most importantly, grow someone to take your place before you step out of facilitating. It is important that we multiply instead of dwindling.

Facilitating a Small Group

Facilitate Don’t Lead. Why?

Leaders are looked to for the final word. Facilitators look to reach consensus.
Leaders impart information to others. Facilitators acknowledge that anyone in the room might have a valuable input.
Leaders talk and people listen. Facilitators listen more and talk less.
Leaders give instructions. Facilitators ask questions.
Leaders direct crowds. Facilitators influence groups.
Leaders focus on the head. Facilitators focus on the heart.

For Successful Facilitation,

Help group set discussion ground rules.
Model what you want to happen.
Be a player and a coach.
Read the room.
Set your needs aside and serve during the duration of the meeting.
Ensure everyone has a chance to share.
Ask open ended questions.
Don’t be afraid of silence.
Don’t always be the last person to offer comments.
Ask follow-up questions.
Withhold judgement.
Be fearless

Qualities of a Small Group Facilitator

Humble
Balanced
Shepherd-hearted
Prepared
Accepting
Committed

Attentive and reliant on God
A learner
A mentor
Encouraging and empowering
Expectant
Unafraid
Passionate about unity

Steps to Launching a Small Group

Pray, answer the questions, and take the steps below.

What are you studying?
What day of the week do you want to run your group?
What is the time frame? How many hours and how many weeks?
Who can attend your group (women, men, both, teens, young adults)?
Pray and invite people to join your group.
Help them to sign up.
What do they need to bring to the group?
Pray, pray, pray
Before the start date, review lesson and prep.
Write an agenda
Think about whether to provide snacks or not
Have extra materials available for a new member

Service Project

Every Small Group should end with a service project. A service project is a good deed done by a small for a group or an individual in or outside NLC to show the love of Christ and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is important that these service projects are not done just as good deed but a channel to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The good deed will not save them but the Gospel will.

Service Project Ideas

Provide childcare during a parent’s night out.
Paint the church nursery.
Visit a nursing home and visit the residents who don't get many visitors.
Shop for shut ins.
Organize and staff a night of prayer at your church building.
Call on people who've recently visited your church.
Show up at youth group with enough snacks to feed an army.
Send care packages to college students.
Appreciate your pastor my gift or service needed.
Bless a missionary with a shipment of cards and goodies.
Bless a single mom with auto repairs or handyman tasks
Tutor student
Host the family movie night at the church and serve popcorn
Help at the homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
Call a local nonprofit and ask how they could use you for a day.
Write to men and women serving in the military or at a VA hospital.
Mow lawns for the elderly in your church.
Provide snow removal services for the elderly in your church