I also sent my coaches a gift card to a store I knew they'd really like. I had a large number of group leaders, so I couldn't be extravagant, but I always sent a nice Christmas card to leaders with a personal note, thanking them for their ministry, letting them know I was praying for them (mentioning specific things where I could), and wishing them a great Christmas season. Find something that tells them you know them and care about them. Jim Egli, Leadership Pastor at the Vineyard Church in Urbana, IL. (We give the coaches a small budget to make these nice.) Then we give our coaches and small-group leaders gift cards. First, our coaches have the leaders into their homes for Christmas parties. We like to thank our small-group leaders at Christmas in two ways. Steve Grusendorf, Spiritual Development Pastor of Princeton Alliance Church Budget for a Celebration It's a simple and effective way to encourage and celebrate your small-group leaders during the Christmas season. Then we placed a handwritten card of thanks with the cookies and delivered them. We had several of our staff come together to make, decorate, and package two dozen cookies for each of our leaders. Instead, we've thanked our leaders by taking the time to bake Christmas cookies for them. Bill Easum, partner with 21st Century Strategies The Homemade GiftĬhristmas is a busy time so planning an extra activity may not be the best idea. Then publicly, I would lay hands on each of them during the Sunday worship service closest to Christmas to celebrate and renew their commitment to their small groups. I would reserve a restaurant and throw them a thank you party. Often this takes three weeks, but I express something personal to leaders about what I appreciate about them, and I affirm growth in their lives. I've also made it a practice, even with hundreds of group leaders, to write a personal Christmas card to each leader. We have the group leaders come forward and have our senior pastor give some words of affirmation for their ministry. One of the best things we've done to honor group leaders is publicly recognize them in a weekend service. In case you haven’t heard of the Serendipity Bible for Groups… The Serendipity Bible for groups has a Bible study like the one above for every passage of Scripture in the Bible.The editors of asked pastors, directors, and coaches: What's the best way to celebrate, honor, and thank small-group leaders around the holidays? Christmas is coming so you’ll want to act soon. What precious event has God done that you “treasure in your heart”? What does that imply about what it means to be “spiritual”? How has God spoken to you in the ordinary flow of life? 2. God appeared to Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds when they were just being themselves. What do you treasure the most about Jesus? What three titles are given to Jesus in verse 11? What is significant about them? 3. Of all the people the angels could have visited, why do you suppose God sent them to the shepherds? How does that relate to Mary’s song (Luke 1: 46 – 55)? 2. Ice-Breaker: When does your Christmas tree go up? Who trims it? How? What other traditions do you observe from your childhood?īible Discussion: 1. I think you’ll find it will create healthy, life tranforming conversation. Below you’ll find questions for a small group experience taken from the Serendipity Bible for Groups produced by Lyman Coleman. Also… If you’re like me you don’t want to purchase an entire study for just one small group experience. If you’re like me, you may want to take a one week break from the study your group is involved in so that you can focus on some part of the birth of Jesus. Your small group may have decided to take a break beginning a few weeks from now or you may be spending Christmas day together. The celebration of Jesus’ birth is almost here.
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