Community U Saddleback Conference Notes

This weekend, we (Calvary Church) have the honor of hosting one of Saddleback Church’s regional “CommunityU” Small Group Conferences. Steve Gladden, Saddleback’s small groups pastor came, along with his team, to teach us how Saddleback does small groups.

Here are my notes from day one (Tim wasn’t here, so someone had to do it):

• Most churches (that have a small groups ministry) are either a church with small groups or a church of small groups.

• 10-10-80 Rule:
  10 % of people in your church will not change regardless of the persuasive evidence presented to them.
  10 % of people will always change if you give them an overwhelming amount of logical evidence to persuade them.
  80 % will change if they can go on their change journey with someone else (that is, in groups).

• Sometimes we confuse “speciality groups” with “small groups.” Specialty groups are organized around a specific activity or purpose (softball team, theology class, knitting, etc.). Small groups are formed around the 5 purposes of the church (worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, and ministry). Both types of groups are important, but small groups are more spiritual-health oriented.

• Worship
  Worship in the small group context doesn’t necessarily mean sitting around in a circle with someone playing the guitar and singing. It involves surrendering your heart, remembering what God has shown you, etc. Practically, in small groups, it means providing a context for expression and reflection, support & disclosure (surrender), sharing & support (during trials), and communal prayer.
• Fellowship
  Fellowship is not just about a meeting; it is about doing life together. There is both a formal and an informal aspect to it.
  B.E.L.O.N.G.
  B – Build [authentic connections]
  E – Experience [life together]
  L – Listen [to one another] Use the phrase “Is there anything else?” to get people to go deeper and show that you’re listening.
  O – Own [your group] Move people from “your group” to “our group.”
  N – Nurture [love] Meeting people’s needs is just as important (if not more so) as bible study.
  G – Grow [through tension]