Leading Online Small Groups

How to do this Effectively?

workshop

Introduction

Thanks to The TBMEC (tennessee baptist missionary and educational convention Inc.)

Dr. Edna F. Grafton Virtual Leadership Conference

Great Commission- Growing Community- Game plan Center

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We have heard the Great Commission being talked about and discuss to some extent: in Sunday School or from the pulpit for many years.

The idea of making disciples of Jesus Christ is nothing new; many of us anyway- at the point we surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus, recognizing He died in our place and for our sin: call ourselves Disciples of Christ.

With that in mind, the state of churches in America is alarming. With all of the disciple-making (the multiplication strategy Jesus commanded to grow the Church) churches are on the decline. With all of the revivals we have experienced, churches are not growing. With all of the missions and and food giveaways, school uniform giveaways Churches are not experiencing growth.

Pew research data suggests that in 2020 alone Hundreds of thousands of churches were/are on the decline and many are closing.

Why is this? How is it possible for the Church preaching Salvation in Christ Alone, which is the answer for the world, the answer for the sin sick soul . . .how is it possible to be on the decline?

Hear me, let me be clear; the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of salvation to all who believe. The Bible is clear, the Gates of Hell will not prevail against the church.

But we have a problem. . the society doesn’t see the Relevance of church. This is real!

Because some don’t think it’s relevant doesn’t mean it unimportant or worthless. . . for some reason it doesn’t meet the needs of the majority.

Movies, music and entertainment has always been important to the American culture. Yet, Blockbuster and Cat’s music stores and other places shut down with the rise of a new felt need. The felt need was instant access, convenience and a digital streaming service Netflix took blockbuster’s place.

Being able to listen to every album/record of your favorite Blues singer without purchasing every album… and oh by the way every artist that ever stepped into a studio; and just like that buying CD’s from you favorite neighborhood Record store is replaced by streaming platforms like: Tidal, Apple Music, and Amazon.

Movies, music still important; although those stores and companies we used to frequent are no longer relevant.

The Church is at a point where a decision must be made, do we move forward or continue to continue on the path we are on.

The Great commission guides exactly where this conversation.

Jesus speaks of all nations. . . discipling. . both helps us create a framework for Online small groups.

Great Commission

making disciples- reproducing followers of Jesus

teaching, training

traditional way (in person)

now and beyond - virtual.

example: BMBC prayer line- started march 2020-2021march

42720 minutes

1363 meetings

36652 participants

prior to this we only had a maximum of 20 people showing up for prayer

Making disciples means going where the people are to proclaim the good news.

in the Book From social media to social ministry, Nona Jones posted these numbers:

2.8 billion on face book

2.3 on youtube

689 million on Tiktok

1 billion on wechat

the nations are on social media platforms and the church should be too.

instead of only focusing on the 2 sunday morning hours. . . how can we create a strategy for occupying our share of the 166 hours dominated by the world.

Jesus was out among the people daily

Growing Community

the early church was connected

Natchi Lazarus, in the book Connected CHurch, says the disciples did everything in Community. .

They ate together

fellowshipped

ministered

shared possesions

everything

we see this in acts 2

real life community is happening in the virtual space.

early church was many small groups

virtual small groups are no different

It was said by Meredith Gould, in her book Social Media Gospel . . . that an online group can do in one year what it takes 3 years to do physically.

Gameplan Central

we must discern the times.

1 Chronicles 12:32 ESV

Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.

Praying for God to send leaders

Training Leaders

Modeling (discipleship)

allow leaders to teach what they are comfortable teaching.

From Bible and theology to special interests

new believers

mature and advanced

theology

church history

apologetics

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