I'm Not Very Good At This - Measuring Success

Hi Group Leaders,

This is the last week of our Winter Community Group trimester. We'll take a 2 week break and meet for 6 more weeks beginning April 16th.

Have you ever gotten to the end or a group trimester and wrestled with how group is going and how you are doing as a leader?

Maybe you've found yourself thinking, "I'm not a very good group leader."

It is easy to get lost in our shortcomings or the list of things that we could be doing that we are not doing, that we miss what God is doing.

So, how do you know if you are succeeding as a leader? How do you measure whether or not your group is successful?

Remember the goal: Apply the Bible, Build Relationships, and Care for Each Other.

Are the people in your group:

• Reading the Bible together and wrestling with its implications for their lives?

• Sharing their joys and hurts together?

• Praying for and with each other?

• Sharing stories at group meetings?

• Texting each other outside of group?

• Sitting or serving together on Sundays?

• Hanging out at a restaurant, playground, or in each others homes?

If any of these is happening, celebrate it!! God is using you to help build Biblical community that is leading each other grow more like Christ.

It's been said, "Spiritual growth doesn't happen in a day, but it does happen daily." We grow day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, and year-by-year as we share our lives together.

Thanks for helping create a safe place where people can belong, believe, and become more like Christ!

3 Great Ways To End Your Group Trimester

With this being the last week of the Community Group trimester, here are 3 things you might consider doing in your final meeting:

1. Share a meal together

2. Celebrate communion over the meal (Communion Instructions)

3. Spend time praying for and celebrating what God is doing through the Mountain Mover series and the future launch of the Brighton Campus. Use the Mountain Mover Prayer cards (Found HERE)

Upcoming Dates

• April 16th - May 27th Spring Community Group Trimester (6 weeks)

• Friday, June 2nd, 7:05pm Group Leader Red Wings Game

Questions?

If you have any questions about groups or anything else at Northridge, please reply to the email or reach out to your coach.

We'd love to support you in anyway that we can.

Additional Resources That May Be Helpful

Mountain Mover Website

Maximizing Prayer Time

When & How Should Your Group Multiply?

Northridge Group Leader Podcast

How Do You Know If You Are Succeeding As A Leader?

At our Group Leader Kickoff on Sunday, January 7th, we addressed an important question we as leaders should know how to answer, "How do you know if you are succeeding as a Group Leader?"

In short, we know we are succeeding when we are helping our Group Members experience Biblical Community - aka the ABCs: Applying the Bible, Building relationships, and Caring for each other.

Whenever we see our group members living out the ABC's, that is success!

The best way to help our Group Members live out the ABC's is by practicing the 6 Group Leader Essentials (See below). These are 6 essentials that we as leaders can't go without!

Which of these 6 Essentials do you need to work on? Identify one, review it, and make a goal to improve this trimester.

Group Leader Kickoff Training Recap

Lead Pastor Drew Karschner shares with our Group Leaders about some of the stories about what God has been doing at Northridge as well as sharing upcoming sermon series and events that would be helpful for Group Leaders as they plan ahead for the Community Group Trimester.

How do you know if you are succeeding as a Group Leader? In this talk, our Community Group Pastor Jason DeGraaff answers how to know if we are succeeding as a leader and introduces the Group Leader Essentials we as a Group Leaders can't go without if we are going to be successful.

In this video Andy Woodall talks about the importance of Pursuing Christ as our #1 Group Leader Essential. This is 1 of 6 Group Leader Essentials that we believe Group Leaders can't go without.

In this video Nate Miller talks about the importance of Cultivating Relationship as our 2nd Group Leader Essential. This is 1 of 6 Group Leader Essentials that we believe Group Leaders can't go without.

In this video Nancy Simmonds talks about the importance of Promoting Participation as our 3rd Group Leader Essential. This is 1 of 6 Group Leader Essentials that we believe Group Leaders can't go without.

In this video Aaron Hixson talks about the importance of Modeling Authenticity as our 4th Group Leader Essential. This is 1 of 6 Group Leader Essentials that we believe Group Leaders can't go without.

In this video Brad Files talks about the importance of Providing Care as our 5th Group Leader Essential. This is 1 of 6 Group Leader Essentials that we believe Group Leaders can't go without.

In this video Mark Nelson talks about the importance of Replacing Yourself as our 6th Group Leader Essential. This is 1 of 6 Group Leader Essentials that we believe Group Leaders can't go without.

Here are a few additional resources you may find helpful:

Why and How To Share Facilitiation

Here are 3 tips on sharing facilitation and a 1 page guide and suggested email for 1st time facilitators.

How Do You Get People To Show Up To Your Group?

While we can't control people or make decisions for them, here are 2 steps that will help move people from your group roster to your living room.

Tough One: Handling The Person Who Refuses To Change

Admit it! There are times as a leader you are frustrated with an individual who you feel you've poured loads of energy and attention into, but who doesn't seem particularly interested in changing. In this breakout we will explore how to handle those who show little or no progress in their spiritual lives.

Serving Opportunity

Red Cross Blood Drive at Northridge (Irondequoit Campus)

Saturday, January 27th, 8:00AM-3:00PM

The Community Group with the most donors will win tickets to a Red Wings game. 

Do You Have A Question?

We would love to be of assistance to you. Contact your Group Coach HERE.

Jason DeGraaff

Community Groups Pastor

Life Is Better Connected