The Bookshelf
The Christian Small Group Leader
by Thomas R. Hawkins
(Discipleship Resources, 2001)Reviewed by Tim Moss, former Director, Lay Leadership Development, General Board of Discipleship, now retired.
You've been elected to chair a committee in your church or you're leading a Bible study, a FaithQuest group, a Sunday school class, a covenant group . . . and you're looking for some help. Let me recommend a new book by Tom Hawkins, The Christian Small-Group Leader. It will be invaluable to you for any small-group leadership in your congregation and, I suspect, out in the world, as well.
It has been selected as the basic text for the Lay Speakers Lead Small Groups: Advanced Course. The study guide by that title facilitates its use for a small-group study.
Relationships connected with God and with others is likened to heaven. Partnership in small groups is what we seek. On the other hand, loneliness and disconnectedness from God are likened to hell. The small-group leader has a priestly role in bringing others together to become partners around the common table. The Christian Small-Group Leader tells us what this leader must be — a person who practices the means of grace, with an emphasis on Christian conferencing. It also tells us the characteristics that make for pseudo-leaders.
The importance of spiritual gifts, particularly hospitality, is stressed. The meeting setting must be comfortable and the atmosphere one of inclusiveness, safety, and acceptance. Dr. Hawkins goes to some lengths to describe how this can happen. He stresses the importance of listening and explains how it can be facilitated in a group setting. He also discusses the power of shared vision and how to develop shared vision. Finally, he explains working through resistance and dealing with conflict.
The Christian Small-Group Leader and Lay Speakers Lead Small Groups are available from Discipleship Resources, 1-800-685-4370, www.discipleshipresources.org, or Cokesbury, 1-800-672-1789, www.cokesbury.com.
Synago: Light in the Dark
by Karen Trogdon Kluever
(Abingdon, 2002)Reviewed by Betsey Heavner
Synago, from the Greek for "come together," is the root word of synagogue and synergy. This curriculum is designed to bring individuals together to talk about their lives in light of God's good news. Synago equips senior high youth to lead small groups of peers; however, adult leaders of small groups will find the leader guide very helpful as well. The first 29 pages contain specific, concrete suggestions for bringing new energy and life to adult groups.
There are sections for preparing to lead, discussion tips, and how to close in prayer. One page outlines the development of a group "purpose statement." (This is what the article "How Are We Accountable?" calls the ground rules or covenant.)
Synago: Light in the Dark is available from Cokesbury, 1-800-672-1789, www.cokesbury.com.