Sam Huizenga
I work for Home Missions in supporting mission shaped discipleship through coaching and training leaders in small groups and Coffee Break. I married to Jon Huizenga. Together we have been part of two church plants and currently serve River Rock Church in Rockford, MI. We have four children, two grandchildren and a small, needy dog named "Kiddo."
Posted in: Suggestions for Adult Bible Study?
Hi Colin,
The Discover Your Bible series is a great tool for small groups to discover together what the Bible says and means. The series originated for use in Coffee Break. Today, the Discover Your Bible series is going global and being translated into many languages.
Discover Your Bible is an inductive style study. The skeleton of questions in the study guide serve to help group participants observe and interpret what the text says in order to lead to good application. The leader's guide equips the leader with extra questions to build the conversation about the text and offers leadership tips. We have several tools to support leaders as they lead Bible discovery. Here's a link to Leading Bible Discovery. There are also webinars on the Coffee Break Network page.
The purpose of Bible discovery is to equip people to read and discover for themselves and to build a conversation around the text. As people dig together into God's word, the Holy Spirit speaks. This simple method works for people new ot the Bible or experienced Christians. In other words, the Word does the work of evangelism and discipleship.
Posted in: Suggestions for Adult Bible Study?
One more thing, many of the DYB studies are available in book or PDF format. We are also working on an phone and tablet apps! Stay tuned!
Posted in: Suggestions for Adult Bible Study?
This is a great series!
Posted in: Anyone have a well thought out job description for a Small Groups Coordinator?
Hi Reese,
I have some small group coordinator job descriptions. However, they are very specific to the congregations. In coaching small group ministry coordinators, I have found the garden illustration to be very helpful. Like a gardener, small group coordinators need to provide continuing vision, care and support for the leaders and groups. I use the following roles and questions as an outline for coaching small group disicplehsip leaders.
Roles in cultivating an enviroment for growth:
Picture – Who is God calling us to be?
Plan – How will we follow God’s leading in our context? What will our garden of small groups look like?
Prepare – How will we prepare our leaders and congregation for growing people through small groups?
Planting – How and when will we start? stop? What is our growing season? What are the lifecycles of our groups?
Protect and Problem solve – How will we care for leaders and groups?
Pruning – How will we develop leaders and groups for the future?
Propagate - How will we multiply groups and leaders?
Pause and Pray – How will we cooperate with God’s leading?
I'm going to be writing more about each of these roles over the next several weeks. If you would like a sample job description, let me know.
Sam Huizenga
[email protected]
Posted in: Benefits and Barriers of an Online Learning Community
Great idea!
Another church paired younger people with seniors to write their stories. Each month they discussed a different decade. Someone researched the big events, politics and music of the decade to prime the pump. After the short presentation the senior answered some interview questions. They ended with an event where the stories were presented to families.
Keep the ideas coming!
Posted in: Innovate: Coffee Break & Story Hour
The Winter Coffee Break Newsletter will feature some innovations. You will find the articles on this Network site. Stay tuned.
What kinds of new ideas are you hoping to hear about?
Posted in: What Should Be Included in a New Member's Class?
Sounds great Pete. Would you be willing to share your document? It would be fun to see a few membership class samples!
Posted in: What Should Be Included in a New Member's Class?
Sounds great Pete. Would you be willing to share your document? It would be fun to see a few membership class samples!
Posted in: What Should Be Included in a New Member's Class?
Thanks for your great ideas and experience!
Posted in: Voluntary and Temporary Community
Thanks Michael. I agree with your view point on his theology. I was waiting for someone to bring that up!
I did think his description and perception of North American culture was insightful. So, in what ways is the western church bringing Christ's love to all people? I wonder if the missional community movement is one example. What other examples do we have?
Posted in: Watering Your Group
Hi all. It's easy to post an idea or question. Join the conversation!
Posted in: The Speed of Discipleship
Thanks for your testimony.