Marriage Small Group Facilitator Training

Pray and plan with the end in mind:
Marriage intimacy is a process of becoming the person God made me to be, so I can love and be loved as He designed.

• Relational Discipleship – make disciples for Jesus Christ through loving relationships using relevant resources. (I Thessalonians 2:7-8)

• Equipped Church – train and resource a growing army of leaders to mentor others… starting at home.   (Ephesians 4:11-13, 2 Timothy 2:2)

• Sustained Support – provide intentional and continuous support for both participants and leaders.  (Matthew 28:20)

• Applied Truth – help people understand and embrace their identity, freedom, and value in Christ.  (Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:1)

• Shared Experience – leverage our past for the future of others. (Titus 2:1-7)

• Faith-filled Freedom – trust God to supply all personal and ministry needs in ways He chooses and wisely invest our time, labor, and resources. (Philippians 4:19, Acts 17:25)

• Balanced Strength – advocate and activate “Believe, Behave, Belong” as essential ingredients for true spiritual formation. (John 13: 34, 35; 14:15-25)

Small Group Leader Training –
“While Leading a Group, Try to Keep in Mind”

• Think Life Change
• Care for Individuals
• Promote Participation

1.  Think Life Change

• God’s work
• Prayer  – individuals, couples
• Fruit that remains
• Glory to God through much fruit, new legacy

2.  Care for Individuals

• Love them – your care matters
• Speak truth in love to them
• Listen well with eyes, ears, and heart

3.  Promote Participation

• Share some of your story early
• Ask ?’s and wait – allow process time
• Facilitate but do not teach
• Draw out the quiet with right questions
• Rein in the talkative – watch for breathing patterns
• Group couples together who know each other least

What we are here to do?

• Facilitate discussion so people can process principles
• Create a safe environment so people feel free to talk or not
• Include as many as possible in the discussion without forcing the issue

What we are not here to do?

• Re-teach
• Settle disputes – marital, church, doctrine
• “Fix” people

Encourage Next Steps

As a Church – BE KNOWN FOR HELPING FAMILIES

• Classes, small groups, retreats
• TBI Ministries can help
• Media/web/books/dvd series
• Intentional support for couples (52-week plan)

As individuals – YOU ARE BUILT TO LOVE & BE LOVED

• Make it your life goal to love others as He does
• Don’t isolate if you feel down or feel you are failing, more miracles are available from God
• Don’t quit – sometimes crisis is the dark before the dawn

As a Couple  – PRACTICE:  “ACTIVE” and 4 INGREDIENTS

• Dates
• Couple retreat
• MTM continue
• Read; research
• Counseling
• Don’t settle

With other Couples – BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

• Encouragement
• Accountability
• Friendships
• Small Groups
• Lead Marriages by example; by design

Pray Each Day:

“Abba, I belong to you
Make me the man/woman you made me to be
Help me to see the events and people in my life today as you see them.”