serendipity format

1. ICEBREAKER: A fifteen to thirty minute start up phase of the meeting. Allows each person in the group to warm up to the evening's content by telling about some aspect of their past or personal experience that relates to the topic of the evening. An excellent, often humorous, sometimes sad opportunity for group members to learn about one another's upbringing, history, background, pains, preferences, appetites, opinions, experiences and sense of humor.
    
   Allows newcomers to ease into the life of the group because full participation in this portion of the meeting does not require BIBLE KNOWLEDGE. Gets every one in the habit of participating openly. LOW RISK level of interaction.
    
   1. Start with lighter, humorous questions early in the life of the group
   2. Mix in deeper, more vulnerable questions as time goes on
   3. SGL should take the lead and model desirable behavior for the group:
      • be ready with an answer that is clear, concise and fits into the time available
      • be ready with an answer that may be embarrassing or requires vulnerability
      • is an attentive listener as others share...makes eye contact...asks clarifying questions...if the meaning of what they're saying isn't clear...smiles at the person talking.
         
2. BIBLE DISCUSSION: A thirty to forty five minute segment of the meeting during which time to read a bible passage or passages pertinent to the evening's topic, and discuss questions as to its meaning and application.
    
   Purpose of this time is to base our deepest fellowship on the process of humbly, openly learning to TRUST & OBEY GOD'S WORD in every day life.
    
   Emphasis of questions is on allowing group members to transparently relate to one another in the real life joys and sorrows, successes and setbacks of becoming "doers of the word". Use the 4 or 5 discussion questions like a funnel: proceed from "GENERAL & IMPERSONAL" to "SPECIFIC & PERSONAL". Point them in the direction of personal application by the last question, so that they'll be prepared for meaningful prayer.
    
   1. Having the passage and questions on a HANDOUT greatly facilitates.
   2. Serendipity booklets, or New Testament, provide 5 - 15 ready made discussion questions to choose from when discussing any passage in the New Testament.
   3. Group leaders' vulnerability in discussion gives everyone else in the group "permission" to be open as well
      
3. PRAYER: Thirty minutes to close the evenings' meeting, when group members actively pray for one another, OUT LOUD, on the basis of answers given to the final (or "personal application") discussion question.
    
   Develops the habit in the group of members going to God directly and regularly with every need, concern, struggle, success or joy.
    
   1. Remember: newcomers feel naked and scared praying out loud in public
   2. Set them up to succeed with a written, simple prayer that you, the leader, go first with in praying
   3. Have EVERYONE in your group pray EVERY time the group meets. Compromise here and you wind up with a spiritually impotent group (you will not have because you are not asking!)
   4. Analogy: Prayer in small groups is like the WILD THING.
   5. Leaders and older Christians reminded not to teach or impress with long, wordy prayers. Genuine, gut level prayer that is simple, heartfelt and to the point instead.