{"id":13446,"date":"2021-12-01T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/?p=13446"},"modified":"2021-11-29T15:11:03","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T20:11:03","slug":"creating-a-schedule-for-discipleship-small-group-and-bible-study-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/creating-a-schedule-for-discipleship-small-group-and-bible-study-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Schedule for Discipleship, Small Group, and Bible Study Meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Three<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Below you’ll find the transcript for episode 33, Creating a Schedule for Discipleship, Small Group, and Bible Study Meetings from the\u00a0Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EP 33: Creating a Schedule for Discipleship, Small Group, and Bible Study Meetings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Intro: Welcome to the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast. I’m Cyndee Ownbey, your host and women’s ministry mentor. I’m the founder of Women’s Ministry Toolbox and the author of Rethinking Women’s Ministry. The Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast is a podcast for women’s ministry leaders and team members of all stages (from new to seasoned) serving in their local church community. If you’re looking for hope and inspiration, you’ve come to the right place! In addition to discussing the nuts and bolts of women’s ministry, I’ll be asking seasoned women’s ministry leaders to share their best tips and the lessons they’ve learned. Together we’ll learn to build a flourishing, Christ-focused women’s ministry.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I\u2019ll be sharing 3 keys to creating a schedule for your group meetings. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t miss the sample schedules I share at the end of the post!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been around awhile, you know I\u2019m a very type-A girl. Give me a checklist or a format to follow, and I am happy. When it comes to discipleship, small group, and Bible study meetings, I am most comfortable with a structure in place. I like to know what\u2019s happening when. If I\u2019m going to have to arrive late or leave early, it helps to know what the group will be doing. Many of your women probably feel the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating a plan for your group meetings benefits the group leader by making planning easier and predictable.<\/strong> The group members will settle in quickly when they learn the order of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Keys to Creating a Schedule for Your Group Meetings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. Time<\/strong> \u2013 How much time is allowed for your group meeting?<\/strong> Do you have an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours? Maybe you only have 45 minutes before dismissing your group to attend a large group teaching. Your plans need to fit the time allowed. Squeezing in too much or not planning enough will make your time together less productive and less pleasant. It also means we honor our women\u2019s time by starting and ending when we say we will.<\/li>
  2. Goals<\/strong> \u2013 What do you want to accomplish during your time together?<\/strong> Is the discussion time the focus?\u00a0 Are you expected to make it through all of the homework questions? Do you need to collect prayer requests, make announcements, play an icebreaker game, or leave time for fellowship?<\/li>
  3. Reasonable<\/strong> \u2013 Our time and our goals need to be in alignment. If we discover they are not, we need to be willing to make adjustments.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    As you think through your small group format, make sure the largest block of time goes to the most essential task.<\/strong> That\u2019s probably going to be your discussion time. I always want women to have time to share what the Holy Spirit revealed to them during the week. Hearing how God spoke to them through His Word is priceless!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the most part, my experience with small groups has been with weekly meetings. I think we may have been part of a couple\u2019s small group that met every two weeks at one time. I prefer weekly meetings for many reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Weekly meetings:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n