This section will contain resources and ideas for Community leaders. This section will go live properly in the autumn, but in the meantime if you have ideas of things which can be added please contact us HERE.
Here's a few initial resources which we hope help...
At a recent Community leaders meeting, a number of resources and ideas that have worked were shared. Here’s a summary of the discussion:
- The Nooma Series of DVDs (by Rob Bell) provide a really good and thought provoking short film (about 10 mins) on a variety of topics. Very informal style. The dynamic of watching a short film seems to fit the cultural.
- Two DVDs sharing ideas of Fresh Expressions of church from around the country, the first of which has a study guide for small groups on mission.
- The Resources Room in the Church Centre (what used to be the Garden Room behind the kitchen) has a range of small group materials for Communities to borrow, including the Emmaus course which many have found useful.
- One Community has been exploring using a new course called “An Ordinary Day with Jesus” – a short course by John Ortberg. Copies maybe available soon from the Resources Room.
- It was noted that most of the pre-packaged courses need quite a bit of adapting to the specific context we are in, and also how important it is that Communities focused on God’s mission and then finding resources that fit, rather than resource driven.
- One Community has taken it in turns to interview each member of the Community, which has been beneficial in a whole range of ways.
- Another Community reminded us to continually seek feedback, especially from relatively new people with their fresher perspective.
- David reminded people how important having different formats for groups is, especially breaking down into smaller groups regularly for more intimate support and closer sharing and discipleship.
One Community leader suggested the website and resources of Anglican Church Planting Initiatives as helpful. Visit their site HERE.
Talks from Launch Sunday
Special sermons from the launch day of Communities (27th April) can also be downloaded from HERE.