On this episode of Group Answers, Brian, Chris, and Brandon, discuss how gossip can kill a small group if it is not addressed early and quickly.

Ideas to head off gossip:

* Include a confidentiality clause in the group covenant.

* Recognize when a prayer need is turning into gossip.

* Continually remind the members of the group’s mission.

* Ask a member to leave the group as a last resort.

Quotes:

Gossip can sometimes creep into group and kill it.

Gossip has been around as long as there has been people.

Prayer request time is fertile ground for gossip.

You can sometimes eliminate personal names to help eliminate gossip during prayer.

Personal gossip is where you just want to talk about yourself.

The formal definition of gossip could be categorized as a lie.

When you agree what the group is about, it allows you to shape the group to be Word centered.

Helping someone change community, can get them into a new culture and impact their behavior.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Every church must be equipped to respond well in the initial stages of learning about instances of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. That is why the Southern Baptist Convention, Lifeway, and ERLC partnered together to create Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused. This training curriculum of a handbook and 13 videos brings together top experts from various fields to help volunteers and leaders understand and implement the best practices for handling the variety of abuse scenarios at church, school, or ministry. You can access this free training at ChurchCares.com.

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in Lifeway’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at Lifeway and author of Leading Small Groups.