On this episode of Group Answers, Brian, Chris, and Brandon, discuss how holidays can kill a small group.

Ideas for groups during holidays:

* Serve a local missions organization.

* Do an online study together.

* Plan a pre-Thanksgiving alternative meal.

* Plan an early December Christmas party and then take a break.

* Get your first meeting in January on the calendar.

Quotes:

Breaks can kill your group.

Most people don’t look forward to the months with heavy winters.

An exhale can become a permanent hiatus for some members.

Anytime you get out of the rhythm of meeting, it’s hard to get it back together again.

Not ending your group well, and starting back well, can hurt your group.

Think of your group as family and friends. You want to spend time with them during breaks.

Schedule parties and get togethers as early as possible in the month, and then take a break from meeting every week.

Letting people know that it is the end, helped our group. Everyone in our group showed up for the Christmas party.

Don’t try to get back together too early in January.

We roll out the schedule for December in August.

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.