WEEKLY MOORING BREAKDOWN:
WHAT MAKES A GREAT MOORING?
1. Pray
Research on small groups suggests that the single most important dimension of a thriving small group is the leader’s prayer life. The researchers asked these questions: “How consistently do you take time for prayer and personal Bible reading? How many days in the past week did you pray for small group members? How often do you pray for your group in the days leading up to the meeting?”
What was most striking was that the researchers found a very high correlation between the health of the group and the leader’s commitment to praying for group members. Ironically, many of the leaders surveyed spent significantly more time preparing questions and studying the passage than they did praying for group members. This is not suggesting that we do not need to prepare to lead our groups each week, but rather to emphasize that prayer is a key component of that preparation. Pray for your group members by name.
2. Plan
Plan how you will spend your time in your Mooring each week. A good meeting balances time with each other and time to connect with God through discussion and prayer. If you are meeting your group via Zoom, consider shortening the length of the meeting (30 minutes of discussion on Zoom vs 40-45 minutes for an in-person meeting).
3. Email your group prior to the meeting
Affirm their participation and show your investment in them.
4. Include a snack and refreshments
There is nothing quite like food and table conversation for building relationships.
5. Start with an ice breaker
This is particularly important for newly formed groups, but even more seasoned groups benefit from icebreaker questions. Icebreakers set a relaxing tone for your gathering. You may choose fun and entertaining warm-up questions, or for groups that are more comfortable with one another, you could consider icebreakers that require deeper levels of sharing. The internet is rich with examples from which to choose. Better yet, create icebreakers that have a connection to the themes you are exploring in your group study time.
As leaders, we may love ice breakers or we may hate them! In this video, Jonathon explains how ice breakers can help us build relationship with one another. When ice breakers become part of our weekly practice, they will cue members to settle in, focus on the discussion, and participate fully.
6. Come equipped with 6-10 questions to pose to your group
If you are using a Study Guide, select open-ended questions (ones that require more than a yes or no answer.) Open-ended questions are designed to move the discussion forward. When designing and/or selecting questions, keep in mind that our goal is transformation (How does this affect us personally?) not information (bare facts). Don’t worry about getting through all your prepared questions. Often, great discussions develop from only a few good question prompts.
7. Be intentional about praying at every Mooring
The prayer time does not need to be at the end of the meeting. If someone in the group raises a concern during the discussion time, stop and pray immediately. On Zoom, you can create breakout rooms for smaller groups of 2-3 people to pray together. Consider varying the prayer experience.
In this video, Corinne shares two elements of a powerful prayer time: participation and presence. She challenges us to step outside of our comfort zones and explore ways to pray together that will enrich the group’s prayer time and encourage members to move beyond a simple sharing of prayer requests.
Click here for resources: Fill-in-the-blank Prayer, Body Prayer, Lectio Divina.
8. Share roles
Provide opportunities for others to have a role in contributing to the Mooring. Identify those in your group who could lead the discussion or prayer time. Ask a group member to come with an Icebreaker. Be creative in how you develop the gifts of your group.
9. Talk about mission
Include time to discuss your mission. This is an opportunity for leaders to encourage everyone in the group to use their skills, passions, and connections for the sake of a single goal: being the hands and feet of Jesus in our world.
10. Begin and end on time
Decide as a group when you want to begin and end your meetings and stay within those agreed-upon times.
11. Let the Spirit lead
Be okay with setting aside your plans as the Spirit prompts you. Remember that you do not have to hit the ball out of the park each week. There will be weeks when conversation is easy and you sense the Spirit at work. There will be other weeks where leading is difficult and the discussion strained. No matter how it feels to you, God will bless your commitment to the group.