The decision of which group would best serve a new participant is one of the more difficult questions that is asked early in the process of attending G4. Finding the starting point for each participant can be difficult because some feel as though they have many prominent issues that need to be addressed. Given the limited amount of information that you are given by participants as they register for the first time, you are going to help them decide which group will best serve their needs. Below are five levels at which a person might find themselves which will tell them which group is right for them.

The level of self-awareness will typically increase as you move down the levels. A struggle at a higher level might exhibit symptoms of a lower struggle but without addressing the higher issue first; for example, an addiction should be addressed before a skill. To address a lower level struggle without addressing those at a higher level, it is more likely that the lower level struggle will return because it is a symptom of the other. Continue reading →

At G4, there are three main purposes for debrief, a time of questions, training, and prayer. While each might not occur each night at debrief, the goal is to implement each of them well so that our G4 team might feel heard, equipped, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Continue reading →

We believe that in order for groups to function properly, there must be structure. Without clear boundaries and framework, each group would begin to evolve into their own separate ministries. The structure and consistency of the groups allows for group members to have security each week when they arrive.

However, a group that chooses to operate without flexibility built into the structure will cause a group to become stagnant and overly predictable. The following reminders serve to help you understand the balance between structure and flexibility. Continue reading →

In core value number six, we include the need for a guided process in our groups. While we do not exclusively mean the written curriculum, it is an important part of how we gain structure for each of our groups. With a variety of topics and different curriculum there is no one size fits all solution for how to use curriculum in group. It is the job of the group leader to use their groups curriculum to the benefit of the group that they are leading.

It is important to remember that the curriculum is a tool that is meant to be utilized by group leaders and their participants. While the curriculum is designed to give a thorough and useful understanding of its topic, as with any tool, it is only as effective as person using the curriculum. For this reason, it is imperative that each leader be intimately familiar with their curriculum. This expectation means that leaders should: Continue reading →

Moving from the relational portion of the evening into the more structured portion of the night can be difficult and seem somewhat cold in tone if done poorly. Our goal is that participants would be introduced to the curriculum in a way that would help them understand the importance of the material and the structure of our groups. Again, much like the group introductions this will be different for each group depending on the number of participants, current place in the curriculum, and how group leaders use the curriculum within the context of the group. Continue reading →