I LOVE Small Groups - Starting a Small Group In Your Area
In the early years of my spiritually mismatched marriage when living with an unbeliever was confusing, frustrating and painful, I found hope in a small group. In fact, it was a women's Bible study group where I found others who would pray for me, encourage me and just share life with me.
You can imagine then how humbled I am and Dineen too that many of you are gathering together in a small group setting to study our book, Winning Him Without Words 10 Keys to Thriving in a Spiritually Mismatched Marriage.
When we wrote this book we included a study guide and questions for personal or group study because that is what all of you wanted. It's what WE WANTED. Dineen and I are desperate for all of you, our friends in this community, to discover Jesus on every page of that book and to live in His victory through your marriage.
The Lord has filled me with a passion to help anyone, everyone on the road behind me. I started this ministry in 2006 with this goal: That not one more person would waste as much time and live in defeat as long as I did. So below are our humble offerings to help anyone who is willing to lead a small group study.
Book: Winning Him Without Words included in the back of the book:
- Leader's Guide: includes helpful hints for starting each week and weekly suggestions for discussion.
- Small Group Agreement (I developed this and used it for years as a leader of Women's Bible studies.
- Member Class Form
- Scripture Prayers -For Self and those who need Christ.
- Prayer Evangelism
In addition to the book we have a ton of free resources on our book website:
There are Freebies and Resources such as:
- Power Prayers for Marriage
- Power Words, Phrases, and Quotes for Marriage
- Words of Affirmation for Husbands
- Tips to Fire-up the Romance
- Scriptures About Fear
These are some of the resources you can print and hand out. One each class. Visit this page and be sure to scroll all the way down. You will discover the handouts, videos and PDF of the Leader's Guide, and more.
You can also request free bookmarks for your small group study, please drop us a request through our contact page. Also, if you want your small group included on our groups page, hit the contact page button and just ask. We will add you... or not. There are many groups who are participating but not listed and that's okie dokie by me too. *grin.*
We have videos which can be shown in class through your computer. Take a look at those on our Vimeo Page. We address many of our common conflicts such a tithing and raising kids. For example in this video we discuss:
Today we are answering your questions that were posted the week of January 18, 2012 on our Facebook page.
- What do you tell the kids when they ask, "Why doesn't Dad go to church."
- Why isn't there marriage in heaven?
- How do you parent your kids when you and your husband see parenting so different.
- The boundary between submitting and serving vs. enabling.
- How do I keep hope alive when I my husband never responds.
This particular video is 18 minutes long. There are more video recording we hope you find encouraging and helpful.
If you need more help with setting up a small group, email our Small Group's Coordinator, Sue Conklin. She has helped many of our small groups get an idea of how to launch. Thanks Sue!!
And Dineen and I would love to Skype in or conference call into your small group for an encouraging word and an open Q &A. Visit our contact page and just ask. We will get a visit to your group on our schedule.
Don't forget to encourage your group to be an active part of our community at www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com and on our Facebook Page. One final offering, our monthly Newsletter, Thrive in Love, Sign up here. View August, 2012. And there is our online forum, 1Peter3Living.
My friends, all of these resources are helpful but the most important part of a study is LOVE. Let the love of Jesus fill you up and let it flow out to those in your small group. I cannot begin to thank you for your heart to serve others, especially those of us who are unequally yoked. We have been overlooked, ignored, even outcast in the body for a long, long time. But, no more. Jesus sees our faith, our heart and our desire to know Him and to thrive in our marriage. Jesus sees our desire for our spouse's salvation.
THAT IS WHAT MATTERS.
Please know that the numbers (attendance) are of little consequence to Jesus. Many would like to attend but struggle with the lable "unequally yoked." Don't you worry about the numbers, you serve those who sign up because God loves them and has called you to show them hope and healing through His transforming love even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.
From the bottom of my heart, please know that I treasure you and Dineen and I pray for all of the small groups. Mostly Jesus want's to say to you, "Well done good and faithful servant."
Thank you for serving the Kingdom of God. Hugs, Lynn Donovan
O Lord, Almighty God, I bring each small group leader before you as they prepare to lead others to your promises, your hope and your healing for their lives. God anoint them with the Holy Spirit fire to share truth, give courage, encourage others and to live their faith with boldness. Lord, bless them richly for their efforts. Father, protect them from the enemy and protect their family. Seal their marriage under your divine power and provision. Let them laugh and cry and grow more in love with you as they serve for a season those of us who live with hope in our unequally yoked marriage. In the powerful, life-tranforming name of Jesus. Amen.
