Lifelines: how we write them

Every week we publish the "lifeline." This is a helpful tool that is provided each week of the trimester for small group leaders.  Each week these include announcements, icebreakers, discussion questions, and direction for ministry time.  Lifelines are a helpful resource in planning your small group each week.  
  Lifelines are emailed to all current small group leaders each week.  They are also available on our website, www.thevineyardchurch.us.
  Now that you know what a lifeline is, we bet you're curious how we come up with these handy small group resources each week.  We are glad you asked :)
   Each Tuesday the community life team gets the preaching pastors message for the upcoming weekend.  YES, we get a rough draft of the sermon outline 5 days BEFORE they preach it.  We ask the preaching pastor for their main idea and main text.

  The community life team starts to brainstorm what the key takeaways will be for the upcoming week.  We then brainstorm creative icebreakers to go along with the weeks theme.

  Next, we begin writing the discussion portion.  Each lifeline is based around our key principles at the Vineyard, to be biblically thoughtful, culturally relevant, and spiritually powerful.  We try to develop questions for the week under each of these principals.

  Then Julie starts to get concerned, what if the lifeline is not awesome this week??

  The next step usually involves calling the preaching pastor, or Dianne Leman, with questions.

  After the lifeline is written it is sent off to the preaching pastor and brought to the community life team to review.
  On Thursdays, the lifelines are delivered to the small group leaders inbox.
  And that's how we make the lifeline. :)

Things we love Thursday: Infellowship

We have been gradually transitioning to using out "infellowship" small group connection system more and more.  That's why this weeks thing we love is our Infellowship system.  

Infellowship is an easy only directory that helps you to find a small group. Small groups can be searched according to day of  the week and specialty. If you are interested in a group you can send a request to the small group leader. 

For small group leaders, Infellowship offers small group management.  Small group leaders can easily manage their small group member list.  This option allows small group leaders to easily email their entire group.  

Check out our infellowship system here!

Great Study Questions.

There's a great resource for leading discussion in small groups call the Serendipity Bible. This bible is loaded with discussion questions, and even icebreakers to go with verses. Check out Jim Egli's review of the Serendipity Bible here.