By now you've probably seen (or visited) Group Life TV by clicking on the link at the right. We've posted several videos there to get started, but we'll be adding to this library constantly over the coming days and months. Thirty-something of the top leaders in Group Life stopped by our studio during the Ancient-Future Community conference to give us their thoughts. We can't wait for you to see them, but we'll spread them out so you don't overload on too much of a good thing!

Many of the titles on Group Life TV are not just single videos, but collections. My personal favorite: Why I Love Small Groups with clips from Bill Donahue, Russ Robinson, Mindy Caliguire and others. (I even have one in there. Greg Bowman said I have a great face for radio.)

You can watch these videos alone, but what fun would that be?  Share them with friends by clicking the button to email the clip or to get the code to place the video on your own web site or blog.

Ancient-Future Video
Over the next few weeks we'll be publishing video highlights of the Ancient-Future Community conference. Each Session Highlight shows the band, drama, video clips, and speaker sound bites. Other clips are standalone edits of the speaker sound bites or copies of the actual videos used in the session. In the coming weeks we're adding "And another thing..."; each main speaker's thoughts of what else they would like to say that didn't make it into their talk on stage.  

The small video jukebox included in each of the Ancient-Future posts will get you started. If you'd like to see videos in a larger player (or you just can't wait to see all the conference videos as soon as we post them) click the Conference Videos link under Ancient-Future Community in the navigation links at the right of this blog.

The emphasis on “belonging” is critical to any group, team, or family. I remember in college running for elections in a club. We have “eating clubs” instead of frats and sororities but the idea was the same. It was a social gathering place where we ate meals, had parties, or just hung out and studied or played pool. There were about 100 guys and 5 leadership slots. I was nominated for all 5. Each time we counted votes, I had come in second place. Whether it was social chairman, athletic chairman or vice president, when the votes were cast I was left behind. Five of my closest friends were selected and they all went out to celebrate afterwards—without me. Even though I enjoyed them and the club, suddenly there was no room at the Inn for me. Belonging is key.

But we cannot stop there in group life. We are called to become something – a holy people, a redemptive community, an active expression of the hands and feet of Jesus. I think that is why I am so excited about the missional communities that are emerging—at Willow and around the world. This move from an institutional approach to incarnational is refreshing. Instead of “come to church and we will connect you to a group” the focus becomes “let’s become a group that serves some people then we can ultimately connect them to the church.”  This “serve first” mentality fostered by Denise Van Eck and others at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids is an emerging trend. Jon Peacock and the Axis team at Willow have 10 missional communities where they have moved into apartments largely filled with singles. These groups are living among the homeless, the poor, the wealthy, minorities – up close and personal.

This is an expression of group life that we are looking to learn from as we move forward – we will keep you all posted. Are any of you doing similar experiments? What are you seeing?

As I continue to observe communities in action there are a variety of components that make them thrive. But many groups get too focused on format while ignoring process. Think of process as the environment you create for growth, like ingredients for a growing a plant in a greenhouse. It needs water, oxygen, nutrients, and temperature control. All this takes place in a structure—a greenhouse—made of glass and pipe, with electrical wiring and ventilation systems. You the nutrients and the structure—but groups often focus too heavily on the structure.

If you look at it another way, format is the skeletal and muscular systems in a body. Process is the nervous and circulatory system. In groups that pay attention to process leaders observe relational connections, recurring themes and issues, follow the flow of the Spirit (not just the curriculum), and are attentive to communication patterns. What is the group climate like? Do people give and receive feedback well? Are all opinions welcome? Is it safe? Are we free to speak truth about God, self and others?

You need enough structure to facilitate and guard the process. That is why leaders (or guides or shepherds) are called for in the bible. They guide and facilitate process—they make sure all the ingredients are present for growth. And they make sure there is just enough structure to keep the process moving. It’s a tension leaders must navigate.

How is this going for you or your groups? Jot me a note. I’d love to hear what you are learning