Some of you have or will take on the challenge of leading a small group. Some may do this with just the One Month to Live book by Kerry and Chris Shook. Others may have access to the DVD which is available through the authors. Most small group leaders will want to have the OMTL Challenge Group Interactive Guide. Whatever combination that you selected, remember that this is not so much a class or program as an exploration.
The small group leader is more of a guide than a teacher. Much of the real exploration will take place outside of the classroom or sanctuary. Do not be discouraged if everyone doesn't explore at the same pace. Don't get upset when people seem to only scratch the surface for what they would do differently. Just continue to encourage people to continue their daily reading and reflect on the daily questions and challenges.
You can't force the "aha" moments. Just guide and trust God.
I know that most people that volunteer to be group leaders like to read the material in advance. That is a great thing to do, but don't let it interfere with reading it again--and making the front end commitment found at the beginning of the book--with those in your group.
Here are some notes for leaders who are blessed to take part in this journey. This list is certainly not all inclusive and I encourage you to add your own notes, lessons learned, or other suggestions in the comments field so they can be shared with all.
One Month to Live
Leader’s Notes
1. This should not be a burden. God is in charge, we just get to explore with his people for a few weeks.
2. Get a commitment from everyone to make this a serious exploration. If they have the book, to read it daily. If they don’t have the book, to follow online. If they can’t do either, to write down each week’s questions and meditate on them daily.
3. Encourage (challenge) people in your group to tell at least 3 people they don’t go to church with that they are taking the 30 day challenge.
4. Make this a real exploration. Encourage people to answer honestly. If I had only a month to live I might not cut the grass, go to work, brush my teeth, shave, remodel that room, renew my subscriptions, or read the paper. I might sleep late, smoke a cigar in the morning, eat more ice cream, have a glass of wine with breakfast, and see how fast my car will go.
5. We have less of a chance of getting to the life-changing stuff, if we don’t at first have a place to deposit all of our one month thoughts.
6. This is not sword drill. Most of the time in class should be spent thinking about what we would really do. We should not try to make our answers fit into a ‘scripture box.’
7. Don’t avoid God’s word, but allow it to be a natural part of the exploration.
8. Encourage people to be real, but don’t get sidetracked. (I have an uncle with cancer who probably only has a month to live. Cancer is killing everyone. Cancer needs to be wiped out. Who else knows someone with cancer? Let’s talk about cancer…). It’s easy to get off track, so gently get everyone back on track.
9. Have some serious fun. Now, there’s an oxymoron! The more everyone puts into this, the more we will enjoy it and the greater value we will receive in return.
10. Trust that God can handle our honesty (nothing is hidden from Him anyway)!
Be sure to add your lessons learned below so that we can share from each other's knowledge and experience!
Join others in western Oklahoma as we take the 30 day challenge!
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