EXERCISES: Group Identity
The Four Building Blocks Of Healthy Soil • INWARD: The Inside Look
Exercises to Grow in Group Identity
SMALL GROUP EXERCISE: Group Identity Statements: What Are Qualities of a Christian (According to the Bible)?
Choose one passage from this list (only one per meeting):
Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 11:1-6 (or 11:1-16); Colossians 3:1-3; Colossians 3:12-14; Colossians 3:15-17; Matthew 5:2-11; Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 6:19-21; Matthew 6:43-48; Matthew 16:24-27; Matthew 18:1-4; Matthew 20:25-28; Philippians 2:1-4; Philippians 2:1-8;.
Have one person read the passage aloud to the group (have the group listen to the passage first, before opening their Bibles).
Give that Biblical reference out and have each person now read the passage on their own, as a second read. This time they are to look for what are the qualities of a Christian.
Divide the people into groups of 2s, 3, or 4’s. Have each group formulate “We Are” Statement(s) (Qualities of a Christian) based on that passage. Begin the statement as: “We are a people…” (EXAMPLE: “We are a people who get our identity from the character of Jesus.”)
SMALL GROUP EXERCISE: Group Identity Statements: Who Are We As A Small Group (Or As A Church)?
Have everyone close their eyes and reflect on what attracted them to this group (or church) - 1-2 minutes.
Individuals share what initially attracted them to the group, and/or what has kept them coming and/or energized.
Divide the people into groups of 2s, 3, or 4’s. The task of each group is to gather the positive, common categories/qualities that most agree describes this group (or church).
Have each group formulate “We Are” Statement(s) to answer who we are as a small group (or a church). Begin the statement as: “We are a people…”
Share the statements to the larger group and check for response. This checking could be with thumbs up/down/sideways, or followed by a group discussion, depending on time allotment.