Life is a series of transitions worth celebrating. Graduating from grade school, graduating from middle school, graduating from high school, graduating from college, getting married, becoming a parent, paying the last payment on the house—the list goes on and on.
While transitions are a natural part of life, transitions are often worth celebrating but seldom celebrated. Groups that celebrate together honor one another as well as create a bond that opens the door for authentic community.
When a group member has accomplished something worth celebrating, here are a few ideas for how to celebrate together as a group:
- Verbally and publicly congratulate the group member during the group meeting. This will offer others in the group the opportunity to do the same.
- Write a letter on behalf of the group telling the group member how proud you are of them and that you’ve seen serious growth as they’ve persevered until the goal was accomplished. Have every group member sign the letter.
- Use a group meeting to throw a surprise party.
- Purchase a study Bible to give to the group member. Have every group member write a few words on the inside cover and sign it.
- Ask every group member to send a card of congratulations.
As we near summertime—a season of transitions—take the time as a group to observe and commemorate accomplishments and celebrate together in fellowship.
Rick Howerton is the Small Groups and Discipleship Specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources. He has authored many small group studies, is a highly sought-after trainer and speaker, and is the author of Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual as well as A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic. He is also the co-author of Disciples Path: A Practical Guide to Disciple Making and Countdown: Launching and Leading Transformational Groups. But Rick’s deepest passion and his goal in life is to see “a biblical small group within walking distance of every person on the planet making disciples that make disciples.”
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