Archive @
Articles from previous issues of church@home, in alphabetical order of title.
6 Simple Ways of Sharing your Faith at Christmastime – Stirring your group to think creatively about how to use even a small amount of time and resources to good effect November 2006
6 Steps to Effective Group Prayer – practical tips from Allen Harkness to encourage you to make prayer time valuable and meaningful to everyone November 2003
A man went into a Bar – What part of the Bible is like a well-told joke? Find out in this interview with Ian Birkinshaw November 2006
A Strategy for dealing with Conflict – Rod and Karen Morris argue that conflict can be healthy, and provide some useful tips for resolving issues in a biblical way January 2004
A to F of opening your home at Christmastime – using our homes for outreach into our communities November 2003
All-age Activities for the Summer Break – try some socially-focussed meetings which include other family members June 2004
And she hadn't even hoovered – Reviewing a new book Who'd Plant a Church by Di Archer – highly recommended for any small group considering church planting February 2004
Are you an enthusiast for the Bible? – Are you committed to the place of the Bible in our lives? As a Scripture Union Bible Enthusiast you could put this commitment to work September 2006
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin … – The ‘how to’ and benefits of sharing personal stories in the small group setting May 2007
Attending to God in his Word – no-one serves food just thrown together in a mess on the plate; so why serve up the Bread of Life without due thought and care? March 2006
Avoiding Aimlessness – an invitation to plan an audit of your main purposes for meeting in a small group August 2005
Bottom-up Church Planting – practical experience of using a small group as the starting point for building a new church July 2004
Breaking Up without Cracking Up – Caroline Masom describes a very particular church-based group for those experiencing separation or divorce April 2004
Building hope for the future – how you can study the Bible in your group at the same time as putting a roof over a needy family in Egypt April 2006
Bull in a China Shop Small Group Blunders – church@home editor Lin Ball describes the night it all went pear-shaped at her home group and invites anyone out there to come clean too! July 2003
Call to Prayer – Rev Jonathan Edwards, incoming general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, calls us to meet for prayer September 2006
Can my Group Cope? – how open is your group to newcomers, particularly not-yet-Christians? July 2005
Caring for new Students – Ways in which your group could help freshers at college or university October 2006
Celebrating with Outreach – Inspiring and practical options for sharing the Good News of Jesus with our community during the Christmas and New Year period November 2005
Connecting with your Community – Pointers for small groups wanting to make a local impact from Sue Hoey of the Shaftesbury Society December 2003
Creative Memories – an idea for a new kind of small group that's ideal for building bridges with your non-Christian neighbours and friends, and having a whole lot of fun too! January 2004
Discipling Team Leaders – 8 top indicators of potential team members from a seminar given by John Lanferman, a New Frontiers church planter from the USA October 2003
Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament – Is the Old Testament a neglected area in your small group? Tony Staite offers a passionate argument to why it's vital August 2007
Does Size Matter? – Tony Thompson's strategy for growing churches through cell groups November 2003
Easter Offering – a kind of interactive liturgy with props which we hope you will find different and rich in meaning March 2005
Encouraging Personal Bible Reading and Prayer – be prepared to be challenged as regular contributor David Dewey asks if your small group helps or even possibly hinders members in growing their one-to-one relationship with God June 2004
Encouraging Sharing – Kate Hayes gives us some tips on promoting a warm open atmosphere in our small groups December 2005
Essential 100 - your way into the heart of the Bible – An extensive set of group leaders notes for you to use alongside the Scripture Union book Essential 100, which provides a fantastic overview of the Bible in 100 readings. May 2006
Everyone a Bible Student – how to give good Bible study skills to your small group November 2003
Evidence of belonging – the need for pastoral care in small groups, by Ken McBride January 2003
Family Bible Holiday – A short break in the Quantock foothills for families with children February 2006
Five Stages of Church Transformation – Where your groups might be in terms of full involvement in your church's plans and purpose July 2006
Fostering Spiritual Transformation in your Small Groups – second in our series from Willow Creek small group trainer Greg Bowman January 2005
Fresh Vision – about a course which totally transforms a group leaders' small group experience May 2005
Getting groups praying – some practical advice you’ll find useful if your group struggles with embarrassingly long silences during prayer times, by Sarah Mayers March 2003
Getting Involved – small groups touching refugees and asylum seekers October 2004
Giving your group the Gift of Listening – Aspirations for becoming a better listener for a small group October 2006
Going Deeper with your Group – John Wilks of London School of Theology tackles some of the questions leaders raise about moving their groups on February 2007
Good Practice: Asking Good questions – John Grayston advises us how to avoid discussions which descend into embarassment of confusion August 2004
Groups by any other name – How one church in Epping decided to be much more inclusive about its small group programme May 2006
Groups for Peace – Helping your group get active about Peacemaking, and the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams November 2006
Growing effective communications skills in your small group – by Jane Rennie January 2003
Growing Fruit in Small Groups – Do we see our small groups as fertile ground for growing in people the character traits of the Christian life as listed in Galatians 5? August 2003
Guided Meditation – a method of Bible study and Bible experience for small groups with an example to try January 2005
Happy Families? – If your small group struggles with differences in members that sometimes threatens to pull apart everything you’re trying to do, you might find the article helpful October 2005
Helping Groups to Pray Aloud – practical yet inspirational advice to grow your group's prayer experience May 2005
Holy superheroes – When you read the Bible, do you tackle it like Spider-man? Or more like Batman? Recommending a new DVD resource for your small group that will grow their interest in the Bible May 2006
I Really Didn't Want to Change! – Abidemi Sanusi shares her experiences as her church made the transition from traditional small groups to cell groups December 2003
Imagining the Impossible – a report on a conference on the G12 approach to cell groups March 2004
In Touch with your Local School – Schools worker Wayne Dixon describes some small group outreach opportunities right on your doorstep – in your local school June 2003
Is your group too fluffy? – Carl Beech, national director of Christian Viewpoint for Men, throws out some challenges about groups that will appeal to men June 2006
John Wesley – cell group pioneer November 2004
Kemi's Journal of Life, Love and Everything – this new book from Scripture Union, hailed as "the Christian Bridget Jones", raises many issues including marriage and sexuality, abortion, guilt, repentance, grace and forgiveness. This study guide may be something any 20-something members of your group would identify with February 2005
Leadership Architexture – lateral thinking on growing leaders of small groups from US church planter John Lanferman September 2003
Lent – More than a Chocolate-free Zone? – an interview with writer and vicar's wife Kate Hayes November 2003
Linking the Word to the World – how do we make sense of our culture in the light of the truths of the Bible? Di Archer opens our eyes September 2003
Listening to God – A great way to start the New Year January 2007
Looking to the Psalms – Explore the many benefits of studying the Psalms, particularly in times of personal or national distress September 2005
Love Won Another – Sue Hoey reflects on the cost of reaching out into the community. Sue works for the Shaftesbury Society which helps small groups set up a huge range of community outreach projects May 2003
Making and Keeping a Journal for Lent – a creative small group activity February 2005
Mentoring in a group setting – your small group as a place of personal growth June 2004
Open Wide – in which Lin Ball talks to the head of Scripture Union in the USA about an exciting new Bible reading publication and programme that can be used by individuals, small groups or whole churches October 2003
Reading Groups – not only a fun recreational activity but a way to make non-Christian friends and sometimes speak out for Christ on issues that matter December 2004
Reading the Jesus Story – more like Walking through the Narnia Wardrobe than Taking Cod Liver Oil! – We talk to Scripture Union’s USA director about a new programme for giving small groups the ‘big picture’ about the person and work of Jesus May 2007
Reality Small Groups – first in a series of articles from Willow Creek small group trainer Greg Bowman December 2004
Rethinking relationships in the church – Are our small groups part of the natural outworking of healthy open relationships? February 2004
Scripture Memorisation – allowing God's word to dwell in you richly November 2004
Seven elements of Effective Bible Study Groups – a comprehensive audit of good group characteristics by Karen and Rod Morris April 2004
Share the Light – a new nationwide challenge to revitalise Bible reading with a strong challenge and appeal to small groups May 2004
Small groups - a novel idea! – Reading a book as a group can be a growing point, and new novel Zack's Story by Abidemi Sanusi should provoke plenty of discussion June 2006
Small Groups – a Way of Stopping the Rot? – some aspirations for small groups collected from some of the most notable Christian thinkers of our time June 2005
Small groups and sticky issues – An excerpt from the training manual Small Groups Growing Churches January 2003
Small Groups as Centres of Excellence for Discipling – Matthew Hudson of the Navigators describes a flexible group training programme called Tailor Made Training September 2005
Small Groups First Century style – We often talk about returning to early church principles and practice, but how much do we know about what the first believers did; and how closely do our own small groups mirror that? Andrew Clark offers some insights. July 2003
Small Groups Reaching the Vulnerable Elderly – Mike Nicholls, who runs a care home in Chalfont St Peter, has encouragement and advice April 2003
Small Groups: the Model Church? – Andy Twilley asks if small groups are just a mini-church, or if they achieve things that the Church just can't do March 2004
Speaking of Catwalks, Cameras and Climate Change… – Interview about a new way of engaging groups with the big talking points of the day May 2007
Staying In is the New Going Out – sharing our home with others, by Jan Harney of Activate October 2003
Surviving small groups – seven top tips on how to keep spiritually fresh as a small group leader, by Emlyn Williams January 2003
Taking it to the Streets – the Willow Creek approach to using the small group to reach out to the unchurched. Could it work in your community? April 2005
Terrorism and the Kingdom of God – a Biblical study by Gethin Russel-Jones inspired by the events of September 11, 2001 July 2004
The Amazing Potential for Small Groups – by Stephen Gaukroger, senior pastor of one of the country's largest Baptist churches and member of the Spring Harvest council December 2003
The group that breaks bread in Liverpool – an innovative approach to building transformational community March 2006
The hidden two per cent – what would make our home groups and churches accessible to those with learning difficulties April 2006
The Little Things That Make The Big Things Happen – Joanna Page challenges us to look at efficient administration as vital to the effectiveness of a small group, rather than a boring chore. January 2006
The Missing Link that will make the Church fly again – the Bishop of Birkenhead gives a personal view on the importance of small groups to the health of the Church October 2003
The Reconciliation Challenge – another in our series from Willow Creek small group trainer Greg Bowman March 2005
The Relational Challenges of Small Groups – third in our series from Willow Creek small group trainer Greg Bowman February 2005
The Right to Vote – a stimulating discussion starter around the time of the General Election May 2005
The seven deadly sins of small group ministry – Review of a Willow Creek book examining some of the most commmon pitfalls of small groups May 2006
The Small Group as a support base for students – the challenge of reaching and supporting students August 2005
The state of church@home.uk – by John Grayston January 2003
The Ten Commandments – looks at the attention given to the Mosaic law in a recent Channel 4 survey, and contains whole session outline on one of the ten to use in your group June 2005
The trouble with small groups – Lin Ball interviews Mike Law January 2003
The Which Bible? Guide for Small Groups – Invaluable, concise guide to the different Bible versions from David Dewey September 2003
Together for Worship – belonging to the worship group can mean being part of a fully-functioning small group March 2005
Using Meditation in Small Groups – practical tips for beginners and experienced alike September 2004
Using New Testament Prayers for Growth in Discipleship – studying some of the prayers of the New Testament August 2004
Using the Bible creatively – different ways of engaging with the Bible in groups, by David Dewey February 2003
Valuing your Small Group Leaders – A five point checklist to measure how well your church is doing in appreciating the efforts of its group leaders February 2007
Welcoming fish out of water – Five essential and common-sense guidelines for anyone wanting to start a seeker-friendly small group August 2007
Women Need to Talk – describes a bi-monthly breakfast meeting and a ten-point plan March 2004