2. Study something new, and in a new way.
Because of vacation schedules and other events, most people will end up attending a group, on average, six times over the summer. The flow of a group will inevitably be interrupted. Rather than trying to have a cohesive study plan that requires consistent participation and builds week to week, try something that is a little more self-paced.
I’d recommend using a study that someone can easily do on their own, and then utilize a group gathering time to discuss the takeaways from the material. Focus on questions like “What was the most helpful thing you learned?” and “How did this change the way you interacted with your family/friends/neighbors this week?”
Summer is also a great time to incorporate the use of digital technology to help foster conversation. Rather than depending entirely on the face-to-face gathering, try having an ongoing discussion through email, a Facebook group or by using church communication software.
3. Vacation together.
This one requires planning, but it’s the best thing my community does—we enjoy vacation with one another. We’ve done it a number of ways—going to a lake house, road tripping to the mountains, and going to family camp together.
Having our entire families interacting and creating memories with one another fosters such unique and authentic community that it’s compelling for our neighbors who don’t know Jesus.
A week of community vacation also presents an opportunity for more intentional time for discussion, as well as much more informal time for sharing life and dreaming about the future of your community. You can do so much more in one focused week than you can in an entire semester’s worth of group gatherings!
4. Enjoy your summer to the glory of God.
Summer is a hard time to start new things, but it’s a great time to adapt a lot of your existing practices to the challenges of a summer rhythm. Most importantly, though, is to rejoice in this season that God has graciously given for His glory and our good. Summer is a blessing to be enjoyed, and an opportunity to change up your normal rhythms.
