Better Group Life Through Technology
What technologies are you using in your small group ministry? Website page? Blog? Facebook? Twitter? Data management system (like Churchteams or GroupsInteractive)? Or are you doing the things according the the KJV? You know…the old fashioned way. Printed catalogs? Phone trees? Sign up forms? The times are achangin’ you know. Today your leaders can…
Read MoreAre You Using the Application as Intended?
After the last 72 hours of dealing with implementation issues in our new small group finder application…I feel compelled to refer to this video:
Read MoreWho Makes the Best Coach?
In our ongoing look at the top 10 axiomatic beliefs of group life, one area that ought to draw our attention is coaching. It is logical that a coach would be helpful…even required. But who makes the best coaches? It is so common for churches to make that assignment to their elders or deacons. But…
Read MoreThe Ingredients of a Deep Connection
What produces a genuinely deep connection? Is it just time spent with someone? Or are there other essential ingredients? When I listed what I called the top 10 axiomatic beliefs of group life, I included the belief that “the longer a group is together the more deeply connected the members become.” I’ve heard this argued…
Read MoreVideo That Recruits Hosts
I’ve written about how to use a video testimony to recruit hosts for church-wide campaigns here and here. Here’s an example of one that worked very well. A few things to note. First, these were people who had hosted previously. Second, this is a great story. To have one of their members tell their side…
Read MoreEssential Ingredients for Life-Change
You’re reading this…so you already know that the optimum environment for life-change is a small group. Right? After all, that is one of the key axiomatic beliefs of small group ministry enthusiasts everywhere. The question is, “Is it true that a group is the optimum environment for life-change?” Or are there some factors that must…
Read MoreTop 5 Ways to Multiply Small Groups
How can we start some new groups? We have 14 (or 34, 78, or 103) and we’re stuck on how to add new groups. What’s the best way to do it? What are some ways that we’re not thinking of? This is a very frequent question. And it’s a good one because it’s rooted in…
Read MoreWhat Part Does Your Senior Pastor Play?
If you want to become a church of groups…what part does your senior pastor play? More to the point, does your pastor need to lead a group in order for group life to become a deeply held value in your church? [quote]Although I’ve written a 4 part series on The Role of the Senior Pastor,…
Read MoreTop 10 Axiomatic Beliefs of Group Life
When you think of group life, of small group ministry, what are your axiomatic beliefs? Remember that an axiom is an established rule or principle or self-evident truth. We all have them stored away in our brains. The key is that not all of them are true…and not all of them are the kind that…
Read MoreDebug Your Thinking
When you think about your discipleship strategy or your connection strategy…how is it working? Have you ever slowed down long enough to really examine your results? To see if what you are trying to do is really happening? On the wall in my office you’ll find a quote that is constantly on my mind as…
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