Dallas Willard on Our Most Serious Failure
What are you doing to and for your coaches that you want them to pass on to leaders? I know you know by now that that’s how it works. Whatever you want to happen at the member level, will have to happen to the leader first…and by extension, whatever you want to happen at the…
Read MoreSaddleback Changed the Church-Wide Campaign Game…Again
Don’t miss this! If you’re planning a church-wide campaign you must grab hold of this latest idea. I believe it is at the very heart of how Saddleback amassed over 8400 groups for their most recent campaign (Transformed: How God Changes Us). You read that right. 8400 groups. Their idea was embedded in every message,…
Read MoreJoin My Fall Coaching Network by 8/4 and Receive a Special Bonus
Need to take your small group ministry to the next level? My coaching network is designed to help you do that! Members of my small group ministry coaching network receive personal attention and customized coaching. They also benefit from the experience of connecting with the other practitioners from around the country. I want to invite…
Read More5 Terrible Small Group Ministry Ideas to Avoid at ALL Costs
There are a few things that seem so right at the time…but really are terrible ideas and should be avoided at all costs. Here are 5 Terrible Small Group Ministry Ideas to Avoid at ALL Costs Waiting until next year. This is a truly terrible idea! Every year, every ministry season is a gift from…
Read MoreEnlist Your Congregation in the Mission with “Life on Mission”
Had an opportunity to preview a new church-wide campaign from Tim Harlow (produced by Lifetogether and published by Pastors.com). Life on Mission: God’s People Finding God’s Heart for the World is a 6 week campaign that “offers clear Bible teaching designed to empower you to share your faith with people right in your own neighborhood.”…
Read More7 Ways to Add Prayer to Your Church-Wide Campaign Preparation
I’ve written about the importance of prayer in your church-wide campaign, but I haven’t let you in on some of the best prayer ideas that I’ve come across. See also, Note to Self: Don’t Forget to Pray for Your Church-Wide Campaign. 7 ways to add prayer to your campaign preparation: Challenge your staff and other…
Read More10 of the Most Overused Small Group Ministry Buzzwords
Ever heard someone use a word or a phrase and there was something about the way they said it that made you realize…they didn’t know what it meant? I remember when a friend of mine kept talking about the long tail (a business term) and ecosystem (or some other buzzword, I don’t remember) and it…
Read MoreQuotebook: Thoroughly Conscious Ignorance
As you know, I’ve long been an advocate of being a learner. Reading broadly, stoking curiosity, exploring stacks of seemingly unrelated material and curating collections of great questions are all part and parcel of the journey. Watching Stuart Firestein’s TED video on the pursuit of ignorance was just one of my most recent excursions. I came…
Read MoreYou Know You Have the Right Small Group System When…
How do you know you have chosen the right small group system? Can you know? I think you probably can. While there are at least half a dozen different small group systems, none of them are problem-free. Wise leaders simply choose the set of problems they’d rather have. See also, How to Choose a Small…
Read MoreHere’s Where I’ll Be This Summer
What are your summer plans? I’ve got a few dates that I thought you might like to know about. I’m going to presenting a free workshop, How to Build a Thriving Small Group Ministry, in 4 west coast* cities in August. Seattle: Monday, August 4th from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Calvary Renton Baptist, 1032 Edmonds Ave NE,…
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