Top 10 Articles on Launching New Groups
I’ve written many articles on this subject over the last few years. Some people would say I have an obsession with new groups. I don’t know about that. I do know this…if you want to build a thriving small group ministry, you better learn three things: New groups are the very best way to connect…
Read More5 Blatantly Obvious Truths about Starting New Groups
You know how sometimes there really is an elephant in the room and no one wants to talk about it? Or if certain people are in the room a kind of code is used to disguise the real topic? Depending on who’s in the room, the subject of starting new groups can be like that.…
Read MoreHere’s Where I’ll Be in 2014
I love doing live events! Whether I’m coaching senior pastors, small group pastors and directors, or small group leaders…it’s just a lot of fun. If you’d like to make something happen in your area, you can take a look at my speaking and training info. Or just email me. It’s easy to get started! ———————————————————————-…
Read MoreWill You Join the “Groups Matter” Initiative?
Groups Matter. Do you know about this initiative? I heard from Rick Howerton recently about his newest project…and it’s pretty exciting. Join with churches around the world to launch 100,000 new groups in 2014, whether they meet in homes, at the church, on Sundays, or throughout the week. I’m in! Sounds like our cup of…
Read More“What Is”, “What If” and the Challenge of the Preferred Future
If you’ve been along for much of this journey you know we’ve talked a lot about the preferred future. A lot. In fact, when I used the search box here on the blog I discovered that 52 of my articles use the term “preferred future” in the title. That is a lot! (see the search…
Read MoreOpen New Windows of Opportunity with This Strategic Tweak
I want to pitch an idea at you today. I was inspired by a quote yesterday and it got me thinking about the way most of our small group ministries operate. Here’s the quote: “We live in this “what is” reality, and then we talk about things like creating culture, making history, creating the future,…
Read MorePrerequisite to the New and Highly Promising
Last fall I posted an article about the 5 Compromises That Derail Small Group Ministry. This morning I began to feel like I needed to revisit compromise #3, Shrinking Back from Prioritizing Steps that Lead to GroupLife. What got me today was Peter Drucker’s insistence that “Planned, purposeful abandonment of the old and of the unrewarding is…
Read More10 Ways to Know If Your Small Group Ministry Is Gaining Ground
How can you tell if your small group ministry is gaining ground? What are the signs? Can it be measured quantitatively? Or do you have to know how to measure qualitatively? Obviously, you can measure many things quantitatively. Quantitative measurements like how many groups you have, how many leaders and apprentices you have, and how…
Read MoreDilbert on Offering Constructive Criticism
It sounded good at the leadership development seminar…
Read MoreNew Must-Read from Eric Geiger and Ed Stetzer: Transformational Groups
I’ve been working my way through an important new book from Eric Geiger and Ed Stetzer this week. Transformational Groups: Creating a New Scorecard for Groups is the latest project in the transformational series (Transformational Church and Transformational Discipleship). All three have been researched based and packed with insights that ought to be on your…
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