Top 5 Keys to Starting New Groups. Lots of New Groups.
If you’ve been along for any of this conversation, you know that I believe unconnected people are always one tough thing away from not being around. Always. An illness. A difficult marriage or divorce. The loss of a job. A child making bad decisions. One tough thing. One. I know that and you do too.…
Read MoreReal Win: A New DVD-Driven Study featuring Colt McCoy and Matt Carter
Took some time this week to review a new DVD-driven men’s study featuring NFL quarterback Colt McCoy and Matt Carter, founding pastor of The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas. McCoy, the starting quarterback for the University of Texas Longhorns from 2006 to 2009, met Carter while attending church. A six session study, Real…
Read MoreAn Analysis of the Free Market Small Group System
One of several popular small group systems is called Free Market. Taking its name from one of the basic concepts of economics, a free market system allows and encourages leaders to choose the study (or activity) they’d like to do (as opposed to a controlled or regulated model where they’re told what to do). Free…
Read MoreNew from Priscilla Shirer | Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength
Had an opportunity to review Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength, the newest study from Priscilla Shirer today. The daughter of well-known pastor Tony Evans, Shirer is a very popular teacher in her own right. A dynamic communicator, this is a study that will resonate very well with many Bible study groups. When I pulled this study out…
Read More*And Some People Will Still Leave
In a recent article I wrote that one of the artificial barriers limiting small group ministry growth is too many selections on the next step menu. You know that scenario right? Even if you’ve worked hard to become a simple church and you’ve embraced the idea of narrowing the focus, you’re probably still in the…
Read MoreIs an Artificial Barrier Limiting Growth in Your Small Group Ministry?
If you’re like many, you’ve wrestled with the question, “Why can’t we break through this barrier?” Here are what I believe are five of the most common artificial barriers that limit small group ministry: Five common artificial barriers that limit small group ministry 1. The impression that the weekend service meets the minimum weekly participation…
Read MoreTop 10 Posts of June, 2013
Here are my top 10 posts of June, 2013. I had visitors from 78 countries around the world (thanks for stopping by!). By the way, these are my top 10 most read posts in June, but 797 of my posts were read at least once! Thanks for reading! How to Launch Groups Using a Small…
Read MoreA Great New Resource from Thom S. Rainer: I Am a Church Member
About a month ago I received an email asking if I’d like to review a new book by Thom Rainer, the co-author of Simple Church (with Eric Geiger) and Transformational Church (with Ed Stetzer), two books I highly recommend. The new book was called I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference.…
Read More5 Secret Ingredients that Supercharge Saddleback’s Church-Wide Campaigns
You probably know the basics and can easily spot the essential aspects of a garden variety church-wide campaign*. Choose a message series that has a small group curriculum that goes along with it. Spend several weeks recruiting hosts, promoting the series, challenging members to join groups. *Essentially an alignment between a weekend message series and…
Read MoreTop 5 Things to Do in July to Prepare for a Church-Wide Campaign
Planning to launch a church-wide campaign this fall? If so, you’re at about T-80 days to launch (assuming you’re reading this in early July and you’ve chosen your launch date wisely). For the purpose of this top 5 list, I’m assuming you’ve already chosen your church-wide campaign (If you haven’t, see below for some great…
Read More