A Willingness to Honestly Look at Results
If you’ve been along for any length of time, you know that there is no problem-free solution, system, or strategy. Every solution, system or strategy comes with a set of problems. Wise leaders simply choose the set of problems they’d rather have. Equally, if you’ve been along for any length of time, you know that…
Read MoreThe Illusion of Knowledge
Think you have it figured out? What if it turned out that the very thing you thought was a fact…was actually more or less an old wive’s tale? I’ve always loved this line by a former Librarian of Congress: “The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge.” Daniel…
Read MoreReview: Being Countercultural…a New DVD-Driven Study
Next in the line of DVD-driven studies from Gabe Lyons and Q Group Studies is Being Countercultural: Restoring Our Identity in a Changing Society. I think this is an essential study and series if you’re interested in connecting the widening 60% that will never be reached by the attractional model. Being Countercultural is a five…
Read MoreJoin Us for GroupLife Midwest 2012
Looking for a fantastic small group leader training opportunity? I want to invite you to join us for GroupLife Midwest 2012: Staging Ground for the Leadership Expedition! February 3 & 4, 2012 at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois (southwest Chicago). We’ve lined up a great speaker (Steve Gladen, Small Group Pastor at Saddleback)…
Read MoreJoin My 2012 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network (2 Spots Left)
I’ve still got a couple open spots. If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow in your ability to connect beyond usual suspects, I want to invite you to join my 2012 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network; an experience designed to give you the tools and strategies you need in order to build a small group…
Read MoreEd’s Story: A Film Series about Hope
My first encounter with Ed Dobson was in 1993 when I read Starting a Seeker Sensitive Service. Pastor Emeritus of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, you may have run across Dobson in his 2009 book, The Year of Living Like Jesus: My Journey of Discovering What Jesus Would Really Do. My most recent encounter with…
Read MoreTop 10 Posts of December, 2011
December is always a little different than other months. There’s some planning going on. There’s an effort to review the latest small group curriculum for first of the year studies. And then, there’s the Christmas Reading list. Here are my top 10 posts this month: New from Beth Moore | James: Mercy Triumphs Victory in…
Read MoreReview: Just Walk Across the Room
There are a couple main categories of church-wide campaigns. Some are designed to be an easy invitation for unconnected people or less-than-fully committed people who really need a next step. Other campaigns are designed without apology to be a developing experience for everyone who participates. Just Walk Across the Room, released in 2006, is without…
Read MoreMost Popular Curriculum Reviews of 2011
I review a lot of curriculum every year. Some DVD-driven. Some homework intensive. Some story-driven visual media. I review everything. Although my blog is sponsored by several of the larger publishers (much appreciated), it was interesting to see that 2 of the 3 most popular reviews I did were for Not a Fan and Basic:…
Read MoreTop 10 Posts of 2011
Every year it’s interesting to see what the top 10 posts were. This year, I took some extra time and created two separate lists. These posts were all written in 2011 and were about building a more effective small group ministry. Tomorrow’s list is the top 10 small group curriculum reviews: Clue #1 When Designing…
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