Missional Communities? Who’s In?
I’m wondering what you’re thinking about the missional community trend? Are you giving some thought to how it works in your context? As you know, I tagged it as one of the most important current grouplife trends earlier this year. I’d love some feedback. If you need some insight into the concept, you can take…
Read MoreA Road Map to Crowd’s Edge
Wondering what I’m talking about when I use the term crowd’s edge? You probably already have most of it, but just in case, here’s my definition. Crowd’s Edge isn’t really a place. It has more to do with the kind of folks that you find there. It has to do with their mindset, their struggles,…
Read MoreKeys to GroupLife at Crowd’s Edge
Want to reach people no one else is reaching? According to Craig Groeschel, you’ll need “to do things no one else is doing.” If you want to reach people no one else is reaching, you need to do things no one else is doing. Craig Groeschel That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? After…
Read MoreAn “In” But Not “Of” M.O.
While there are many keys to grouplife at crowd’s edge, there might not be anything more important than the ability to be “in the world, but not of the world.” And let me add right at the beginning, I know this is a challenging issue for many. But…I am convinced that we’ll participate in connecting…
Read MoreFortresses and Hospices, Hospitals and Training Camps
How would you describe your church? If you had to choose a primary metaphor…what would it be? I don’t want to be prescriptive in any way. I want you to fill in the blank. I only include the following to start your thinking. But how would you describe your church? If you had to pick…
Read MoreA Willingness to Set Aside Your Own Interests
Don’t I ever get a vote? Why do we always have to do what the newbies want to do? Ever get an earful when you suggest a more inclusive church-wide campaign? Or hear about it when you announce at the small group connection that the new groups will be studying something pretty basic? What’s your…
Read MoreSimplicity: A Spiritual Formation Resource from Mindy Caliguire
The integration of spiritual formation practices into small group curriculum is one of the most important current grouplife trends. This is easily spotted in many mainstream studies like Lifetogether’s Doing Life Together series or Zondervan’s Pursuing Spiritual Transformation. There is a related trend in the increased publication of materials that are specifically designed to be…
Read More“Messy” Comes with the Territory
“We’re stuck at 14 groups. We’d like to have more…but we can’t get any of our existing groups to birth.” “We’ve recruited hosts to launch new groups and asked the hosts to invite their friends and neighbors…but most of them said they don’t have any friends to invite who aren’t already in a group.” “We…
Read MoreAn Openness to New Ideas
Want to connect people you’re not currently connecting? You’re going to need to develop an openness to new ideas. If the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results (Einstein),” connecting beyond the usual suspects is about being open to new ideas; trying different things. Two quotes…
Read MorePreoccupied with the Needs and Interests of the Right People
Who are you trying to connect? Have you ever slowed down long enough to figure out who’s already in and who still needs to be connected? There might not be a more essential next step than this one. In fact, many grouplife point leaders miss this step altogether and are mystified why they’re not seeing…
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