What Everybody Knows Can Never Happen
When you carefully examine the likely scenarios for your organization…are there some things that get ruled out right away because everybody knows that that can never happen? Word to the wise? Be very careful that you don’t casually exclude some things because it’s common knowledge that those things can’t happen. Puzzled? Here’s a little to…
Read MoreStaying the Course Leads to a Church OF Groups
“We over-estimate what we can do in one year and we under-estimate what we can do in 20 years.” I remember hearing Rick Warren say this when Saddleback was about 10 years old and beginning to gather steam at their annual church growth seminar. He said it to contradict one of the most deadly fantasies…
Read MoreSkill Training: Help Your New Groups Have a Great First Meeting
You know what they say. “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” If that’s true it makes a lot of sense to help your new groups have a great first meeting. Here are some key steps: Preparing for Your First Meeting Call your group members early in the week at a…
Read MoreDifferent Leads to a Church OF Groups
One of the greatest challenges facing a church that desires to become a church of groups is the notion that trying harder or simply tweaking what they’re doing is all that’s missing. In fact, that’s probably the #1 fantasy of church with groups. Why? Because trying harder or tweaking what you’re doing still leads to…
Read MoreTake Advantage of Testimony to Recruit Hosts
I’ve talked about this concept before (here and here), but it is so powerful I wanted to come back to it one more time. Whether you’re recruiting hosts or members there is almost nothing more powerful that personal testimony. In fact, it probably should have been one of the Top 10 Reasons Saddleback Has Connected…
Read MoreResource: The Complete Book of Questions
I had lunch yesterday with Gary Poole, the author of Seeker Small Groups, and re-familiarized myself with a neat little book I’d forgotten about. The Complete Book of Questions: 1001 Conversation Starters for Any Occasion is a pretty cool resource that’s great to have in your library. The 1001 conversation starters (questions) are broken down…
Read MoreYour Senior Pastor as Small Group Champion Leads to a Church of Groups
Some fantasies are just doggedly persistent. You know the kind. They don’t go away on their own and they are really hard to shake! One of the most persistent fantasies of churches with small groups is that the small group champion role can be delegated. What makes it a fantasy? Because it can’t be delegated!…
Read MoreNarrowing the Focus Leads to a Church OF Groups
One of the most important strategic decisions a church can make is to narrow the focus, a concept that is explained very well in the 7 Practices of an Effective Church. Essentially, to narrow the focus is to concentrate on one thing (or a very few things) in an effort to conceive, develop and promote…
Read MoreNew Groups Lead to a Church OF Groups
Sometimes what keeps us from moving forward is something that just feels right (but really isn’t). For example, a commitment to old friends, even when they’re involved in behaviors that are destructive to themselves and others, just seems like the right thing to do. Sticking with friends through thick and thin. Just seems like the…
Read MoreReview: Transformational Church
You’ve probably begun hearing about Transformational Church by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet…you need to. This is a book that will help you think carefully about what you’re doing in ministry, why you’re doing it, and if it really is making the kind of difference you…
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