Exponential
When I was given a copy of Exponential at the Exponential conference in Orlando I added it to my stack and figured I’d get to it when I got to it. When I finally got to it…I found myself captivated by a great story! Exponential is the very inspirational and at the same time extremely…
Read MoreIntroducing: Ben Reed and BenReed.net
Have you discovered Ben Reed yet? He’s the Community Groups Pastor at Grace Community Church in Clarksville, TN. He’s also one of a select group of younger small group pastors around the country that are doing a fantastic job in what they do. I loved a recent Twitter reference that Steve Gladen made about Ben:…
Read MoreHow Fresh Is Your Perspective?
My perspective changed when I took a drink right from the milk carton. It was bad. It was really bad. It was awful! (In the interest of journalistic accuracy, it was really a bottle, but carton sounds better) I learned something that day. I learned that it’s important to check the date on the carton…
Read MoreThe Perils of the Well-Worn Path
Along with the certainty that there is no problem-free solution or strategy and the conviction that the x factor is found near the edge of the crowd (not the core), I am convinced that the well-worn path never arrives at a new destination. Let me say that again. The well-worn path never arrives at a…
Read MoreThe X Factor Is Near the Edge
If you’ve been along for the conversation here you know that one of my core assumptions is that there is no problem free. That is a huge help in the development of strategy. It frees you from the pursuit of problem-free and it frees you to choose the most effective. Very freeing. Another very important…
Read MoreIntroducing: Allen White and AllenWhite.org
As you’re building your own blogroll, one you’ve got to subscribe to (or at least have bookmarked) is Allen White’s blog. Allen’s one of the smartest guys I know, has a lot of great experience, and has built two very effective small group ministries in large fast growing churches. On top of that, he was…
Read MoreHow To Stay Up To Date with GroupLife
How do you stay up to date with what’s happening in GroupLife? After all, there’s a lot happening…and there are cool stories everywhere! Maybe you just count on me to pass it along (and I’m really glad you stop by here to see what I’m talking about). But you really should have a few blogs…
Read MoreSkill Training | Top 10 Ways to Learn to Pray Together
Praying together at the end of a small group meeting is one of the real challenges for almost every small group. The very common fear of public speaking (number #1 fear for many) is compounded by the unspoken belief held by many that it’s important to speak an unfamiliar dialect when praying (a thee and…
Read MoreTo Do List: Film Video Testimonies That Inspire Action
The best way to launch small groups is with a church-wide campaign. The best time to do it is in the fall. I’ve written extensively about how to sequence a campaign. One of the key steps in the sequence is recruiting hosts. As you know by now, I am huge fan of using the personal…
Read MoreThe ABCs of a Great Start (for your connection group)
A number of years ago (back when the connection strategy was new and untested) I developed a handout that I give to each person who is chosen as a leader. In most cases that’s more than one person per group. The handout is called, Getting Started: The ABCs of a Great Start (for your connection…
Read More