How 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 MoreThe Results Are In…Women’s Connection Recap
A few weeks ago I published Taking Advantage of Special Days to Launch Groups. Since I use the strategies I write about, I wanted to give you an update on what happened at our Women’s Small Group Connections this last weekend. You need to know several things: We had a great time! I added an…
Read MoreIntroducing: Eddie Mosley and EddieMosley.com
Most of the people I’m introducing you to are small group ministry practitioners, extremely knowledgeable, really worth reading and following because they’re on to some things that I think you need to hear about. Eddie Mosley is no exception. As the Executive Director of GroupLife at LifePoint Church in Smyrna, TN, he’s engaged in the…
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