The Very Best Way to Launch the Largest Number of New Groups
I am regularly asked for ideas on the best ways to connect more people in groups. Having been working on the answer to this question for over 20 years, you might think I have a pat answer by now. And you’d be right. I do have a pat answer. A church-wide campaign is the best…
Read MoreFriday’s List | April 7
Every Friday I post a short list of the things I’m reading, listening to, loving and wrestling with: Here’s what I’m reading right now: 10 Best Practices Of Super Healthy Leaders by Carey Nieuwhof. Great stuff. The Danger of Restlessness by Dan Reiland. Now, what I’ve seen has a name. Why Are Maker Schedules So Rare? by Cal…
Read MoreWhat Do You Do for Fun…with Your Groups Team?
What Do You Do for Fun…with Your Groups Team? Couple assumptions here. First, whether you’re in a church of a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand, I’m assuming you are building the groups team you’ll need if you want to build a thriving small group ministry. And trust me, this is not about staffing. This is…
Read MoreGreat Question: What Does Love Require of Me?
You probably know by now I love a great question. In fact…I guess I’m a collector of great questions. I came across a great question last night in our Life Group meeting. We’ve been using an Andy Stanley study called Christian: It’s Not What You Think for the last couple months (It is a fantastic study,…
Read MoreSkill Training: How to Invite a Few Friends to Join You for the Study
Do you have a couple friends you’d like to do the study with? It’s easy to get started and easy to make it happen. Here are a few tips to help you get off to a great start! 5 tips to help you get started: First, make a short list of who you’d like to…
Read MoreThe 90s Called…They Want Their Small Group System Back
First, you might be wondering, what would be some distinctives of a 90s-style small group ministry? Here are what I think of as typical 90s-style small group ministry elements: 1. Before you could lead a small group, you needed to be an apprentice small group leader (and before you could be an apprentice small group…
Read MoreFriday’s List | March 31
Every Friday I post a short list of the things I’m reading, listening to, loving and wrestling with: Here’s what I’m reading right now: 7 Signs What’s Driving You Is Beginning To Destroy You by Carey Nieuwhof. I needed this. You might too. Your Congregation May Experience “Request Fatigue.” by Dan Reiland. Very thought-provoking. Does Your Church Website…
Read MoreSimon Sinek on Goals
“The goal is not to be perfect by the end, the goal is to be better today.” Simon Sinek This is a great way to think about your preferred future and the milestones along the way. Keeping one eye on the preferred future and the other on the next milestone propels you in the right…
Read MoreThe Truth at the Very Center of What I Do
The Truth at the Very Center of What I Do I’ve been preparing for this week for months. Monday and Tuesday small group pastors and teams showed up from around the country for GroupLife Southwest ’17. Today and tomorrow the members of my 2017 coaching network are here for 8 hours of intensive work on…
Read MoreWhat Are You Expecting?
“For God wishes to be seen, and He wishes to be sought, and He wishes to be expected, and He wishes to be trusted.” –Julian of Norwich. I heard a many great lines today at GroupLife Southwest ’17. Mindy Caliguire used this quote from Julian of Norwich (a 14th century Christian mystic and theologian) to…
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