Are You “Brutally Honest” about Your Small Group Ministry?
How honest are you about your own small group ministry? You know. About how things are going. Really. Are you brutally honest? In his best-selling book Good to Great, Jim Collins introduced the “discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” “You absolutely cannot make a series of…
Read MoreHow to Manage the 5 Tensions of Connection
Connection between people is a little bit of mystery smack dab in the middle of a lot of predictability. It is mostly about managing the 5 tensions of connection. The 5 tensions are driven by things that seem true and good to everyone except unconnected people. Here’s what I mean: Connection is easiest when…
Read MoreJim Stockdale on Confronting the Brutal Facts
You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. —Jim Stockdale Share on X To see the rest of my quotebook, click here. Image by David Jones
Read MoreHow To Build an Annual GroupLife Calendar – 2016
How does calendar planning happen in your world? Maybe the question should be, “does calendar planning happen in your world? Let me tell you, whether you are naturally a planner or you will only plan when it’s done for you or you’re forced, calendar planning is a key to small group ministry effectiveness. Whether you…
Read MoreWant to Dramatically Increase the Impact of Your Fall Ministry Season?
Want to Dramatically Increase the Impact of Your Fall Ministry Season When was the best fall ministry season you’ve ever had? Last year? 2 or 3 years ago? Too long ago to remember the exact date? What did you do? Do you remember what worked so well? Could you do it again? Would it be enough? What…
Read MoreSecond Chance: Help Me Test Small Group Ministry Basic Training
Note: I had some technical difficulties yesterday. If you were able to sign up, try again today! New to small group ministry? Trying to figure out where to begin? Or maybe you’re trying to figure out how to reboot the small group ministry you have? Whether you’re just starting out or you’re already some ways…
Read MoreWant to Help Me Test This: New to Small Group Ministry?
A few weeks ago I launched Small Group Ministry Basic Training. It’s FREE. It’s designed to help people who are new to small group ministry (or perhaps need to look at it from a fresh point-of-view). I’d love your feedback. Want to help me test a new program? Here’s the sign-up form: Subscribe to our…
Read More5 Simple Things You Can Do TODAY That Lead to More Groups This Fall
5 Simple Things You Can Do TODAY That Lead to More Groups This Fall You may not realize this, but the things you do in May and June often predetermine how it goes in September. The things you do in May and June often predetermine how it goes in September. With that in mind, here…
Read More2016 Summer Reading List
2016 Summer Reading List Every summer I create a list of books I think you should read. Sometimes the books I include are strictly about small group ministry, discipleship or spiritual formation. Most times, the books I include may seem pretty far afield (innovation, design, leadership, or strategy). You’ll just have to trust me. I wouldn’t include…
Read MoreAdd “A Fellowship of Differents” to Your Reading List
I left the re:group conference with a list of books to add to my reading stack. First up? A Fellowship of Differents: Showing the World God’s Design for Life Together by Scot McKnight. If you’re not familiar with McKnight, he is currently Professor of New Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL, and the author…
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