Maintain Clarity on the What and Flexibility on the How

Do you have clarity on what you’re trying to do?  Are you flexible on how you do it?  I’ve found that those are two of the really big rocks in small group ministry.  I’ve also found that when a small group ministry struggles, it’s often because these two foundational ideas are not in place.  Here’s…

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Top 10 Posts for September 2010

In case you missed them…here are my 10 most popular articles for September, 2010: Top 10 Reasons Saddleback Has Connected Over 130% in Groups Groups Interactive’s New Version Take a Big Step in the Right Direction Add 5 to 10% More Hosts with This Jedi Move How to Launch Groups Using a Small Group Connection…

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Does Your Topic Connect with Your True Customer?

Developing a deep understanding of the business you are in is one of the most important things you will ever do.  Right on its heels, you must develop an awareness of who your true customer is.  Without an accurate understanding of those two certainties…your only chance for success will be based on chance (or providence,…

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Assumptions: What’s Probable and Possible for Existing Groups

When I consult with churches about building small group ministry, one of the first discussions we often have is about what’s probable and possible for existing small groups.  Almost every church as groups already in place; many times these groups have been around a long time and often predate the pastor or small group director.…

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Q & A: How Can I Break the 50% in Groups Barrier?

Have you ever been stuck and couldn’t figure out what was keeping you from taking a next step or reaching a next level?  All of us are there at one point or another. I had a comment on one of my articles this week that led to an email exchange with a small group director. …

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Now Is the Time To Think About What’s Next

Here’s reality.  The best way to sustain the momentum of what you are about to do…is to be ready for the turn at the end of this straight-away.  Much like a NASCAR race, there are straight-aways and there are turns in every ministry season.  Preparing for and then launching a church-wide campaign (or a fall…

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The Last 10% Leads to a Church OF Groups

“We are committed,” he said.  It is time and this is the year that we become a church of groups.  Being a church with groups is just not getting it done.  We’re all in this together to make it happen this year.” Love the determination in those words.  Love the spirit.  Love the hope.  Cannot…

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Cultivate Identity Before the HOST Ask

You never really know where the next idea will come from.  If you’ve got your eyes open…they really can come from almost any source.   My latest ideas come from Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard (Chip and Dan Heath’s most recent book).  You really need a little set-up to catch this…

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Top 10 Fantasies of Churches WITH Small Groups

What prevents many churches from realizing their desire to become churches OF small groups*? Most of the time their desire is unable to overcome the fantasyland in which they live. For example, they may really, really want groups to be important, even to be essential, but they simply cannot bear the thought of disappointing the…

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