FLASH SALE! Get $125 off Lobby 2021 through October 31st! Connect with & learn from the brightest small group ministry leaders from around the nations for 3 days & 2 nights in SoCal at the stunning Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center. Price includes registration, lodging & most meals. Use code FLASHSALE While all Christians are called to […]

FLASH SALE! Get $125 off Lobby 2021 through October 31st! Connect with & learn from the brightest small group ministry leaders from around the nations for 3 days & 2 nights in SoCal at the stunning Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center. Price includes registration, lodging & most meals. Use code FLASHSALE When people visit your small group […]

FLASH SALE! Get $125 off Lobby 2021 through October 31st! Connect with & learn from the brightest small group ministry leaders from around the nations for 3 days & 2 nights in SoCal at the stunning Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center. Price includes registration, lodging & most meals. Use code FLASHSALE Every four years we as […]

Announcing our new online training course that features 7 total video session taught by Saddleback Church Online Pastor Jay Kranda, Downloadable notes & lesson discussion questions! Learn more by watching the free course introduction & enroll HERE! One of the many helpful concepts in The Purpose Driven Church is the idea of moving people from […]

SUPER EARLY BIRD PRICE has been extended through Sept 30th! Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending “Accelerate!” The “Accelerate!” small group workshop will help you & your leadership team build a 12 to 18 month strategic plan for your Small Group […]

SUPER EARLY BIRD PRICE has been extended through Sept 30th! Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending “Accelerate!” The “Accelerate!” small group workshop will help you & your leadership team build a 12 to 18 month strategic plan for your Small Group […]

SUPER EARLY BIRD PRICE has been extended through Sept 30th! Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending “Accelerate!” The “Accelerate!” small group workshop will help you & your leadership team build a 12 to 18 month strategic plan for your Small Group […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry as we come out of covid by attending our Accelerate! Arizona small group workshop with Steve Gladen October 6-7 in Phoenix! Get $70 off the current registration price by using code AZ70 (code good through Sept 8th) Often, we as small group point people wear […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry as we come out of covid by attending our Accelerate! Arizona small group workshop with Steve Gladen October 6-7 in Phoenix! Get $70 off the current registration price by using code AZ70 (code good through Sept 8th) The Internet in general, and Facebook in particular, […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry as we come out of covid by attending our Accelerate! Arizona small group workshop with Steve Gladen October 6-7 in Phoenix! Get $70 off the current registration price by using code AZ70 (code good through Sept 8th) The longer you are involved in small groups […]

Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small Group Network completion certificateA special gift to help further your Small Group Ministry Learn more by watching the free course introduction […]

Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small Group Network completion certificateA special gift to help further your Small Group Ministry Learn more by watching the free course introduction […]

Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small Group Network completion certificateA special gift to help further your Small Group Ministry Learn more by watching the free course introduction […]

Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small Group Network completion certificateA special gift to help further your Small Group Ministry Learn more by watching the free course introduction […]

This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small […]

“This is the course I wish I would have had 35 years ago when I started small group ministry.” – Steve Gladen Presenting our first ever online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion […]

Talking about race can be one of the topics we advise our group leaders to avoid during their group time. It is layered in personal experience, history, politics, and culture that can easily lead to an out of control, polarizing conversation. BUT it doesn’t have to. Jesus told us in John 13:34-35, “Love one another; […]

I’m sure we all have Zoom fatigue at this point! If you don’t know what I’m taking about, you probably will soon. What may only be around 9 weeks of shelter in place but to some it can feel more like 90 weeks. We are all spending large amounts of time on Zoom in order […]

Part 1 – Your Small Group’s Role Against Racism This is PART 2 of an exclusive 2 part series regarding small groups and racism. In this episode, host Carolyn Taketa interviews Amber Sanders to talk about how you can develop an anti-racist culture in your small groups. Just click play to listen to this episode […]

In these tense days, the world desperately needs followers of Christ to be peacemakers. But how do we sow seeds of peace in the midst of chaos and confusion? In this message, Pastor Rick Warren shows how being a peacemaker begins with sowing peace in your relationships, and offers six biblical ways to do just […]

Create your free Small Group Network account today! It is increasingly clear to me that there is a potential conflict looming. I am going to do all I can to avoid it. My group has some pretty opinionated folks who are prone to thinking that they are right and everybody else is wrong. I am […]

Create your free Small Group Network account today! Rest takes discipline. That might sound strange to some, but it requires intentionality to maintain a consistent rhythm of spiritual practices to rest well. This is especially important in this season that has upended people’s typical routines, created added stress in the present and uncertainty about the […]

This is PART 1 of an exclusive 2 part series regarding small groups and racism. In this episode, host Steve Gladen interviews Anthony Miller – Saddleback church’s Pastor of Communications, to talk about your small group’s role against racism.  Just click play to listen to this episode below. SHOW NOTES A Faith That Plants Seeds […]

Create your Free Small Group Network Account Today! As churches begin to mobilize for re-entry after COVID-19, we as Small Group Point People should consider how we can promote unity throughout our small group ministries. Most of us are familiar with the 59 or so “one-another’s” recorded in the Bible. They are commands for us […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? PART #5 – Protecting Your Mental Health & Helping Your […]

Create your Free Small Group Network Account Today! In this short 2 minute video clip, Rick Warren of Saddleback church models how easy it is for Lead Pastors and Small Group Point People to cast vision for small groups during times of quarantine.

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! An online small group meeting is a different experience compared to a face-to-face small group meeting. Thanks to technology innovations, people can still meet despite limitations with time and space, but it should not be approached exactly the same as an in-person group meeting. While many aspects of facilitating […]

Rick Warren shared recently that as of the January 1 of this year, Saddleback had about 6,000 groups. Now they have 9,000.

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Vision is your dream. Where do you want your ministry to go? What is your big picture of the future? The “why” always determines how long people will stay in Small Group Ministry. As you start a new ministry or accelerate an existing ministry, you likely have a long list […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? PART #5 – Protecting Your Mental Health & Helping Your […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! This season has been exhausting for many reasons. Many of us in the ministry world are not only working remotely, but also teaching our kids while in a seemingly endless cycle of cleaning a constantly occupied home. As discussed in a recent Group Talk podcast, virtual meetings also drain […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? PART #5 – Protecting Your Mental Health & Helping Your […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Online meetings can be a little different than normal in-person meetings.  It can be a little harder to maintain your leader’s focus when they are sitting face to face with a computer screen.  Below are 7 tips that will help you conduct effective online meetings (also works well for any meeting, […]

Rick Warren recently preached a sermon where he mentioned that Saddleback has added 3000 groups during Covid-19. Saddleback started the year with around 6000 groups. They now have about 9000 groups. Wow. (https://saddleback.com/watch/a-faith-that-works-when-life-doesn-t/a-faith-that-makes-tough-choices-easier?autoplay=true) I did a deep dive into all things Saddleback to see if I could discover how they did it. I listened to […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! At this point, we are all trying to be creative and think outside of the box. I mean, I’m looking for ways to creatively cut my own hair. That’ll be a first, and you’ll know if it doesn’t go well if my next vlog isn’t a vlog. I’m trying […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Whether through times of celebration, times of lament, or anywhere in between, prayer is essential to the Christian life, and engaging in this vital spiritual discipline allows us to spend time with our Lord and build a deeper relationship with Him. Let us unpack 6 different ways you can […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? PART #5 – Protecting Your Mental Health & Helping Your […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! 1. That you are PRAYING for them I believe that one of the greatest things we can do for our small group members during this time is to pray for them. Reach out to each one of your members and ask them what you can specifically pray for. Doing […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! So, we are all in a season right now of working from home, that is if we aren’t considered essential personnel. For some of us as Small Group Point People, this may be the first time working from home. So, I wanted to share five things you can do […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? PART #5 – Protecting Your Mental Health & Helping Your […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Everything has changed in the past several weeks. Suddenly homeschooling has become the norm, a trip to the grocery store has become an epic journey, and most of us in ministry are getting a crash course in on-line pastoring and leadership. As small group point people, we each have […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! By Chris Surratt & Brian Daniel Most of us are still adjusting to a world where screen captures of Zoom meetings have become the new selfie. In this time of social distancing, our only social contacts—outside of our households—are through a camera lens and a video screen. In so many […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? PART #5 – Protecting Your Mental Health & […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Things are changing rapidly, and for some of us, our pace has picked up, especially with the new jobs we can add to our resume: homeschooler, master germ killer, and online group guru. So, what does it look like to effectively care for your SGPP in this season? This […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! We’re all adapting to the impact of COVID-19 and just because we’re unable to gather physically for the time being, this doesn’t mean we can’t grow spiritually with others and help more people connect into small groups. An easy approach you might consider trying out is inviting people to […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Just like in-person groups, online group meetings can sometimes get off to an awkward start. Group members may have difficulties getting connected, or you may have to wait a few minutes while everyone logs on. So how can you, as a leader, be proactive and set the tone for […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! During this unique time of COVID-19, how are you effectively leading groups through a time of social distancing? Enjoy this webinar replay featuring Chris Surratt, Steve Gladen & Jared Musgrove. Related Resource: How To Use Zoom Breakout Rooms

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! So you launched an online small group (s) using zoom – great! But you’ve since experienced or heard of others experiencing security breaches by trouble makers. Watch our 3 minute tutorial on how to host a secure zoom meeting! Related Resource: How To Use Zoom Breakout Rooms

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! The Covid-19 virus has vastly changed the landscape of the church. In response to the stay-at-home mandates that are being issued, churches across the world have quickly been adapting and transitioning into online ministry. With the decrease of in-person interaction comes the incredible opportunity for a church’s small group […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! So you launched an online small group (s) using Zoom – great! But have you learned how to use Zoom break out rooms? Watch our quick tutorial on how to use this amazing feature that will take your online small group to the next level! Related Resource: How to Host […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! As some of you may know I was in the US Navy for 23 years. During that time I deployed on ships countless times. There are days I miss my time at sea, and then I remember that I get to have dinner with my family every night, so […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 PART #4 – So You Launched Online Small Groups, Now What? In PART #5 of this exclusive series on […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! From the Saddleback Small Groups Team The world is looking for hope and we have an unprecedented opportunity to provide it. Your small group is now more important than ever. By keeping your members connected you can offer the care, support, and community that everyone needs, especially right now. […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! Many of our Small Groups have experienced much change (and so quickly) in the recent weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of you may have a love-hate relationship with technology, it sure is proving to be a blessing in these days and times. Our Small Groups can […]

Create Your Free SmallGroupNetwork.com Account Today! During this COVID-19 crisis, everyone is either making a rush to get online groups going at their church, or already have them in place and are trying to expand or refine them. In my context, I needed to get online groups up and running from scratch, because we have […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – 10 Checkpoints to Know if Your Small Group Ministry is Healthy during COVID-19 In PART #4 of this exclusive series on COVID-19 & Small Groups, hosts Steve Gladen & […]

“Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people – a great way to find support & share ideas like this one here! Invite 2 or more friends & start a huddle today online or over coffee! One of the many benefits of a small group is coming together face-to-face for growing together in the […]

“Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people – a great way to find support & share ideas like this one here! Invite 2 or more friends & start a huddle today online or over coffee! Related Resource: 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 In Part #3 of this exclusive series on COVID-19 & Small Groups, hosts Steve Gladen & Derek Olson talk about 10 Checkpoints to know if your small group ministry is healthy […]

PART #1 – 5 Ways to Keep Community Vibrant through COVID-19 In Part #2 of this exclusive series on COVID-19 & Small Groups, hosts Steve Gladen & Derek Olson talk with special guest Jay Kranda (Saddleback Church Online Pastor) about 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19. Just click play to listen […]

In PART #1 of this exclusive series on COVID-19 & Small Groups, hosts Steve Gladen & Derek Olson talk about 5 ways that you can keep community vibrant through COVID-19. Just click play to listen to this episode below. PART #2 – 5 Ways to Launch Online Small Groups NOW during COVID-19 PART #3 – […]

Taking place every February in sunny Southern California, the “Lobby Gathering” is an out-of-the-box small group networking event where we create environments for small group point people to relax & connect together in casual conversations about small group ministry, much like they would in a church lobby over a cup of coffee! Enjoy the top […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry in 2020 by attending an “Accelerate” small group workshop! Register HERE While we may be able to pursue evangelism on our own and within our individual sphere of influence, small groups can also be an effective vehicle to engage those that may not have yet heard […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry in 2020 by attending an “Accelerate” small group workshop! Register HERE Steve Gladen always talks about gathering a C- Team around you in your Small Group Ministry, and by C-Team, he’s not giving the team a specific grade! Any company you work for likely has […]

We’ve all heard it before: “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” The reason this statement is so broadly known is because it is true. When you truly care about your group leaders—their families, jobs, health, group, or their future with a timely word of encouragement, call, […]

In less than 2 minutes, here about how Rich doubled his small groups in one month after attending an Accelerate Small Group Workshop! The New Year is here, and it’s a great opportunity for us to engage our small group members, if they aren’t already serving in some capacity.  If they are already serving in one […]

In less than 2 minutes, here about how Rich doubled his small groups in one month after attending an Accelerate Small Group Workshop! Consider this scenario: You are interested in learning about real estate. You discover there is a group of people in your area who meet regularly to discuss the topic and learn from […]

In less than 2 minutes, here about how Rich doubled his small groups in one month after attending an Accelerate Small Group Workshop! As small group leaders, some can be overly focused on relationships. Group meetings have a flexible start time and no end time. The discussion may end up centering on a single bullet […]

In less than 2 minutes, here about how Rich doubled his small groups in one month after attending an Accelerate Small Group Workshop! The start of the New Year is the perfect time to pause and pray over what the Lord has in store for the year ahead. Church staff members, lay ministers, and small […]

In less than 2 minutes, here about how Rich doubled his small groups in one month after attending an Accelerate Small Group Workshop! Somewhere, at some point, I started believing a lie about my ministry. I don’t remember when. It was not like I woke up one day and decided to believe the lie. It […]

“Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world. They are a great place to find encouragement, support & ideas for your small group ministry! To start or join one click here Indicators typically measure the level of something. There are three indicators that can help us to […]

“Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world. They are a great place to find encouragement, support & ideas for your small group ministry! To start or join one click here If you had 2-minutes to share a handful of tips to help a brand new […]

Less than 10 spots left! Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! For more info or to register, click HERE  How “Small Group in a box” can be effective tool for your Small Group Ministry Having the […]

Less than 15 spots left! Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! For more info or to register, click HERE I have the privilege of serving as a small group coach (what we call a Community Leader) […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. For more info or to register, click HERE As we enter a new year, some group leaders may be considering the idea […]

In this episode, host Carolyn Taketa interviews special guest Steve Gladen who breaks down how to have vision for breakthrough in your small group ministry in 2020. Steve Gladen is the Global Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and development of over 7,000 adult small groups on […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. For more info or to register, click HERE There is a tension when it comes to communicating with your Small Group leaders […]

In 2019 we’ve seen over 147,280 all-time podcast downloads to date! Join the thousands of other small group point people who have subscribed to our “Group Talk” podcast which you can find on iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google Play, Apple’s podcast app or linked below on our podcast page . A big thank you to our Host Carolyn Taketa, our Producer […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. For more info or to register, click HERE From the many videos published this year, here are our top 10 based on […]

2019 was an incredible year for the Small Group Network! Enjoy this annual ministry report & get a sneak peek at some exciting things coming in 2020. Please scroll to the bottom of the page for more detailed information regarding each number listed in the info-graphic. #1) The SGN connected with, encouraged &/or equipped small group point people in […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. For more info or to register, click HERE This was an incredible year for the Small Group Network! We’ve seen over 76,000 total […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE My wife and I met while […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE At the beginning of this season, […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world at the “Lobby Gathering” 2020 Small Group networking event! Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE Although December is a busy month […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world. Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE Small group leaders oftentimes ask which path is better to focus on: inward depth, or […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

“This is the one book that you simply must get into the hands of every one of your small group leaders.” – Rick Warren Because we know you are always looking for great bargains to stretch your budget for your small group leaders; for a limited time only, we are thrilled to offer this special […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world. Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE Jackie Pullinger says, “God wants us to have soft hearts and hard feet. The trouble […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world. Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE Online groups are a powerful way to provide an expression of biblical community no matter […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” small group workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT You’ve set aside plenty of time for prayer at the end of your group meeting. Requests and praises have been shared. You, […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” small group workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT With the holidays coming up faster than the stores can get out their holiday decorations, it can be difficult to keep the […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” small group workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT At Mountain Life Church in Park City, where I serve, our fall series is answering the question, “Who Am I?”, specifically looking […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” small group workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT Balance has always been elusive for me in ministry. Earlier on, I grew skeptical of it because I pictured it as being […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT In life and in ministry, there will always be ebbs and flows to one’s feelings and impact. These ebbs and flows are sometimes due […]

Do you know a college graduate ready to start seminary & pursue a full-time ministry career? Tell them to consider becoming a Lead Intern at Saddleback Church in SoCal where they can earn 1/3 of their MTS degree (Masters of Theological Studies) as an online student with Midwestern Seminary through a yearlong internship. They will […]

As a Small Group Point Person (SGPP), it is essential to have a pulse. Well, to stay alive, you need a pulse! So, what does your pulse look like right now? Maybe you’re reading or watching this and your watch is telling you your pulse is fast for a resting rate. Or maybe you’re in […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT As I was walking through the crowd of people at a recent Group Connect event, I heard my name called. It was from a […]

Do you know a college graduate ready to start seminary & pursue a full-time ministry career? Tell them to consider becoming a Lead Intern at Saddleback Church in SoCal where they can earn 1/3 of their MTS degree (Masters of Theological Studies) as an online student with Midwestern Seminary through a yearlong internship. They will […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of our “Accelerate!” workshops. For more info or to register, VISIT All of us come to the table with our own experience, biases, and presumptions about what works best with starting and multiplying healthy […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world. Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE When I started out as a Small Group Point Person, I was new to ministry […]

Connect with & learn from some of the brightest small group point people from around the world. Space is limited to the first 100 attendees. Lock in Early Bird price by Oct 2nd. For more info or to register, click HERE Whether you are a small group leader/ host or the small group pastor/ point […]

Get $100 off Atlanta Accelerate now by registering as a member at smallgroupnetwork.com & using the exclusive promotional code located inside your SGN member portal. Register here Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who did not speak or understand your language? I’ve had the privilege of traveling to many countries around the world. I’ve been to […]

Get $100 off Atlanta Accelerate now by registering as a member at smallgroupnetwork.com & using the exclusive promotional code located inside your SGN member portal. Register here As a small group leader you may have heard the statement by now that “groups are the greenhouse for spiritual growth.” Small groups are so powerful, because if they have the […]

Get $100 off Atlanta Accelerate now by registering as a member at smallgroupnetwork.com & using the exclusive promotional code located inside your SGN member portal. Register here Much has been written on, spoken on, pontificated on the recruitment of new small group leaders/HOSTS (a quick search on the SGN website, produced these results). It is a never-ending […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

TODAY (JULY 31) IS THE FINAL DAY TO LOCK IN EARLY BIRD PRICE! REGISTER TODAY & PREPARE TO ACCELERATE THE HEALTH & GROWTH OF YOUR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY! For most small groups, the summer is just a different time. Some groups take breaks for the summer months. Others change their meeting schedules to accommodate graduations […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! Upon registering your Huddle online, we will mail you official SGN swag & one of our leaders will follow up with you to provide you with all the support […]

Listen to Part 1 [podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/10326512/height/60/theme/standard/thumbnail/no/direction/forward/” height=”60″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”standard”] We all need time away to recharge and be filled by God. Retreats with your staff and/ or key volunteers are a great way to value and invest in the souls of  your team members. Part 2 will focus on recommended tools, resources, and tips […]

Start a “Huddle” this month & receive FREE swag! “Huddles” are like small groups for small group point people & are found all over the world! The purpose of Huddles is to connect small group point people together a few times a year to build relationships, find encouragement & to share ideas & resources relating […]

Hear How Rich Doubled His Small Groups in One Month (2 min vid) What to Do when Your Senior Pastor Is not Rick Warren As a small group point person, you have probably read the articles, read the books, and listened to Steve Gladen pontificate about the importance of the senior pastor casting vision for […]

Hear How Rich Doubled His Small Groups in One Month (2 min vid) “Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain Pain is a natural part of living in a […]

 [podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/10207856/height/60/theme/standard/thumbnail/no/direction/forward/” height=”60″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”standard”]   We all need time away to recharge and be filled by God. Retreats with your staff and/ or key volunteers are a great way to value and invest in the souls of  your team members. Part 1 discusses why retreats are helpful, how to develop a goal for […]

Hear How Rich Doubled His Small Groups in One Month (2 min vid) 3 Ways To Recruit People to Your Group Have you ever planned something so delicately and put so much into it and nobody shows up for the event? Imagine this for a second. Your best friend is turning 40 years old. You […]

Every soul operates similarly to a car dashboard. It tells us when we are tired, when we are revving the engine, when we are operating on all cylinders, and when we are empty. Our souls are really healthy gages that connect our heads with our hearts. In certain seasons, our heads might say, “I need […]

HEAR HOW RICH DOUBLED HIS SMALL GROUPS IN JUST ONE MONTH! (2 minute video) 12 Criteria for Choosing Curriculum A question every small group leader contemplates when starting a new group or season is what content they will use for their study focus. Sometimes, this question is answered by church leadership if your church creates […]

1 Remember it is a discussion not a lecture The role of the discussion leader is to facilitate the conversation and help people interact, not to deliver a monologue. Sharing the leadership discussion role around group members is one practical way to help alleviate falling into the ‘lecturer’ trap. Another practical step you can take […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Springtime. Warmer weather. Green. New growth. Fresh flowers. However, living in a mountain town spring has taken on new meanings for me. And one word encapsulates spring in the mountains: fickle. One day it is 75° […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Q: Is there something you missed that is preventing your small group ministry from growing? We have a vision for our small group ministry to grow. We evaluate our programs and processes, We track metrics. We […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9975830/height/60/theme/standard/thumbnail/no/direction/forward/” height=”60″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”standard”] Do you want to have conversations that matter? Conversations are critical to our ministry and our lives. But how effective are you at engaging, listening, empathizing, focusing, learning, and caring for people during conversations? What are bad conversational habits we easily fall into? What are practical strategies to help […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Good heavens!  When I first started in ministry, I had no idea that there would be so many meetings!  With the meeting before the meeting, the meeting itself and then the debrief meeting, my days were shot and […]

Lock in SUPER EARLY BIRD price by July 3rd!  Over the past year, our church has been focused on learning new ways to better care for our small group leaders. One of the most essential roles of a Small Group Point Person is to celebrate the effectiveness of those participating in the ministry. While at The […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! I live in the Pacific Northwest, and this week the sun came back to remind us that summer is at hand. Regardless of your particular small group model, this is a tricky season. Schedules change along […]

Accelerate the health and growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Near Mpumalanga, South Africa, are the marvelous and mysterious Echo Caves. One of the more amazing plants found there is the Wild Fig tree. As far as plant life goes, these fig trees appear to be […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9695927/height/60/theme/standard/thumbnail/no/direction/forward/” height=”60″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”standard”] Pastor Rick Warren was this year’s keynote speaker at the “Lobby Gathering,” one of the nation’s premier small group training events. To listen to part 2 of this 2 part exclusive podcast, just click the play button above to enjoy this insightful discussion! Click here for part 1 To […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Over the years we have been asked for guidance about starting, leading, and sustaining a healthy small group ministry. Trust me when I tell you, we haven’t always done it right, nor have we figured it […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! In his excellent new book, How the Body of Christ Talks, Chris Smith highlights the fact that we live in a fragmented age, from denominations to communities to families. The reasons for this are numerous from […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Did you know that wig can mean a few different things? As you were reading this you probably thought of a head covering, but this blog isn’t about that. It can also mean to rebuke someone, […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Leaders launching new groups want to have a strong start and welcome input on how to do it. Therefore, offer just enough guidance so they know what to do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER their first meeting […]

  Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! A few years ago my church encouraged small group leaders to take summers off. But I believed God wanted me to lead a couple of groups that summer. A year before, I purchased a 6-week […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9508130/height/60/theme/standard/thumbnail/no/direction/forward/” height=”60″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”standard”] Pastor Rick Warren was this year’s keynote speaker at the “Lobby Gathering,” one of the nation’s premier small group training events. To listen to part 1 of this 2 part exclusive podcast, just click the play button above to enjoy this insightful discussion! To subscribe to our Group Talk […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! The practice of regular confession is largely lost in our religious circles. Protestantism, during the breaking away from the Roman Catholic church in the age of the reformation, rightly departed from the idea of penance, but […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! You have a new group. Right now, it’s mostly made up of people who are excited about what you’re studying, or just happened to live nearby and be free on Tuesday nights. How can you lead […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! I have met very few people who don’t like to have fun. Some of the most fun people I have been around are introverts that begin to warm up when the setting is right! There’s not […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! I’ll never forget the first time that I walked into Disney World in Orlando, FL. You know you hear about how amazing it is and how it’s the happiest place on earth and so on. But […]

Lock in SUPER EARLY BIRD price by July 3rd!  Pastor Rick Warren was this year’s keynote speaker at the “Lobby Gathering,” one of the nation’s premier small group training events. Enjoy his top 20 quotes relating to small group ministry. “What the world needs more than anything else in our society today is the antidote […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! I recently attended The SGN Lobby Gathering at Saddleback’s Retreat Centre -Rancho Capistrano, California. What an amazing experience, being in such a beautiful environment with so many enthusiastic, talented, passionate and wise small group point people. […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! Leadership Pastor, Jim Egli, endeavored to discover what makes the difference between thriving and stagnant small groups. His research involving over 4,000 group leaders came to the conclusion that praying leaders have faster growing groups. To […]

Accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending one of these “Accelerate” Small Group Workshops! The Apostle Paul’s advice to Titus on attending church conferences. Did you know that the Apostle Paul spoke to Titus about key points for attending a church conference? Okay, so maybe he didn’t.  But if he did, […]

BEST EVENT VALUE: Lock in EARLY BIRD PRICE of $395 by April 17th! INCLUDES: registration, lodging & meals for 3 days & 2 nights at the beautiful Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center! Enjoy the beauty of Southern California, grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry! REGISTER […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending the “Accelerate” D.C. Small Group Workshop! Lock in Super-Early Bird Price by April 18th! #1. Most important: Spend time alone with God. Jesus often slipped away from His disciples to spend time alone with God […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9165350/height/360/theme/standard/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”360″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”standard”] A panel discussion on how to overcome the typical barriers of getting new leaders, and how to identify, invite, and recruit new people to lead groups. Group Talk Podcast Panelists: Bill Search – Author of “Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders” and “Simple Small Groups” and serves as Executive […]

I just got back from the Lobby Gathering Small Group conference in SoCal and had an amazing time. I learned so much and met so many great people. But, if I were to sum up my highlights and takeaways, I’d say there are five things that stuck out to me the most. The world needs […]

BEST EVENT VALUE: Lock in EARLY BIRD PRICE of $395 by April 17th! INCLUDES: registration, lodging & meals for 3 days & 2 nights at the beautiful Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center! Enjoy the beauty of Southern California, grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry! REGISTER […]

Q: Do you run your small group ministry like a company or a family? I am currently working on plans to grow and improve the administration side of our small group ministry. While doing research, I discovered the following quote: “Your church and your ministry should be run like a family, not a corporation, government, […]

Grow as a leader, strengthen your team & accelerate the health & growth of your small group ministry by attending the “Accelerate” D.C. Small Group Workshop! Lock in Super-Early Bird Price for a limited time!

We have all been there. You are sitting in your small group; a member shares a vulnerable story of what is happening in his/her life. The room falls quiet as people try to figure out what to say. In desperation, another person replies with a story of his/her own, which typically begins in this manner, […]

I always love the start of a new small group season.  It’s such a great time to look back on the previous season and evaluate how effective I have been connecting people into small groups and take a look at what I can do better to prepare for the next season.  You may be like me and […]

Keeping the vision for small group ministry in the forefront of your coaches’ minds helps them to stay passionate and to see clearly where their role fits in the big picture. If the small group ministry is aligned with the overall church’s vision and mission, then you have the bonus of coaches knowing they are […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/8772731/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”] Between people marrying at older ages or never marrying, co-habitation, and divorce rates, there is a large increasing population of singles in our churches spanning several decades. Yet, singles often report feeling lonely, isolated, or stigmatized in the church which typically focus on marriages and families. So how can we serve […]

BEST EVENT VALUE: Lock in EARLY BIRD PRICE of $395 by April 17th! INCLUDES: registration, lodging & most meals for 3 days & 2 nights at the beautiful Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center (attendees would spend at least $400 alone on lodging & meals outside of the conference)! Enjoy the beauty of Southern California, grow as […]

There comes a time when your small group ministry is flourishing, growing, and multiplying. Praise God! You see all the things you’ve been praying for and hoping to see. Then, the Lord might tap you on the shoulder and say, ” I want you to go back to the basics.” At least, that’s what he […]

As a Small Group Point Person, it is so important to connect with your small group leaders regularly. This action cannot be overdone and is vital to leaders feeling valued. It is also essential to communicate in various methods throughout each semester and calendar year. Phone conversations may be more useful for one leader, while […]

Q: Are you setting SMART goals and working to meet those goals as a part of your small group ministry? If you answered yes, that is terrific. Goal setting is important for you and your team. Goals provide many benefits including: Giving a roadmap to achieving your vision and mission Focusing your team on what […]

Presenting our new online training course – “Align!” Align will help you learn the small group ministry essentials. It features… 8 HD video session taught by Steve Gladen A downloadable workbookLesson discussion questionsAn official Small Group Network completion certificateA special gift to help further your Small Group Ministry Learn more by watching the free course introduction […]

The most asked question I get from pastors is always about online small groups. How does Saddleback Church do online small groups? How do they meet? How do you train leaders? Do you ship materials to group members? These are all great questions you need to be asking! The Online Campus at Saddleback Church has […]

The day after Christmas, my wife and I, along with our two girls (ages 2 ½ and 6 months), hopped on a plane and flew to southern California to visit my parents and some other friends and family. My parents, being amazing grandparents, had the food items that they knew our toddler loved, like chicken […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/8409515/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”] This podcast focuses on some key decisions that will have a critical impact on shaping the values, strategies, and culture of your groups ministry for years to come.  Steve is the Global Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and development of over […]

What is your process for onboarding a new Small Group Leader? Is it the same for every new leader? Or is it more subjective based upon the leader’s experience? Is there a process at all or do you just figure it out new each time? Most of the Small Group Point People I know are […]

I recently read an article from Success Magazine and was intrigued by a list they created on ‘Kick Starting’ the new year. In this blog I would like to mention 4 from the list which challenged me and got me thinking about small group ministry. Write letters to three people in your life to let […]

It’s a new year where we have new resolutions, new goals, and new dreams for the year. No doubt, an integral part to act and live out the things that will help us become who we want to be in 2019. If we don’t join that gym or have those exercise goals, how will we […]

About 15 years ago I was attending a retreat, as I got talking to a fellow pastor she shared with me a very simple tool, a tool which I went on and used very successfully. I have utilised the formula personally when I have been feeling ‘stuck’ in a particular area of my life. I […]

Q: Did you know that about 90% of New Year’s Resolutions fail before the end of the year? At the start of a new year, many people reflect on the past year and set resolutions to improve. These resolutions include becoming healthy, improving relationships, volunteering more, getting organized, and becoming financially secure. The resolutions are […]

As leaders, one of our tasks is to continue to learn. I have heard it said that great leaders never stop learning. And in 2018, a number of your colleagues read some great books that they would recommend to you. So here are 11 books recommended by other small group point people in the Small […]

2018 was an incredible year for the Small Group Network! One of our Top 11 Highlights of 2018 was that we surpassed 75,000 total blog views! A big thank you to our amazing team of authors for all of the insightful content they have written this year! Here are our top 10 blog posts based on the total […]

#1. Always start with the end in mind. Where do you want to lead your group members?  What steps do they need to take to get there?  Make each step a lesson. #2. Back each lesson with Scripture. The Bible is God’s Word to us (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews […]

2018 was an incredible year for the Small Group Network! One of our Top 11 Highlights of 2018 was that our “Group Talk” Podcast surpassed 100,000 downloads! A big thank you to our Host and Director of Podcast Communications Carolyn Taketa, our Producer and Creative Arts Director Jason Banzhoff and to every special guest who interviewed! Here […]

The end of the year is a natural time to evaluate the success (or lack thereof) of the past year and to set goals for the next year. However, many Small Group Point People struggle with exactly how to evaluate the ministry that has happened in the last year. But how can you measure the […]

2018 was an incredible year for the Small Group Network! Enjoy this annual ministry report & get a sneak peek at some big things coming in 2019! TOP 11 HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018 (In no particular order) #1. We served thousands of small group point people in 100 different countries throughout the world! The SGN connected with, encouraged & equipped small […]

All throughout the book of Acts, we see the Early Church replicate themselves. Disciples make disciples and growing people grow people! I would even suggest that the life change happens, when we grow together, and we catch glimpses of the work God is doing with this process of discipleship. Wouldn’t you agree? Discipleship is all […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7861820/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Guest: Reid Smith Topic: How did you do? Year-end review of your church, ministry, and self. Why reflect on the past year what to evaluate? Measuring progress – hard versus soft data How do you know if group life and community is in the culture of the church? What are […]

Q. Are you scratching your head trying to come up with some effective ways to encourage your small group volunteers? Writing a thank you note is a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to let your volunteers know you appreciate them. Your words will inspire those who read them. If you don’t think a thank you note […]

Toward the end of each year, a lot of people become more reflective and begin to plan ahead for the year to come. Reflection done right is not a sentimental exercise, but a strategic one that will remind you of what the Lord has done, what to celebrate, and what you can improve. A lot […]

In this blog I want to encourage you to reflect on two of the central figures in the Christmas story; Mary and Joseph. Nothing new there you think to yourself, that’s what I normally do at Christmas time! However, this year I would like you to take the time to specifically reflect on their individual […]

I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we are firmly into the Christmas season, which means that another year is coming to an end. While a lot of the focus is rightfully on the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the closing of another year provides all of […]

Most businesses have a C Suite – the CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, and so on – the top executives, the brain trust that keeps the business on track. Rather than “suite,” I prefer the word “team” from the sports arena, where one person calls the plays and a team makes it happen. Each player knows […]

In his book, Planning Small Groups with Purpose, Steve Gladen says one of the roles of the Small Group Point Person is to “Keep encouraging your entire leadership team to model maturity and continued growth.” One of the ways Small Group Point People encourage growth is through training events for Small Group Leaders. However, for […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7613099/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Everyone enters a new small group with spoken and unspoken expectations. Small group agreements or covenants are a helpful tool to discuss and establish the primary goals of the group as well as important guidelines for group members. We will discuss the process of establishing an agreement and the essential […]

Simon Sinek says, “All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.” I think the same is true of the mission of small groups. Really great Small Group Point People (SGPP) know why they do what they do year after year. But, as a leader of leaders, […]

A few years ago, I found myself aimlessly wandering through the church atrium. I thought to myself, “Why are you even here!?” I felt challenged in that moment to increase my presence on Sundays. Although I didn’t have a role that was expressed as vividly as worship pastor, preacher, or children’s minister, I did have […]

We should be about more than just selling chicken. We should be a part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve.” – S. Truett Cathy (Chick-Fil-A Founder) Infamously closed on Sundays so their employees can rest and worship, the faith-based fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has grown from one store in Atlanta 50 […]

Today I went shopping, not an unusual thing for me! However what was unusual was what I saw……..Christmas displays already in many stores! Yes it is getting close to that time of year again! I don’t know about you but I find that I have to proactively work against getting caught up in this busy, […]

The most pivotal moments in my life involved a change of perspective. Perspective is the lens through which we see the world. Your perspective directly affects your relationships with God, others and even yourself! Before knowing Jesus, I remember struggling to understand what the Bible was saying, but when I became a believer, I saw […]

Our church just concluded our six-week fall sermon series and small group push. But the fall didn’t start with the start of the sermon series, it started back during the summer in getting everything ready. So it’s no wonder that on Monday, I felt a little more tired than usual. Thankfully I was scheduled to […]

As a Small Group Point Person, we are often asked a myriad of questions, “Why aren’t more people connecting?”, “What do leaders need to know?”, “What should my group study?”, etc. People assume since you are the Small Group Point Person you have all the answers. And it can feel like if you don’t have […]

When starting a small group ministry, you are eager to see the fruit of your labor. But building before the foundation is ready always proves unwise. Whenever a new idea is introduced, acceptance of change runs pretty true to the Rogers Diffusion of Innovation Bell Curve. You will typically encounter about 16 percent eager early […]

Picture it!   Think back to getting your first small groups ready to launch;  you have spent months preparing and personally meeting with all of your prospective leaders, have held small group leader training, helped leaders find curriculum or possibly even have had a role in creating the sermon based small group study on your campus.  […]

Have you ever wanted to share ideas and learn from other Small Group Point People? Ever wish there was a way to connect with people and share wins and struggles with small groups? Good news! Spaces for this and friends like this exist in Small Group Network “Huddles!” Huddles are created for the purpose of […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7182680/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”] This month’s group talk podcast features an insightful discussion regarding the book “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters” by Priya Parker. Host Carolyn Taketa joins joins special guests Nick Lenzi (Dinner Group Director) & Andrew Camp (Former chef) to discuss the art of gathering. […]

The house that my wife and I bought just over a year ago now has a wonderful little garden plot off to the side of the house. The previous owners had done a great job making it a place that will be great to grow vegetables. However, our first summer there we were just acclimating […]

How many times have you heard your grandparents or parents tell you about how they walked “up the hill, through the snow” to elementary school and back home? I always enjoyed hearing those stories and then teasing my father about how old he was, when he finished. Although very few enjoy navigating difficult seasons, we […]

I haven’t always been comfortable with the word “accountability.” It used to make me think of a person with a ledger who was critiquing my performance, recording the good and bad in my life and letting me know how well I was staying on track. Accountability felt impersonal and even burdensome. This, however, is not […]

Stephen Covey once said “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” With that in mind, I have become more keenly aware how diverse our own communities are growing with immigrants from around the world. Beautiful people who are struggling to navigate a whole new set of behaviors and norms in different cultures. I am reminded […]

I have never met a single Small Groups Point Person who said, “You know what, I have too many leaders, what should I do?” Most Small Groups Point People live in the constant struggle of not having enough leaders. Every now and then we find the rainbow horned unicorn of a person who says, “I […]

Announcing our new online training course that features 7 total video session taught by Saddleback Church Online Pastor Jay Kranda, Downloadable notes & lesson discussion questions! Learn more by watching the free course introduction & enroll HERE! It is Tuesday evening, your small group has gathered, you have had some supper, opened up about what is […]

For small group point people, the line, we’re better together, is not a catchy tagline, it is a core value of small group ministry. How you apply that core value is different in each of your communities. For some, applying the idea of doing life together means finding people like you, those who look like […]

Knowing Your People – Grows Your People In a season of recruiting Small Group Point People (SGPP), here’s what I’ve learned: Knowing them ultimately grows them! In other words, knowing the people you serve with is what enables growth to take place. The more that people feel respected and known, the more they share that […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7054617/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Topic: A question we frequently field from our small group leaders is, “What should we study?” There is an overwhelming range of materials and topics to choose from and it is critical to choose curriculum wisely. What a group chooses to study has a significant impact on group dynamics and […]

With close to 30,000 weekend attenders across all 19 campuses, Saddleback church is proud of the fact that they have more people in small groups than actually attend on the weekends! Enjoy this quick video of Pastor Rick Warren sharing why everyone needs the safety net of a small group!   Enjoy the southern hospitality […]

One of the most rewarding roles in the local church is serving as the point leader for small groups because you get to be a catalyst for growing the kind of community we see in Acts 2:42-47. However, I’ve found it can be one of the loneliest roles on the planet. Ironic, isn’t it? The […]

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued […]

A little while ago, I wrote on the power of food as it relates to being formed into community. Because of our technological age, which is premised on easy everywhere, we have somehow become less connected. Authentic, transformative relationships seem harder. One of the most beautiful aspects of eating together is in the mutual recognition […]

When you meet me, it won’t take very long for you to figure out that I am a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. I have been since I was 5 years old. As a result of the Eagles winning the Super Bowl, I have received hundreds of offers to buy books and products celebrating last season. […]

Most groups have one or two people who tend to dominate small group discussion times and seem to have all the answers to the questions! They tend to speak first, with much authority and sometimes can be so intimidating that others do not participate and instead take a back seat. So how do we train […]

I don’t know who said it first, but there is a quote that says, “Silence speaks when words fail.” At one point or another, we will encounter a moment when we won’t know the words to say. Maybe you’ve been there before. That’s often what the loss of a loved one does. Initially, it leaves […]

Every disciple is called to make more disciples, and small groups are in the trenches of discipleship making. Small groups are fantastic places to learn, but more importantly, they are the best place to build authentic relationships and learn together. Creating an environment that elevates authentic relationships is a challenge, but a great example can […]

If you are a new Small Group Point Person or your time and resources are limited in leading groups, this post is especially for you. One of my favorite parts of the Small Group Network is the eagerness to share knowledge, experience and resources with other Small Group Point People in order for all to succeed. […]

Are you a small group point person who is trying to empower small group leaders to have more fun in their groups? Need to help group leaders create a welcoming and fun environment to increase connection between people? Here are 5 Ways to Help Your Small Groups Have More Fun: Bring Something With You A […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6918670/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]This month, we take a look inside one of the most innovative “teaching churches” in America, National Community Church in Washington DC. They are well-known for establishing “Free market groups,” semester-based groups, and effectively reaching millennials in a transitory urban environment. Guest: Laura Holland Bio: Laura Holland has been serving as […]

The people we lead have big jobs to do. No matter how accessible we make the role of a group leader or host, at some point, everyone realizes that serving others gets complex. Just think about all the questions that run through a group leader’s mind as they try to lead and care for the […]

In his new book Planning Small Groups with Purpose, Steve Gladen asks this question, “What is your plan for connecting people into groups?” This is obviously one of the biggest questions any small group point person needs to answer. When formulating your plan, the underlying truth to keep in mind is that new people need […]

I continue to reflect on Priya Parker’s excellent book, The Art of Gathering. In my last post, I talked about her principle that gathering is about people not just a checklist of logistics. But once we have the people in our midst, how do we lead? Parker suggests that the best hosts lead from a […]

It’s been about five years since it happened and the thing is…I didn’t see it coming. I guess I should have, everyone around me could see it happening…but man, I sure didn’t. I could hear God but I wasn’t listening. To be honest, I really didn’t like what He was saying. I can remember the […]

Q What does it mean to be a coach? Let’s take a look at what the valuable role of a small group coach is and what actually happens when they invest in the life of a small group leader. I would not be writing to you today if someone had not noticed something in me, and […]

I once heard John Maxwell say, “When you have momentum, don’t take a vacation.” As funny as this is- it’s really true. Why would you stop the momentum? When you are surfing, you wait for the wave to build, then you ride it out. You don’t just stop mid- wave and get off. You ride […]

During the month of June 2018, an eagerly awaited resource landed on the shores of Australia. Many hours of time, energy, writing, administration, and finances had been invested to ensure a safe arrival! Steve Gladen was here and the Australian Small Groups with Purpose Conferences would soon begin. As the day of the conference approached, […]

I have learned that if I want to succeed in leading others I must first lead myself well.  And for me that includes reading great books.  For 2018 I set an ambitious goal for myself to read 100 books by the year’s end.  I did it to invest in myself.  I’ve learned so much that […]

Leadership development is hard; both in business and in churches. Small group point people across the country are struggling with the same question, “how do I find more leaders?” As our church grows, the need for more groups and group leaders grow as well. It’s easy to simply fill the gap with anyone we can […]

We all have acquired various beliefs that lay the foundation for how we lead our teams. Some of these beliefs are propelling you forward, while some are limiting your trajectory. What are these thoughts? How are they hindering your ministry? Here are six beliefs that can stunt your growth in leadership. YOU MUST BE THE […]

I was so fortunate to attend the Small Group Network (SGN) “Lobby Gathering” this past March.  Being together and talking with other small group leaders who get the joy and challenge of creating, encouraging, building and leading small groups on a church campus speaks my love language…connecting people. If you have not been to the […]

One of the things I am thankful for in my life is my time in the US Coast Guard. I spent eight years in the military and about seven of them on different ships at sea. I learned sooo many different skills and life lessons in those years. One of the most valuable lessons I […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6770441/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Who do you want on your team? And how do you recruit people to join you? Small groups ministry cannot be done by yourself. We all need a team of people with different personalities, gifts, and skills to build a thriving groups ministry. Listen to Steve share the top ten […]

I have displayed on my office whiteboard, “Vision without implementation equals hallucination.” I believe in vision, and you’ll hear me talk quite a bit about it in this book. If you don’t have a plan for implementing your vision, you are wasting your time. Success involves the management of ideas. Ideas can provide wonderful breakthroughs […]

Start with people. Sounds obvious, right? After all, you and I, as small group point people, are in the business of connecting people. But this question has come to the forefront of my mind recently, as I read Priya Parker’s excellent new book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. We […]

If you are new to the role of Small Group Point Person, my hope is that this post will  set you up for success. If you have been in your current role for a while, this post will hopefully allow you to do a reset/refresh of your ministry and see if there are changes needed. […]

Redesigning your church website or just want some ideas for your small group page? We’ve scoured the internet for you to find the best church websites for you to stalk as a small group point person. Here is the list of web-links you can bookmark and get ideas from. Hoboken Grace Highlands Fellowship Cooper City […]

I have a  few stories I’d love to share with you. Stories like Josue, who said, “Small groups have been God’s way of working in my life on the theme of building community and restoring real community and relationships in my life.” Or Nicole who said, “Small groups for me are like family.” These aren’t […]

Congratulations! You are the new Small Group Point Person for your church. Now what? Small groups are a great way to help people across your church get connected, both to Christ and with each other. Small groups can help your church develop future leaders and create a pathway for spiritual formation. Small groups can do […]

Over the last few years, the area of launching more groups within our Small Group ministry has been a great target of growth for our team. It’s challenged current and past systems within our church, pushed our level of leadership to new places and helped us wave the banner for seeing healthy group growth for […]

By Kevin Lee / Online Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church If I have to pick a single factor for Saddleback’s small group growth, it would be the H.O.S.T. strategy. This strategy allows for a person with minimal knowledge of the Bible to lead a very purposeful small group discussion. If you don’t know about […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6684930/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Since evangelism is critical part of discipleship, it is typically a high value for our churches. However, practically speaking, many of our groups do not engage regularly in intentional outreach to nonbelievers. In this episode with Joel Comiskey, we focus on why evangelism helps small groups thrive and how we […]

For those of us who are headed into summer season, this post is for you. If you aren’t approaching that season yet, file this post to read at a later time!  Summer can be a challenging, yet deep time for community, can’t it? I mean I live in this tension over the summer between slowing […]

When I first became a small group point person within a local church I approached it much like a farmer working to grow something. I got up early, labored long, and diligently cared for growing the ministry and mission. I thought this is the way to be successful and the way to model success. I […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6588711/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Pioneer of small groups ministry in the United States, Carl George has been an influential voice in churches for decades. Here, Carl shares his thoughts on the small groups movement over the years including trends, concerns, and the future of small groups ministry in the current cultural context.  Carl George, […]

If you were to take a snapshot of my google searches over the last little while you would notice a common theme. ‘How to sew a zipper into a purse.’ I have been making some purses to give away as gifts and I wanted to know how to sew in a zipper. Interestingly, once I […]

We all enter into ministry for a variety of reasons. For me, I love seeing people grow spiritually through a rich experience of biblical community. I have been blessed with incredible community, experiencing firsthand how transformative small group Christian community can and should be. I want to shepherd people into that experience. That last sentence […]

It’s one of the words that have become in vogue in our church culture lexicon is Missional. My auto spell check always changes it to “mission” or “missionary.”   My internal conversation goes something like this…”no, no it’s Missional, you know missional… to, well, umm” and my mind moves to an outdated term I have long […]

The story begins in Exodus 17 where people are grumbling…and blaming Moses- “Why did you take us out here? Isn’t this journey ever going to end? Why can’t we find water? Didn’t you say God would provide?” Then, God tells him to go stand in the Nile river and strike the rock so water may […]

“You are not the lead Small Groups person at your church, your Senior Pastor is the lead Small Groups person at your church.”- Steve Gladden This statement brings clarity to the reality that the voice that carries the biggest weight in any church is that of the Senior Pastor. And this applies in small group […]

As Small Group Point People, we are all constantly looking to engage the people around us. One commonality point people share is that we understand that we are better together. I know that I am constantly looking into how to grow our groups’ impact and how we can best help new people realize their purpose […]

Whether you are a new small group point person, a seasoned leader who feels your small group ministry lacks purpose, or the groups pastor who is itching to move your small group ministry to the next level, Leading Small Groups with Purpose is the road map to follow. Steve Gladen, the global small groups pastor […]

I was recruited to lead the groups ministry of a growing multi-site church less than two years ago. This was after being a student pastor since the year Mulan came out in the movie theater (that’s code for a long time ago). This was new territory for me. As I look back on these last […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6466713/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]The New Group Talk Podcast Welcome to the new “Group Talk Podcast!” In this month’s episode you will notice these exciting new updates… An updated intro featuring new music and the new voice of Mike Kozlowski  New Producer Jason Banzhoff highlighting upcoming SGN Events A new outro highlighting the purpose […]

Q Are Small Groups still important? How would you answer this question? Those who look after small group ministry in local churches would answer YES! Those who are small group leaders would hopefully say YES (although their response may be dependent on how things are going with their individual group!) And I have no doubt that […]

How does a small group point person become a leader of leaders? Each small group point person faces the challenge of building a group of leaders who are gifted, willing and able to be part of their small group ministry. This challenge isn’t always straightforward; great small group leaders don’t always appear at your doorstep! […]

Andy Stanley says, “Some tensions are to be managed, not problems to be solved.”  I was recently convicted by a conversation I had with a Small Group Point Person. He said, “With all of the groups you oversee, how do you know what is taking place in all of them? How do you know the […]

At the 2018 SoCal “Lobby Gathering” a few weeks ago (Register for 2019), I had the privilege of leading a conversation on developing a church-wide small group culture. It was great to sit with other small group point people, and listen to where they are in the process, but more specifically, what was working and […]

If you’ve ever drunk from a fire hose, you’ve got an idea of what the Lobby Gathering is like. Every year that I’ve been a Small Group Point Person, I’ve gone to the Lobby Gathering. And every year it has easily been three of the most valuable days that I’ve spent networking and learning. But […]

I enjoy attending conferences and usually come home inspired and ready to take the next hill for Jesus. I recently returned from The Lobby Conference 2018 (You should be there next year, sign up here). It was an amazing time, and I learned a ton from the speakers and from individual conversations with other Small […]

Looking back on my start as a small group point person a decade ago, I see how much it mirrored my start as a small group leader nearly two decades ago.  I was idealistic and opinionated, I was eager to learn and dove in to find out.  I tried to inform myself on the models, […]

“When the leader gets better, everybody wins.” -Bill Hybels. This is one of my favorite quotes. It is also a personal challenge for me. The quote reminds me that if I want my team to get better and if I want those I lead to get better, then I have to get better. This is […]

“Accelerate!” is a 3-day workshop designed for small group point people and their leadership teams! Check out this quick video from Founder Steve Gladen on why you should consider attending one! ACCELERATE! Utah April 23-25 Mountain Life Church – Park City, UT Register HERE    ACCELERATE! Minnesota May 21-23 Grace Church – Eden Prairie, MN Register HERE REGISTER […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6395974/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Pastor Steve Gladen answers questions submitted from the 2018 SoCal “Lobby Gathering” participants on a variety of small groups ministry issues such as… Leadership development Group leader coaching Creating a small groups church culture Leading up Group multiplication Soul care Future of group life. Guest: Steve has been Global Pastor […]

I once read an article by Karen Wilk which challenged me think about the term ice-breaker. In the article she encourages people to use the term ‘community makers’ rather than ‘ice-breaker as it more accurately describes the aim of the activity – to develop community and connection in your group. I love that idea so […]

The Power of Encouraging Words We see in Scripture that David was regularly “strengthened by the Lord.” Some translations say, “He encouraged himself in the Lord,” which means to strengthen or prevail (1 Samuel 30:6). And while I believe that God can give us a new spirit of strength in a way that we cannot, […]

Not feeling creative these days?  If your ministry has been as blah and boring as Arie and Lauren B on the latest season of The Bachelor (a Monday Night Show in the US) than take a look at these Instagram posts to spark some fresh ideas. Do you post your work on social media? Use […]

Social Media isn’t just a hip trend that has millenials hooked; it’s the direction that technology and society are continually developing together.  Small group point people know and champion that community is an essential part of life – so it shouldn’t surprise us that media has become social! Every person in this world desires to […]

This last year we hosted our traditional “Mission Trip Interest Meeting” for a trip to Israel, which was little over a year from taking off. This meeting had a little twist to what had been our norm for a few years. This endeavor, spearheaded by a church volunteer, had an increased intentionality behind it. Drew, […]

As every new small group season approaches the need for new small group leaders always seems to rise to the surface. Your church may be in a season of growth, you may have had leaders step away, or you may be in the midst of launching a church wide campaign. The fact is, as small […]

“You’re always doing curls for the girls.” When I was a high school football player, that is something we would say to a teammate in the weight room in jest. The comment was for a guy who was consistent with his arm curl weightlifting routine but not-so consistent with his lower body and legs exercises. […]

The Lobby (March 13-15) is less than a month away. The good news is it’s not too late to register, but time is ticking. If you are still waffling on whether to pull the trigger or not, let me share why you definitely need to come, from one small group point person to another. First […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6261121/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]We would all agree that small group leaders need the support, mentoring, and care that a coaching system can provide, but it continues to be an area of ministry that is challenging, and often a source of confusion and frustration. In this exclusive interview, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Allen White […]

Yesterday I walked past a kitchenware shop and saw a gadget called a ‘herb grinder’. The advertising announced that this was something I needed and that it would revolutionise my life, (no longer would I need to chop herbs with a knife…… I could simply place the herbs in the empty cavity, push the button […]

How much time do you spend just thinking about small groups? How much planning and preparation time do you have? If you are anything like me, most of the time you are just trying to keep your eyes above water.  I can’t tell you how many times I have wished someone would just spell out […]

The Small Groups with Purpose two-day conference is coming to two Australian cities, Melbourne and Sydney, in June. Steve Gladen, author, founder of the Small Group Network (SGN) and Small Group Pastor at Saddleback Church will be teaching live at the conferences. When and where? Melbourne on 15-16 June and in Sydney on 22-23 June. […]

One of our greatest privileges as Small Group Point People is to care for our leaders and team. I was sitting in a meeting with other leadership a few weeks ago and said, “I feel so disconnected from some leaders. What can we do to be better at caring for them?!” Our team started braining storming additional ways […]

Being a dad of three boys under the age of twelve, cartoons are usually one of our major sources of entertainment. Currently our two (almost three) year old’s favorite cartoon is the Trolls Holiday special (THS for short) and let’s be honest real quick, any one who is the parent of a threenager knows they […]

As small group point people, we hit the ground running in January—getting new groups started, getting old groups started again, getting people signed up, and all the administrative tasks that go along with this. We think we will get to breathe once this is done, only to find that our to-do list is longer than […]

Are you prepared for 2018? January is almost over, but it’s not too late to craft a strong plan for the rest of the year. Here are 5 ways to prepare for 2018: Evaluate Where You Are At Every set of directions include a starting point. It’s hard to chart a path if you don’t […]

Every soul goes through seasons, just like the seasons within a calendar year. Winter, spring, summer, and fall are all seasons of the soul that we encounter. Maybe where you live, you don’t encounter every season outside, but your soul does on the inside. While one person may be in a time of spiritual spring […]

On a Saturday afternoon while eating lunch at Panera,  I began to notice a long line forming at the front counter. A friendly high school student behind the register. She smiled and worked hard to get orders in. There was a line of people waiting. I watched as a few more families walked in. It […]

By Cynthia Considine Here are some of the things that I have found to be helpful when preparing for a Huddle Up: #1. Publicize the date, time and location early and often! I find that most small group point people are very busy with competing priorities at their churches or places of work. Research shows that […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6175067/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”] Q Do you ever wonder if the issues in your small groups ministry are unique to your environment? Q Are you curious to know if others are dealing with the same challenges? In this podcast, host Carolyn Taketa interviews special guest Amy Jackson where they survey the landscape of […]

As we begin the new year, it has got me thinking about growth. Specifically, how can we grow and build our small group ministries in 2018? What if we started by setting some goals for ourselves – I have noticed that when I grow there is a ripple effect which also has an impact on the ministry God […]

As a small group point person you’ve been reading books, watching videos and huddling with other point people to learn best practices in all things group related. You know all the things. Or getting there. You’ve led leader trainings and they’ve been um…. fine. Sometimes even great. Especially when all your leaders show up. High-5 […]

Every year, Pastor Steve Gladen invites all of the small group pastors from each Saddleback Church campus to his home to talk about vision. The day is filled with laughter, meaningful conversations and strategic information intended to create unity across all campuses! Feel free to use any of these ideas or the message notes below […]

1- Ask Questions 2- Reflect on the Good 3- Set Goals to Improve  As the adage says, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”, and I believe that is true. The thing I love about December is that it is a bridge, or a grace period, between the time we are reflecting on what we […]

Most small group point people I know are amazing at helping people connect and build relationships. However, they also seem to have the hardest time connecting to other small group point people. It is a strange paradox that expert connectors seem to run solo most of the time. The goal of the Small Group Network […]

As ministry leaders and Small Group Point People, we have all read the reports and articles of those a part of the millennial generation that are disconnecting form the Church. Your church may be experiencing this in one or many ways. In our church we have a good level of attendance from the younger demographic […]

Alvi Radjagukguk is the pastor of small groups (and as of January 2018, the pastor of Community, consisting of seven other ministries) at Jakarta Praise Community Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. We chatted recently about his life and ministry. How did you get into ministry? In 1995 I was studying Finance and Marketing at a university in […]

We are blessed to have such an incredible team of authors who write for us each month, and all of whom are real Small Group Point People! A big thank you to each of our SGN authors who consistently give of their time to write such creative and inspired content! From our many blog posts published, […]

As a small group point person it can be tempting to always look ahead. You need to be especially connected to your church’s calendar to plan ahead. The pipeline of new leaders will not fill itself. Ministry growth takes investment so you look forward. However, looking back can be just as important and influential as […]

You have likely heard the adage leaders are learners and though the saying is clichéd I’ve found it to hold truth. Like many small group point people, I find myself challenged to grow and learn more and more.  One of the great things about a year coming to an end is all the yearend reviews.  […]

So your church doesn’t have a small groups ministry yet? The key word is “yet” and I think you are the person to help get it going. I’m not asking you to launch the entire thing by yourself. I’m suggesting you host one small group to help show the impact a small group ministry could […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/6037726/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Q Do you serve as a Small Group Point Person in your local church? Would you like to learn how to maximize your small group ministry budget for this new year? If your answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place! In this exclusive Group Talk Podcast episode, host […]

Over the past semester, some of our Small Group point people began a new small group type. After researching and landing on using the Freedom curriculum as a study our church could use, some of our SG point people attended the Freedom Conference at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. Needless to say, this […]

With the holiday season firmly upon us, many of us will be doing our fair share of holiday baking. Holiday parties with our small group. Holiday parties with our leaders. Holiday parties at church. You get the idea. In the midst of this cooking frenzy, I began to think of ways cooking is like leading […]

This post is from a recent conversation with Trevor Schiller of Hope Valley Uniting Church in Adelaide, Australia. Trevor leads a Small Group Network huddle and is the volunteer point person for the small group ministry in his church, serving with Pastor Scott Button. Trevor’s daytime job is as a solar sales consultant. What’s the […]

Spiritual formation is a process that involves genuine change in a person’s knowledge of and relationship with Christ. The process is ongoing and the goal is that each person positively influences others along the way. Small group ministries are often the strategy for spiritual formation in the church. Small group point people don’t want to […]

As I have been reflecting on this Thanksgiving season, I’ve realized there are areas in my life that I need to learn how to be grateful. It’s not that I just need to suck it up and be grateful. I have to learn to choose gratitude. There’s a difference. Do you know what I’m talking […]

I know what you are thinking – is that a ‘typo’? Have the Small Group Network communications team not proof read this article properly? What does she mean ‘Thank Tank’? I have never heard of such a thing! Is it like a fish tank, a rain tank……some other type of tank native to Australia? OK, […]

During my Navy career, my wife and I had the opportunity to live in Sicily, Italy for four years. I remember my sister calling during our first November in Sicily and asking how the Sicilians celebrated Thanksgiving. The answer, of course, was Sicilians do not celebrate Thanksgiving, because Thanksgiving is a distinctly American and Canadian […]

It’s that time of year where small group point people find themselves on Pinterest and the SGN Facebook Group looking for gift ideas for small group leaders. Free t-shirts are great and all, but it might be time to try something new. Need fresh ideas for what to get your volunteer team this Christmas? Here […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5944777/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Are you dealing with any sticky issues within your small group ministry? If so, you’ve come to the right place! With more than 20 years of small groups ministry experience, Bill Search has led the discipleship charge in churches from the Midwest to California ranging in size from 1000 to […]

I have to admit something…and it may even sound weird or strange to some of you, but I love change. I absolutely love change…I tend to thrive in seasons of change. One of the biggest reasons why I love change is because I can get bored pretty easily. I have the tendency to loose focus […]

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Gratitude is central to our walk as Christians. We see the important role it plays in relating with God and others.   In our modern age we have the benefit of science, […]

Small group point person the Church needs you.  You are the voice echoing the call in Hebrews to not neglect meeting together.  Your voice reminds us that left alone systems move toward less connection not more.  You champion, you encourage, you bring vision for what could be in the lives of unconnected people, you are […]

Dear Church Leader, If discipleship is boring to you it will be boring to those following your leadership. While nobody would openly confess this to be the case in their own context, it is an all too common occurrence in our modern church era. This is an unfortunate outcome given Jesus’ charge in Matthew 28:19 […]

Have you ever read about Five Love Languages? While it’s usually a tool used to strengthen marriages, at its core it’s just about how different people receive love in different ways. So this November, as we all get our friendly yearly reminder to thank our leaders and hosts in big, meaningful, extravagant ways, let’s take […]

“What is one thing your church does really well?” An easy question to answer, you would think. But I had to think about it for a while when I was asked it by a friend during a recent Salt Lake City huddle. I struggled with this question because too often it is not the good […]

It’s November and I am still thinking of my very first experience, eight months ago, at the Lobby Gathering. I attended not really knowing much about the Small Group Network, what the Lobby Gathering was or even what all I’d do once I arrived. Just in case you are interested in attending but are in the same […]

Do you have a dashboard for your ministry?  Your car has a dashboard with a clear indicator of fuel levels, speed, and engine temp. Your Fitbit or Apple Watch track your steps and activity level. A little bundle of joy rock your world? Healthy baby check-ups are coming your way. Babies are measured. Kids are […]

Hard conversations can be challenging. They are never fun. And truthfully most of us would rather not have to have any hard conversations. However, sometimes they are necessary. Maybe there is a Small Group leader who is teaching something contrary to the church’s core values. Or maybe a Small Group member is using their group […]

As a new small group point person, the idea of creating community can be overwhelming. Perhaps there is a poor history with small groups in your church, or you’re struggling to find the needed support for the small group ministry. Maybe you have the needed support, but not the knowledge or track record of small […]

Cesar Chavez who was a civil rights activist once said, “If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food give you their heart.” Have you ever been to someone’s house where they treated you as if you were royalty for no other […]

I learnt today that one of my son’s favourite actors Christian Bale (aka Batman!) will play the lead role in an upcoming biopic based on the life of Dick Cheney. The film does not yet have a title or release date but I am very keen to see how Bale, who apparently is unrecognisable, (as himself!) undertakes the […]

This post is from a recent conversation with Frank Kozub of Oasis Pentecostal Church in Jastrzebie, Poland. Frank leads a Small Group Network huddle and is the point person for the small group ministry in his church. Frank is also a small group leader, one of five small group coordinators and a member of the […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5944744/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Have you ever wished that there was a miracle formula for small groups ministry? A silver bullet that would guarantee that everyone in your church would be in a biblical Acts 2 kind of small group where people would grow to love God deeply, where lives would be radically transformed, […]

One of the greatest seasons of joy and growth, both spiritually and numerically, I’ve experienced in ministry is when our small groups really embraced the idea of being Small Groups on mission. It took vision, direction, intentionality and many tough conversations to take the idea of small groups on missions from a cool catch phrase […]

As a small group point person, you understand the complexities of building strong community and how intricate a process that is. However, you also want to put simple, easy-to-implement tools in the hands of your small group leaders. Some groups benefit from a nudge in the right direction. One change or addition can open a […]

As groups point people,we all have grand visions and hopes for what happens in those groups; things like accountability, service, knowledge, community and transparency. We even have tools to get those results, including Bible study, sermon discussions, video content, service projects, and prayer times.While all of these tools are clearly important, sometimes we forget one […]

The H.O.S.T. Ask can be a “game-changer call-to-action” for churches desiring to connect every person in their local body in biblical community. It’s a signature move reserved only for the Lead Pastor during a weekend service. If executed strategically, it can draw in willing vessels who are hidden in crowd. This one move can supercharge […]

Like many of you, I have struggled at times on how best to care and shepherd my leaders. Emails, phone calls and notes are great, but when push comes to shove, I yearn for the personal face to face contact with my leaders. And the best time to do this is when they are already […]

Watch Pastor Rick Warren deliver 4 points at this years HOST Gathering that launched over 1,000 new groups. Watch HERE

Oscar Wilde said, “experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes.” Having been a Small Group Point Person for a number of years now, I have accumulated lots of that type of experience. My hope is that by sharing what I wish someone had told me when I was first starting out in […]

Social media is a crazy world. Each day as I jump on Facebook, I have to prepare myself to weave through the  political rants, embarrassing-too-much-information posts and cat videos to find my way to the Small Group Network page or SGN group (#shamelessplug). Social media can be a toxic place but there is so much good […]

Influence is “the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.” We all have the power to positively influence others, and the best kind of leadership is the leadership you give away. It’s when you use your influence to […]

A trend in recruiting group leaders you do not want to miss! By: Gina Abbas If you’ve been on social media lately there is a recruiting trend Small Group point people are going crazy about! It’s a Group in a Box. It’s basically a snazzy box filled with everything you need to launch a small […]

Leading ourselves well begins with stewarding our greatest resource, time. Managing our time well requires diligence and it requires a plan. Last year I posted a Small Group Network article, 7 Absurdly Awesome Apps for Groups Leadership. Many of those apps I use every day, along with a few others, to help me lead leaders […]

With almost 20 years of leading small groups at Saddleback, when Steve Gladen (the founder of the Small Group Network) speaks or writes, we are wise to listen. Many of us have greatly benefitted from his wisdom whether through his previous books, through the Small Group Network, or through the conference he and his team […]

As a small group point person, you’re always looking for another resource. Typically, we are the only one at our church that does what we do. It’s our responsibility to find out best practices, and identify the new trends to get people connected using groups. From huddles to podcast, the Small Group Network has the […]

I have served at my church for over eight years. During this time, we have grown our small groups from the 30s to now 125+ and we’ve added an additional campus. At each measurable season of growth, the importance of delegating care has been increased. In this time we’ve watched other ministries, studied our wins […]

If the Lobby Gathering isn’t already on your calendar, it might be time to stop what you’re doing and sign up. (but don’t stop reading this post… stop the other things you’re doing!) Conferences are great, right? 2 or 3 days chock full of information that’s all wildly convicting, way over your head, and only […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5755120/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Q Do you serve in a local church ministry? Are you a small group point person? Are you doing groups in a multisite context? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then this Small Group Network podcast is for you as it will encourage and equip you regarding general ministry […]

My husband and I recently travelled from Australia to New York, while we were there we visited the 9/11 Memorial Site. It was a very moving experience for us, however amidst the sadness I heard this story; “A Callery pear tree became known as the “Survivor Tree” after enduring the September 11, 2001 terror attacks […]

As a small group point person, you know to ask what’s happening in groups. It’s the only way to know how best to help. What topics are you discussing? What is the next study you’re planning? What is your attendance like? What is the number of new people you can take? But if that’s the […]

This is a message from one pastor leading the small group ministry in a church outside of North America. “There are many things that we have in common with our brothers and sisters in small group ministry in other countries. Yet, here are some pronounced differences between what we see in North American ministry and […]

You are valuable- I may not know you, but I know you are valuable. Jesus tells me so in the story of value in Luke 12. He is talking about the birds of the air and the clothes we wear and states, “Of how much more value are you than the birds” (12:24, NIV). But, […]

We’re all dying for a place to belong. But for many of the people we serve, it’s hard to believe that authentic and safe community actually exists. The radically inclusive and welcoming nature of Jesus’ life and ministry was confusing, , challenging and frustrating for the religious people around Him. How strange to see this man […]

The end and start of a church fiscal year is a great time to evaluate and plan for a new year. For me, that time is right now, which coincides with the launch of a new season of small groups. I have been spending time reflecting, thinking, and praying over what I have learned, but […]

My wife loves to garden. She gains a deep sense of accomplishment every time our house is surrounded by beautiful flowers. On the other hand, I abhor gardening; because it is usually associated with hours and hours on my hands and knees working the soil. I would rather save myself the time and pain by just […]

Each Small Group Semester brings a different set off challenges and goals I look to strive for. I will aways set a new numerical goal for groups, next steps emphasis and I always look for a few areas that need improvement within my role. It seemed that almost every semester I circled “better care” for […]

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b Make a list of the top 3 times of growth in your life. Odds are quite high that 1, 2, or 3 of them were “troublesome” times. Maybe you brought the trouble on yourself by going to graduate […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5663392/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]If we were to ask you, “what are your top 3 challenges in your small groups ministry?” One of your answers would probably be related to getting new leaders or starting new groups! Whether you are launching a new small groups ministry at your church or growing an existing one, it […]

One of my favorite classes in my under-grad was Ministry Observation, which I took my freshman year. I know, it doesn’t sound super exciting or life changing by any means, but man…I loved this class! We would, as a class, visit various different churches in Southern California; write critiques and analysis papers about our experience […]

With 37 Small Group Network huddles in countries outside the US and Canada, what can you gain from the lessons of small group ministries all around the world? Check out these five transferrable principles: Never let a previous experience with groups deter you from trying new groups-based strategies. Many churches in Eastern Europe and other areas tried different […]

Do you like Oreos? What is your favorite part? My favorite Oreos are the golden ones- the crispy outer shell and that sugary cream center. Leadership is a lot like Oreos. No, leadership is not crunchy on the outside and smooth on the inside. But, they do have more similarities than you would think. An Oreo […]

About two years ago, I began to wrestle internally with what was going on within my life and ministry. I didn’t feel particularly close to God, His calling on my life, and even my relationships were starting to pay the price. I felt as if I had grown into a stagnant relationship. I knew I […]

When we moved into our new home, we made cutting the grass our oldest son Cade’s responsibility.  He mowed periodically at our old home, but when we moved in here, it became his responsibility, his to own.  The other day I asked him to mow the front yard.  Later in the day he looked out […]

Imagine these people are attending a new small group, they do not really know each other or have any significant background about one another. Paul -his group experience has been one where the leader did everything Karen and Joe – have never been in a small group Sue – in her last group, leadership was […]

All too often, our communication falls flat.   The average email open rate is usually around 25%. We’ve all had times where half our team is frantically texting us with questions… that we answered very clearly in last week’s email.   Personally, instead of just trying to change WHAT I communicate, I’ve started focusing on HOW I […]

In a recent interview with WIRED*, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and co-founder of Facebook, shared that small group ministry is a model he considers when he looks to the future of his social media website. It’s an intriguing comment from the marketplace and it’s loaded with transferable insights for disciple makers. I think it’s important for me to note […]

I was speaking to a friend recently about a particularly hard time in his life. Work was a mess, there were family curve balls, and he had some friends who betrayed him. There was almost nothing left to go wrong. Until that final thing went wrong.   “I was turning into a cranky old man […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5538732/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Q Are you feeling burnt-out as a ministry leader? Q Do you know other ministry leaders who are on the edge of burn-out? If so, you’ve come to the right place… The greatest gift you can give those you lead is your own healthy soul. So often, as pastors and […]

Our primary role as leaders is to look forward, to see the future that CAN be, so that we can help people get there. But without looking back and evaluating, we never know if we are making real progress. And even when it feels like we are moving forward and getting better, evaluation helps us […]

God is so creative in how he made the human race to be so diverse! Different nationalities, unique languages, beautiful skin colors and various interests! Here are 3 tips when launching interest based groups… #1. Recruit leaders with an Appeal to their Interests  It’s crazy how two complete and total strangers who have never met […]

The great rock band R.E.M. wrote a song, Everybody Hurts, in which the refrain goes, “everybody hurts sometimes.” As anyone in ministry knows, they weren’t kidding! Discouragement is one of the primary obstacles facing every one of us as small group ministry leaders. No one seems to be immune from occasional moments of feeling defeated […]

We just had the Purpose Driven Church Conference at Saddleback. There were thousands of pastors that came to learn and grow. I was talking with one whose question was really good.   How can we possibly make sure groups don’t go crazy? I mean, we have so many scattered all over the place. We don’t […]

#1 SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP TRAINING KIT Q What is your strategy to recruit and equip your small group leaders? Q Do your group leaders clearly understand their assignment? Created by Steve Gladen, Global Pastor of the Small Group Ministry at Saddleback Church, this resource is designed with you, the Small Group Point Person, in mind. God doesn’t call […]

Let me share a story with you about a friend. To keep his identity safe, I’ll name him Roy. It was December of 2015. Roy was a young pup in ministry with less than 2 years under his belt. He was struggling with where God had him in that very moment. He was also struggling […]

I don’t know about you, but I always need more small group leaders! The work God is doing in our congregation is rooted in community, so I have four tips that have proven to be helpful! Pray For Your Potential Leaders- It’s all about the prepping. Before I even make an ask of somebody to be a small […]

#1 Make it Simple Caring is all about making the ‘other’ our focus so caring for group members does not need to be complicated. Sometimes it is the little, simple things which can make a huge difference. Sending a text message or making a phone call just to say hi or to follow-up a prayer […]

I am not writing this as an expert, but I am currently learning some valuable lessons the hard way. In May, as this Small Group Semester came to a close, I began to call a few groups to ask about their summer plans. As I hung up the phone with one group leader, my worst […]

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5452736/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]“What will our groups study?” This is a common question in groups ministry and one that is critically important in shaping the dynamics and discipleship process of a group. The sermon based model has been increasingly popular over the past decade and can be a valuable tool to helping groups […]

When is the last time you had a powerful sense of your “why”? Are you feeling fully connected and motivated? At a training last week the facilitator showed a video created by Cleveland Clinic, a medical practice in Ohio. The title of the video was, “Empathy: The Human Connection to Patient Care.” The rest of […]

Maybe you’ve been considering starting a huddle. Perhaps a Small Group Network leader has been bugging you to do it. But, while you’re thinking seriously about it, you still struggle with a deeply personal question: what’s in it for me? Essentially, there are five personal benefits that you gain in starting a huddle: You’ll learn […]

You need volunteers to support your small group ministry. You need to build your infrastructure. EVERY church does, including Saddleback! Infrastructures don’t build themselves, repair themselves, or naturally strengthen over time, whether we’re talking about physical structures or ministries we’re called to lead.   In Southern California, most homes are built on a concrete slab […]

The earliest model of Small Groups at our young church was centered around three phrases: Know and be known. Love and be loved. Serve and be served. As our church grew, we leaned into that mantra to help people connect with God and with one another. In 15 years, a lot has changed. As culture shifts and technological […]