The Power of Food and Community Formation
Food and small groups. To many of us they are probably inseparable. You can’t have a small group without food (it is after all the S of Saddleback’s HOST model). And where there is food, there is probably a small group. But why? Have you ever stopped to consider the power of food in both […]
One Simple Idea – Promoting Small Groups in your Worship Service
If you are anything like me, you are always keen to hear about new and creative ideas to promote small groups, so how about trying this simple idea. Most faith communities have a time during the worship service where they encourage people to ‘meet and greet’. During this time ask people to stand if they […]
7 Lessons I Learned from My First “Lobby”
I just returned from attending my first Small Group Network Lobby Gathering, and I am already looking forward to the 2018 So Cal Lobby (Register HERE), which is March 13-15, 2018! While Derek Olson captured some of the best of the best quotes from the Lobby, I want to share some of the lessons I […]
25 Small Group Quotes from “The Lobby” SoCal 2017
The largest global network of small group ministry leaders, the “Small Group Network,” annually hosts “The Lobby” small group conference in Southern California. Here are the top 25 quotes from this amazing week… People join a small group for content, but they stay for the relationships. – Rick Warren You can’t microwave a great small group […]
4 Ways to Encourage your Small Group Leaders
Being a small group leader can be one of the most amazing but challenging experiences all at the same time. Small group leaders do ministry in the trenches and have the amazing privilege to have a front row seat to watch life change and God work in only the way He can. Small group leaders […]
Ruling the Roost
I don’t know about you, but my 2017 has gotten off to a hectic start. I blinked and February is almost halfway over, and don’t even ask me about what happened to January. (Are we sure it even existed?) Sadly, our culture has somehow equated busyness and stress with productivity. And in the church it […]
Top Five Benefits Of Joining The Small Group Network
As a ministry leader, you know that being in community is critical to the spiritual growth of your small group ministry. If you are part of the Small Group Network, then you also know it is a great place to build relationships with people who have the same passion for ministry you do. If you […]
An Exponential Leadership Lesson That Most Pastors Miss
I have been a student of small group ministry for many years. Recently I asked the leaders of SGN huddles around the world for one thing that they learned this past year that significantly changed their group strategy. The following is a very insightful comment from a pastor in Australia: “As a Pastor with multiple […]
How You’re Missing out on Feedback
Church people like to give feedback. It comes from a healthy place. Congregation members share directly because they are speaking the truth in love about something they see in you. Matthew 18 conversations help people get to the bottom of conflict. Sins get confessed. Miscommunicated sermon points get corrected. If you’re considering vocational ministry or […]
4 Tips for Caring for Leaders in 2017
One of our primary tasks as small group point people is to shepherd our small group leaders. Small group leaders cannot shepherd their people if they do not feel cared for and supported. One of the key phrases I like to use when it comes to spiritual growth is model & invite. We as leaders […]
