Longevity in Leadership
Burnout is a very real problem for many ministry leaders. I know because I’ve been there. If you aren’t careful, burnout can be a devastating experience that could lead to quitting ministry altogether. God has brought me through more than one season where I needed to do some housework in my own ministry. As leaders, it is so […]
Becoming a Discerning Leader
I was recently challenged by a quote by Ruth Haley Barton: The spiritual leader is distinguished by his or her commitment and ability to guide the discernment process so the community can affirm a shared sense of God’s desire for them and move forward on that basis (Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership). I don’t […]
Stop Wasting Your Time
By Allen White Have you ever thought about how you might be wasting your own time? You see the problem with most pastors and leaders is they are multi-talented. The problem with being multi-talented is that we tend to depend on ourselves and not bring other people into the equation. For instance, if you write […]
Culture Is The Key To Structure
With the holidays quickly approaching and a New Year on the horizon, this time of year can be a good chance to evaluate where you are as a small group ministry and begin to pray and cast vision for change. One of the areas I think needs to be the most fluid when it comes […]
Okay, You’ve Just Been Put In Charge Of Small Groups. Now What?
It’s one of those days when it feels like God just reached down and touched you. Your pastor has informed you that you are being given responsibility over the small group ministry in your church. Woohoo! Oh wait, you know very little about small groups, and you just said “yes?” What do you do now? […]
Small Group Lessons from Google
There is new research by Google that reveals profound discoveries about why some work groups thrive and others falter. The findings are fascinating because they provide empirical data from the business world that is relevant for the church, especially for those of us serving in small group ministry. I encourage you to check out the […]
Are Your Small Groups F.A.L.L. Ready?
In the western hemisphere, the leaves are beginning to turn red and gold as the fall season quickly arrives. Simultaneously, many churches across the globe are finalizing their preparations to launch dynamic small group ministry this month, that will in turn, mobilize their local congregations to enjoy Biblical community! So to all of you Small […]
The 5 Secrets of Highly Effective Leader Training – From Around the World (Part 5)
This last in a series reveals the final secret to highly effective leader training. Secret 5 – “Tell and show.” When I was growing up we had a class time in school called “Show and Tell.” Each kid would bring something from their life to show and then talk about. It was sometimes interesting, much […]
SGN Interviews: Q&A with Ben Reed
Ben Reed is a Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, where he also serves on the lead team of the international Small Group Network. Ben is the Author of “Starting Small: The Ultimate Small Group Blueprint.” Ben answers the following questions below in this exciting interview… What drew you to small groups […]
The Only Basis for my Leadership
A few weeks ago, I invited some dear friends of mine, Matthew and Monica Green, to conduct some training for my small group leaders. They used 1 John 1 as their guiding text throughout the training. What I especially loved about what they shared is that they combined in such a seamless manner both a […]
