Why Small Groups?

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Steve Gladen and Rick Howerton talk about the history and necessity of small groups in America.

Steve Gladen and Rick Howerton | posted 1/26/2009

Topics:	Church growth, Community, Launching, Purpose driven, Vision
Filters:	Coach, Pastor, Start
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 2:42 , Hebrews 10:25
Date Added:	January 26, 2009

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In the following audio clip, Steve Gladen and Rick Howerton walk through a brief history of Serendipity Publishers and Saddleback Church—two organizations that have been vital to the success of the rising small-groups movement in America today. They also discuss why small groups are so necessary in today's fractured culture, and how they can benefit any church looking to build strong and fruitful Christians through community.

This is a great motivational piece if your church is considering starting up a small-groups program. It's also a great reminder to small-group veterans of where we came from and what we are working toward.

Steve Gladen has been the Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church for over a decade, and Rick Howerton is the Director of Events and Training for LifeWay and Serendipity publishers. Both will be key speakers at the upcoming Saddleback Small Group Conferences in 2009. (Click here for dates and registration information.)

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user reviews

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Keith

December 12, 2010 2:23pm

I appreciated the shared conference call comments on small groups. I think the fact was mentioned that small groups are important for all churches. I agreed with the comments that even in a small church of 40 - 50 people, it is still easy not to know the people and their spiritual needs. In the larger churches, I can see why they are focusing more on small groups too. Also, I agree that this is more of a Spirit led "movement' more than a program. I find that not only are the Post Modern generation more open to a small group meeting vs. church service, but many adults across all generational lines who are unchurched and turned off on "religion' are open to the smaller groups too.

Robyn

March 25, 2009 4:38am

I appreciated the comment on building the plane in the air - that is very much where we are. I was encouraged - it has the potential to fly and not fall out of the sky!