How to keep your groups actively involved in the discipleship process
Steve Gladen
Steve Gladen is Pastor of the Small Group Network at Saddleback Church. He will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Saddleback Small Group Conferences. Click here for more information.
Today, all around the world, people will join with other people in homes or restaurants or workplaces to study God's Word and grow in Christ together as a small group. In many cases, however, the results may be less ...
Here are six keys to group health that your members deserve to know about.
Rick Howerton
Note: This article has been excerpted from the SmallGroups.com training tool called Reviving a Dying Small Group.
Rick Howerton is a church consultant, trainer, and church planter of The Bridge in Spring Hill, Tennessee. He will also be speaking at the upcoming Saddleback Small Groups Conferences. Click here for more information.
Group members will be much more apt to continue with the group over the ...
Here’s a practical way to help all of your group members participate.
by Jim Egli
Under [Christ's] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (Ephesians 4:16, NLT).
That's our goal for this small group. Each person plays an important role and the group grows "as each part does its own special work." Together we experience Jesus' love ...
An interview with Matt Woodley, author of The Folly of Prayer
Interview conducted by InterVarsity Press
In The Folly of Prayer, Pastor Matt Woodley challenges us to re-imagine and revitalize our prayer life.
IVP: Why do you describe prayer as folly?
Woodley: Prayer doesn't always operate according to our standards of "wisdom." Nor does it conform to our expectations or formulas. Sometimes our prayer life leaves us bathed in God's warmth and safety. At other times we feel abandoned by a mysterious and ...
Here's how to incorporate new members into an existing small group.
by Reid Smith
Here's a question I hear quite often from small-group leaders: "Our group members are very focused on evangelism and often bring new people to group meetings. What is the best way to incorporate these new members into a group without interrupting that group's intimacy and momentum?"
If your group is in a similar situation, the first thing you need to do is recognize that it's awesome to have group ...
A single woman's encounter with a group full of couples
by Camerin Courtney
As soon as I said the words, I should have known I was jinxing myself. Oh, it's not like I really believe in jinxes. It's just that when I jokingly told the pastor who suggested I join a new small group that I'd consider it as long as it didn't wind up being five married couples and me, I should have known that's exactly what was going to happen.
Well, it wound up being four married couples and me, ...
Computer-based training to help your groups avoid an inward shift
by Dan Lentz
"We all know that evangelism is important for the Kingdom of God, and we all understand that small groups are supposed to interact with outreach somehow. But how is the critical question. Should all groups have an open chair? Should every group member invite someone new each week? Should we only use curriculum that is focused on missions?
Thankfully, this E-Training Module can help. It explores whether ...
If your small group prays together, you'll want to read this.
by Dan Lentz
"Lord, teach us to pray." Every small group, from Jesus' to yours, has asked that question at some point. What do you say to the God of the universe? Prayer can be intimidating. How do you listen to someone you can't see? Add other people's voices to the mix and it all becomes even more complex and intimidating. And yet, prayer is a gift from God to all of us, and group prayer binds us to one another ...
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