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 ministry. – Steve Gladen
Make sure that you are not just talking about community, but that you are experiencing community yourself. – Bill Willits
Authentic Community is both the goal of the church and the means of achieving that goal. – Ben Reed
Eight of the ten largest churches in the world are small group based. – Randall Neighbour
Growing churches require growing leaders. I don’t worry about growing the church, I worry about growing me. – Rick Warren
Living in an angry world causes a Christian to go back to the basics. – Valerie Bell
When it comes to small groups, most American Christians tend to get excited about content before being hooked by community. – Andrew Mason
Your leaders are worthy of your investment. – Nick Lenzi
Pay attention to your soul. You can only give out of the overflow of what God is doing in you. – Carolyn Taketa
Bigger isn’t better, healthy is better. The key to health is small groups. – Rick Warren
Staffing is never the answer, engaging your volunteers is. – Steve Gladen
We best influence people with whom we have relationship. – Bill Willits
First reach them as a friend, then reach them as a friend to your small group & then they will become a friend of Jesus. – Randall Neighbour
The more people that drink from your well, the deeper your well needs to be. Therefore, feed your soul. – Daniel Thomas
The devil plays in two arenas – fear & isolation, so get with other people & join in a “Huddle.” – Steve Gladen
The Small Group Network is here to pick you up, dust you off and put you back together again. – Nick Lenzi
Small groups should be considered as an additional pipeline to deliver the Lead Pastor’s message to the church. – Andrew Mason
Preaching only doesn’t bring discipleship, you need small groups. – Rick Warren
If you don’t have community in the good times, guess what… you don’t have it in the bad times. – Adam Workman
We believe the local church should be the safest place on the planet for a person to discuss anything. – Bill Willits
I could not imagine living my life without my small group. My group is my family. – Eric Falcinella
There is a difference between a church that has small groups in it and a church of small groups. – Rick Warren
If you don’t have an infrastructure in place, they will go away as quickly as they came. – Steve Gladen
To grow spiritually you must be connected relationally. – Bill Willits
