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 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

Author

  • Derek Olson

    Derek loves espresso, the outdoors and is passionate about building biblical community! He has been active in small group ministry since 2004 & is honored to serve as Pastor of Small Group Network Development at Saddleback Church.

Have a question or an insight? Leave it below!

Upcoming Events

Feb

Feb 20-22: The LOBBY Gathering SoCal
Learn More

Related

Follow Us

Sign up for our Newsletter

Daniel Thomas

Connections Director

423-534-9321

daniel@smallgroupnetwork.com

Daniel serves as Executive Pastor at Community Church of Mountain City, TN.  Daniel and his family are on a mission to establish roots within their community, fight for peace and serve well.  He serves as our Connections Director in laying the groundwork for Circles. He loves great coffee and traveling with his wife Tia and two children, Deklan and Aden

ACCELERATE! Hawaii

Pricing: 

Individual Registration – $209.00

Team of 2 Registration (price per person) – $199.00

Team of 3 or more Registration (price per person) – $189.00

*Registration ends on Nov 8th, 2021. Walk-in registrations are not available.