3 Ways to Grow Through a Crisis
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b Make a list of the top 3 times of growth in your life. Odds are quite high that 1, 2, or 3 of them were “troublesome” times. Maybe you brought the trouble on yourself by going to graduate […]
Do Your Leaders Have the Gratitude Attitude?
I was speaking to a friend recently about a particularly hard time in his life. Work was a mess, there were family curve balls, and he had some friends who betrayed him. There was almost nothing left to go wrong. Until that final thing went wrong. “I was turning into a cranky old man […]
Feeling Discouraged? Five Secret Weapons You Can Use Today!
The great rock band R.E.M. wrote a song, Everybody Hurts, in which the refrain goes, “everybody hurts sometimes.” As anyone in ministry knows, they weren’t kidding! Discouragement is one of the primary obstacles facing every one of us as small group ministry leaders. No one seems to be immune from occasional moments of feeling defeated […]
How Can a Small Group Network Huddle Change Your Ministry?
Let me share a story with you about a friend. To keep his identity safe, I’ll name him Roy. It was December of 2015. Roy was a young pup in ministry with less than 2 years under his belt. He was struggling with where God had him in that very moment. He was also struggling […]
Why Do You Do What You Do?
When is the last time you had a powerful sense of your “why”? Are you feeling fully connected and motivated? At a training last week the facilitator showed a video created by Cleveland Clinic, a medical practice in Ohio. The title of the video was, “Empathy: The Human Connection to Patient Care.” The rest of […]
The 5 Best Reasons You Should Start a Huddle
Maybe you’ve been considering starting a huddle. Perhaps a Small Group Network leader has been bugging you to do it. But, while you’re thinking seriously about it, you still struggle with a deeply personal question: what’s in it for me? Essentially, there are five personal benefits that you gain in starting a huddle: You’ll learn […]
Small Group Q&A: Adam Workman of Sandals Church
Q Do you need some encouragement, fresh strategies and practical advice as a small group point person? If your answer is “Yes,” then you’ve come to the right place! Adam Workman is the Discipleship Pastor at Sandals church in Riverside CA as well as the Small Group Network regional leader for Southern California/ Hawaii region! In this […]
Soul Care
I recently read a book that has changed the trajectory of my leadership, “Hows Your Soul?” by Judah Smith. In it he says one line that serves the entire purpose of the book, “A healthy soul is paramount to a healthy life.” Just a one liner gut check. A healthy soul is paramount to a […]
Are Your Leaders Getting the Appreciation They Need?
Look up the definition of the word, “appreciate.” You might find this definition: “To recognize the full worth of.” It’s a definition I recently came across. It made me realize this is a practice that’s desperately needed for our ministry leaders. Whenever I share my testimony I mention the first small group I was ever […]
The Power of Food and Community Formation, Part 2
Last month, I began a series of posts on the power of food and community formation. Throughout Scripture, shared meals around a shared table become the primary vehicle through which God shares and invites His people into the redemption of His kingdom. Not only did God use the table to invite us into redemption, but […]
