2018 Vision Day with Steve Gladen
Every year, Pastor Steve Gladen invites all of the small group pastors from each Saddleback Church campus to his home to talk about vision. The day is filled with laughter, meaningful conversations and strategic information intended to create unity across all campuses! Feel free to use any of these ideas or the message notes below […]
12 Keys To An Effective H.O.S.T. Ask
The H.O.S.T. Ask can be a “game-changer call-to-action” for churches desiring to connect every person in their local body in biblical community. It’s a signature move reserved only for the Lead Pastor during a weekend service. If executed strategically, it can draw in willing vessels who are hidden in crowd. This one move can supercharge […]
3 Tips When Launching Interest Based Small Groups
God is so creative in how he made the human race to be so diverse! Different nationalities, unique languages, beautiful skin colors and various interests! Here are 3 tips when launching interest based groups… #1. Recruit leaders with an Appeal to their Interests It’s crazy how two complete and total strangers who have never met […]
2 Exclusive Resources to Energize Your Small Group Ministry
#1 SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP TRAINING KIT Q What is your strategy to recruit and equip your small group leaders? Q Do your group leaders clearly understand their assignment? Created by Steve Gladen, Global Pastor of the Small Group Ministry at Saddleback Church, this resource is designed with you, the Small Group Point Person, in mind. God doesn’t call […]
The 1 Thing Your Leadership Development Pathway is Missing
When we talk “leadership development pathway,” I’ll bet you think about all of the cognitive steps leaders need to take to develop. You start to map out the markers all along the way, from trainings to gatherings to curriculum. But there’s one primary aspect of development you just might have overlooked. You can’t grow […]
Why Should I Care so Much About Small Group’s Infrastructure?
Infrastructure: ˈinfrəˌstrək(t)SHər/ noun the physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a community, society, or organization. When we think of “infrastructure,” we may think of things like roads, pipes for water, sidewalks, and power lines. These are the structures needed to bring people and power to an area, like your house. Without infrastructure, […]
Culture Is The Key To Structure
With the holidays quickly approaching and a New Year on the horizon, this time of year can be a good chance to evaluate where you are as a small group ministry and begin to pray and cast vision for change. One of the areas I think needs to be the most fluid when it comes […]
Help, We’re Launching a Campaign and I Need Group Leaders
We’ve all been there, there’s a need and a vision to meet that need, and now it’s time to execute. Execution is tough, but it’s where the rubber meets the road. Simon Sinek encourages, in his great book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, for success we must start with […]
When More is Not Better
I recently asked on Small Group Network’s Facebook page, “What is the biggest challenge you are facing in your small group ministry?” A friend replied, “A big challenge is serving in a church that does small groups but also wants to do a million other discipleship ministries/ venues simultaneously…” A common temptation in ministry is […]
SGN Interviews: Q&A with Ben Reed
Ben Reed is a Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, where he also serves on the lead team of the international Small Group Network. Ben is the Author of “Starting Small: The Ultimate Small Group Blueprint.” Ben answers the following questions below in this exciting interview… What drew you to small groups […]
