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 […]
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 Nuts & Bolts of Sermon-Based Curriculum for Small Groups [Podcast]
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5452736/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]“What will our groups study?” This is a common question in groups ministry and one that is critically important in shaping the dynamics and discipleship process of a group. The sermon based model has been increasingly popular over the past decade and can be a valuable tool to helping groups […]
Preventative Maintenance > Fixing The Whole House
You need volunteers to support your small group ministry. You need to build your infrastructure. EVERY church does, including Saddleback! Infrastructures don’t build themselves, repair themselves, or naturally strengthen over time, whether we’re talking about physical structures or ministries we’re called to lead. In Southern California, most homes are built on a concrete slab […]
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 […]
Small Group Terminology: Reconsidering Common Terms Used in Groups Ministry [Podcast]
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5338073/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Words are powerful. As small group pastors and directors, a critical part of our role is to use words to shape vision, empower, encourage, and connect with people. But, is the terminology you are using in your ministry inadvertently creating barriers, limiting vision, and miscommunicating expectations? Andrew Mason is the Small Groups […]
How a Fire Pit Revolutionized My Coaching Strategy
No matter how many groups you have, what group model you use, or what part of the world you are in, one thing is true in all of our ministries: group leaders need coaching! Throughout my time hanging around the Small Group Network in our local huddle and at the Lobby Gathering, I’ve noticed that […]
Women in Leadership: Practical Issues Affecting Both Men and Women in Ministry [Podcast]
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5260253/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]What does it take for women to flourish in ministry? If you or anyone on your team are asking these questions, then you’ve come to the right place! Host Carolyn Taketa interviews Awana CEO and SGN Lobby Conference speaker, Valerie Bell on her insights based on decades of ministry in various […]
Live from The Lobby Conference: Q&A with Steve Gladen
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5185027/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Steve Gladen has served as the Global Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and development of over 7,000 adult small groups on multiple campuses. Steve has authored “Small Groups With Purpose,” which has translated into eight languages to date, and “Leading Small […]
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 […]
