Getting To Know You
The earliest model of Small Groups at our young church was centered around three phrases: Know and be known. Love and be loved. Serve and be served. As our church grew, we leaned into that mantra to help people connect with God and with one another. In 15 years, a lot has changed. As culture shifts and technological […]
Why Safety is Priority #1
We all want people to grow, and it’s safe to say that we are all on the same page about groups being a primary driver in that growth. But what is it about groups that move people down the path of discipleship? What paves the way for healing, learning, and transformation? The more complete answer? […]
One IS the Loneliest Number!
ONE IS the Loneliest Number! The opening line of the Harry Nillson song goes like this; “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do”…… Nillson’s song was covered by the band Three Dog Night and reached number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. That is a long time ago, but the opening […]
Revolutionize Your meetings With These Easy-Peasy Tips By Steve Gladen
What format have you found most effective when holding a staff (team) meeting? The staff (I prefer the word team) meeting is one of the most critical and sometimes not thought through part for the supervisor leading the team. As stated before, I prefer the word “team” over “staff” because I want them to feel […]
The Power of Food and Community Formation
Food and small groups. To many of us they are probably inseparable. You can’t have a small group without food (it is after all the S of Saddleback’s HOST model). And where there is food, there is probably a small group. But why? Have you ever stopped to consider the power of food in both […]
Power Of The Invitation
I serve at a church that is a little less than two years old, and we have a 79% connection rate in groups. We also have less than 100 people attending on the weekend. I wanted to write this article geared more towards that smaller church leader. Whenever I talk with a new group leader […]
One Simple Idea – Promoting Small Groups in your Worship Service
If you are anything like me, you are always keen to hear about new and creative ideas to promote small groups, so how about trying this simple idea. Most faith communities have a time during the worship service where they encourage people to ‘meet and greet’. During this time ask people to stand if they […]
Emerging Trends in Small Group Ministry with Mike Mack [Podcast]
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5100741/height/26/theme/standard-mini/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/” height=”26″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”mini”]Q What are the emerging trends in small group ministry? How are millennials viewing small group ministry? What are wholistic small groups? If you or anyone on your team are asking these questions, then you’ve come to the right place! Mike Mack has been involved in discipleship and small group ministry for […]
The Top 5 Podcasts of 2016
When I was a kid I loved the show MacGyver about a secret agent who saves the day once a week. In every show Mac, as his friends call him, ended up in some impossible life and death scenario where he used just his smarts, a stick of gum, a bit of wire and his trusty Swiss […]
An Exponential Leadership Lesson That Most Pastors Miss
I have been a student of small group ministry for many years. Recently I asked the leaders of SGN huddles around the world for one thing that they learned this past year that significantly changed their group strategy. The following is a very insightful comment from a pastor in Australia: “As a Pastor with multiple […]
