Some churches call their small groups that meet in homes “Community Groups.” I like that name for two important reasons: (1) the name reveals where authentic Christian community takes place and (2) it indicates that these groups are a primary...
Category: External-Focus
Discipling, External-Focus
When Our Definition of Discipleship Keeps Us from Making Disciples
The church has redefined discipleship into churchmanship. Living as a disciple takes intentional effort and, according to Jesus, requires us to make costly decisions. It means more than just sitting in a row in a church building or in a circle...
External-Focus
Rick Warren on Muslims, Evangelism, and Missions
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 My friend Ben Reed, a fellow small group pastor (Grace Community Church in Clarksville, Tennessee), writer, and the Small Groups Network marketing director, sent me an email earlier today that contains...
External-Focus, Ministry Leaders
How to Move Your Group(s) Beyond Status Quo
Many small groups in America are not missional. They are good at caring for one another and studying the Bible, which is good . . . but not great! In Good to Great, Jim Collins discusses our need to “confront...
External-Focus
Missional Groups Are Team Led! (Scott Boren tells why.)
My friend Scott Boren is writing an excellent series of blogs on the 9 practices of missional small group leaders. (Go to his blog here.) Today he writes about Practice #3: Leading as a Team. Scott tells his own personal...
External-Focus
Outdulgent: Lessons from the Galloping Gourmet
Is your life indulgent or outdulgent? How about your small group? Your church? Your family?In today's "Moments with You Couples Devotional," Dennis and Barbara Rainey tell the story of Graham Kerr, the internationally famous "Galloping Gourmet" of the 1960s and...
External-Focus
Are We Loving Each Other Too Much?
Why do many small groups fail to multiply? Could it be that they love each other too much? This morning I was talking with our church's elders about our small groups ministry, and was asked why some of our groups are...
External-Focus, Training SG Leaders
Do small groups divide the church?
Back in December I blogged that healthy small groups are friends. (See post here.) I'm not sure why, but this has recently become the most popular post on this blog. It was picked up recently by ChurchLeaders.com (here), and Debra...
External-Focus
Healthy small group leaders are friends with non-Christ-followers
The attributes for healthy small group leaders includes many things. One that is not usually on the list but that I believe is vital is that they intentionally build and invest into friendships with folks who do not yet have...
Discipling, External-Focus, SG Models/Structure
What if Everything We’ve Always Believed About Small Groups Was Wrong?
What if everything we've always believed about small groups was wrong? What if we have it all backwards? What if the model for discipleship is actually something other than sitting in a circle, answering an icebreaker, studying the Bible (hook,...