GUEST POST by Joel Comiskey, Ph.D., president of www.joelcomiskeygroup.com. *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *   I really wanted John to replace me as the small group point person. He was knowledgeable, talented, friendly, and likable. He was a good friend and always positive. But he was the wrong guy. Why? He just wasn’t FAT. Or better, he …

Small Group Leadership TIPS of the past week as Tweeted, posted on the Small Group Leadership Facebook page, and posted on LinkedIn. * * * * * * * * Monday, 11/9: Don’t be selfie-obsessed. Resurrect compassion in your group. See vid by @craiggroeschel: http://ow.ly/UfidM  Tuesday, 11/10: Focus your study on the Gospel-the death & resurrection of Jesus. It’s the …

GUEST POST by Rick Howerton, Discipleship & Small Group Specialist at LifeWay. Read Rick’s Blog. *     *     *     *     *     *     *     * Because the Bible is getting its rightful place in group life again, sometimes the term, “teacher,” is being used to describe the person leading the group’s Bible study time. If you’ve been around the small group world …

Here are the Small Group Leadership TIPS of the past week as Tweeted, posted on the Small Group Leadership Facebook page, and posted on LinkedIn. * * * * * * * * Monday, 11/2: Has someone in your grp hurt you? Forgive. It may be the most powerful lesson you ever teach. Tuesday, 11/3: Move your Bible study from …

As a shepherd leader, you are undoubtedly concerned about those you lead. You care about their souls. You pay attention to their spiritual conditions and want to lead them deeper with God. At least I hope so. Being in a small group is—or should be—good for your soul as well. But I’ve found, through my own experience and from talking …

Here are the Small Group Leadership TIPS of the past week as Tweeted, posted on the Small Group Leadership Facebook page, and posted on  LinkedIn.  *     *     *     *     *     *     *     * Monday, 10/26:Never guess or make things up. Get used to saying, “I don’t …

GUEST POST by Randall Neighbour, randallneighbour.com. *     *     *     *     *     *     * In my last blog entry (click here to read) I shared that my wife and I felt led by God to start a house church with hopes it would grow into a network of house churches who have mid-week cell groups. What have we learned in the …

GUEST POST by Randall Neighbour, randallneighbour.com. Randall Neighbour is more than just another group-life guru to me. He’s a friend whom I’ve partnered with in many ways. He and the organization he leads, TOUCH Outreach Ministries, has published five of my books. Back in the day, Randall asked me to lead training seminars in churches through the ministry. Randall constantly …

A new feature of Small Group Leadership is a TIP of the Day that I Tweet, post on the Small Group Leadership Facebook page, and post on  LinkedIn each Monday through Friday. (Follow Mike and Small Group Leadership by clicking on any of these links or the icons in the “Connect with Mike” box in the right column.)  I will …

Laughter is great medicine for the health of a group; the groups I’ve been involved in have laughed together a lot, most of the time at something I did or said. But I do remember one group meeting, more than 20 years ago. The group was a mix of mature (or at least long-time) followers of Jesus and several very …