This is Day 4 of my 7 ideas your group or class or family can use to celebrate Christmas. See 1-3 here. Years ago, I read +Dick Alexander’s sage advice about gift giving that I’ve never forgotten. “Gifts are an integral part of Christmas,” he said, “but they can either express or distort its meaning.” He suggested limiting our gift …

This is Day 3 of my 7 ideas your group, class, or family can use to celebrate Christmas. See #1 HERE. #2 Remember the folks in your circles who struggle this time of year. Many people—inside your group and among your group members’ friends—are vulnerable during the holidays. Many hurting people find it difficult to be thankful at Thanksgiving and come to …

This is Day 2 of my 7 ideas your group or class or family can use to celebrate Christmas. See #1 HERE. This Christmas, move past the historical Jesus who was born and lived 2,000 years ago. Consider the living Christ who is still Immanuel, God with us … the One who is with us whenever we gather together in …

The holidays are coming. What is your small group’s plan? Many groups struggle with meeting and studying over the holidays, and this can be detrimental to the health of your group. Not only that, but this is a prime time of the year to help your group members grow in their faith as well as to reach out to and …

Alan Danielson and his friend Darren Currin have written a new Advent/Christmas eBook, The Best Christmas Ever, that releases November 26 and is available for preorder now. It’s a devotional eBook that is designed to help people truly experience Christmas differently this year. The Best Christmas Ever provides practical steps to find more joys and fewer pressures this advent season. This …

What is your small group doing over the holidays? “Many groups struggle with meeting and studying over the holidays, and this can be detrimental to the health of your group,” I wrote in my November column in The Christian Standard magazine. “Not only that, but this is a prime time of the year to help your group members grow in …

What do you do when you are struggling and God seems far away? Especially during this season of the year, it seems many of us are hurting. We desperately want to know Immanuel—God with us—but he seems more like Exmanuel–God used to be with me, but now I feel like he’s left me … or I feel like he is …

As a small groups minister, each year at this time, I’d begin thinking about what gift I might give to my coaches and leaders to say thank you and to let them know how much I appreciate them. Here are a couple things I’ve learned over the years and a few ideas for you. Whatever you do, be sure your …

In my post last Friday (click here to read) I told you about a new video-based curriculum from City on a Hill called The Christmas Experience. Here’s a trailer of this dramatic movie, featuring Kyle Idleman: I had the honor of writing the leader’s and participant’s guides for this study. I really encourage you to consider using this in your group …

Christmas is coming. What will your small group(s) be doing to prepare for this important time of the year? Many groups struggle with meeting and studying over the holidays, and this can be detrimental to the health of your group! Not only that, but this is a prime time of the year to help your group members grow in their faith …