A healthy body is a moving body. It is built by Christ for his mission, which starts with "Go"! We weren't built to merely congregate or assemble.
Category: External-Focus
External-Focus, Spiritual Life
A Change in Citizenship
When you became a Christian, you took on a new citizenship. You no longer belong to this world. Your citizenship in now in the kingdom of heaven. Comparing non-Christians and Christians of his day, the apostle Paul commented, “Their mind...
External-Focus
The Ministry of a Bike Ride
What makes church ministry ministry? In fact, what makes the church the church? I ride my bike each year in a couple charity events. In two weeks, on September 9, I'm riding with some of my cycling friends and a...
External-Focus, Small Group Leaders
The Small Group Mannequin Challenge
Small groups are taking the mannequin challenge. Many have been doing it for years. I admit, I don't get the current #mannequinchallenge fad. I also admit that some of the videos are fun and creative. Here's a short one as...
External-Focus
The Secret to Open AND Authentic Groups
I recently read a tweet and blog post that assumes an either-or viewpoint toward small groups. You must choose, the author says, between being an open, outward-focused, welcoming, numerically growing group (or class) and living in authentic, accountable, abiding community....
External-Focus
10 Tips for Making Your Group Less Scary and More Welcoming to New People
You may not realize it, but visiting a small group for the first time can be intimidating. Here's are 10 ways to make it easier for a new person to fit in. The first time I attended a small group...
External-Focus
5 Vital Secrets for Getting Your Group to Invite Others
How do you get small group members to invite people to their groups? I spoke at +Greenwood Christian Church this past Saturday, particularly on the topic of moving small groups from good (comfortable, focused mostly internally) to great (costly, missional)....
External-Focus
Rock ‘n Roll Advice to Get Your Small Group Back Where You Belong
Maybe you've never considered this, but Rock n' Roll has provided small group leaders with quite a bit of wisdom. Over the last week, I've been posting #rocknrollwisdom as my Small Group Leadership TIPS of the week on Twitter, my...
External-Focus, SG Movement/History
Lyman Coleman: Small Groups Are Much More Than an Assimilation Strategy
I spent a day with Lyman Colemen recently and talked about small groups ministry over the last 60-some years. Lyman founded Serendipity House and for more than 30 years, he spoke at church conferences across America. At that time, he...
External-Focus
What Keeps Us from the Mission
Last week Andy asked me an interesting question: "How far should we go in getting involved with non-Christians?" Andy and I are in a men's group together and we were sitting in a coffee shop talking about people we meet...