Lead pastors who lead a small group create a win-win dynamic. The pastors and the churches they lead both become healthier and grow as a result. Jim Egli, who has served as a senior pastor, associate pastor, missions pastor, and missionary says that regardless of his role, he has always led a group. He offers these four reasons: Small groups …

As a small group leader, how many people do you think you can effectively lead, shepherd, and disciple? Eight? Ten? Twelve? Twenty? Let me ask this question another way: If you are to bear much fruit, fruit that will last . . . if you are to see true transformation of people’s lives . . . if you are to …

Reader, forgive me. It’s been 7 months since my last blog post. (If you grew up Catholic, as I did, I’m sure that first line has a familiar ring to it.) So . . . where have I been? As I wrote in a blog post back in June 2017, I became editor of Christian Standard magazine a little more …

Here’s a way you and your group can study the Bible without using a Bible-study guide. I developed these questions (some of which I picked up from other places) several years ago. Read a section of Scripture (a chapter, for instance) together as a group. Be creative. Read in the round (one verse or sentence at a time) or have …

GUEST POST by C.J. Stephens, Small Groups Minister at Northeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky   I hear the stories over and over again. They vary in subtle ways, yet they’re always about that person in your group—the one who seems to have everything together. Their life is going perfectly. Their family is great. They are making more money than they …

God often takes us places we didn’t plan to go. As I got into my rental car in Louisville, Kentucky, to head out to The Groups Conference in Mattoon, Illinois, where I was speaking last weekend, I set the route I wanted to take in Google Maps and headed out. I was driving along the highway with the radio cranked …

It’s Friday! That means we’re sharing our Small Group Leader TIPS of the week as Tweeted, posted on our Small Group Leadership Facebook page, and posted on LinkedIn. Use these tips in your ministry! #SmallGroupLeader #TIPoftheDay: A great SG leader is genuinely interested in group mbrs, especially their spiritual lives. — Small Grp Leadership (@michaelcmack) February 20, 2017 #SmallGroupLeader #TIPoftheDay: …

I teach a “Small Group Ministry & Discipling” seminary class at Cincinnati Christian University that is designed for students who have an interest in starting or further developing a small group ministry in a local congregation. I selected the required textbooks for these leaders and emerging leaders to give them a mixture of adaptable philosophy, biblical values for discipleship in …

I participate in a huddle of small group and discipleship ministers in the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana region that discussed how to get more people involved in disciple-making groups. Here are 12 of their ideas. Many of these work well in combination with others. 1. Build a culture of authentic community in small groups in the church. Of course, the preaching minister/lead pastor …

Here are the Small Group Leader TIPS for the last week as Tweeted, posted on our Small Group Leadership Facebook page, and posted on LinkedIn. Monday, July 25 Tuesday, July 26 Wednesday, July 27 Thursday, July 28 Friday, July 29 Go ahead: Tweet these (or post on your favorite social network, or just email them) to your followers! Or just …