Do others love your group?

So you love your small group. That’s understandable.  If your group is functioning as it should, there will be a lot of reasons why you feel a strong bond to those with whom you meet.  But how often have you had someone not in your group come up to you and say

When buildings get in the way

Although I’m embarrassed to admit it, I have sometimes expected the physical trappings of my worship system to be the instrument for change with those I am hoping to lead to faith.  I have watched visitors walk in the front door of a building that some call a sanctuary, observed them participate in the music and readings, and marketed my faith with other stuff.  And I have often expected the stuff to convince them that Christianity is

Water wings and cannonballs

What would you think if you watched a parent push four children into a swimming pool because she knew that eventually all the children would have fun in the water?  Good motive, bad method. I watched a scenario today that

I would say this Christian Standard article is hasty

Why Churches Should Euthanize Small Groups | Christian Standard.

I couldn’t agree and disagree more.  In stating your case against small groups you also provide a glowing testimony to their power. You recount a small group of disciples that grew together early in your life. It sounds as though this group had a positive impact on your life. Enough so that you recount details 25 years later. The  group’s purity of beginning and power to disciple

Flexible and fruitful

Starting a small group for married couples with kids can seem like the impossible dream in today’s fast paced world.  Between work schedules, music lessons, sports practices, school events, staying physically fit, PTA meetings, church council meetings, and maybe some time for sleep, it just doesn’t seem possible to find time to participate in a small group.

Maybe your idea of a small group needs to morph. 

Please face this way

I was at a conference yesterday.  Everything was pretty normal and was what one would expect. Tables facing forward toward a presentation screen. Chairs evenly arranged behind tables. Nothing out of the ordinary.  A host introduced the main speaker for the day and then

One size fits some

One size does not fit all. We live in a country where options are expected. How could we cope if we did not have an entire grocery store aisle devoted to breakfast cereal? We could, of course, but we don’t want to. And we’ve grown to expect this variety in nearly every aspect of our lives. So what about small groups? It’s unfortunate

Alex Trebek syndrome

Depending on the type of group you are leading, there will be varied amounts of group time devoted to the essential element of learning or study.  Regardless of what percentage of your group time is marked for study, almost any leader can fall victim to Alex Trebek syndrome. 

Keeping your group on the same page

Good leaders understand the importance of delegation.  I advocate that nearly every aspect of a small group should be delegated to a group member who shows an aptitude or giftedness for that particular group function.  But one critical responsibility of leadership that should stay firmly in the leader’s grasp is vision casting. The leader,

Family dinner

I love Olive Garden commercials. It’s not the pasta, it’s the people. I don’t know them but I wish they would have invited me. Happiness just drips off everyone. In reality,