Group Answers Podcast

October 14, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 8: Hybrid Small Groups

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick speak with Eddie Mosley, the Pastor of Disciple-Making at LifePoint Church and a frequent contributor to Lifeway resources. Eddie speaks about how a church can incorporate a hybrid group model that includes both Sunday school classes and off-campus small groups. Arguing that where groups meet is not as important as what they do when they meet, Eddie discusses the importance of beginning with a pilot group and allowing the stories of off-campus small groups to permeate the congregation. He also discusses founding every group, whether on-campus or off-campus, in three basic principles: care, community, and foundational Bible study. Finally, Eddie shares his expertise on timing and managing a church’s small group launch season.

Brian and Rick also discuss a blog post by Mac Lake entitled Leveraging Leadership Development Golden Opportunities, and Rick shares his List of the Week, an examination of the consistent qualities of small group life throughout the history of the church.

The Groups Matter Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study expert from the Lifeway Groups Ministry Team, and Rick Howerton, the discipleship and small group specialist at Lifeway and author ofGUEST: Eddie Mosley is the Pastor of Disciple-Making at LifePoint Church, serving the multi-site campus in Smyrna, Tennessee, since 2005. His enthusiasm for seeing life change happen in the lives of individuals in his church, neighborhood, and community is infectious. He is a sought-after speaker for small group ministry and neighborhood impact. He is the author of Connecting in Communities, Understanding the Dynamics of Small Groups. He has written numerous articles for SmallGroup.com and Lifeway Church Resources. He has also served as Regional Point Leader for the Saddleback’s The Small Group Network. He blogs often at eddiemosley.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @eddiemosley. Mosley is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where he received a Bachelor in Business Administration degree. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Seminary. When not immersed in the small group world, Eddie spends his time coaching baseball. Eddie and his wife, Lisa, have two sons and reside in Middle Tennessee.

EPISODE SPONSOR: This week’s episode is sponsored by SmallGroup.com. SmallGroup.com is an online subscription service that allows churches and group leaders to create customizable, sermon-based group bible studies. Visit the Groups Ministry blog for a quick how-to tutorial, or visit SmallGroup.com to begin your free 2-week preview.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

September 30, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 7: Post-Modernity in Groups

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick speak with Kirby Holmes, the pastor for small groups at Gateway Church in Austin, Texas. Kirby discusses Gateway’s model for a Sunday worship environment that welcomes those who may live on the fringes of society and feel far from Christ. Kirby discusses issues related to sexual identity and involvement in the church and argues that following Jesus’ model means inviting everyone to belong to our worship community.

In addition, Rick shares insight from Bill Donahue in a blog post entitled Small Group Shut Down as well as Rick’s List for 9 Things to Remember When Discipling Men.

EPISODE SPONSOR: This week’s episode is sponsored by the Hebrews Initiative, a 12-week campaign in which a coalition of thousands of churches will study the Book of Hebrews simultaneously in churches and small groups. In a post-Christian era, the initiative aims to create a culture of people who believe in superiority of Christ, live in faith for Christ, and are willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, in order to change the world on behalf of Christ. Get more information and register your church at HebrewsInitiative.com.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

September 16, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 6: Groups in Evolution

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick speak with David Francis, the Director of Sunday School at Lifeway, about recent trends in the adult Sunday school world. David shares examples of what he has discovered in his travels to churches around the country, particularly about many churches are beginning to offer a combined community of small groups and Sunday school ministries. David also proposes three rules of operation for every small group leader or minister of education: enlist, equip, and encourage.

In addition, Brian and Rick discuss a blog post by Bob Mayfield entitled Five Things for a Group Leader to Keep in Mind, and Rick continues his discussion of the difference between managing a ministry versus leading a movement by listing six characteristics of someone who is leading a movement.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

September 2, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 5: Learning Styles of Groups

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick discuss assessing and applying group members’ learning styles with Sam O’Neal, a content editor for the Bible Studies for Life curriculum at Lifeway. Sam introduces the VARK model of learning styles—Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic—and argues that getting people engaged through the way they learn is a useful way of getting them involved in community. While most group meetings are centered on sitting and speaking and listening, an approach that privileges certain learning styles, Sam suggests several ways in which group leaders can diversify their approach and incorporate activities and group experiences that appeal to a variety of individuals.

Also, Brian and Rick share a blog post from Darryl Wilson, The Sunday School Revolutionary, and Rick discusses the differences between leading a movement and managing a ministry.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

August 26, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Bonus Episode: The Power of Prayer

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian interview Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the filmmakers of the new film War Room, opening in theaters August 28. Alex and Stephen discuss their study of the power of prayer and how it informed the production of their latest film. They also relate some strategies for prayer and prayer ministry for individuals, small groups, and churches.

Brian and Rick also discuss the variety of Lifeway curriculum and resources available for small groups to study in conjunction with the film. Visit lifeway.com/warroom or warroommovieresources.com for more information.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

August 19, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 4: Workbooks Don’t Disciple People

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick speak with Heather Zempel, the leader of discipleship efforts at National Community Church in Washington, D.C. Heather explains the National Community Church’s free market system, which focuses on supporting and equipping the visions and spiritual gifts of individual group leaders, rather than prescribing a group life system. This approach to group discipleship enables leaders to build community and spheres of influence to fulfill specific needs among a congregation and to equip people with a unique calling. Heather also discusses the idea of discipleship as inherently relational, relying not just on workbooks as tools but also on people as units of influence in discipling other people. Finally, Heather shares some practical methods of discipleship that attempt to measure and define spiritual growth among group life participants.

Additionally, Brian shares the blog post of the week, a piece from his own blog entitled Drawing Lines Between Leadership and Influence, and Rick explains some reasons that a church might consider cancelling its small group meetings for the summer.

Heather followed a circuitous route into full-time ministry. Having obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological engineering from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!), she worked as an environmental engineer and as a policy consultant on energy and environment in the United States Senate before coming on staff at National Community Church. Using her educational background, Heather now can be found exploring environments that foster spiritual growth.

She lives on Capitol Hill where she can be found enjoying theater with her husband Ryan, searching out the best barbeque joints, and nerding out on church history. Heather is the author of Sacred Roads, Community is Messy, and Amazed and Confused, and you can read about her ramblings on small group environments, discipling the next generation and SEC football at heatherzempel.com.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

August 5, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 3: Multiplying Groups to Grow the Ministry

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick speak with Carolyn Taketa, the Executive Director of Small Groups at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California. Formerly a litigation attorney, Carolyn shares about her transition from a professional work environment into vocational ministry, including many of the resources and books that she studies to build a theological and biblical foundation for the small groups ministry at the church she serves. Carolyn also discusses being a female church staff member in a primarily male-driven field and offers some words of wisdom for functioning in a diverse leadership team. Finally, she suggests a variety of practices for church staff leaders who want to build their attendance while maintaining clear and consistent communication with their congregation and their volunteers. Brian and Rick also discuss the Post of the Week, Five Ways to Serve Your Leaders Well, and Rick shares his list of five necessities for guiding a group beyond bible study.

Group Answers Podcast

July 22, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 2: Next Steps

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick discuss how church leaders can empower church members to identify where they are in their spiritual journey and take the next steps in discipleship. Guest host Brian Phipps, the Next Steps Pastor at Westside Family Church in Kansas City, shares insight he has gained from his Next Steps ministry, which enables members to grow in their faith by focusing on two areas of development: character and calling. He also discusses some practical tips for how churches can implement this type of ministry into the ethos of their church culture. Finally, Rick shares a list of ways to avoid a “night of shared ignorance,” or false teaching, at weekly group meetings.

The Groups Matter Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study expert from the Lifeway Groups Ministry Team, and Rick Howerton, the discipleship and small group specialist at Lifeway and author ofGUEST: Brian Phipps is the Next Steps pastor at Westside Family Church in Lenexa, Kansas, bringing strong leadership and investments in championing the spiritual growth of that congregation. Brian is experienced as a church planter, senior pastor, and discipleship and small groups pastor. He received his B.A. in religion from the University of South Carolina, and a Masters of Divinity and M.A. in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Brian and Carol have been married since 1994 and have three amazing kids, Hannah, Sam, and Caleb. Brian loves to hang out with his family and friends, play golf, fish, and play Texas Hold-Em’, and he enjoys classic rock. Brian’s passion is to empower every Christ-follower to discover, develop, and optimize their character and calling so that they make their God-sized IMPACT on the world for Christ.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

Group Answers Podcast

June 10, 2015

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 1: Assimilating the Fringe

By Group Ministry

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SUMMARY: In the first episode of the Groups Matter podcast, Brian and Rick discuss how small groups can be utilized to pull those individuals on the fringe of the church into a local community. Guest Chris Surratt discusses how he has seen success with this method of assimilation through pro-active relationships with those in the periphery of church and community life.

The Groups Matter Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study expert from the Lifeway Groups Ministry Team, and Rick Howerton, the discipleship and small group specialist at Lifeway and author of GUEST: Our guest this week is Chris Surratt. Chris is a ministry consultant and coach with over twenty-two years of experience serving the local church. Most recently, Chris was the Pastor Of Adult Ministries at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, where he oversaw and helped guide small groups and global and local good across five campuses. Before coming to Cross Point in 2009, Chris was on staff at Seacoast Church in Charleston, South Carolina, for fifteen years, serving as a worship arts pastor, campus pastor and on the directional leadership team. Both Cross Point and Seacoast have been recognized as two of the fastest growing churches in the United States. Chris also works with Leadership Network in creating collaborative learning environments for churches across the world. He is passionate about helping people find their next steps toward God within the context of community. Chris’s first book, Small Groups For The Rest Of Us: How to Design Your Small Groups System to Reach the Fringes, will be released by Thomas Nelson on September 29, 2015. Follow Chris on Twitter at @ChrisSurratt. Chris also hosts a blog at chrissurratt.com.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 6: Groups in Evolution

The Groups Matter Podcast—Bonus Episode: The Power of Prayer

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 4: Workbooks Don’t Disciple People

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 3: Multiplying Groups to Grow the Ministry

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 2: Next Steps

The Groups Matter Podcast—Episode 1: Assimilating the Fringe

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