LifeWay

Group Ministry

Conversations on Group Practices

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 77: Robby Gallaty

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:08 — 48.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

Our guest today is Pastor Robby Gallaty. Radically saved in 2002, Robby was mentored and discipled by former Senior Pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, David Platt. Robby completed his Masters of Divinity Degree in Expository Preaching in 2007 and his Ph.D. in Preaching in 2011 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Robby is the founder of Replicate Ministries and the author of seven books, in addition to his pastoral leadership at Long Hollow Baptist Church. Robby is married to Kandi, and they have two young sons, Rig and Ryder.

Questions:

  • What are you learning about discipleship in groups as you lead Long Hollow and interact with other churches?
  • How do you move people from being insider focused to discipling others?
  • What is the leading indicator of a growing disciple of Jesus and how can group leaders leverage it?
  • What’s the most interesting disciple-making or group practice (approach) you’ve been exposed to as you have engaged different leaders and churches?

Quotes:

We have to mobilize people from coming to the church building once a week and show them that ministry happens Monday through Saturday.

Lost people don’t wake up and say, “I think I’ll go to church today,” but they will come to your house.

There’s no greater joy as a pastor than seeing your people in church on Sunday morning taking notes during your sermon. They realize they’re not learning for them. They’re now learning for the person they’re passing the information on to.

The gospel came to you because it was heading to someone else.

Most churches that are declining or plateaued are because the pastor and staff are executing the ministry themselves.

We have taught people what they’re saved from, but not what they’re saved for.

Resources Mentioned:

This Episode’s Sponsor:
What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 76: Avoiding Burnout as a Leader

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:30 — 37.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

In today’s episode, Brian, Chris, and Brandon talk about the signs that you may be headed for burnout as a leader, and a few ways to hopefully avoid them.

Signs of burnout discussed from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero.

  1. You are using God to run from God.
  2. You are ignoring the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear.
  3. You are dying to the wrong things.
  4. You are doing for God instead of being with God.
  5. You are spiritualizing away conflict.
  6. You are living without limits.

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 75: Power Ranking Disciple-Makers in the Bible

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:15 — 38.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

On today’s episode, Chris, Brian, and Brandon power rank disciple-makers in the Bible.

Criteria:

A. Degree of Difficulty (How challenging was their discipleship situation?)

B. Disciples’ Impact (How world-changing were their direct discipleship descendents?)

C. Paradigm Development (How much did their discipleship example shape future disciple-making ministry?)

Chris’ Top 5

  1. Jesus – 30
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 10
  2. Paul – 25
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 8
    Paradigm Development – 9
  3. Peter – 23
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 8
    Paradigm Development – 7
  4. John the Baptist – 19
    Degree of Difficulty – 9
    Disciples’ Impact – 6
    Paradigm Development — 5
  5. Elijah – 16
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 5
    Paradigm Development – 3

Brandon’s Top 5

  1. Jesus – 30
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 10
  2. Barnabas – 26
    Degree of Difficulty – 9
    Disciples’ Impact – 9
    Paradigm Development – 8
  3. Paul – 24
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 7
    Paradigm Development – 9
  4. Jethro – 18
    Degree of Difficulty – 4
    Disciples’ Impact – 4
    Paradigm Development – 10
  5. Elijah – 15
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 4
    Paradigm Development – 1

Brian’s Top 5

  1. Jesus – 30
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 10
  2. Paul – 27
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 9
    Paradigm Development – 10
  3. Moses – 26
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 6
  4. Peter – 25
    Degree of Difficulty – 9
    Disciples’ Impact – 8
    Paradigm Development – 8
  5. Aquilla and Priscilla – 18
    Degree of Difficulty – 4
    Disciples’ Impact – 9
    Paradigm Development – 5

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 74: Barnabas Piper on Dealing with Doubts and Unbelief

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:38 — 45.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris sit down with Barnabas Piper to discuss his book, Help My Unbelief: Why Doubt Is Not the Enemy of Faith. Barnabas is an author, podcaster, and speaker who lives near Nashville, Tennessee. He writes regularly for He Reads Truth and blogs at BarnabasPiper.com. He has authored three books, The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity (David C. Cook, 2014), Help My Unbelief: Why Doubt Is Not the Enemy of Faith (David C. Cook, 2015), and The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life (B&H Publishing Group, 2017). He also co-hosts The Happy Rant podcast, a popular show discussing issues of faith and culture in a light-hearted, humorous manner.

Questions:

1. Talk to us about your personal struggles with doubt. In what ways have you found doubt to be redemptive?

2. What are some things that the church can do to help with Christians struggling through doubt and unbelief?

3. How important were relationships and community in your process of working through your unbelief?

4. Is it ok for a small group leader to still have unbelief and doubt? How much should he/she share those doubts with the group members?

5. How can a group leader best navigate those group discussions where doubts are shared and answers are not evident?

Quotes:

I knew everything I was supposed to know, but there was a disparity between that and those core beliefs that my hope rests in. That’s where the doubt lived for me.

That doubt ended up leading me all the way through college…and eventually hit a wall.

In the church, we get nervous about questions because it sounds like somebody is rejecting God, but often that’s an invitation for the Holy Spirit to speak into that person.

There is distinctly a redemptive opportunity in questions and doubts if we see them as an opportunity and not a challenge.

You have to be willing to answer the same questions over-and-over again, because some people will struggle with the same doubts for a long time.

The group context is vital to this, because that’s where the doubts come out.

There are doubts that you can put on the table that can rattle other people. You’re going to introduce a doubt to them that they have never considered.

You have to have a barometer of what’s the right thing to say here, and what’s the right thing to say just to that other member.

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast, Uncategorized

Group Answers Episode 73: Dealing with Difficult People

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:41 — 49.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

On today’s episode, Chris, Brian, and Brandon talk about how to deal with difficult people in your group.

Questions

  • What constitutes a difficult person in a group?
  • What steps should you take with that person?
  • At what point do you ask that person to leave the group?
  • What if you are dealing with a toxic small group?
  • When is it ok to disband a whole group?

Quotes

We can misconstrue what is difficult for someone who is just a strong personality.

You have to have an awareness and availability to deal with bigger issues.

The difficult member can be someone who confesses the same sin every week.

Ask the question: How are you growing in your joy in Jesus in this area that keeps coming up?

Always start with “Yes, I am a sinner.” There are no non-sinners in that conversation.

Ask the person to help you understand where they are coming from first.

Ask yourself if you’ve done a good job of establishing what the vision of the group is.

No one should feel like a hero and bear something they are not ready to bear.

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast, Uncategorized

Group Answers Episode 72: Holidays with Groups

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:55 — 42.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

On today’s episode, Chris, Brian, and Michael discuss how to navigate the holiday season successfully with your group.

Quotes:

Halloween is great time to get to know your neighbors.

The holiday season can be a small group killer.

You have to be intentional with what you’re going to do during the holidays.

You want to avoid doing something just for the sake of doing something.

You have to have a sense of reality and clarity when it comes to your group during this time.

The holidays are great time for discipleship. There’s a natural vibe in culture to focus on the things of God.

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 71: Trillia Newbell

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:32 — 40.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

Our guest today is Trillia Newbell. Trillia is the author of the kids’ book God’s Very Good Idea, as well as Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God’s Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015) and United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity(2014). Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, True Woman, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and more. She has spoken at numerous conferences, churches, women’s retreats, colleges and seminaries, including True Woman, The Gospel Coalition Women’s conference, Southeastern Theological Seminary, and more. She currently is the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Questions:

  • In your book you say there is a richness in knowing — really knowing — someone who is different from you. Trillia, can you elaborate on this, maybe with a personal example, of what you mean here by “richness”. This is about as close to the heart of group life as it gets.
  • As you have addressed issues like reconciliation and diversity, what biblical foundations have you tended to draw from?
  • Let’s challenge ourselves with a different perspective. You are at times very transparent about your own experiences in United. You use words like fear, ashamed, and embarrassed. How would you articulate the experience of feeling alone even amidst hundreds of people.
  • A church’s group ministry would seem to be uniquely positioned to serve others in ways that combat sentiments of isolation as it relates to diversity. How have you seen or can you see groups in their various expressions help churches work towards greater diversity and unity?
  • How do you think groups can counter a sense of rejection that some carry?
  • Trillia, why would a church work towards greater unity? It’s hard and in some places simply because of location and a city’s profile it feels almost impossible. In your opinion, why is it worth the effort?

Quotes:

“In any group situation, we want people to go from surface to deep. We want them to know one another.”

“One of the great benefits of knowing people is knowing people who are not like you.”

“We are all made in the image of God. That is the foundation for how we think about other people. God values all people.”

“Throughout the scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, we see a picture of God creating a people for Himself, to be saved by His son, to be in community with one another, and to one day be ultimately worshipping together for eternity.”

“In a group setting, it’s good to ask people how they are doing, and then probe a little bit deeper.”

“It’s so easy for small groups to be comfortable and insular. It’s really difficult to break into a small group that has been together for a long time.”

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us.

Group Answers Podcast, Uncategorized

Group Answers Episode 70: Power Ranking Discipleship Books

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:11 — 44.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

On today’s episode, Chris, Brian, and Michael power rank their top five discipleship books.

Final Top Five:

  1. The Cost of Discipleship
  2. Transformational Discipleship
  3. Knowing God
  4. A Call to Spiritual Reformation
  5. Real Life Discipleship

Michael’s Top Five:

  1. Knowing God
  2. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
  3. The Cost of Discipleship
  4. Abiding in Christ
  5. Multiply

Brian’s Top Five:

  1. A Call to Spiritual Reformation
  2. The Divine Conspiracy
  3. What Jesus Demands from the World
  4. Sacred Romance
  5. Tie: The Trellis and the Vine/ Transformational Discipleship

Chris’ Top Five:

  1. Real Life Discipleship
  2. The Cost of Discipleship
  3. Small Groups with Purpose
  4. Transformational Discipleship
  5. Growing Up

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 68: Jonathan Dodson

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:24 — 44.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

Our guest today is Jonathan Dodson. Jonathan is the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, TX which he started with his wife, Robie, and a small group of people. They have three children. He is also the founder of gcdiscipleship.com and author of a number of books including Here in Spirit: Knowing the Spirit who Creates, Sustains, and Transforms Everything, The Unbelievable Gospel and Gospel-Centered Discipleship. He enjoys listening to M. Ward, watching sci-fi, and going for walks.

Questions:

  • What are Fight Clubs?
  • How do you equip leaders to lead Fight Clubs? How do you support Fight Clubs from the pulpit and encourage participation?
  • How have you seen Fight Clubs contribute to the ministry of the church and impact the lives of Fight Club participants?
  • Gospel-Centered Discipleship released in 2012. If you wrote it today, what from your experiences in the last 6 years would you be sure to include?
  • Here in the Spirit just released. How is this different from other books about the Holy Spirit? Talk about the backstory — what circumstances or insights led you to this specific topic?

Quotes:

“Fight clubs are discipleship groups. We are fighting for faith to trust and to treasure Jesus.”

“They follow the process of text-theology-life.”

“God picks your community, you pick your friend.”

“It’s not a highly programmed environment. It’s a natural outworking of the gospel in an ordinary disciple’s life.”

“Fight Clubs promote holiness in our church.”

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us.
Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 69: Ken Braddy

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:00 — 52.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS

Our guest today is Ken Braddy. Other than serving as the manager for LifeWay’s ongoing adult Bible studies, Ken is an 18-year church education staff leader and blogs regularly about Sunday School and groups ministry at kenbraddy.com.

OVERVIEW: Although Sunday school is an important ministry, many churches have not experienced the full potential of Sunday school. Sunday school is in decline in most denominations, and there is a lack of health and vitality it once had.

“Teachers do not have to rely on one or two methods all the time; instead, they can expand the number of ways in which they communicate God’s Word to their group members.”

“In numerous churches, education staff leaders’ jobs have been deleted, curriculum expenditures have been cut back, training has been reduced, and other cutbacks have starved the Sunday school of life-giving resources.”

“Sunday schools have stopped growing in part because churches have forgotten the importance and necessity of starting new groups.”

“In many churches, groups have grown too large and cannot produce disciples. In order to make disciples, groups must follow biblical principles for creating them. Jesus created disciples by recruiting a small group of 12 men.”

The Group Answers 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 and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us.