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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 112: Trevin Wax on Discipleship Trends

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Trevin Wax about discipleship trends.

Trevin Wax is Director for Bibles and Reference at LifeWay Christian Resources and a visiting professor at Wheaton College. He is the general editor of The Gospel Project, and the author of recent books This Is Our Time, Eschatological Discipleship, and Gospel Centered Teaching.

Questions:

  • What is multi-directional leadership? Why is this important not only for church leaders, but for group leaders as well?
  • In a groups context, what is the fallout of the apparent increase of polarization in our current climate?
  • There is a growing generational divide in how best to express our loyalty to God and our loyalty to our country. What are the takeaways as you have engaged both our culture and the church in this regard?
  • We all agree that community is essential and relationships are crucial for both the examined and the disciple’s life. So why are we so enamored with exploring a deserted island and what does this have to say about us?
  • What are some trends that you can share with us about Bible engagement?
  • What advice would you give group leaders about discipleship based on what you’ve learned over the last year?

Quotes:

  • A one-directional leader only looks in one direction for danger. A multi-directional leader knows that there are multiple ways in which danger might encroach upon a flock.
  • Social media exacerbates and polarizes so much of our discourse.
  • What group leaders have is an opportunity to actually speak truth to a small group of people.
  • Know the group you have and push in the direction they would be least likely to go.
  • Scripture speaks to a bigger variety of issues than our political parties do.
  • A lot of older Evangelicals see America as Israel, and a lot of younger Evangelicals see America as Babylon.
  • In life, you are thrown into a family you didn’t choose, and you have to make do.
  • You can’t know a hundred people really well, but you can know ten people.
  • How do people in our groups see the narrative of their lives?

This Episode’s Sponsor: With Ministry Grid’s library of over 3,000 training videos, it’s now simpler than ever to train every volunteer and leader in your church. And this is training you can trust. Each Ministry Gridvideo features an experienced ministry leader who has been where you are now. Learn how to get unlimited access for you and your church at MinistryGrid.com.

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 Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 111: The Kendrick Brothers

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris welcome Alex and Stephen Kendrick. Alex and Stephen are ordained ministers and New York Times bestselling coauthors of The Love Dare, The Resolution for Men, and The Battle Plan for Prayer. They are also screenwriters, and film directors, whose credits include Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, War Room, and the upcoming Overcomer. 

Questions:

  • Our listening audience is comprised primarily of educational and small-group leaders. How have you seen discipleship groups, small groups, and other classes contribute to your maturity as a believer?
  • The follow-up to the #1 War Room, Overcomer, releases this August. Tell us about how this story developed, how you sensed God at work, and why it is an important movie?
  • Overcomer releases in August and we are collaborating with you to create the initial Bible study to be available in June — ahead of the movie. What is your hope for groups that engage this study that is rooted in Overcomer the movie?
  • In what ways do you think matters of identity rate among our culture’s most daunting challenges?
  • In concert with the release of Overcomer is Defined: Who God Says You Are. This is an 8-session Bible study for groups with origins in the book of Ephesians but also emerging out of the story of Overcomer. Why do you think it is important to engage this content in a group setting?

Quotes:

We shot our first movie, Flywheel, for $20,000.

When the Lord finally got out of our system our desire to the Christian Han Solo and the Christian Harrison Ford, He said, “Now I’m going to tell you what direction you should go,” and when we obeyed him, He began to open those doors.

You cannot fake or manufacture the favor of God. We would rather have the favor of God on our projects than any amount of money.

Everywhere we go as followers of Jesus Christ, any conversation we have can become a discipleship conversation.

When I think about Acts 2,3,4, that’s the way small group discipleship needs to be taking place. It’s that koinonia fellowship where we are sharing life together.

In 2017, God beginning turning out hearts toward the issue of identity.

The Creator gets to define His creation. Who are we to redefine what God has already defined?

Resources:

Overcomer Movie Facebook Page

Overcomer Resources

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 110: David Platt

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to David Platt about missions and discipleship.

Dr. David Platt serves as pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. He is the founder and president of Radical.

Books by David Platt include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, and the forthcoming book Something Needs to Change.

David Platt received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Along with his wife and four children, he lives in the Washington D.C. metro area.

Questions:

  • David, the book Something Needs to Change doesn’t release until September, but the manuscript has been turned in and it’s for the most part complete. Let’s start there — how does this book mark this season of the journey you’re on and that God continues to guide?
  • We were just in SE Asia for a relatively extended time. In what ways was this last trip similar to others and how was it different?
  • Perhaps the most noticeable attribute of Something Needs to Change is the level of transparency you’ve undertaken. In what ways have your visits to Asia, processing the content of Something Needs to Change, and how you plan to lead from this point forward taken on such a personal nature? In other words, what has changed in you?
  • As you know, our listeners are comprised mostly of group and educational leaders in some capacity. How can we lead our groups to become involved with our mission to the nations?
  • Our team is adapting Something Needs to Change for small groups and I believe this is one of the most important projects we’ve taken on. Tell about your hope for this Bible study experience and why it’s important not only to engage the content in book form but to essentially “live” with it as an 8-week Bible study experience.
  • What are some ways we can support missionaries in our small groups?
  • How are missions and discipleship both intertwined with a sincere and regular devotion to God’s Word?

Quotes:

  • How does my life need to change, right where I live, in light of these realities in the world?
  • I feel like ever since that first trip years ago, there is a greater urgency in my life.
  • I want to show a more intentional focus on urgent spiritual and physical need.
  • Start where you are.
  • Show those you lead that their lives were created for the spread of God’s grace and glory among the nations.
  • “Unreached” is not the same as “lost.” There is access to the gospel here that does not exist in the Himalayas.
  • If somebody doesn’t cross geographic barriers to get to these people, they will continue to be born, live, and die without the gospel.
  • We want to make the good news of Jesus’ name and his love known in all the world.

This Episode’s Sponsor: The Overcomer movie has inspired the creation of several resources. For small groups, there is the Overcomer Bible study. For individuals, there is a book called Defined. Both are based upon powerful insights from the Book of Ephesians. Learn more about all the resources at LifeWay.com/Overcomer

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 Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 109: Darrin Patrick

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Darrin Patrick about community and accountability.

Darrin Patrick is a teaching pastor at Seacoast Church. He is the founding pastor of The Journey Church and is the author of multiple books including the Dude’s Guide to Marriage.

Darrin is the former chaplain to the St. Louis Cardinals and former vice-president of the Acts 29 church planting network. He has appeared in the New York Times, The Today Show and Fox and Friends for his innovative approach to reaching the un-reached.

Darrin is married to Amie and they have four children. He enjoys reading, writing and coaching his kid’s sports teams.

Questions:

  • From the outside, you were a very successful pastor, chaplain of the Cardinals, head of a church network. What was happening on the inside during all of this?
  • What did community and accountability look like for you when career and reputation were at the perceived peak?
  • What happened when those friendships were suddenly gone?
  • In the sense of accountability and community, is there a limit to the number of people you really want to be in contact with?
  • What role did having healthy community around you play in your eventual restoration?
  • What advice would you give to leaders who may be heading down the same path that you were on?

Quotes:

  • My ministry was growing, but my soul wasn’t growing.
  • What really brought me back was community, and I’ll never do ministry without that again.
  • Ultimately, I wasn’t willing to slow down the pace to develop those relationships.
  • Always err on the side of reaching out.
  • It was like God said, “I’m perfecting you through this imperfect process.”
  • You’re moving into that “sage” stage and having a hard time moving on from “warrior.”
  • A lot of leaders have failed to develop those soft-side leadership skills, and it’s mainly related to them not engaging their emotional life.
  • We’re really good at following Jesus as God, but we’re not good at following Jesus as man.

This Episode’s Sponsor: The Overcomer movie has inspired the creation of several resources. For small groups, there is the Overcomer Bible study. For individuals, there is a book called Defined. Both are based upon powerful insights from the Book of Ephesians. Learn more about all the resources at LifeWay.com/Overcomer

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 Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 108: Reid Patton on Asking Good Questions

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Reid Patton about how to ask good questions when facilitating a Bible study.

Reid Patton is a Content Editor for the Short-Term Discipleship Team at LifeWay Christian Resources. He is the thankful husband of Kristen and proud father of Ceile and serves with the Life Group leadership team at the Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill, Tennessee. In his free time, Reid likes reading, watching NBA Basketball and Auburn Football, and going to record stores. You can find him on Twitter @jreidpatton.

Questions:

  • If I’m using a pre-written curriculum, how can I make the most out of those questions?
  • What types of questions invite conversation?
  • How should I structure the questions in my group?
  • How would you sum up the big questions small groups should answer?

Quotes:

As someone who writes Bible studies, I don’t know your group better than you do.

I would rather give someone more than they need than less than they need.

The open question is far superior to the closed question.

There are going to be three types of questions in every Bible study: observational, interpretive, and application-based. A good Bible study will balance between those three types of questions.

The three big questions are what? so what? and now what? What does the Bible say? So what do we do with that, why does that matter? Now what do we do with it?

A holistic approach to the text will give you a holistic disciple.

This Episode’s Sponsor: The Overcomer movie has inspired the creation of several resources. For small groups, there is the Overcomer Bible study. For individuals, there is a book called Defined. Both are based upon powerful insights from the Book of Ephesians. Learn more about all the resources at LifeWay.com/Overcomer

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 Leading Small Groups.

 

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 107: Ken Braddy on Group Leader Training

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Ken Braddy about developing consistent and effective training for group leaders. 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. His new book is Breathing Life into Sunday School.

Outline for Leader Training

  1. Right Timing
  • Frequency
    • Georgia Bapt. Convention’s Research Findings
      • No training: -2%
      • Weekly: +6%
      • Monthly: +13.4%
      • Quarterly: +13.8%
      • Annually: +4%
  • Day of week
    • Friday night
    • Saturday AM
    • Sunday afternoon
      • Noon-2:00PM
      • 3-5PM
    • Midweek (Wed.)
    • Sunday AM (“time shift”)
  • Overall length
    • 1 hour
    • 90 minutes
    • 2 hours
    • Ongoing training: shorter
    • Infrequent training:  longer
  1. Right Topic
  • 4 general categories
    • Teaching/Leading
    • Reaching/evangelism
    • Relationships/fellowship
    • Service/inside and outside the church
  • Sunday School Matters topics (good, easy to use resource)
    • Teaching matters
    • New groups matter
    • Evangelism matters
    • Souls matter
    • Ministry matters
    • Growth matters
    • Etc…
  1. Right Touch
  • Arrive early
    • Set up room
    • Check a/v equipment, temperature, supplies
    • Set up the room for collaborative learning
      • Sit in a circle or in a “U” so people can see faces (increases conversation)
  • Start/end on time!
  • Quality counts
    • Excellence is an attention to the detail
      • Handouts, candies, extra pens, nametags, etc.
  • Don’t ask people to come and then make announcements that you could have emailed them!
  • Teach/train with variety (engage your group leaders)
    • Demonstrate a variety of effective teaching techniques
    • Make the training active! No “sit and soak”
      • Attendees should talk and participate at least as much as you do
  • Tie the training to your church’s mission/values

Win five copies of Leading Small Groups by Chris Surratt by Tweeting or Facebooking a suggested show topic and tagging @LifeWayGroups!

This Episode’s Sponsor: The Overcomer movie has inspired the creation of several resources. For small groups, there is the Overcomer Bible study. For individuals, there is a book called Defined. Both are based upon powerful insights from the Book of Ephesians. Learn more about all the resources at LifeWay.com/Overcomer.

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 Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 106: Bobby Gruenewald

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Bobby Gruenewald about the Bible and technology.

Bobby Gruenewald serves as Pastor, Innovation Leader at Life.Church and is the founder of the YouVersion Bible App, which has been installed in every country of the world. As one of the leading voices in the Church on innovation and the use of technology, Bobby has been featured in The New York Times, TechCrunch, CNN, and more. Prior to joining the Life.Church team in 2001, he started and sold two technology companies as well as served in advisory capacities for various startups and venture capital funds. Bobby and his wife, Melissa, live in Edmond, Oklahoma with their four children.

Questions:

  • Tell us about your journey from rapper/entrepreneur to pastor.
  • What was the impetus behind creating YouVersion?
  • Why do you think people struggle with consistent engagement with the Bible?
  • What do you say to people who have issues with others reading the Bible digitally?
  • The opportunity for community is built into the YouVersion app. How can small groups take advantage of it to encourage and challenge each other?
  • How can Bible Plans help people engage with the Bible on a deeper level?
  • What is next for technology and the Church?

Quotes:

We were beginning to connect with Scripture more consistently in places we had not done that before.

It’s been a sprint of us racing to keep up with what God’s doing.

For many people, I think the Bible is a bit intimidating.

There are some things about technology that give some new opportunities for people to experience Scripture in different formats that have been very helpful for people in their consistency and their engagement.

The Bible has changed formats many times over the last few thousand years.

There are many people today who still cannot read Scripture in their own heart language.

It’s difficult today to have meaningful conversations around Scripture in some of the more public social media environments. We wanted to create a safe place for that conversation to take place.

We just see technology as a tool that can be used for the Gospel.

Church leaders need to be asking the right questions.

Sometimes the most effective thing to do is write it on a piece of paper.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Feeling unequipped for marriage ministry? Woo Marriage is here to help. Backed by research and designed with your church in mind, Woo Marriage provides Christ-centered marriage coaching for your entire church. Get your first month free with offer code LEADERSHIP at WooMarriage.com/FreeTrial.

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 Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 105: The Making of a Bible Study

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On this episode of Group Answers, the guys discuss Brian and Joel’s recent journey to the Himalayas to produce the Bible study, Something Needs to Change. During this trip, Pastor David Platt was stunned by the human needs he encountered, an experience so dramatic that it “changed the trajectory of my life.”

This Episode’s Sponsor: Feeling unequipped for marriage ministry? Woo Marriage is here to help. Backed by research and designed with your church in mind, Woo Marriage provides Christ-centered marriage coaching for your entire church. Get your first month free with offer code LEADERSHIP at WooMarriage.com/FreeTrial.

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 Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead and Multiply your Small Group.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 104: Secular Disciple Makers

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian, Chris, and Brandon discuss secular disciple makers and what we can learn from them as we become better disciple makers for Jesus.

Secular Disciple Makers Discussed:

  • MaryKay Ash
  • Steve Jobs
  • Phil Knight
  • Elon Musk
  • Steph Curry
  • Lebron James
  • Walt Disney

This Episode’s Sponsor: Feeling unequipped for marriage ministry? Woo Marriage is here to help. Backed by research and designed with your church in mind, Woo Marriage provides Christ-centered marriage coaching for your entire church. Get your first month free with offer code LEADERSHIP at WooMarriage.com/FreeTrial.

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 Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead and Multiply your Small Group.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 103: Reid Smith on Soul Care

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brandon talk to Reid Smith about the importance of soul care for ourselves and the leaders we serve.

Reid Smith serves as the Director of Communities of Purpose for the Small Group Network and has been a Pastor of Groups at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach County, FL since 2008. He has been equipping leaders in churches of all sizes and stages of growth for effective disciple-making since 1996. Reid has been a contributing author for Christianity Today’s smallgroups.com, LifeWay’s Ministry Grid, and he developed small group training for the North American Mission Board’s Send Network. One of the ways he expresses his love for helping leaders start and multiply healthy groups throughout their churches is through www.reidsmith.org.

Questions asked:

  • Ministry isn’t easy. 80% of pastors feel discouraged (more so for their spouses!), 71% of pastors stated they were burned out and battle depression on a weekly, even daily basis. Only 1 out of 10 ministers actually retire as a minister. Soul-care is obviously vital. What, in essence, is “soul-care”?
  • Practically-speaking, how can we be proactive about our own soul-care to ensure we’re healthy and effective in ministry for the long-haul?
  • What are the biggest threats to soul-care and how do you overcome them?
  • What’s most challenging for you in your personal soul-care?
  • What do you look for in potential coaches?
  • Many leaders see the value of coaching, but they’ve had a hard time making it work. Why do you think that is?
  • Give us a picture of success. Ideally, what does healthy coaching look like? How do you encourage it?

Quotes:

If you have been in ministry for some time, you have probably battled with burnout or depression.

Soul care is addressing a person’s inner world that is largely hidden from other people.

When we are spiritually healthy, our ministry can be sustainable and strong.

Bring others around you that will be lifting you up in prayer.

The enemy wants to take you and your family out.

Replenish yourself on a regular basis. Find out what fills your tank and do it.

Don’t try to please everyone and do everything yourself.

I have to constantly remind myself of things that are true.

The second time that I got run down, I didn’t feel it.

Coaches are the lynchpin for knowing that your group life is healthy.

Relationships have to take priority over the reporting.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Feeling unequipped for marriage ministry? Woo Marriage is here to help. Backed by research and designed with your church in mind, Woo Marriageprovides Christ-centered marriage coaching for your entire church. Get your first month free with offer code LEADERSHIP at WooMarriage.com/FreeTrial.

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 Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead and Multiply your Small Group.

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