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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 67: Michael Wear

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris talk with Michael Wear. Michael answers the following questions: 

  1. Tell us how you went straight from college to working in the Obama White House.
  2. It seems like a lot of people come out of working in an administration very cynical about the process, but you express in your book hope and optimism for the future. How was your experience different?
  3. How did you manage your strong Christian beliefs while occasionally working with people who did not share them?
  4. Politics is always a tricky conversation in small group meetings. How should group leaders approach political topics when they are raised? Should they even be discussed?
  5. With another contentious election season coming up, how can people in small groups have healthy conversations while still holding opposing views?
  6. What is the ultimate hope for Christians in this political climate?

Michael Wear is the founder of Public Square Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps businesses, non-profits, foundations, and Christian organizations at the intersection of faith, politics, and culture. Wear directed faith outreach for President Obama’s historic 2012 re-election campaign and was one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history, leading evangelical outreach and helping manage the White House’s engagement on religious and values issues, including adoption and anti-human trafficking efforts. He holds an honorary position at the University of Birmingham’s Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion, and serves on the national board of Bethany Christian Services. He lives with his wife, Melissa, in Washington, DC. Michael is the author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America.

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 66: Tony Evans

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris join renowned author and pastor, Dr. Tony Evans. Brian, Chris, and Tony answer the following questions:

  1. What do you mean by “kingdom disciple”?
  2. There’s a need for disciples in individuals, in families, in churches, and in communities. What does a disciple of Jesus look like in each of these areas?
  3. How can pastors gauge how they are doing in regard to disciple making in their churches?
  4. Is discipling men different from women, or the same?
  5. How do we disciple men?
  6. What challenges do men face not only in the area of discipleship, but also in life in general?

GUEST: Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. A man of many hats, Tony is the president of The Urban Alternative, chaplain of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, and author of over 100 books, booklets, and Bible studies. Tony was named as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the world by Baylor University.

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 65: SBC – Chris Swain on Discipleship

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Join in with Chris Swain at SBC as we talk about the ministry “Replicate” and how they are helping to change the discipleship culture in local churches. How is Bible study best approached? How do we increase Bible engagement in our church? What does accountability look like in our group’s life? Listen as we talk about Jesus approached these questions.

GUEST: Chris Swain is the Executive Director of Replicate Ministries and serves at Long Hollow Baptist Church as the Equipping Pastor. After fours years of service in the United States Marine Corps, Chris served in full-time ministry for two decades in Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Georgia and Tennessee, leading ministries ranging from Students, to Collegiate, to Spiritual Formation. Most recently, Chris served as the Director of Student Ministry Publishing at Lifeway Christian Resources serving the Church in its mission of making disciples. Chris’s heart is to expand the Gospel through disciple-making in the local 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 64: SBC – Michael Davis on Shame

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This week on the Group Answers Podcast, Brian and Chris join Michael Davis at the Southern Baptist Convention. Brian, Chris, and Michael discuss how we confuse guilt, shame, and conviction. Even though believers’ sins have been paid for by Christ on the cross, it is easy to forget this magnificent truth in the midst of habitual sin. How do we fight against shame when conviction of sin oftentimes pulls us toward it? Listen as they address shame in the Christian life, and how it is antithetical to the gospel.

GUEST: Michael Davis is the Senior Director of Marketing, Communications, and Media at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). For more on this topic, listen to this podcast. You can follow Michael Davis on Twitter.
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 63: SBC – Brandon Hiltibidal on Gospel Foundations

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This week on the Group Answers Podcast, we are joined by Brandon Hiltibidal at the Southern Baptist Convention. Listen as he shares the heart and vision behind the recently released bible study “Gospel Foundations.” This is a 6 volume series, each with 7 sessions, that takes you on a journey through the storyline of scripture and shows how Jesus is the hero of every story in the bible. Visit Lifeway.com/GospelFoundations to preview 3 sessions free.

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.

Guest: Brandon Hiltibidal is a former church planter and multi-site pastor, and he is now part of the Groups Ministry team at LifeWay Christian Resources. He and his wife Scarlet have three little girls and lead a community group at The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, TN.
Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 62: Steve Gladen

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris join Steve Gladen, the Executive Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church. For more from Steve, check out his blog post here.

Steve answers the following questions:

  • Your new book, Planning Small Groups with Purpose, has just been released. Why write another book on small groups?
  • Saddleback now has over 7,000 small groups that reach over 100% of the attendees. How long did it take to build an effective, reproducible system like that?
  • Why do you think the system developed at Saddleback will work at a smaller church without all of the staff and resources?
  • What would you say to the brand-new small group point person who has no idea where to start?
  • What is the key to aligning churchwide systems to maximize small groups?
  • How important is it for you to be in lockstep with your pastor, Rick Warren? What advice would you give to a point person who does not have that kind of relationship with his or her pastor?

Also, here is the podcast episode Steve mentioned during the episode: http://blog.smallgroupnetwork.com/pastorbuyin/

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.

GUEST: Steve Gladen (M Div., Fuller Theological Seminary) has been Executive Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998 and serves as an elder of the church. He oversees the strategic launch and spiritual development of more than 7,000 adult small groups on multiple campuses. He is the author of Small Groups with Purpose, which has been translated into eleven languages, and Planning Small Groups with Purpose. He has a driving passion to see each church attendee connected to a qualified shepherd and become an integral part of their church body, living purposefully for Christ. Steve and his wife, Lisa, have been married for nearly 30 years, have two children, Erika and Ethan, and reside in Orange County, California. Learn more at www.stevegladen.com.

 

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 61: Summer With Your Group

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris discuss service and fun in small groups. Click on the following articles to follow along:

https://groupministry.lifeway.com/2017/06/08/four-activities-for-your-groups-this-summer/

https://groupministry.lifeway.com/2018/05/17/summer-serving-finding-the-right-project-for-your-small-group/

Chris Surratt is a ministry consultant and coach with over 23 years of experience serving the local church. Chris served on the Executive Team at Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN, and was on staff at Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC, for 15 years. He is also the Small Group Specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. Chris’s first book, Small Groups For The Rest Of Us: How to Design Your Small Groups System to Reach the Fringes, was recently released by Thomas Nelson. You can follow his blog at chrissurratt.com or follow him on Twitter @chrissurratt.

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 60: Create a Discipleship Plan

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris join Joel Polk, Editorial Team Leader and writer of small group Bible studies at LifeWay Christian Resources. Joel is a Lay Elder and blogger for City Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. You can keep up with Joel on Twitter here.

Brian, Chris, and Joel discuss: 

  • The importance of Bible study options.
  • How to choose the right Bible study that fits your group.
  • “The Discipleship Wheel”

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 59: Gospel Centered Groups

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris join Brian Dembowczyk, the Managing Editor of The Gospel Project. The three tackle the following questions: 

  • “Gospel” is a buzzword right now in the church world. What does it mean to be “gospel-centered”?
  • How does failing to study Scripture as one gospel story lead to moralism?
  • How does a group leader help create a “gospel culture” in a small group?
  • Is it important to know how all Scripture points back to Jesus? How can a small group leader consistently do that during discussions?
  • What is different about The Gospel Project curriculum? What is coming for The Gospel Project this fall?

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.

GUEST: Brian knows how churches work, and understands group dynamics as he writes content for groups of churches of various sizes. In addition to being the Managing Editor of The Gospel Project, Brian is the author of Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry and Cornerstones: 200 Questions and Answers to Learn Truth. Brian and his wife Tara have three kids: Joshua, Hannah, and Caleb. Prior to joining The Gospel Project, he served in local church ministry for 17 years, primarily in family and discipleship ministry. You can keep up with Brian on Twitter.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 58: Philip Nation on Pursuing Holiness

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris join Philip Nation, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida. Brian, Chris, and Philip address the following questions:

  • What constitutes “personal holiness”?
  • How do we pursue holiness in earnest without falling into the ditch of legalism?
  • Culturally, personal holiness and set standards of living have seem to be abandoned. Where group life is concerned, how do you see pursuing holiness offsetting these cultural trends?
  • In what sense is pursuing holiness done in community?
  • As a group leader, how do I help my group members see the pursuit of holiness as important?
  • What is holiness as obedience in “real time”? How do we pursue this in our groups?

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.

GUEST: Philip Nation is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Bradenton, Florida. He has been a publishing director, church planter, and frequent speaker for conferences. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as the Assistant Professor of Leadership and Biblical Studies at Houston Baptist University. Along the way he has written Habits for Our Holiness: How the Spiritual Disciplines Grow Us Up, Draw Us Together, and Send Us Out as well as the new study for groups Pursuing Holiness: Applications from James. He is the happy husband to Angie and father to Andrew and Chris. You can follow Philip on Twitter here.