Group Answers Podcast

May 13, 2020

May 6, 2020

Group Answers Episode 151: Joseph R. Myers on Preparing for Community Reentry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris talk to Joseph Myers about what community might look like on the other side of this pandemic.

Joseph R. Myers is an entrepreneur, speaker, writer, and owner of josephrmyers.com, a consulting firm that assists organizations and individuals promote and develop healthy community and trust relationships. Author of best-selling books The Search to Belong and Organic Community, Myers is also Director of Marketing, Media and Communications at a film studio in Vancouver, BC.

Myers works with some of North America’s leading and most innovative organizations and faith-based businesses to strategize and re-imagine how to develop trusting, successful communities that result in a strong top- and bottom-line growth.

Resources Mentioned:

JosephRMyers.com

Episode Sponsor:

For more than 25 years, Portable Church® has helped thousands of churches launch strong and thrive in a mobile setting. They design custom solutions that fit each budget, vision, and venue. Everything you need to launch a mobile church — an inviting worship space, kids ministry areas, welcome spaces, storage cases, etc — all in a system refined to make it fast, easy & fun for the weekly volunteer teams.

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

April 29, 2020

Group Answers Podcast

April 22, 2020

Group Answers Episode 149: Why VBS Still Matters

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris talk to Melita Thomas about Vacation Bible School and why it still matters in the life of the church. Melita also gives tips on how to still host a VBS in this time of social distancing.

Melita Thomas serves as LifeWay’s VBS and Kids Ministry Specialist and was previously an editor of LifeWay’s VBS resources.

Resources Mentioned:

LifeWay VBS Resources

Episode Sponsor:

Group Answers Podcast

April 15, 2020

Group Answers Episode 148: Trevin Wax on Bible Translations

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris talk to Trevin Wax about the different translations of the Bible. Why are there so many? Is there one that is more accurate than the others?

Trevin Wax is senior vice president of Theology and Communications at LifeWay Christian Resources and a visiting professor at Wheaton College. He is the general editor of The Gospel Project, and the author of multiple books, including This Is Our Time, Eschatological Discipleship, and Gospel Centered Teaching.

Questions Discussed:

Why are there so many translations of the Bible?
What goes into creating a translation?
What are the major differences between word-for-word, thought-for-thought, and paraphrase translations?
What is Optimal Equivalence, and how did it play into the creation of the CSB?
Why should a group leader (or teacher) care about what translation they are using during the group time? How can they use different translations to help prepare?
How do you choose the best translation for your personal Bible study?

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Sponsor:

Group Answers Podcast

April 8, 2020

Group Answers Episode 147: Ben Stuart on Singleness in Group Life

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris talk to Ben Stuart about single adults in group life and community.

Ben Stuart is the Pastor of Passion City Church, Washington D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served for 11 years as the Executive Director of Breakaway Ministries, a weekly Bible study attended by thousands of college students on the campus of Texas A&M. He is the author of the book, Single.Dating.Engaged.Married. as well as Life + Love, a study resource based on his book.

Questions Discussed:

What led you to speak and write on this topic of single adults?
What’s the benefit of talking about relationships — single, dating, engaged, married — in a small group setting?
What are some misconceptions people in our group might have about the four relational stages?
You mention “boyfriend and girlfriend” aren’t categories that exist in the Bible, how does that change the way Christian men and women should think about dating?
If engagement is where a couple starts becoming one, what might that process look like for an engaged couple?
What advice would you give groups pastors and educators about ministering through this lens and to the specific needs of each of these stages in a relationship?

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Sponsor:

Group Answers Podcast

April 1, 2020

Group Answers Podcast

March 25, 2020

Group Answers Episode 145: Steve Gladen on Virtual Community During a Crisis

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris talk to Steve Gladen about how Saddleback Church is responding to the COVID-19 crisis by helping people find online community.

Steve Gladen 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.

Resources Mentioned:

Registration for free webinar on Effectively Leading Groups in a Time of Social Distancing

www.lifeway.com/coronavirus

Free Video Studies

Zoom.us

Group Talk Podcast with Jay Kranda

Episode Sponsor:

Group Answers Podcast

March 18, 2020

Group Answers Podcast

March 11, 2020

Group Answers Episode 143: Jonathan Pitts

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris sit down with Pastor Jonathan Pitts.

Jonathan Pitts is an author, speaker, and executive pastor at Church of the City in Franklin, TN. Prior to pastoring, Jonathan was executive director at The Urban Alternative, the national ministry of Dr. Tony Evans in Dallas, Texas. Jonathan lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his four daughters.

Questions asked:

Tell us about your new role at Church of the City
How are you emphasizing the significance of community in this role
You have experienced community in a profound way in the last season. How have you personally felt the impact of redemptive biblical community and how will this inform how you lead from this point forward?
You were a significant part of the Kingdom Men Rising documentary that was in theaters last spring. How would you encourage men to offer community and create community?

Resources mentioned:

Church of the City

For Girls Like You

Kingdom Men Rising Movie

The Urban Alternative

Episode Sponsor:

Group Answers Episode 149: Why VBS Still Matters

All Ministry Sites

Digital Resources

LifeWay Network