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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 86: Raising Up a Secondary Leader

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In this episode of Group Answers, Brian, Chris, and Brandon talk about how to identify and raise up a secondary leader in your small group.

Five Steps for Preparing a Secondary Leader

Step 1: I do. You watch. We talk.

Step 2: I do. You help. We talk.

Step 3: You do. I help. We talk.

Step 4: You do. I watch. We talk.

Step 5: You do. Someone else watches.

Questions for Meetings

  • What did you observe?
  • How did this step make you feel?
  • What could be done better or differently next time?
  • What can I do to help you successfully lead through the next step?
  • How can I pray for you?

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.

Church Leadership

Recruiting New Leaders – What to do with Another No! 

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by Dave Enns

You’ve set the vision, communicated the need, given realistic expectations, and offered proven and realistic training. All based on a great referral that this person would be a worthy group leader.  But they still tell you “No!”

Argh! Those “no’s” are never easy to hear.

My normal response to “no” was to thank them for considering it while doing all I can to hide my disappointment.  As fast as possible I would hang up the phone and move on to my next call.  Little did I know how short-sighted my response was. I had reduced recruiting to “filling a spot”. Their “no” was not only causing me to miss the opportunity to affirm and come alongside them, but also to team with them for years to come in recruiting and raising up new leaders. This realization sent me back to the drawing board on what recruiting was really about.

Here are four strategies that helped us stop recruiting to fill the position, truly affirm people in what God was calling them to do, and empower them to be part of our team for years to come.

1. Reframing Rejection: A Pastoral moment to affirm the yes behind the no!  A no usually means a yes to something else. All too often we’re afraid to ask someone what’s happening in their lives, causing them to say “no.” But asking “why” is important. If it’s misaligned expectations, a conversation could easily change the outcome. But more often than not, potential leaders have legitimate commitments to family, health issues, work, other ministries or hobbies that are consuming their time. These are the yes’ behind the no.  These kind of yes’ are a pastoral opportunity to be intentional with that person, coming alongside to listen and understand their no to you, maybe an important yes to God.  How you handle this won’t be forgotten and how they see what they have to offer the Kingdom.

2. Expanding Your Recruiting Team: Suprise them how they can easily still have an impact.  When the need for leadership is sizable and your leads are few ask them if they would take the next 3-4 days to pray, and talk with their spouse or friends if they know someone else you should consider asking to lead a group. Don’t ask them to respond immediately. Most people need time to think, pray and consider. Plus, three days means for the next 72 hours you have another recruiter and person praying for you and your ministry! Set the expectation that you’ll give them a call back to follow up, and then make sure to do it! It confirms that you value their time and involvement in your ministry. You never know, their prayers may change their “no,” into “yes!”

3.  Keeping the Door Open to Future Potential: Ask if you can ask again.

In our small group ministry, every potential leader or host we contact has been referred by someone else. These personal leadership referrals are invaluable, and we never want to lose a strong referral. While you may have heard “No” or “Not now,” keep in mind this doesn’t necessarily mean “never.” Ask if you can contact them again next year for another “ask”.  In thirty years of vocational ministry, I’ve only had one person tell me not to call them back.  I once followed up with a potential leader four years in a row. Each year I called, we ended up having a fun conversation catching up about life, and whether or not it was the right time for leadership. The fourth year it was a “yes.”

4. Building Relational Capital:  Staying in their moment, not yours.

Even though someone has given you permission to call them back six months to a year later, the conversation needs to be as much about them and how they are doing, than just your need for more leaders. That’s why you need to write down the reason someone told you no the first time you called them. When I start this call-back conversation engaged and curious asking how their coaching little league went or getting an update on their parent’s health (both good reasons why they said no), most are surprised I actually remember those details.  It will also help you know if there’s no way you should be asking them to lead because they’re in the same situation they had been in the past.  A call not ending up in an ask reveals once again that you care more about them than just filling a slot.

Let’s be clear. Recruiting is hard work and rarely effective during office hours only. It’s one of the most challenging roles we have in ministry. It’s also one of the most rewarding opportunities we have to be involved in. It multiples impact, discipleship, and evangelism.  Every follower of Jesus we call to lead has a desire and passion to make a kingdom impact (Ephesians 2:10). It might be hard to see, but it’s there. Don’t let a “no” and a need to fill some slots cause you to miss it!

Dave Enns has been on staff at North Coast Church (the Sticky Church) since 1990 and is the lead pastor of their Small Groups Ministry.  He oversees a team of 25 staff, 1,400 lay leaders and over 6,000 who attend their home groups.
Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 82: Launching Your Group Well

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris, Brian, and Brandon discuss how to launch your small group well in the new year.

The 6 “Don’t’s”:

  1. Don’t assume everyone you ask will show up.
  2. Don’t take the Bible study portion of the experience lightly.
  3. Don’t be unintentional about when to launch and how much lead time to build in.
  4. Don’t conclude that your winsome personality will be enough.
  5. Don’t be flippant about the schedule.
  6. Don’t create false expectations early in the group life.

Blog Post:

Don’t Do These 6 Things When Starting a New Small Group

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 Leadership, Start New Groups

How to Train Your Small Group Leaders to Deal With Just About Anything

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by Dave Enns

One of the great privileges of leading small groups is having the opportunity to help someone work through a tough issue. Yet, the fear of dealing with these issues can actually cause a leader to never step up to lead, or to quit or do all they can to remain on the surface to avoid an issue. It’s also what can cause a well-intentioned leader to become a “Bible answer assault person,” quoting Bible verses at someone hoping to fix the problem, unaware of how to come alongside the person and help.

We ask our leaders to not focus on advice or problem solving, but rather to come alongside others to help them walk through their issues and point them to the right resources. To help our leaders embrace the tough stuff and create an environment for growth, we recommend they ask these four simple questions.

  1. How long have you been dealing with this?  (Duration of the issue)

Determining when the event happened and if it’s reoccurring is important in understanding the complexity of the issue. This will help determine how quickly and to what level you need to respond. An issue that has just come up will most likely require a different response time than one that has been around for five years. 

  1. Who else knows? (Involvement of others)

Finding out if you’re the only person they have ever told reveals their level of vulnerability, if they are operating in isolation on the issue, and it helps determine the kind of support and influence they have.  Finding out who gathers around them for support can make all the difference.  

  1. Have you received any advice or counsel on how to deal with this? (Level and quality of input)

Just because someone has told others about their issue doesn’t mean they have sought counsel on how to overcome it or are motivated to start dealing with it. They may only want others to sympathize with their difficulty. Who they have received advice from can make the difference. Finding out if there is input they received that they disagree with tells a lot about how they are processing the issue.

  1. What have you done so far, and do you have any plans for your next steps? (Game plan)

The response to this question tells you whether or not they know what to do next, and how involved you need to be to lend support and resources. It also helps communicate that action on their part will be necessary to deal with their struggle.

We have found that these four questions make it easy for any leader to gather context as they help their group members. These questions usually make finding the next steps and needed resources relatively straightforward. We also let our leaders know they never have to deal with an issue they don’t think they can handle. As pastors, we’re available if they need additional assistance, direction, or resources. And finally, we don’t ask our leaders to be experts in dealing with issues; we only ask that they care for those whom God has brought to them to help navigate their challenges. 

Dave Enns has been on staff at North Coast Church (the Sticky Church) since 1990 and is the lead pastor of their Small Groups Ministry.  He oversees a team of 25 staff, 1,400 lay leaders and over 6,000 who attend their home groups. 

Group Leadership, Start New Groups

Capturing the Momentum of Easter for Groups

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The timing of Easter Sunday this year provides a unique opportunity for small groups. When Easter is later on the calendar, it’s difficult for newly formed groups to get traction before the summer vacations start after Memorial Day. An April 1st Easter Sunday leaves two full months, and that’s plenty of time for a group to begin to build community. Here are four things you can do to capture the Easter momentum and create new groups that will thrive.

1. Recruit new leaders on Palm Sunday. 

Make an announcement that you are looking for leaders and hosts to launch new groups the week after Easter for unconnected people coming next Sunday. This call should emphasize the vision of community and discipleship for everyone in your church. Make sure that you have turbo-type training ready for the new leaders.

2. Choose an easy-to-use 6-week study for new groups.

You can choose one from this list, or sign-up for a 30-day preview of smallgroup.com. There are over 3000 studies to choose from on smallgroup.com, and many of them are video-enhanced, 6-week studies. You may also want to build custom sermon-based studies with smallgroup.com to go along with the sermon series. It’s always a good idea to start a new series on Easter to give people a reason to come back the next week.

3. Only announce the next sermon series and small groups on Easter.

With that many people in the room, it’s tempting to announce everything that you do as a church. Resist that temptation and only announce what the next series is and how people can get connected in groups. Truthfully, most people will be thinking about Easter lunch at the end of the service, so they will only have an attention span for one or two announcements. Make those the most important initiatives they need to hear: what they will learn if they come back, and how they can get connected in community.

4. Have a summer plan ready for groups.

You don’t want your new groups to cease to exist when vacations start, so plan to follow up with them the last week of April. They don’t have to continue meeting every week, but this is not the time to disband as a group. Give them ideas for doing something fun and missional through the next two months. That will help keep the new community going.

With some quick planning and recruiting, you can launch new small groups that will build on the excitement and momentum of Easter. 

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.

Group Leadership, Start New Groups

Don’t Do These 6 Things When Starting a New Small Group

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Within the last year, my wife and I have launched a home Bible study group through our church’s Life Group ministry. This isn’t our first time to launch a group—far from it. This time, however, I noticed several things about the process that I thought might make a great “Don’t, Dos” post for anyone either considering starting a group or in the process of starting a group. Here are 6 “Don’t, Do” lessons that we discovered in the process of launching our current group.

  1. Don’t: Assume Everyone You Ask Will Show Up. I know, I know. “Of course,” you might say. “Of course, everyone I invite won’t show up.” Even those who may have told you they will come, don’t count on it. Our group was not launched out of another group, so my wife and I actually had to recruit un-grouped couples—which adds another degree of difficulty. Even though I knew not everyone I invited would show up (not even those that said they would), I was still caught a little off guard the first night. Retrospectively, I realize that I was a little too careful about trying to get it just right. I invited 12 and felt confident about having 8 the first night. Do: Land on an ideal number and invite more than double the ideal number. For me, that means inviting 9 couples. For singles, I think you can bend that rule a little bit, but the basic ideology doesn’t change.
  1. Don’t: Take the Bible study portion of the experience lightly. This is critical. Even as someone who produces small group Bible studies on a daily basis, I realize that I approached my decision the wrong way. No question I chose a great Bible study. It was foundational for believers with content rightfully rooted in Scripture. It had application both for the individuals in the group and their families. The problem with my decision was that it was what I wanted to do. In the end, I realized, it was perhaps a little more bent on the academic and a little less bent on any kind of application to the lives of the group members. I knew all along the study I wanted to launch with. I was so sure, in fact, that I never really listened to the hearts of the people I was recruiting. Do: Just pay attention to what people are revealing to you about their spiritual needs. A great place to begin is with a historical figure like Joseph, or a Book of the Bible like Ephesians.
  1. Don’t: Be unintentional about when to launch and how much lead time to build in. We launched in the spring. I had been in several encouraging conversations about our need for new groups and families looking for a Life Group. We did some wise things, set a date, and began the process of inviting families that had no group home. In our excitement, we failed to look at the calendar. Most of us have astutely concluded that the best times to launch groups are January and September. This doesn’t mean that all other launch points are out of play; it’s just that they’re not quite as natural and may require additional planning. We launched a couple of weeks before spring break and about the time spring sports were ramping up with summer just around the corner. We made it through this season, but it took some hustling to keep our momentum. Do: Plan at least 6 weeks from your first small-group meeting and take measures to know the rhythms of your church and the families as their lives intersect with school and community. Know the calendar. Simply planning helps avoid poor launch times.
  1. Don’t: Conclude that your winsome personality will be enough. I caution against relying on the sheer force of personality for recruiting and beginning a Bible study group in your home. For starters, it’s not a great idea because, ultimately, this isn’t about you. It’s about Jesus Christ and how His death and resurrection plays out in the lives of believers. It’s important to remember that. But it also positions you, as the leader, as the emotional center of the group. While your energy and enthusiasm are supremely important, being the emotional center can be a drain on you down the road. An alternative approach would be focusing on potential group members themselves. Do: As you are engaging individuals and couples in pre-group encounters, be sure to listen for needs and articulate how you think this group will meet those needs and provide valuable community and disciple-making discussion.
  1. Don’t: Be flippant about the schedule. People like to know what to expect. As a group leader, it’s your responsibility to be sure the group has a direction, a focus, and something akin to a destination. Far too many groups enter into a, “So what do we want to study next?” conversation at or around the same time the current study is wrapping up. This shows a lack of commitment and doesn’t instill a great deal of confidence in the group leader as someone who is serious about disciple-making. I like to stay two studies ahead of our current Bible study experience. Pay attention to prayer needs for future Bible study experiences. I’ve learned to create a schedule and keep it in front of the group. Do: Create a 3-month schedule with built-in group outings, weeks off that may be due to travel or holidays, and discussion topics. If you’re using one of our studies, the Table of Contents makes this real easy. Review this every week. It creates a sense of expectation while also demonstrating your commitment to the group.
  1. Don’t: Create false expectations early in the group life. Leading up to our first meeting, I was making all these great plans with food and fellowship. One of the primary shows of hospitality that I had planned was a full meal. In fact, in my heart I thought a full meal might be one of those things that my wife and I offered every single group meeting. By no means should this be discouraged, and I realize that many groups make this a normal part of the group time. That being said, be very sure about any expectations that you might be setting. For instance, the full-meal-plus-Bible-study approach is the same thing you might be complaining about a few months later when group members are still at your house 3 hours later. Do: Keep the Bible study central to the group time so everyone knows why they are there. Make water and light snacks available early on in the group, but have the flexibility for a special occasion down the road.

This list is by no means exhaustive. When you’re starting a group, give good, devoted time to the who, how, what, and why. Our group is going great. We’re not immune to the same challenges anybody faces with busy schedules, personal lives, children, and activities, but we remain engaged with the gospel.

Group Leadership

The One Thing Your Group May Be Lacking

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Would you like your Bible study group to grow? There may be one thing you’re overlooking: prospecting.

During my college days I worked for the JC Penney company. For several years I sold men’s clothing on commission, and the big reason for my success was the way I worked my prospect file. I was religious about having every person who purchased from me fill out a short form with their basic contact information on it. It went into my prospect file, and every time we had a sale, I sent out hundreds of letters and postcards. People came in to see me specifically, and I watched my income grow. It paid for my college and seminary courses, and I won some cool prizes when the company had sales contests.

Prospecting (that’s what we called the process of maintaining a file and making contact regularly with prospects) is something I’ve learned is important when it comes to helping Bible study groups grow.

One reason that Bible study groups don’t grow is because the group doesn’t maintain a prospect file. In the book The Bonsai Theory of Church Growth, Dr. Ken Hemphill suggests that groups have one prospect for every member. Do you know how many prospects you have in a file? Do you have a file? If not, it’s time to get one! A group of 15 regular attenders should have a prospect file full of about 15 people’s names and contact information.

Church growth experts say that each of us know at least five people who are not involved in a small group. If a group has 10 people, then altogether the group knows 50 people who are potential prospects. All you have to do is collect the information about those people (names, addresses, emails, etc.) and begin contacting them regularly.

When my wife and I launched our new group in October 2012, our church provided a list of 49 prospects. We sent out letters and emails, and even made some phone calls. On our first day, 10 people came. We continued to work the prospect list, and the group ultimately grew to about 16-18 adults present each week.

Barna’s research has indicated that 1/3 of unchurched adults would attend a worship service or small group if they were invited. In the example above, if a group of 10 knows 50 prospects, and if 1/3 would attend if invited, then the group has the potential to grow by 16-17 people!

Think about creating a prospect file (electronic or paper) and send out regular invitations to your group’s fellowships, meals, and oh yes, Bible study! Many prospects will resonate with invitations to parties, and they actually become a part of your group before becoming an official part of your group. Others will be attracted to a Bible study topic you’re studying. The bottom line is,  if you aren’t prospecting on a regular basis and keeping an active prospect file, your group may decline over time because people move away, stop attending, or die. The possibility of growing your group can actually be tied to how aggressive you are in reaching out to prospects. Start and maintain a prospect file and watch your numbers grow!

This was an excerpt from kenbraddy.com. Ken Braddy is a group leader, and manages LifeWay’s adult ongoing Bible studies. He blogs daily about groups at kenbraddy.com.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 56: Jana Magruder On Kids and Groups

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On this week’s episode, Brian and Chris join Jana Magruder, the Director of LifeWay Kids. Passionate about kids ministry, Jana discusses the following questions:

  • Why is it important for kids to be in a small group as well as a large group setting in kids ministry?
  • What are the essentials to discipling kids?
  • What do children’s ministers look for in a small group leader for kids?
  • How can a church start a kid’s small group system if they don’t currently have one?
  • What should groups do about childcare?

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: Jana serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, the latter which she co-authored with her teenage daughter Morgan Grace. Jana and her husband, Michael, reside in Nashville along with their three children. You can follow Jana on Twitter.

Church Leadership, Group Leadership, Start New Groups

Leaders Can’t Do Everything

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Most people look for leaders in the church like they are trying to fill a job—they look for the most competent person available. This may seem like a good idea at first, but it excludes people who may not appreciate the gifts they have. Having strong competent leaders is a blessing, but if you only seek out people who are ready to lead right now you are missing a great opportunity to build leaders through groups.

The reality is that not all leaders come to us fully formed. The best future leaders of your groups may be those who don’t show an ability or even a desire to lead right now. So how do we equip and identify leaders who do not come to us ready to hit the ground running?

We do it by equipping our current leaders to share the responsibility of leadership with others.

We build future leaders by refusing to do everything. Such an approach cultivates a culture where new leaders are continually being trained and sent out. This type of shared leadership is effective for at least a few reasons. 

  1. The best leaders are actually the ones who defer to others. Good leaders let different people lead in different areas. Most small groups include the following elements—teaching, praying, and cultivating relationships. Someone in your group is likely better at one of these things than you. As you identify this, encourage them to take ownership in that particular gifting.
  1. Developing leaders gradually allows group members to grow in their calling. Jesus didn’t send the twelve out immediately. They only went out after they spent time with Him and observed what He did. Gradually, Jesus gave the disciples responsibilities in the mission. They grew in their calling, as well as their ability to depend on Jesus.
  1. Refusing to do everything helps group members see that community is not dependent upon leadership or personality. Everyone loves to have a dynamic group leader, but groups are not about the leadership gifts of one person. Rather, groups are a conglomeration of individual members of the body of Christ coming together. Refusing to do everything trains the people in groups to take responsibility and see that a group is about everyone—not just the leader.

We build leaders by not doing everything. 

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.

Group Leadership, Start New Groups

Seven Myths About Small Groups

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Although church-sponsored small groups have been around for awhile, there are still misconceptions about what they are—or are not. With that in mind, here are seven popular myths that I hear about small groups.

1. Groups are for everyone—all of the time.

It’s okay for people to take breaks from group life occasionally. Even Jesus retreated from His small group from time to time. A semester system can give group members and leaders time to catch their breath in between studies.

2. Off-campus groups are more effective than on-campus groups.

Both approaches to groups have pluses and minuses. A church leader has to decide what the end goal for a group experience is, and then decide where that best takes place. It may actually be both.

3. Group leaders have to be fully trained before starting a group.

Some initial training is necessary, but most training will be more effective after the group starts and leaders begin to have their own real world examples. The church should consider providing ongoing, as-needed online training.

4. Small groups are not weird.

I can almost guarantee that for most people, attending a small group in someone’s home for the first time is a strange experience. It was for me, but then again, so was eating sushi. Make sure to set the expectations for a group experience at the beginning. A good groups connection event can help ease people into group life.

5. Small groups will solve everyone’s discipleship needs.

An ongoing small group of 8-12 believers is a great environment to begin a discipleship journey, but most people will need something smaller and more focused in order to continue that journey. A 3-1 or 4-1 same-sex “D-group” (discipleship group) can offer better accountability and more open conversations.

6. There is a perfect small groups system.

Every church has its own DNA and approach to ministry. A wise small group pastor will take good practices from other churches and shape them to work in their context. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment. Every established practice once started with a crazy idea.

7. A good small group can exist without good food.

This one may just be about me.

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.