Group Answers Podcast

November 18, 2020

November 11, 2020

Group Answers Episode 178: Avoiding Drift in Discipleship

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris, Brian and Brandon talk about ways to avoid drifting in discipleship, even when everything else in life seems to be moving.

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 Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast

November 4, 2020

Group Answers Podcast, Uncategorized

October 28, 2020

Group Answers Episode 176: Steve Gladen

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of the Group Answers podcast, Chris and Brian sit down with Steve Gladen to talk about next steps for online and in-person groups.

Expressing the Five Purposes in an Online Small Group

Worship online:

Find a worship song on YouTube, share your screen on your Zoom meeting, and sing together.
Create “My Small Group Playlist” on Spotify and have members add their favorite worship songs to listen to during workouts, drives, or chores around the house.
Pick a time to watch the weekly online worship service together on a Zoom meeting.
Have a group member track prayer requests using a Google Doc, shared the link, and regularly give updates on how God has answered past prayers.
Host a communion worship time during your online meeting. The week before taking communion, instruct group members to purchase crackers and juice to have ready on the next group meeting. Contact your Connection Pastor for further details.
Interested in diving into deeper theological topics? Take “Foundations: 11 Core Truths to Build Your Life On” together at Saddleback.thinkific.com/courses/foundations. Spend a few minutes in your group time to discuss what you’re each learning.
Explore having each group member plan a personal retreat using the resources at Saddleback.com/connect/ministry/retreat-ministry. Set a date, walk through the details on a group meeting, have the personal retreat, and during your next group meeting discuss what God revealed to each of you.
Use the “Journey with Jesus” 360 tour option Saddleback.com/learn/journey-with-jesus.
Pick a book on the topic of “Worship” from the recommended list on Saddleback.com/learn/recommended-books to read together.
Pick a small group study that focuses on growing in the area of “Worship” on Saddleback.com/watch by selecting Small Group Studies and filter by purpose.

Fellowship online:

Spend 15 minutes during your group meeting for everyone in the group to unmute themselves and answer a fun icebreaker question. Examples: What is your favorite movie? What is your dream vacation spot? Who is the most interesting person you ever met? More icebreaker tips: https://museumhack.com/list-icebreakers-questions/#awkwardquestions
Play Pictionary on Zoom by using the Whiteboard feature. Have the host pick a few items to be drawn, have the person drawing share their screen and select Whiteboard, the host would direct message the person on chat the word to be drawn, and everyone would guess by unmuting or typing into the chat.
Visit www.getcharadesideas.com and play charades during an online video call.
Build a small group calendar on gmail.com to keep important dates like birthdates, group meetings, and anniversaries.
Create a Facebook Group to interact throughout the week.
Plan a future vacation or meetup to connect in-person even if its years down the road (Dream together!).
Discuss who is and isn’t baptized in your group. Have those who have been baptized share their experience and discuss how to help facilitate the baptisms of those who haven’t yet. Contact your Connection Pastor to find out how to get baptized remotely.
Pick a book on the topic of “Fellowship” from the recommended list on Saddleback.com/learn/recommended-books to read together.
Pick a small group study that focuses on growing in the area of “Fellowship” on Saddleback.com/watch by selecting Small Group Studies and filter by purpose.

Discipleship online:

Pick a Bible.com reading plan to go through together or use the YouVersion app.
Use the YouVersion app and regularly talk about your Bible reading “Streak”, which is the number of days in a row you’ve read the Bible.
Plan on taking CLASS 101, 201, 301, & 401 together.
Commit to listening through a book of the Bible commentary using DriveTimeDevotions.com as the guide.
Identify accountability partners by pairing up on the group meeting.
Memorize a verse together. Decide on the verse to memorize. Keep your first group verse simple. Regularly give updates in your group text thread or Facebook Group how the memorizing is going. On your next online meeting, give a chance for every group member to attempt to recite the verse. Give grace where grace is needed.
Dedicate a group time to complete Financial Freedom Workshop online at Saddleback.com/connect/ministry/financial-freedom-ministries
Pick a book on the topic of “Discipleship” from the recommended list on Saddleback.com/learn/recommended-books to read together.
Pick a small group study that focuses on growing in the area of “Discipleship” on Saddleback.com/watch by selecting Small Group Studies and filter by purpose.

Ministry online:

Have group members active in an online ministry share their experience with serving with Saddleback’s Online Campus.
Take time to discuss each group member’s S.H.A.P.E. profile discovered in CLASS 301 and talk about online ministry options for each individual.
Decide on a local serving project the entire group can do offline in their city. For example, each group member can hand out a sack lunch to a person in need or volunteer at their local food bank. Pick a date to finish the serve project and on your next group meeting discuss what God taught each member by serving locally.
Pick a book on the topic of “Ministry” from the recommended list on Saddleback.com/learn/recommended-books to read together.
Pick a small group study that focuses on growing in the area of “Ministry” on Saddleback.com/watch by selecting Small Group Studies and filter by purpose.

Evangelism online:

Have each group member name two people they are praying to come to know Christ and regularly discuss any updates. Create a shared Google Doc to keep track of names, and when someone is saved.
Dedicate a group meeting to allow for each group member to practice sharing their testimony in five minutes. There are three phases of sharing your testimony: 1. What was your life like before Christ? 2. How did you come to know Christ? 3. What is your life like after putting your faith in Christ? Provide any constructive feedback after each group member shares their story.
Have each group member commit to hosting a Watch Party in their own home. Pick a weekend to host the Watch Party, talk about who you’re each inviting, discuss the details of the Watch Party, pray for those being invited, and host the party. On your next group meeting, discuss what God did through each group member taking this step of faith hosting a Watch Party offline.
Consider having each online group member host a secondary outreach focused small group in their home or workplace for a special Saddleback study that will only last a few weeks. Discuss who each member is inviting to this special small group study, pray for those being invited, keep each other accountable on hosting the group, and discuss what God did through this secondary small group.
Have your group talk about going on a PEACE Trip the next year. Openly discuss if group members are open to traveling outside of the country. Test out the idea by doing a local serve project individually, as mentioned above, and if that goes smooth contact your Connection Pastors for further details.
Pick a book on the topic of “Evangelism” from the recommended list on Saddleback.com/learn/recommended-books to read together.
Pick a small group study that focuses on growing in the area of “Evangelism” on Saddleback.com/watch by selecting Small Group Studies and filter by purpose.

Episode Sponsor

Ministry Grid wants to help your church stay on the same page and maintain discipleship in the midst of this unique season. They are offering a special offer specifically for our podcast listeners to get unlimited access for $399/year. Just go to ministrygrid.com/podcasts to learn more.

This offer is only valid through October 31 at midnight. So make sure you sign up before the end of the month.

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October 21, 2020

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October 7, 2020

Group Answers Episode 173: How to be a Great Small Group Member

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian discuss 10 ways to be a great small group member.

Blog Article

10 Ways to be a Great Small Group Member

Episode Sponsor

This offer is only valid through October 31 at midnight. So make sure you sign up before the end of the month.

Group Answers Podcast

September 30, 2020

Group Answers Episode 172: Leading Small Groups that Thrive

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris sit down with the authors of the recently released book, Leading Small Groups that Thrive.

DR. RYAN T. HARTWIG

Ryan T. Hartwig, (PhD, University of Colorado Boulder), is dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Communication at Colorado Christian University. He has taught courses in group, organizational and leadership communication for more than fifteen years, and he has led, trained and developed teams and small groups for more than twenty years in universities and churches.

His first book, Teams That Thrive: Five Disciplines of Collaborative Church Leadership (with Warren Bird) was published by Intervarsity Press and awarded the 2015 Outreach Magazine Leadership Resource of the Year.

With a heart that beats for discipleship and leadership development, Ryan frequently speaks at conferences, retreats, and seminars; consults with pastors and ministry leaders regarding senior leadership teams, teamwork in ministry, and small-group ministry design and leadership; and writes for numerous church leadership publications including Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, and Influence.

Most importantly, Ryan journeys through life with his wife Jill and four children Halle, Alia, Katelyn and Matthew. They enjoy a full family life, enjoying the mountains of Colorado, rooting for the Broncos, playing board games, and hanging out with family and friends.

DR. COURTNEY W. DAVIS

Courtney Wong Davis (PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara) is associate professor of Communication Management at Azusa Pacific University, where she serves as Program Director and teaches organizational, small group, and professional communication from a biblical worldview. Courtney’s research has been published in the Nonprofit Management & Leadership, Communication Quarterly, and Southern Communication Journal.

As an executive coach and expert in organizational membership, Courtney has studied and consulted with business organizations, church and parachurch organizations, and other nonprofit organizations. Courtney coaches executives and organizational leaders to explore creative solutions to complex challenges, clarifying individual values, understanding organizational culture, and facilitating confidence in moving in a new direction.

Her more challenging (and even more rewarding!) work is raising two boys, Luke and Theo, alongside her husband Matt. Together, they love reading, cooking, serving their local church, riding bikes, playing board games, and enjoying big Saturday sabbath breakfasts and adventures.

JASON A. SNIFF

Jason A. Sniff, (M.A., Baylor University), is Pastor of Small Groups at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, IL. He has been in and around ministry for over 10 years and spent much of that time in developing leaders, ministry, and equipping groups to impact the world around them. Prior to officially working in and on ministry, Jason spent 13 years in higher education at various colleges and universities counseling, discipling, teaching, and training college students to take their next steps.

Jason has authored and co-authored a number of small group resources and studies, and contributed devotional writings for Eastview. More importantly, he is husband to an amazing wife, and the father of 6 very crazy but equally awesome kids. Jason and Team Sniff (the name he gives to his family) live on the edge of Normal.

Group Answers Podcast

September 23, 2020

Group Answers Podcast

September 16, 2020

Group Answers Episode 170: Multiplying Disciple-Making During a Pandemic

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris, Brian, and Brandon discuss how churches and groups can multiply disciple-making during this pandemic.

Tips:

1. Redefine the disciple-making environments.
2. Expand who the disciple-makers are.
3. Equip the disciple-makers with training.
4. Release control of disciple-making.
5. Create a disciple-making pathway.

Group Answers Episode 178: Avoiding Drift in Discipleship

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