Leading Small Groups That Thrive

Leading Small Groups That Thrive
Author: Ryan T. Hartwig
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2020-08-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310106710

Nearly every church is trying to help their congregants build relationships with others, grow as disciples, and/or engage in meaningful service through small groups. Many have argued that these small groups are the preferred vehicle for relationship building, disciple making, and membership assimilation in the local church, especially in large, multisite churches. Leading Small Groups That Thrive shows small group leaders, step by step, how to plan for, launch, build, sustain, and multiply highly effective, transformational, healthy small group experiences where people grow spiritually together. Based on a large-scale research study of small group pastors, leaders, and members, Leading Small Groups That Thrive gives church leaders both what they want--practical, straightforward, actual small group member voices and experiences, and compelling guidance on how to build transformational groups complemented with real-life examples and data of successful small groups--and what they need--substantial, challenging insights and a data-driven model grounded in the latest research on church small groups.

Being a Small Group Leader

Being a Small Group Leader
Author: Richard Sweatman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 67
Release: 2018-09
Genre: Christian leadership
ISBN: 9781925424324

A short, practical book that encourages leaders of small groups to grow in 5 key areas: knowledge of God, character, teaching ability, encouragement of others, and team leadership.

What Every Small Group Leader Should Know

What Every Small Group Leader Should Know
Author: Larry Kreider
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2010-08-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441268413

With more than thirty years of experience in leading small groups, pioneer Larry Kreider writes, "I am completely convinced that if God can use me, He can use anyone!" Most people have untapped leadership potential, and unleashing those abilities is often just a matter of equipment and motivation. What Every Small-Group Leader Should Know is the go-to guide for plenty of both. Whether readers have already taken a step of faith into a leadership position or are still praying about the possibility, this will become an indispensable handbook of practical tips, tools, and suggestions. At the heart of this book is a big-picture vision of biblical service. Jesus said that whoever wants to be great in His kingdom must become a servant (see Mark 10:43). That passion for meeting others' needs is the difference between ho-hum and effective, thriving leaders.

Leading Life-Changing Small Groups

Leading Life-Changing Small Groups
Author: Bill Donahue
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2012-05-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310423422

Like nothing else, small groups have the power to change lives. They are the ideal route to discipleship—a place where the rubber of biblical truth meets the road of human relationships. However, church leaders often feel at a loss when it comes to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of group life in a church, and they struggle with understanding and solving the root causes of problems. Group Life resources provide in ebook format the practical tools and training resources needed to develop life-changing small group leaders, coaches to shepherd group leaders, and ultimately, a thriving church-wide small group ministry. These resources include the updated and revised versions of the best-selling Leading Life-Changing Small Groups and Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders, the new Building a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry and the supplemental Group Life Training DVD. Appropriate for individual or group study, the books function as manuals and workbooks that teach and allow readers to process and record information as they learn. Downloadable web-based vision clips and supplemental videos in the DVD help readers explore and discuss topics further. Group Life Resources conveniently integrate with the ReGroupTM curriculum, giving trainers the option to use them together. The updated and revised third edition of Bill Donahue’s best-selling Leading Life-Changing Small Groups will help church leaders prepare small group leaders who can successfully facilitate gatherings and shepherd group participants.

The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders

The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders
Author: Bill Search
Publisher:
Total Pages: 155
Release: 2017-09-05
Genre: Christian leadership
ISBN: 9780917463778

Most small-group leaders don't have time to read a book on small groups. Most barely have time to lead a group, much less explore the ins and outs of group ministry. They just want to know how to lead their group well! In this book, you'll find simple, clear answers presented in quick lists so you can easily find what you need.

Gospel Coach

Gospel Coach
Author: Scott Thomas
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2012-05-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310494346

In order to help pastors and other Christian leaders to lovingly lead God’s flock to Jesus Christ and into God’s mission, Scott Thomas and Tom Wood clarify a process of coaching and shepherding that is rooted in the patterns of the Good Shepherd himself, a process in which leaders stir up the gifts, passion, and calling upon others’ lives. This book addresses the needs of the leader, his or her sinful tendencies, and church leadership issues. It directs the leader to the person and work of Jesus. It provides a system to intentionally shepherd leaders to glorify God in their personal, spiritual, and missional lives. Many ministry leaders serving in churches find themselves overwhelmed, disillusioned, and depressed by the enormous and challenging task of leading and ministering in a congregation. As a result, the ministry suffers, the leaders suffer, and the result is often an unhealthy church existent with little or no Gospel influence. These leaders need someone to shepherd their soul so that they can lead others to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We suggest that coaching for the church leader looks less like corporate consulting or humanistic psychology and more like biblical-shepherding. We suggest that every church leader needs a Gospel Coach to come alongside with words of truth, wisdom and experience to encourage, admonish, comfort and help—words drawn from Scripture and godly wisdom, grounded in the gracious saving work of Jesus Christ, and presented in the context of a trusting relationship. Gospel Coaching is an intentional relationship to skillfully care for others with four ancient shepherding principles: 1) Know the sheep, 2) Feed the sheep, 3) Lead the sheep, and 4) Protect the sheep. A Gospel Coach both inquires about the personal, spiritual, and missional aspects of a ministry leader’s life in a loving yet focused manner, and also probes the church leader for compulsive unbelief or selfish motivation, or disobedience and sin, and leads the ministry leader back to the Gospel, through belief, repentance and obedience. Churches that desire to be rich in a Gospel application toward their city, their relationships with one another, their communication and worship, as well as their service, will benefit to a greater degree by having their leaders being coached by a Gospel-centered leader.

Building a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry

Building a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry
Author: Bill Donahue
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2012-04-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310423430

Like nothing else, small groups have the power to change lives. They are the ideal route to discipleship—a place where the rubber of biblical truth meets the road of human relationships. However, church leaders often feel at a loss when it comes to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of group life in a church, and they struggle with understanding and solving the root causes of problems. Group Life resources provide, in ebook format, the practical tools and training resources needed to develop life-changing small group leaders, coaches to shepherd group leaders, and ultimately, a thriving church-wide small group ministry. These resources include the updated and revised versions of the best-selling Leading Life-Changing Small Groups and Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders, the new Building a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry and the supplemental Group Life Training DVD. Appropriate for individual or group study, the books function as manuals and workbooks that teach and allow readers to process and record information as they learn. Downloadable web-based vision clips and supplemental videos in the DVD help readers explore and discuss topics further. Group Life Resources conveniently integrate with the ReGroupTM curriculum, giving trainers the option to use them together. Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson’s Building a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry presents a broad introduction for pastors and point leaders to use as they navigate through the process of establish-ing and developing independent groups or a church-wide ministry of small groups.

Making Small Groups Work

Making Small Groups Work
Author: Henry Cloud
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2010-02-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310859409

Lead small groups through astounding growth with principles from the best-selling books How People Grow and Boundaries.No matter what need brings a group of people together—from marriage enrichment to divorce recovery, from grief recovery to spiritual formation—members are part of a small group because they want to grow. This book by psychologists Henry Cloud and John Townsend provides small-group leaders with valuable guidance and information on how they can help their groups to grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. With insights from their best-selling book How People Grow, Cloud and Townsend show how God’s plan for growth is made up of three key elements: grace plus truth plus time. When groups embrace those elements, they find God’s grace and forgiveness and learn how to handle their imperfections without shame as they model God’s love and support to one another.In addition to describing what makes small groups work, Leading Small Groups That Help People Grow explains the roles and responsibilities of both leaders and group members. Employing tenets from the book How People Grow, this book equips leaders to understand the ins and outs of how to promote growth, and using principles from their best-selling book Boundaries, they show how to identify and find solutions for common problems such as boredom, noncompliance, passivity, aggression, narcissism, spiritualization, over-neediness, over-giving, and nonstop talking.

Community

Community
Author: Brad House
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2011-09-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433523175

Community within the church today is hemorrhaging. Attention spans are dwindling, noise levels are increasing, and we can't seem to find time for real relationships. The answer to such social fragmentation can be found in small groups, and yet the majority of small groups—at least in the traditional sense—are often not the intentional, transformational community we really want and need. Somehow we need to get our groups off life support and into authentic community. Pastor Brad House helps us to re-imagine what gospel-centered community looks like and shares from his experience leading and reproducing healthy small groups. With wisdom and candor, House challenges us to think carefully about our own groups and to take steps toward cultivating communities that are able to glorify Jesus, bless one another, and participate in the mission of God.

Leading Small Groups with Purpose

Leading Small Groups with Purpose
Author: Steve Gladen
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2012-02-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441235876

For the new small group leader, the seasoned leader who feels their small group lacks purpose, or the leader who is itching to move their small group to the next level, Leading Small Groups with Purpose is the road map to follow. Steve Gladen, author of Small Groups with Purpose and pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church for more than a decade, takes small group leaders step-by-step toward a healthy, dynamic group with focus and purpose. Every chapter includes ideas that small group leaders can implement immediately as well as ways to shape their small groups over time. Gladen helps leaders define success clearly, develop a personal leadership plan, invite members into the group, and shepherd members through fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship. He also includes a chapter devoted to addressing problems proactively and using them as opportunities for growth. Includes a foreword by John Ortberg and a free small group assessment tool ($12.50 value).