Category: Small Groups

  • Connections Ministry 4.5 Serving in the Church

    This is the fourth of five chapters in a 25 part blog series titled: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy, published over a five week period. Everything I have posted here is the result of my own personal experiences, from serving on church staffs, volunteering as a lay leader, and being brought in as…

  • Connections Ministry 4.4 Topical Electives

    This is the fourth of five chapters in a 25 part blog series titled: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy, published over a five week period. Everything I have posted here is the result of my own personal experiences, from serving on church staffs, volunteering as a lay leader, and being brought in as…

  • Connections Ministry 4.3 “Starting Point” Groups

    This is the fourth of five chapters in a 25 part blog series titled: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy, published over a five week period. Everything I have posted here is the result of my own personal experiences, from serving on church staffs, volunteering as a lay leader, and being brought in as…

  • Connections Ministry 4.2 Group Launch Curriculum

    This is the fourth of five chapters in a 25 part blog series titled: The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy, published over a five week period. Everything I have posted here is the result of my own personal experiences, from serving on church staffs, volunteering as a lay leader, and being brought in as…

  • The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy

    The Five Elements of a Fully Implemented Connections Strategy: A 25 Part Blog Series Introduction: Implementing a Connections strategy (or “Assimilation” strategy) is a long term process, and one that relies on a culture of continual improvement. In other words, it relies on a culture that isn’t afraid to do a 360 degree self-evaluation on…

  • The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups (Full Version)

    My readers provided some very positive feedback about my previous series “The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups” so here are all five blog entries in one, single location.  The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Share everybody’s personal information. When I friend you on Facebook, it doesn’t mean I want to buy Pampered Chef…

  • Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (5 of 5)

    The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Assume childcare is no big deal. The absolute dumbest thing you can do is claim small groups (or any other meeting for that matter) are essential and vital to your mission, and follow up with the phrase “childcare will not be provided.” Childcare is a really big…

  • Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (4 of 5)

    The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Make your small group into its own church. Your small group is the front line of your church disciple making strategy; it is not a separate entity. If you really believe your church is on the wrong track unless you do certain things against the church’s wishes…

  • Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (3 of 5)

    The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Micromanage your small group attendees. If you’ve ever said “We want life changing discussion to take place, and I’m glad tonight was the night you understood God wanted you to deal with some things, but we’re on a schedule and snack time just started” then you’re doing…