November 3, 2009
A New Day for the Blog
Check out our shiny new schedule and features.
You know how in some families there will be one kid that has a bunch of problems and takes up most of the parents' attention? And then the other kids get the short end of the stick a little bit because they behave normally, which means the parents let them do their own thing and don't spend a lot of energy on them?
Well, that kind of summarizes the relationship between www.SmallGroups.com and this blog in the past year. SmallGroups.com is the older child, and while it contains the lion's share of the features and resources, it has also generated a great deal of problems that have absorbed just about all of my time and attention. Which means I haven't had a lot of energy to focus on this blog.
But things are changing! We are gradually working the bugs out of SmallGroups.com, and I am going to make a conscious effort to give this blog more of the time and attention it deserves.
Starting with this new schedule for regular features and posts:
Monday: Dot Com(unity) [starting in January]
Tuesday: LiveBooking
Wednesday: Question of the Week
Thursday: Video of the Week
Friday: Friday Flashback
I'll explain some of these terms in more detail after the jump below, but I also want to emphasize that these will not be the only posts added to the blog each week. We'll still have regular, article-length posts from myself, Dan Lentz, and the other authors you've come to know and love over the past year—all focused on helping you grow as small-group leaders.
Continue reading A New Day for the Blog...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 9:45 AM on November 3, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
LiveBooking! "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus"
Check out this new weekly feature for the blog.
Welcome to the first post on what will be a weekly feature on Small Group Dynamics: LiveBooking!
You've probably all heard of LiveBlogging by now. It's when someone attends a conference or event and then writes blog posts about speakers or experiences as they are happening. I recently had some fun LiveBlogging from the Willow Creek Small Groups Conference, for example, and you can see some examples of it here, here, here, and here.
So what is LiveBooking, you ask? Well, I had so much fun at the Willow conference that I asked myself, How can I do this more often? My answer was books. There are a great many books that intersect with small-groups ministry and the spiritual formation/growth of individual believers. And I know that group leaders often don't have time to read them all, just like most group leaders don't have the time or money to attend a lot of conferences.
So, I will spend a good chunk of time each week reading through a book that I think will benefit regular small-group leaders. And then I'll write about what I've read, both summarizing and giving my opinion. It will be kind of like "Cliff's Notes," but for group leaders! And then you can all add in your opinions and experiences, and we could have a real opportunity for learning and growth each week.
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus
The first book I'll be blogging through is called Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg (Zondervan, 2009). This is a book that I actually received several months ago, and I've been excited to read it ever since.
Here's a quote from the 1st chapter of the book that shows why I've been waiting for a chance to get this off my shelf:
Continue reading LiveBooking! "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus"...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 8:52 AM on November 3, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
October 27, 2009
Renewing our Small Group Purpose
Stop "going to church" and start "being the church!"
It’s always important to think about the purpose of small groups. Whenever I think about this issue, I almost always go back to examining the New Testament pattern of church to confirm the “why” of small groups.
Consider some of the history of the early church:
Though there's a lot we don't know about the early church, we can learn a lot from the New Testament, especially the letters of Paul. Paul uses the word "ekklesia," which from pre-Christian days meant "any gathering of a group of people," to refer to a gathering of people before God. The gatherings were usually small, probably 30 members on average, and the people often belonged to the same household or guild. Sometimes several such groups met together, but this was probably rare before the third century, when special buildings for Christian worship began to be constructed. Small groups of Christians met regularly for worship, encouragement, and instruction as early as the first decades of Christianity, but it's not quite accurate to call them "small groups" in the contemporary sense. These groups didn't think of themselves as the more personal, relational aspect of a larger church, as many small groups do now—they were the only church that members knew. (Taken from BuildingChurchLeaders.com “Ask Christian History”)
That last statement, for me, is the real key: "These groups didn't think of themselves as the more personal, relational aspect of a larger church, as many small groups do now—they were the only church that members knew." As we consider the early days of the church, it doesn’t make sense to see small groups (or whatever you want to call them) as the "what is missing, help people connect, add one more thing to my schedule" component of church. Instead, is it possible for all relational, purposeful gatherings of Christ-followers, whether small or large, to be simply looked at as just "being the church"?
If we could see church as not something that we do, so much as something we are, then the small-group gatherings (or large-group worship services, for that matter) would just be part of the natural expression of "being the church." And with that vision and purpose, small groups don’t become the forced add-on to what we now think of as "church." Rather, smaller gatherings are simply an expression of the overall organism of the Body of Christ. Then we can gain freedom from the purpose of "going to church" and replace it with the purpose of "being the church."
posted by Dan Lentz at 8:08 AM on October 27, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
October 24, 2009
Group Life: Bill Donahue
Have you experienced "text abuse"?
I just finished listening to Bill Donahue speak at the Willow Group Life conference. His talk was a bit different from the first sessions in that it dealt specifically with the group leader's role in Bible study and facilitation, which was cool.
Some of what Bill said was pretty basic, but one point especially stood out to me. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but here's what he said about some people's use of the Bible: "When we use our strength to force or beat someone, that is physical abuse. When we use our tongues to cut people, that is verbal abuse. When we enforce our will over children, that's child abuse. And when we use the Bible as a weapon or a method of control, that is textual abuse."
That idea needs to be shouted from the rooftops. So many people feel like the Bible is a club to be wielded against those who need it. They feel that change happens through bludgeoning with verses. And this happens in small groups all the time. If someone's opinion is different than mine, I stone them with BIble verses until they submit or shut down.
This needs to stop. But how? As a group leader, what should we do when this starts happening in our group?
posted by Sam O'Neal at 1:28 PM on October 24, 2009 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)
Group Life: Heather Zempel
Very good stuff from one of our favorite authors!
If you're not familiar with Heather Zempel, you need to go to SmallGroups.com right now and search for what she's written there. It's all great stuff. You can also go to her blog, which is called Wineskins for Discipleship.
Today at Group Life, Heather talked about the reality of mess in small groups. Specifically, the fact that messes are given in any place where human beings come together. I intellectually agree with everything that Heather said, including different ways to engage and address the messes as a process for growth.
But I've not experienced a lot of this recently. I'm in a pretty clean group right now, and I guess that scares me. Are the group members just not opening up? Am I not providing the right kind of atmosphere for them to open up? Is it possible that we're just in a time of little trouble right now, and we really all like each other as much as we claim to?
I wish I had answers to these questions, but I'm pretty blank right now. I'm going to chew on this for a little while, but I'm curious what all of you are experiencing, as well. Got mess? (reminds me of those milk commercials.) And if not, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Is that your fault as the leader, or the fault of your group members?
posted by Sam O'Neal at 11:55 AM on October 24, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Group Life: Dr. Henry Cloud
Is deep, personal confrontation really realistic?
I'm sure most of you are familiar with Dr. Henry Cloud from the "Boundaries" series of books and videos, but you might not be aware that he is also a big, big advocate of small groups. He speaks regularly at different conferences, and he's got a pretty cool book out called "Making Small Groups Work."
Dr. Cloud's talk at the conference today was very cool, but there was one thing that kept bugging me as he spoke. He told several different stories about different groups he's been a part of or heard about, and all of the stories dealt with some kind of deeper interaction or confrontation. For example, he talked about someone from his group telling him that they were bugged by his habit of not hearing what people said and just talking about what was on his mind. There was another story about a guy who was beaten down by his father, and the group encouraged him to call his father on the phone right then and there and disagree with him three times.
Lots more stories like that, and they all had the common thread of confrontation within a group—not confrontation like this person talks to much or sings too loud, but confrontation like, "I want you to be a better person, so I am going to tell you the areas where you are weak so that the group can help you get stronger."
And that sounds really cool to me, that idea. But I've not experienced it in a group. And frankly, I'm not sure I have the guts to initiate something like that. Spiritual growth and education, yes. If someone confesses a sin, I'll be there with support and whatever they need. But personal confrontation with the sins and bad habits of another person? Not right now.
Is that a place I need to grow as a group participant? As a group leader? Or is that kind of experience not realistic for a small group that is not led by a professional psychiatrist?
posted by Sam O'Neal at 11:05 AM on October 24, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
From Group Life: Mindy Caliguire
Why the soul of a group leader is the most important thing
I'm listening to Mindy Caliguire speak at the Willow Group Life conference. If you don't know of Mindy, she is a powerful and growing voice in the world of spiritual formation. She's got good stuff to say in several books, and I'll actually be talking with her early in November, so you'll be able to see that interview.
Mindy also has good stuff to say here at the conference. She's talking about the soul—especially the soul of a small-group leader. According to Mindy, there are many things she used to think were the most important qualifications for a group leader. All the usual stuff -- listening skills, Bible knowledge, hospitality, etc. But now she has only one answer. The most important qualification for a small-group leader is that he or she is leading from a healthy soul.
And that reminds me of some really cool research that was conducted by Jim Egli and some other folks who made a nationwide study of several hundred churches. They looked at churches who were doing small groups well, but specifically at small groups that were healthy. And they discovered some common habits of healthy small groups.
Here are the biggest two:
1. The vast majority of healthy small groups had group leaders who had a regular and fruitful devotional time with God every day.
2. The vast majority of healthy small groups had group leaders who prayed for their group members by name every day.
Those sound like group leaders who have healthy souls, to me.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 9:31 AM on October 24, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
From Group Life: Talking about Courage
I haven't thought of this before...
I just listened to the first session here at the Willow Creek Small Groups conference, which featured Dave Johnston. He's the pastor at Church of the Open Door in Minneapolis, MN.
He was talking about spiritual formation, which is a pretty common topic. And he gave three non-negotiable elements of change. The first and third were authenticity and grace. And those are also pretty common—good stuff, but common.
But sandwiched in the middle was the idea of courage. It takes courage to be authentic. And I think that is huge. I have not heard that word connected to community and small groups before, but I sure think it should be. What better word for the emotional strength it takes to remove all the masks in front of other people? What better word for what it takes to confess sin?
Let's talk about this a little more: how does Courage fit in with your experience of small groups?
posted by Sam O'Neal at 9:01 AM on October 24, 2009 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)
LIve Blog: From the Willow Creek Small Group Conference
Join us all day!
Hello everyone,
It's about 8 in the morning, and I'm here at the Willow Creek Small Groups Conference! I'll be live-blogging all day, so be sure to check back often to hear what's being seen and said at this important event.
I'll also be tweeting regularly, so be sure to check out our Twitter page. Our name is @smallgroupscom, and the hash tag for the conference is #grouplife.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 7:57 AM on October 24, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
October 13, 2009
On Time
Quick words of wisdom on starting and stopping each gathering
Start group meetings on time or you’re punishing those who did right.
Start group meetings on time or the majority of group members will start showing up late.
Start group meetings on time or you won’t be able to end them on time.
End group meetings on time or some group members will have to deal with angry baby sitters.
End group meetings on time or some group members will walk out before the meeting ends.
End group meetings on time or some group members will leave the group for good.
When the Holy Spirit is doing something special… stay as long necessary.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 4:09 PM on October 13, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
October 8, 2009
Eliminating Dangerous Routines
Don’t settle for what you’ve always done
My experience with rock climbing has been limited to the artificial rock walls and high ropes courses. But I appreciate that rock climbing, like small groups, is an activity that is risky enough that it should be done in community.
If you are not familiar with rock climbing, you typically have one person climbing while someone else holds the safety ropes. The person holding the safety ropes is called the “belay.” When the climber is ready to proceed up the rock, the procedure is to communicate with the belayer. "On belay" means that the belayer is operating the belay device, ready to "catch" the climber in the event of a fall. "On belay" essentially means, "I've got you, it is safe to proceed." "Off belay" means the opposite: "I am not manning the belay device, so exercise extreme caution." Many climbing accidents happen because of poor communication between the climber and belayer.
I was reading an article on BusinessWeek.com that talked about the routines of rock climbers and noted the risk involved as climbers interact: “Can you think of two phrases that sound more alike than ‘on belay’ and ‘off belay?’ While they might be distinguished easily in an indoor climbing gym, put two competitive, adrenaline-filled people on a sheer cliff with the wind whistling by, a waterfall in the distance, gear clacking against the rock—and it's not difficult to see how such errors occur. Why on earth, I wondered, would climbers continue to use the terms when they are obviously not the best signals for the task? ‘I guess climbers have always done it that way,’ was their uneasy answer. The terms are remnants of a stupid routine.”
This article made me think about our small groups. How many stupid routines are we doing in our small groups that, at best, are creating ineffective Christian community—and at worst, creating dangerous spiritual situations in our groups? Things like breaking confidentiality, gossip, being more focused on curriculum than relationships, running out of time for prayer, and the like.
Continue reading Eliminating Dangerous Routines...
posted by Dan Lentz at 8:21 AM on October 8, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
September 15, 2009
Great Relational Leaders
What they do and what they don’t do
Lot’s of great leadership nuggets can be found at 21stCenturyStrategiesInc.com. I was reviewing some archived material there recently and came across a list of relational leadership traits to avoid, put together by Dan Reeves. I’ve adapted Dan’s list a bit and repurposed it as a list of relational characteristics that describe great small-group leaders.
Great relational small-group leaders...
- Are not stingy with their praise of others.
- Confidently affirm those things they agree with or believe, while being honest and humble about their own failures.
- Are willing to initiate healthy mentoring conversations about things that make them concerned.
- Do not tend to jump immediately to negative conclusions when interpreting people’s actions.
- Do not find it easy to understand people’s motivations without asking them.
- Prefer first-hand information rather than second-hand information.
- Give the benefit of the doubt.
- Do not tend to want all permissions run through them.
- Are very comfortable with independent thinkers.
- Do not tend to be locked into the safety of rules, regulations, and organizational efficiency.
- Tend to see what can go right with an idea, rather than what might go wrong.
- Focus more on mission than maintenance.
- Are more concerned about people than process.
- Are able to use and release leaders with skills, knowledge and abilities different from or better than their own.
- Avoid using the legitimacy of their power and control as an excuse to solve problems and make decisions in isolation.
- Are not insecure.
Do you agree with this list? What relational characteristics have I missed?
posted by Dan Lentz at 1:01 PM on September 15, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
August 31, 2009
Rehabilitating Small-Group Leaders
Wounded leaders need time and care before returning to battle.
Because of a chronic illness I have been experiencing over the past several years, I've been thinking a lot about what small-group leaders need as they go through crisis situations in their own life. I used to be of the mindset that continuing to lead your small group, even during a personal crisis, was the best way to get through the crisis. "Bring your struggle to the community" and then press on! I learned the hard way that I was only half right.
During my illness, I definitely could not survive without my community. But as for leadership, I have hit times when I simply could not press on as normal. I did not have energy to do the hard relational work. I struggled to be adequately prepared. I simply did not have the energy to take the initiative.
This experience is teaching me that we need to take the rehabilitation of wounded small group leaders seriously.
I have appreciated the insight of Stephen Ministries, who provide training and resources for small groups to help care for their members and leaders. Here’s a quote from one of their staff:
Continue reading Rehabilitating Small-Group Leaders...
posted by Dan Lentz at 12:30 PM on August 31, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
August 24, 2009
Externally Focused Groups
Why your group won’t thrive if community is your goal
I was reading the new issue of Rev magazine recently. The issue is titled, “Moving Small Groups Out of their Box.” Several articles focus on the nuts and bolts of taking your small group to the people rather than asking people to your small group.
One insightful reminder for me was that in small groups, the idea of "community" should not be our goal, but only a by product of missionally oriented relationships. When we make community our goal, we drift towards an inward-focus—usually to the exclusion of people outside the group. In fact, what many churches make the focus of small-group ministry (community) can actually become the thing that stifles it!
When I chat with people about the process of becoming a more externally focused house church (or small group), they often ask how they can measure their progress in loving and ministering to those outside the walls of their church (or group). A practical way of thinking about this was proposed by Eric Swanson in Leadership Network Advance. He boils external focus down into two measurements:
Continue reading Externally Focused Groups...
posted by Dan Lentz at 2:20 PM on August 24, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
August 11, 2009
BBQ, Cole Slaw, and the Difference Between Right and Wrong
A good lesson from a horrible side dish
Whenever I order a barbeque sandwich in North Carolina, I'm asked if I want cole slaw on it. The first time this was asked of me, I was a little grossed out. "Do people really like that?!" I asked. The response was, "Sure Howerton, a lot of people prefer cole slaw on their barbeque sandwich. It's a North Carolina thing."
I thought to myself, That's just wrong!
But it's not wrong to slap one of the most despised conglomerations on the planet on a sandwich—it's just a preference. These confused connoisseurs of fine cuisine probably grew up eating their sandwiches covered with cole slaw. So they prefer it with the stuff, rather than without it. The practice may make me cringe when they eat it in my presence, but there's nothing wrong with them having it.
In a similar way, there are a lot of things that cause some followers of Jesus to cringe—things that are simply preferences, not things that are wrong. These preferences have been established in many ways:
• Families instill customs
• Denominations create different sets of belief
• Peers can steer people a certain way
• A person's history may cause them to think differently.
Small-group leader and small-group member: be careful that you don't question a fellow follower of Jesus when they involve themselves in various activities. That is, unless the Bible specifically points out the wrongness of those activities.
Labeling preference as "wrong" or "right" damages us. It ties, gags, and jails those who have journeyed to the source of freedom. If you feel you have a weakness in this area, read Romans 14 to get a grip on God's view of "preference" and "wrong."
And by the way—I have recently learned to relish cole slaw on my barbeque sandwiches!
posted by Sam O'Neal at 11:24 AM on August 11, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
August 7, 2009
Pastoral Care—Who does it?
Small-group leaders, pastors, or both?
Dale Galloway, former pastor of New Hope Community Church in Portland states "No church with more than 50 members can be effective in pastoral care without enlisting and enabling the lay people to do daily work of pastoral care." That begs the question: What do people really need in the way of pastoral care?
According to a Gallup poll from about four years ago, there are six needs people have:
1. To believe life is meaningful and has purpose
2. To have a sense of community and deeper relationships
3. To be appreciated and respected
4. To be listened to and heard
5. To feel that one is growing in faith
6. To have practical help in developing a mature faith
In the traditional sense of pastoral care, perhaps we can also include a seventh item to the list: "To be cared for and served in a time of crisis or need."
Even with number seven, if you look at this list, it is easy to see how small groups provide a means of meeting these needs. If your small groups aren't meeting these needs and your church has over 50 people, then healthy "pastoral care" probably isn't happening.
But how do you get small groups to embrace pastoral care as part of their ministry? Seeing the small-group leader as pastor and the pastor as small-group leader requires a significant paradigm shift in the way "church" has been done in many cases, both for the staff pastors and for the congregation.
Continue reading Pastoral Care—Who does it?...
posted by Dan Lentz at 12:52 PM on August 7, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
August 3, 2009
The Leader/Coach Relationship
And how to make it healthy
One of my favorite quotes from John Maxwell is: "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Over the years, it has become increasingly apparent to me how vital the relationship is between a "Coach" (or "Community Leader") and the leaders in their care. The relationship is just as important for the coach as it is for the group leader—a lifeline within which there is a double-movement of encouragement and support. This relationship takes effort from both sides in order to be strong.
In the past I've written more for coaches explaining how important it is for them to connect with their group leaders. However, one of the greatest challenges I've seen in churches does not have to do with the coaches contacting their group leaders as much as with group leaders rarely returning the courtesy, which over time emasculates the coach's purpose. One assumption from group leaders that feeds this is, "If there are no problems in my group, then there's no need for a connection with my coach." This is not true.
So how does each leader—group leader and coach alike—"fill the gap" of communication that seems to plague so many churches? The following list of practices is written to both coaches and group leaders. My hope is that at least one of these practices might refresh your own insight and action regarding this all-important relationship.
Continue reading The Leader/Coach Relationship...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 4:14 PM on August 3, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
July 28, 2009
Internal vs. External Motivation
Do we focus on the wrong one?
I’ve been thinking lately about the topic of motivation. Consider the difference between internal and external motivation when it comes to getting people into small groups. Internal motivation is when people realize the value of Christian community and are self-motivated to participate in small groups as a result. On the other hand, external motivation is when we use outside stimulus to get people to consider groups. The outside stimulus can range from gentle invitations to nearly forcing people into groups.
If we had to be honest, I think we would have to admit that most of our efforts to get people into community revolve around external motivations. This is the path we most often take because it is much easier and quicker to develop external motivation systems than internal ones. Changing internal motivation takes much time, prayer and relational effort. And, truthfully, it’s harder to measure and see the results of internal motivation. But, while it is easier for leaders to stimulate external motivation than internal motivation, that doesn’t mean external motivation results in the best disciple-making environment.
Continue reading Internal vs. External Motivation...
posted by Dan Lentz at 8:09 AM on July 28, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
July 14, 2009
Consumerism and Small Groups
The tension between servanthood and consumerism
There's been a lot of talk about Western Christians viewing church with a consumer mindset. A mindset that is consumed with what I can get out of church or small group. A focus on having my needs met rather than meeting other needs. Tom Stipe at the Xenos Summer Institute nailed it when he simplified this concept by saying consumerism, in the context of relationships, is when you are trying to extract happiness from one another. He said that mentality will kill a marriage, a friendship, a small group, and even a church. Our goal, stated or not, hopefully is not to extract happiness from one another. Rather Matt. 5:3 says, "Blessed (happy) are those who realize their need for him (God), for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them." You can help your group overcome the consumerism mindset by training them to have a desperate need for God and constantly practice serving others! There's no better time to put this into action than right now, over the summer: Plan a service project or help someone you know with a specific need or serve the poor.
By the way, if you want some resources for developing a desperate need for God and serving others, check out the resources from the Xenos Summer Institute which is happening this week.
posted by Dan Lentz at 8:23 AM on July 14, 2009 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
June 29, 2009
Lead Yourself Well
So that you can be a leader worth following
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul states, "imitate me, as I imitate Christ." On one hand, that makes discipleship an easy process. I don't have to be a theologian or Bible scholar; I just have to be willing to bring other people on a spiritual journey with me. We are simply saying "imitate me. Do what I do."
But on the other hand, it makes the discipleship process very scary, because we are simply saying "imitate me"—and, well, I'm just not sure that would always be wise. It makes me realize that my greatest challenge and priority as a leader is to lead myself well so that I become a leader worth following.
Here are just a few disciplines that I have prioritized in my own life to ensure that I am leading myself well.
1. Feed Yourself. I think there are two dimensions of feeding yourself. First, leaders must be immersed in Scripture. Reading it, meditating on it, studying it, putting it into practice. There is absolutely no substitute. About four times a year, I develop a Bible reading plan for myself that is separate from any small-group leadership or other teaching responsibilities I have. I don't want to just read the Bible to get a word of truth for my group; I want to read the Bible so that I can grow as a person.
Second, I believe that leaders are learners. I try to be very intentional about reading books that help me lead better. A few that have helped me in recent months include Simple Small Groups (Bill Search), Making Small Groups Work (Henry Cloud and John Townsend), and Renovation of the Heart (Dallas Willard).
2. Stretch Yourself. It's easy to lead when there are no challenges, difficulties, or tensions. But real leadership happens when we face something that makes us uncomfortable or disturbs our normal routine in some way. If we lead for long enough, then we will find ourselves in stretching situations whether we want to be in them or not. So I've made it a practice to stretch myself regularly and intentionally in order to prepare myself better for leadership challenges when they come my way.
Stretching myself might mean serving in an area that is not part of my natural ministry affinity, being intentional about sharing my faith with someone, or slowing down long enough to talk with the homeless man that I pass on my way to lunch. All of us have spiritual muscle groups that aren't worked as much as others. Locate those muscles in your life and put them to work.
Continue reading Lead Yourself Well...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 1:53 PM on June 29, 2009 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)
June 17, 2009
A Different Look at Twitter
Margaret Feinberg says that "every leader" should use it.
In my last post, I shared some of the reasons why Twitter makes a little nervous.
If you want to get another point of view, our sister blog GiftedForLeadership.com just added a post from Margaret Feinberg called Every Leader Should Use Twitter. Check it out and let us know what you think.
P.S. Ironically, I learned about the GFL post because I am following that blog on Twitter... :)
posted by Sam O'Neal at 1:25 PM on June 17, 2009 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
Improving Accountability
How to be the accountability partner everyone hopes to find.
Accountability partnerships typically go stale inside a year when the people involved don't take responsibility for their own healing, growth, and forward momentum. Here are a few principles to help you be the kind of accountability partner others want to meet with.
1. Confessing sin is the "what." That's what everyone knows how to do. But to be a good accountability partner, you need to also share the "why" behind the sinful action so that you get to the root of the problem. Just sharing the "what" may make you feel like you unloaded a pile of guilt, but your partner needs to know and see that you are working on the root issue and seeking deep healing.
Confessing sin week after week gets old for your partner and it means you are stuck! Go deeper. Get to the root of the issue and find freedom. Freedom is good for you and it makes your accountability partner want to dig deeper, as well.
2. Discuss important things you need or want to get done in life, ministry, work, family, and around the house. Just like the first point, go further than "what" by sharing your step-by-step action plan for accomplishing your goals with times or calendar dates. In other words, become accountable to get the project done by next Wednesday at noon. Make it a priority.
Sharing how you don't get things accomplished gets old for your partner and means you are stuck! Sound familiar? Share the particulars of how you plan to get that thing done and invite your partner to call you on it if he or she doesn't receive a phone call with a praise report.
Continue reading Improving Accountability...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 6:36 AM on June 17, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
June 15, 2009
Sam O'Neal: Hypocrite or Just Plain Wrong?
I'll need your help to decide.
I'll start this post off with a little honesty: I've been telling people for about six months now that I am a little nervous about Twitter. It's not that Twitter (and other sites like Facebook and MySpace) are reprehensible in any way. It's just that in a fragmented and hectic society like ours, I think the need for constant information and updates and announcement can become harmful to us—like being poked in the brain a hundred times a day by a dull stick. And I have considered Twitter to be part of that phenomenon.
Wait a second, I'm being handed a special announcement: SmallGroups.com is now on Twitter! Our handle is SmallGroupscom, and you can check us out right here: http://twitter.com/SmallGroupscom.
See any disconnect between those two paragraphs? I certainly do. And it's something I'm going to try and figure out over the next few weeks.
Continue reading Sam O'Neal: Hypocrite or Just Plain Wrong?...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 2:16 PM on June 15, 2009 | Comments (6) | Trackbacks (0)
June 8, 2009
The Friendly Brain?
Relational disposition does not have to determine relational potential
When it comes to folks who don't connect well in small groups, or who are in leadership roles but struggle to connect well with the people they are leading, our tendency is to label them and say there are just some people who don't have the temperament to be a group leader - it's beyond our control. We are also tempted to use the quirkiness of our personality as an excuse for why we do or do not do many things in ministry well.
I was reading an online article from Newsweek Magazine recently that talked about some of the biology behind personality. Recent studies have found "associations between being a people person and the density of gray matter in two brain regions, orbitofrontal cortex (the outer strip just above the eyes) and the ventral striatum (deep in the center of the brain), both known to play a key role in predicting how rewarding something will be. (A high volume or density of gray matter is linked to enhanced cognitive or behavioral function.) Traits, such as being warm, affectionate, agreeable, sociable, amiable or sympathetic . . . reflect an underlying capacity to experience reward elicited by affiliative stimuli," the scientists write - a capacity, simply stated, to take pleasure in social situations.
Continue reading The Friendly Brain?...
posted by Dan Lentz at 1:46 PM on June 8, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
June 3, 2009
When Is It Time to Move On?
There may come a day when you need to remove a person from your group.
Are there times when a person should be asked to leave a small group? I think so. But those times should be rare, and it should be done only for the right reasons. So what are those reasons? I can think of a few.
The person is just too needy.
Once or twice a person has been in our small group who just had too many issues. They really needed a counselor, rather than a small group. In those cases, my husband or I—or someone else who was very patient—met separately with that person, instead. We have even been in some situations that no lay person could deal with, and we had to recommend a counselor and walk away.
You'll know a person is too needy for a small group if they cannot talk about anything but themselves. No matter the beginning of the conversation, the ending is always about their problems. If you've brought this to their attention and they can't adjust their behavior, or if they feel that you just don't understand how tough things are for them, that's a clue they need one-on-one attention.
Or perhaps they have an undiagnosed mental problem that causes them to disconnect from those around them. They will need more help than you can give them unless you are a trained counselor. In these rare situations, it can save the group (as well as the individual) to get them the help they need.
Continue reading When Is It Time to Move On?...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 4:00 PM on June 3, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Microwave vs. Crock-pot
Which leadership development philosophy do you choose?
It's a conversation that has repeated itself several times over the years for me. The conversation takes different forms, but the theme is the same: Can people grow into spiritual leadership quickly, or only slowly? Can small groups be multiplied quickly, or does it take extended periods of time? Can new small group leaders be released into leadership quickly with the help of quality programmed curriculums, or does slower process-oriented apprenticing and relational training need to happen before releasing leaders?
In short, can development processes be "micro-waved" or do they need to be "crock-potted"? It's a conversation that took place again recently with some leaders in our local church. Did we come up with an answer? Yes and No.
Continue reading Microwave vs. Crock-pot...
posted by Dan Lentz at 9:34 AM on June 3, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
May 26, 2009
Something Bigger!
Getting to the root of our small-group ministry calling
Through all the hype and trendiness associated with various small group philosophies, it’s critical that we not lose perspective on what God is doing behind it all. I was reading a recent article by Scott Boren who was taking a fresh look at the writings of some of the early pioneers of the modern small group movement.
Scott noted these earlier writings focused on something bigger than just getting people into small groups. Click on the link above or below to read the entire article, but here’s a summary of what Scott gleaned from his research:
1. Their primary concern was not on church growth, number of groups, or what percentage of the church was in groups. They realized that group participation was not the end goal, but a means for accomplishing God’s greater mission. They had a vision for the redemption of creation and for empowering people to have a role in this redemption. Groups helped them do this and groups would often grow as a result. But there is little talk about how many groups, how people join groups or other technical questions.
Continue reading Something Bigger!...
posted by Dan Lentz at 9:32 AM on May 26, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
May 22, 2009
Why We Do It
Our truest motivation for small-group ministry is the life-giving community of the church.
Why are you a small-group leader? Why are you involved in the community of your church (and the Church)? I've been thinking about those questions recently.
Sometimes I get the impression that people view "community" as just another one of those things we do as Christians. Good Christians read their Bible, pray, and (along with several other spiritual disciplines) participate in a small group. Because that's what we're suppose do as Christians, right? If I were new to the community of God and his people, I'm not sure how thrilled I would be with this expectation—especially if I didn't think I'd enjoy being with the people in it.
Now don't get me wrong: I love small groups. But it's not small groups themselves that get me fired up. It's what can happen in small groups.
Jesus has told us he will be in the midst of two or three who come together in his name (Matthew 18:20). If we assume community begins with two or more people, then what Jesus is saying is revolutionary! Here's why: The presence of God has the power to transform things. When believers gather in Jesus' name, a life-changing environment is created that affects all who come within its radiating sphere of influence.
When God's grace is flowing, the Church is being the Church in all the fullness God intended. And the most beautiful part of it to me is the fruit of real community: God saving more people each day! This is precisely what we see happening in Acts 2:42–47. What a picture of the life-giving flow of God's grace. It is a timeless blueprint for doing what Jesus has commanded every believer to do in The Great Commandment and The Great Commission.
The life-giving community of the Church is the one thing in the whole universe that encompasses what every believer is to do (make disciples) and how they're to do it (love God and one another). It is how God transforms our lives, and it is how he desires to use us to reveal himself to the world. People see God when believers love one another (John 13:34–35; 1 John 4:12). And I can't think of a better presentation of the Gospel that kind of LIFE.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 11:23 AM on May 22, 2009 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
May 19, 2009
Volunteerism or Ownership?
Why you need other people to take charge of your group.
Small-group leaders often leverage friendships with group members to get things done for the group or do something in a meeting now and then. Recruiting volunteers is a great way to draw in a regular visitor or disconnected group member. But when it's the only type of help a group leader has in his or her group, the future is looking dim, whether the leader realizes it or not.
Constantly asking people in your group to help in one way or another will eventually wear you out. It also may be considered a favor by the person volunteering to help you (instead of the group). If you are unable to reciprocate in a personal and possibly a sacrificial way, the member may feel abused or simply be unwilling to volunteer in the future.
Adding group ownership to the volunteerism you probably already do is great for your group—and you as well. Invite everyone in your group to join a core team that decides "who will do what by when" for the group meetings and members between meetings. By meeting monthly for an hour or so to make plans for the next six weeks of group life, it will remove any burden of leadership you may be experiencing and give others a strong sense of ownership for the group's success.
Here's a few thoughts and tips about leading with a team vs. leading a group with just volunteerism:
Continue reading Volunteerism or Ownership?...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 9:22 AM on May 19, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
May 15, 2009
Christian Community and Cultural Diversity
Learn how to reach the world without leaving your small group
Regardless of where you live, chances are your community is more ethnically and culturally diverse than it was just a few years ago. Because of this, your church/small group is better positioned to reach the world than it’s ever been. In some cases, the world has literally moved into your neighborhood. Inviting your neighbor to your small group might also mean you have a direct connection to an extended family half-way around the world. However, with this opportunity comes the reality that multi-cultural small groups require us to be more aware of how to live in Christian community across the cultures.
I recently returned from the NEXT 2009 Saddleback Small Groups Conference in Atlanta hosted at Victory World Church. Victory is a unique church of small groups with nearly 100 different nations represented in this diverse congregation. You can read Victory’s vision here.
While there, I had the chance to talk with my good friend Dave Mennen of Bridges International about some of the unique aspects of Christian community and discipleship in culturally diverse small groups. You can listen-in on our conversation by clicking the link below:
posted by Dan Lentz at 12:48 PM on May 15, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
May 8, 2009
Coffee Shopping
Selling Jesus before work
Note: In the next few weeks, we'll be introducing some "blogging all stars" from the world of small-groups ministry. Having gotten to know Rick Howerton a little bit in the past year, I can say without doubt that he is passionate about small groups. He works at LifeWay Resources and blogs at Serendipity's group-centered blog: The Gypsy Road.
I sat down at a coffee shop in Bardstown, Kentucky, to find multiple copies of the following note:
Beginning the Daily Grind with God at the Java Joint Café
8:30 a.m. Wednesday with the Reverend Kirk Norris
November 5, 2008 Lesson: Luke 13:1 – 9… Repentence, this is the message.
The parable is a storied example of how you and I sometimes view our situations in life. We desire instant gratification but we forget and become impatient when the results we expect are slow in fruition. Our timing is NOT God’s timing. What we must remember is that all life, physical and spiritual, requires each of us to devote our time and our energy to the nurture and care of not only our own lives but also others on this journey. Then we will reap the fruits of our labors and the blessings of God Almighty!
I asked the barista what the deal was. She explained that these notes were from her pastor. Every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. her pastor does a very short teaching, then the individuals seated around each table answer the questions that have been placed there.
How would you go about getting something like this going? Easy:
- Choose a coffee shop.
- Get manager approval.
- Begin promoting this opportunity with the people who are your church.
- Get a team of at least 5 people, individuals who will commit to being involved for twelve months. Ask them to make it their goal to fill the place each week.
- Choose a starting date and get going.
Let me know how it goes.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 3:46 PM on May 8, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
May 5, 2009
Questioning Discipleship
Why group leaders should be less information-dumpers and more question-askers.
Note: In the next few weeks, we'll be introducing some "blogging all stars" from the world of small-groups ministry. Heather Zempel fits that description. She is Pastor of Discipleship at National Community Church, and she has been training group leaders for a long time on her own blog: Wineskins for Discipleship.
Henri Nouwen said, "We have to keep looking for the spiritual questions if we want spiritual answers." I used to think that my job as a small-group leader was to gather and dispense information. I thought small-group leadership was about controlling the message and making sure everyone knew the right answers to questions. However, the longer I plow the ground of spiritual growth, the more I'm convinced that discipleship boils down to the questions we ask more than the answers we give.
I've never researched it, but I'd love to know the percentage of Scripture devoted to Jesus' questions vs. Jesus' teaching. I bet the percentage looks a lot different from the amount of time the typical pastor engages in both of those activities. Consider the following:
- Who you say that I am?
- What do you want me to do?
- What are you thinking in your hearts?
- Do you believe I can do this?
- Why are you terrified?
Those are some of the questions Jesus asked, and they transformed the lives of the people that he asked them to. He asked questions that are confusing, disturbing, realigning, and transforming.
Continue reading Questioning Discipleship...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 10:57 AM on May 5, 2009 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)
April 30, 2009
Dynamic Quotation: Eugene Peterson
When it comes to applying Scripture, this changes everything.
I had an "Aha!" moment yesterday as I was editing a batch of devotional material for Men of Integrity magazine. (Yes, every now and then I work on something that isn't directly related to small groups.) The devotion was an excerpt from Eat This Book, by Eugene Peterson, and one line in particular made my mouth drop open.
Here's the paragraph:
If I'm not living in active response to the living God revealed in the Bible, reading about his creation/salvation/holiness won't interest me—at least not for long. The most important question we ask of any text isn't "What does this mean?" but "What can I obey?" Simple obedience will open up our lives to a text more than any number of Bible studies, dictionaries, and concordances.
Wow. Not "What does it mean," but "What can I obey?"
That's revolutionary, isn't it?
posted by Sam O'Neal at 3:16 PM on April 30, 2009 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)
April 28, 2009
Free Membership Time
We want to hear your story, and we want to reward you for telling us.
Okay, if you have been paying attention to this blog for any amount of time, you have heard me talk about our YouTube channel. This was designed to be a way for people to share their stories about small-group life with others in a new and interesting way. This was also supposed to be a way for us to give away a few free memberships to SmallGroups.com.
Well, there has not been much sharing so far. In fact, there has been none outside of my co-workers. And there have been no free memberships given away—not yet.
But we are not giving up! Below you will see the video that introduces our "question of the month" for April. The original idea was to select five people at random who participated and give them free memberships to SmallGroups.com. But since no-one has participated, and the deadline of May 2 is drawing close, I'll change things up a bit.
The first five people to upload a video and send us a link will get a free membership to SmallGroups.com. Here's the question you'll be answering:
To be one of the first five, all you have to do is record yourself answering that question. You can use an expensive video camera or your cell phone—it doesn't matter. Then, you just need to upload that video to YouTube. Once it's there, click the "send video" button and send it to us at "inspiringcommunity." Or you can just e-mail the link to me at "smallgroups at christianitytoday.com".
It's easy, and the first five videos will receive a free membership. Let's see what you can do!
posted by Sam O'Neal at 10:03 AM on April 28, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
April 8, 2009
Failure or Success in Ministry?
Team ministry can make unnecessary failure, um...not necessary
Is failure an option in ministry? That's an interesting question. For instance, some would point out Biblical examples of prophets who were called to proclaim God's message to people who would never listen or yield. Imagine a whole ministry career spent doing something that had minimal impact on the people of their time.
Others would say God wastes nothing, including failure. He redeems it for His purposes. Even prophets, whose messages were never received in their day are still speaking today, and lives today are being changed as a result.
So, it could be said, God doesn't distinguish between success and failure. He uses both for His glory and purpose.
But then the question becomes: Is there unnecessary failure in ministry today? Certainly any failure, regardless of the cause, can be redeemed by God. But do we make failure more of an option than we should? Do we excuse poor ministry performance with too much ease?
Continue reading Failure or Success in Ministry?...
posted by Dan Lentz at 10:20 PM on April 8, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
March 30, 2009
Mission vs. Maintenance
When you don’t know what to do, there’s only one thing to do
I suppose it's an age old leadership question, but it's always relevant: How do you balance the tension between mission and maintenance? This question comes up commonly in an overall organizational sense. For instance: Do we invest our time maintaining existing small groups even though many of our current groups seem like the frozen-chosen or, do we pour our time and energy into developing completely new small groups even though our group failure rate may be high because of the lack of equipped leaders?
The easy answer is to say: "Do both maintenance and mission." And, I think at some levels, you probably can focus on both. But, the question of maintenance vs. mission has fewer easy answers in the context of individual relational ministry. Try a few of these situations on for size...
Continue reading Mission vs. Maintenance...
posted by Dan Lentz at 7:44 AM on March 30, 2009 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
March 16, 2009
Those Annoying Labels!
Why "lay" small-group leaders should carry "clergy" business cards
For years, I've struggled with the labels of "clergy" and "laity." I've had the opportunity to wear both labels at different times in my adult life. And truthfully, I'm at a point now where no one knows what to label me. My secret confession is this: "I like it that way!" For me, the labels have very little significance to our life in Christ. And really, when you think about it, shouldn't every believer be a blend of clergy and laity? Sure, everyone has unique gifts and callings, but biblically, your title doesn't limit or distinguish who can lead, serve, or follow.
Some would say, Dan, you're not being very respectful. There should be special recognition for those whose income and vocation result from the "work of the Lord." Really? My question is: "How do you define the work of the Lord?"
Continue reading Those Annoying Labels!...
posted by Dan Lentz at 12:50 PM on March 16, 2009 | Comments (8) | Trackbacks (0)
March 13, 2009
New Book Day!
One of the benefits of working at Christianity Today International is that the various editors around here receive a lot of review copies of books. Most of the time the books are outside my range of interest—I saw one the other day called The Truth Shall Make You Rich, for example.
But today is different. Today I got a copy of Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, and I am pumped!
You might not have heard of this book yet, but I've been aware of it for a while. I am a very big fan of learning about the cultural contexts in which the Bible was written. It was a completely different world when Jesus entered the scene. And learning about how differently the Jews of his day viewed the world can be very enlightening when it comes to understanding his words and actions.
I'll post more as I start reading.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 4:48 PM on March 13, 2009 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
March 9, 2009
Small-Group Covenants: Part 2
The covenant components that team-building experts agree have to be in there
I’m a member of our local church’s senior leadership team. We’ve been re-exploring our group covenant together. It’s important to us because we are team led—we don’t have the traditional senior pastor role in our org. structure. The process has prompted me to do some fresh research into group covenants, particularly as they relate to leadership groups. I wanted to see what some leading folks in the area of team-based leadership said were the critical components of a group covenant (over and above the basic small group covenant components I mentioned in my last post).
I chose six folks I considered experts in the area of leadership groups and read their stuff (if you’re interested in names, these folks were: Pat Lencioni, Ken Blanchard, George Cladis, Dave Ferguson, Dan Reeves, and Bill Thrall). It’s interesting that not all these folks advocated the use of a group covenant when it came to forming leadership teams, but they all advocated having values defined, mission buy-in, and behavior expectations in place within the group.
Continue reading Small-Group Covenants: Part 2...
posted by Dan Lentz at 10:05 AM on March 9, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
March 5, 2009
Small-Group Covenants: Part 1
Why it's vitally important that your leadership group has its act together
Like many of you, I'm part of the leadership team of our local church. As a Servant Team (that's what we call our leadership group), we've been re-exploring our covenant together. Many of you will already be familiar with small-group covenants or agreements. There are many versions of covenants, however, most all of them include these basic components:
- Why we exist (life-change, Bible study, task group, fellowship, etc.)
- What we do (socials, service projects, outreaches, retreats, eat snacks, etc.)
- How we relate (including expectations about the priority of participation and attendance, confidentiality about group discussions, accessibility of members to each other, accountability between members, and openness of the group to new members)
- When we meet (frequency, time, do we take breaks, etc.)
- Where we meet (location, how we handle childcare, etc.)
Continue reading Small-Group Covenants: Part 1...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 11:01 AM on March 5, 2009 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
March 2, 2009
First Five Responses Get a Free Membership
So read this quickly!
We've got a mini-dilemma happening here at the SmallGroups.com International Headquarters. A little more than a month ago, we decided to create a YouTube channel as a way to help our readers exchange stories about small-groups ministry.
The idea was to feature a new question every month, and then have readers (such as you) record little videos that answered those questions and upload them on YouTube. As an incentive for participation (and to get the ball rolling on the videos), we decided to randomly award a free SmallGroups.com membership to five people who participated each month.
Here's a little video we put together to introduce the idea:
Continue reading First Five Responses Get a Free Membership...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 4:04 PM on March 2, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
January 27, 2009
Relational Evangelism—Rebooting for 2009
That "Great Commission" thing still applies, right?
It's always good to "reboot" your computer from time to time in order to set everything straight and clear out the "digital cobwebs" from the operating system. I thought I'd do the same with my current thinking and practices about sharing my faith with my unchurched/non-believing friends.
I encourage you to pass these ideas along to your leaders and group members so they, too, can "reboot" for 2009 and be far more successful in helping friends find a genuine relationship with God through Christ, our Lord!
1. Create a true friendship. The goal is to show God's unconditional love and be a true friend. Show them you love them regardless of their current or future beliefs and let the Holy Spirit do his work. They're not a "project."
2. Be real. Real friends show their weaknesses and are not too proud to ask others for help. Show the person that you want a genuine friendship that is characterized by "bi-directional" servanthood.
Continue reading Relational Evangelism—Rebooting for 2009...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 11:00 AM on January 27, 2009 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)
Campaign Half-Life
Two tough questions for churches using small-group campaigns
I continue to be amazed at how many churches are using "campaigns" to launch new small groups in their churches. I'm not talking about political campaigns, which are so prominent in the news right now. I'm talking about Campaigns like "40 Days of Purpose," the "50 Day Spiritual Adventure," and the like.
The idea behind a Campaign is to create church-wide unity, enthusiasm, and momentum. This is done through prayer, teaching, evangelism, special events, and personal devotions that are all aligned with the campaign themes. Many new small groups have been successfully launched using these Campaigns as a way to get unconnected people into new or existing small groups.
Once the campaign period ends, however, there is normally a slow fade-out of the energy that was created. And once the energy fades, churches are faced with several new questions. How do we maintain support for new groups? How do we keep training new leaders?
In other words, churches must wrestle with that dreaded question: What do we do now?
Continue reading Campaign Half-Life...
posted by Sam O'Neal at 10:17 AM on January 27, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
January 26, 2009
Introducing Sam O'Neal
Say hello to one of our Small-Group Dynamics Editorial Advisors.
Sam O'Neal is the Managing Editor of SmallGroups.com and SmallGroupDynamics.com. Sam oversees the planning and coordination of all content featured on the site and this blog.
Sam has a passion for seeing discipleship and full-bodied Christian education done right in the local church - especially in the context of small-group communities. He has been married to a wonderful woman named Jessica for over five years, and he thoroughly enjoys their young son, Daniel.
Sam is also a rabid fan of the Chicago Bears.
You can contact Sam by clicking here.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 2:04 PM on January 26, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Introducing JoHannah Reardon
Say hello to one of our Small-Group Dynamics Editorial Advisors.
JoHannah Reardon is the associate editor for ChristianBibleStudies.com, an online Bible study site where over 125,000 leaders, students, and teachers come to learn and apply God's Word. JoHannah says, "I receive hundreds of e-mails from Bible students from around the world, giving me a good idea of the global spiritual climate. Christians everywhere feel a need to connect over God's Word, and our site helps their spiritual formation."
Besides writing, editing, and assigning Bible studies, JoHannah has ghostwritten two books, written content for the Couples' Devotional Bible, and has been published in several magazines. She also speaks at writer's conferences across the nation.
JoHannah is a pastor's wife, the mother of three, and a grandmother of two.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 1:56 PM on January 26, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
December 23, 2008
Introducing Dan Lentz
Say hello to one of our Small-Group Dynamics Editorial Advisors
Dan Lentz is Director of the Small-Group Network -- a network of small-group leaders, churches, small-group resource providers, and other Christian organizations originally brought together at SmallGroups.com to provide an online place for training and support for group leaders and directors.
Over the years, Dan been has been a church planter, small-groups pastor, and has served in a variety of roles within small-groups ministries. He is also author of Let's Get Started: How to Begin Your Small-Groups Ministry.
Dan's family small group consists of his wife, Kim, and their three children: Sam, Katie, and Grace.
You can contact Dan by clicking here.
posted by Sam O'Neal at 10:55 AM on December 23, 2008 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
