Synopsis
Group Talk is a podcast centered around strategic ideas for leaders of small groups. Whether you are stuck in your ministry, or you are just looking for practical wisdom to help you in your ministry context, the Small Group Network (SGN) exists to keep you supported, inspired and informed so no small group point person stands alone. #SGNet
Episodes
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The 4 "K"s of Small Group Ministry Spring Cleaning
09/04/2025 Duration: 20minSign up for the Lobby Gathering: Small Group Conference May 13-15th in Southern California at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/Food and lodging are included! Spring Cleaning for Small Group Ministry: The 5 Ks with Steve GladenIn this episode of FG Squared, Steve Gladen, the global pastor of small groups from Saddleback Church, shares insights from his 25+ years of experience to help listeners enhance their small group ministries. Joined by Derek, Steve discusses 'The 4 Ks of Small Group Ministry Spring Cleaning': Kinship with leaders, Keeping clean data, Knowing your playbook, Kindling leadership, and Kicking spiritual butt. They emphasize the importance of building deeper relationships with leaders, maintaining accurate data, ensuring everyone understands the group's playbook, fostering leadership pathways, and ultimately achieving ministry victories. Tune in for practical advice to rejuvenate your small group ministry.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:25 Personal Updates and Moving Challenges01:46 S
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5 Emotional Refreshments for You & Your Groups (Replay)
05/03/2025 Duration: 34minSign up for the Lobby Gathering: Small Group Conference May 13-15th in Southern California at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/Food and lodging are included! Equipping Small Group Leaders: Insights from Saddleback ChurchIn this episode of SG Squared, Steve Gladen, the global pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church, shares his extensive experience to encourage and equip small group leaders. The episode includes the 'Saddleback Scoop,' highlighting the church's shift from fruitfulness to faithfulness, an approach to combat COVID-induced depletion by focusing on all four aspects of personal refreshment: physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. The 'Network Nugget' segment introduces Saddleback’s first online training course, Align, and discusses its positive impact on participants. Additionally, the podcast touches on new course releases, upcoming events, and the importance of maintaining various forms of personal well-being. The show wraps up with a focus on five emotional refreshments ess
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Special Episode from the Group Answers Podcast with Chris Surratt and Steve Gladen
05/02/2025 Duration: 46minThis episode is a very special cross post from the Group Answers podcast. We are sharing in honor of the passing of Chris Surratt, a friend and brother in Christ who has impacted thousands of small group point people around the world. Thanks for taking the time to listen, and don't forget to check out Group Answers podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.Original Description:On this episode of Group Answers, Chris talks to Steve Gladen about why we should go after hard and soft data to know if our small groups are healthy and creating disciples. Steve Gladen has been the pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church since 1998 and serves as an elder of the church. The post Group Answers Episode 235: Steve Gladen on Knowing Hard and Soft Data in Your Small Group Ministry appeared first on Adult Ministry.CLICK HERE to read the report from Lifeway Research about the state of groups. ★ Support this podcast ★
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4 Steps to a Strategic 2025
02/01/2025 Duration: 30minSteve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares the four key steps that you will want to follow for a successful and strategic 2025 in regards to your small group ministry. You don't want to miss this episode!BOOK: Planning Small Groups with Purpose ★ Support this podcast ★
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TOP SMALL GROUP MAIL BAG QUESTIONS (Part 3)
04/12/2024 Duration: 23minSteve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and co-host Derek sit down to continue reading and answering the top small group mail bag questions sent in by small group point people and ministry leaders. You don't want to miss this episode!SHOWNOTESMail Bag Questions 13-1813 How do we get previously existing groups to become “official” Small Groups so we can include them on our website and app? They are nomads and we love to start walking beside them.14 What’s one thing you would do differently if you could go back to your first day over groups?15 How do we create a church culture of groups?16 Top tips for getting long-time groups to multiply17 What is the outcome or “win” of a group?18 Can Adult Sunday School work with small groups? ★ Support this podcast ★
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TOP SMALL GROUP MAIL BAG QUESTIONS (Part 2)
06/11/2024 Duration: 34minSteve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and co-host Derek sit down to continue reading and answering the top small group mail bag questions sent in by small group point people and ministry leaders. You don't want to miss this episode!SHOW NOTESMail Bag Questions 8-128 Who is doing ESL as a small group?9 I wish I had known the importance of having the right coaches in place...any tips?10 What is the biggest mistake you made?11 What’s the one thing you would tell yourself as someone new to ministry regarding groups?12 How to get/grow more leaders?Re-imagine Coaching Episode ★ Support this podcast ★
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Top Small Group Mail Bag Questions
02/10/2024 Duration: 44minSteve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and co-host Derek sit down to read and answer the top small group mail bag questions sent in by small group point people and ministry leaders. You don't want to miss this episode!Mail Bag Questions 1-71 What advice would you give to someone brand new to vocational ministry?2 What is key to moving from good and high participation to great and highly effective in your groups.3 How do you navigate creating a small group culture if senior leadership isn’t on board?4 How to encourage attendance after a busy work day?5 How do you best prioritize time and energy with ministry friends?6 Starting healthy! I am from a church plant and want to establish firm foundations as we look to continue the process of growing more into the likeness of Christ in community!
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04/09/2024 Duration: 30minSteve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Deek talk about 20 ways that you can honor and celebrate the leaders in your ministry this groups season.This is a rebroadcast episode ★ Support this podcast ★
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10 Ways Your Small Group can Evangelize!
07/08/2024 Duration: 39minWould you like to know about ten unique ways that your small group can evangelize together? Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and Dereksit down with special guest Kiersten Telzerow to discuss ten innovative ways that small groups can break out beyond the walls to share the good news with people in their community. Note: Kiersten is still finalizing her program and is not yet a doctor. 10 Ways Your Group Can Evangelize Kiersten - Groups Pastor @ NCC in DCDMIN: Wholistic Discipleship– passionate about ways that groups can engage in mission on a regular basis– being the hands and feet of ChristDo the leg work up front– don’t just sign your group up for something - because then everyone will feel like they have to do it and that’s not mission ;) Of first time Health Assessment takers 87%
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10 Ways to Worship in your Small Group
03/07/2024 Duration: 50minWould you like to know about ten unique ways that your small group can worship together? Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and Dereksit down with special guest Troy Kennedy to discuss ten innovative ways that small groups can worship together.10 Ways to Worship in Your Small Group Brief discussion on definition of worship. Three questions to prompt response: Who is he? Who am I in relationship to Him? What has he done? 10 Ways to Worship in a Small Group - For the leaders - Before and during the worship time, always pray for God's guidance and presence to be felt among the group. Ask for wisdom in leading the group in worship. Every group dynamic is different and needs to be treated sensitively. Sing along with a favorite worship song with the text. Afterwords, discuss which parts of
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10 Ways Your Small Group Can Serve
12/06/2024 Duration: 40minWould you like to know about ten unique ways that your small group can serve your church and community? Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 plus years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small groups and small group ministries. In this episode, Steve and Derek sit down with special guest Jon Laster, small group pastor from Spring Hill, TN to discuss ten innovative ways that small groups can mobilize to serve people.10 Ways Your Group Can Serve Groups serving other areas of ministry in the local church is life giving, and fuel for what God wants to do in your local congregation! 1 - Talk to your Pastoral Staff and ask them what areas they feel needs the most attention in your local church. This can be basic cleaning, outreach, etc. I believe it’s the best place to start on where you can serve as a group. 2 - Serve those in your group. Whether someone needs their lawn cut during a busy season
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How to Start a Small Group Ministry
08/05/2024 Duration: 34minWould you like to know the basics of starting a small group ministry? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares his timeless and commonsense keys to launching & building healthier small groups. Download the fill ins:1. The Saddleback Small Group Difference2. How To Start A Small Group Ministry ★ Support this podcast ★
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The Saddleback Small Group Difference
03/04/2024 Duration: 49minDo you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares his timeless and commonsense keys to building healthier small groups. In this episode titled "The Saddleback Small Group Difference," Steve shares 7 transferable keys that Saddleback church has used to build one of the largest and healthiest small group ministries. You are not going to want to miss this episode!Download notes HERE ★ Support this podcast ★
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March 2024 The Lobby Panel
06/03/2024 Duration: 58minThis month's episode features a panel conversation between Steve Gladen, Dave Enns from North Coast, Rick Howerton from Lakepointe Church, and moderation by Carolyn Taketa. Join us as we listen in to their discussion on their decades of small group experience while at the Lobby Gathering small group conference and retreat in San Juan Capistrano. ★ Support this podcast ★
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Think critically: Accomplish More with Less
07/02/2024 Duration: 40minDo you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve shares his timeless and commonsense keys to building healthier small groups. In this episode titled "Think critically: accomplish more with less," Steve shares 8 ways to accomplish more with less in your small group ministry. You are not going to want to miss this episode! ★ Support this podcast ★
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Creating an Environment for Spiritual Growth with Dr. Bill Donahue
17/01/2024 Duration: 01h18minToday's episode comes from a small group conference at Saddleback Church. The session speaker is Dr. Bill Donahue as he shares about how to create an environment for spiritual growth in small groups. Dr. Donahue is one of the most well respected and accomplished speakers and small group practitioners, having written several books and taught at the collegiate level. He also is a coach and leads cohorts at the small group network. To learn more about small groups, or to share your own small group ministry experience, find Steve Gladen and others at https://smallgroupnetwork.com, our facebook group, or join our community at https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com ★ Support this podcast ★
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Interviewing Nicky Gumbel - Vicar, Holy Trinity Brompton, and Pioneer of the Alpha Course
03/01/2024 Duration: 37minSteve Gladen, pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church visits London to interview Nicky Gumbel, Vicar, Holy Trinity Brompton, and Pioneer of the Alpha Course.Nicky and his wife Pippa have impacted millions throughout the world with the Alpha course. Steve talks through what goes into an Alpha course and what makes it effective with Nicky. To learn more about small groups, or to share your own small group ministry experience, find Steve Gladen and others at https://smallgroupnetwork.com, our facebook group, or join our community at https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com ★ Support this podcast ★
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How To Move From Making Friends To Reaching Friends
21/12/2023 Duration: 56minThe episode features Steve Gladen who, leveraging his extensive experience of over 25 years, offers insights on leading small group ministry in churches. He addresses the common misconception of people fearing evangelism, emphasizing how the experience fundamentally transforms when done as a group. Gladen shares practical strategies to equip small groups in spreading the gospel, growing the church and leading people to Jesus. He also underscores the importance of sharing starts with caring and the role of curriculum strategy in successful evangelism. ★ Support this podcast ★
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Treasure Hunt: How to Find the Gold
06/12/2023 Duration: 41minDo you need more small group leaders? How would you like to see an exponential increase of volunteers stepping up to serve in your church? Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 25 years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by co-host Derek and special guest Mike Hinkle - author of the new book "Treasure Hunt." Mike shares his timeless and commonsense keys to building a successful sales career - all of which will be relevant to you as a small group ministry leader! You are not going to want to miss this episode!SHOWNOTESwww.michaelhinkle.comTo enter the contest, leave a comment about this episode on this post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SGNContact/posts/6772166222879217/ ★ Support this podcast ★
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How To Move From Making Friends To Reaching Friends
22/11/2023 Duration: 56minYou can download your planner HERE and the church planner HERE and the full workbook from the conference HERECheck out the videos referenced in the podcast HEREIn this session, Steve shares one of the biggest sources of excitement for Saddleback as a church. And in each group. Evangelism. Steve is going to begin the session by addressing the concerns of the typical small group member. Which is that they feel like they might not be a good evangelists. Well, once they find out how different of an experience it is when done as a small group, rather than on their own. Evangelism and seeing a friend or loved one's life changed by the hope of the gospel. That is an incredibly powerful moment in the life of that small group. Steve will get us through the journey of equipping small groups to share the gospel. To grow the church. And to lead people to Jesus. Join us in today's episode. How to move from making friends to reaching friends ★ Support this podcast ★