Group Talk - Small Group Network

This month on Reading Lenz we cover Canoeing the Mountain by Tod Bolsinger. Join us as we learn how to navigate uncharted territory of small group ministry.   To help carry the canoe over the mountain, this week's guest Small Group Network's own Northeast Regional Leader Kiersten Telzerow. Kiersten is also the Groups Director at National Community Church in our nation's capital.       ★ Support this podcast ★

The leadership journey requires a clear destination, otherwise we aren’t on a journey we’re just wandering around. Small groups have always been portrayed as an integral part of making discipleship. But what does that even mean? We use words like, “disciple” and “discipleship” but most of the time it’s surrounded by haze. It’s cluttered with feeling and impressions but without strong definition. Where did we even get the “D" word? As we explore the development of the term we’ll ask ourselves if this is the best we can do? Small Group Network Events★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. David Wang is a licensed psychologist and associate professor of psychology and pastoral counseling at the Rosemead School of Psychology, at Biola University. He is the editor of the Journal of Psychology and Theology and serves on the editorial board for Spirituality in Clinical Practice (an APA journal). He also leads research funded by the John Templeton Foundation and the Lilly Foundation investigating the spiritual and character/virtue development of seminary students. Dr. Wang teaches and speaks internationally, maintains a small clinical practice in Fullerton, CA and is the pastor of spiritual formation at One Life City Church       https://www.drdavidcwang.com/about-dr-wang For Dr. Wang's sermons on Lament: https://www.onelifecitychurch.org/sermons   Online Small Groups Training★ Support this podcast ★

New Online Small Group Course 2021 Training Events Saddleback Small Groups SOCIOLOGIST STUDY: Following the turn of the century, sociologist Chaeyoon Lim, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin at Madison, and his associate, political scientist Robert Putnam, Ph.D., Harvard University, demonstrated that religious people are more satisfied with their lives than nonreligious people. Surprisingly however they found that it’s not the relationship with God or spiritual factors, like Bible reading, that makes the devout happier. Instead, the satisfaction boost comes from closer ties to others who are sharing the experience. The social aspect of religion, rather than the theological or spiritual aspects of religion, is what made people more satisfied with their lives, because of their social networks within their faith community.   As congregational affiliation [“attendance”] plummeted in the U.S., Lim and Putnam followed up their initial study with another study that went even deeper. The results of that study is report

10 Commandments for Talking Politics in Small Groups Small Group Network Events★ Support this podcast ★

This month on Reading Lenz we are covering the book Extreme Ownership by two former Navy SEALS, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Jocko and Leif share their experiences and leadership lessons learned on the most violent battlefields of Iraq.    To help break down this book and prepare you for the battlefields you face in ministry, this week's guest is Steve Curran, a twenty-three year Navy veteran turned Community Pastor at Compassion Christian Church.     Small Group Network Events★ Support this podcast ★

Guests: Nick & Marjorie Allan, pastors at The Well Sheffield, England and authors of the new book The XYZ of Discipleship: Understanding and Reaching Generations Y & Z. Nick and Marjorie have served churches in England for more than 20 years. With their hearts for the younger generation, they share their experiences investing in tomorrow’s leaders. We hear a lot about the younger generation. What’s true and what will help us reach them, disciple them, and develop them - especially when it comes to small groups! Small Group Network Events - Don't forget to use the code FLASHSALE on your Lobby Gathering 2021 registration!★ Support this podcast ★

We talk with the authors of a compelling new book, "Leading Small Groups that Thrive: Five Shifts to take your group to the next level." Based on extensive research, this book provides insights and practical how-tos on building small groups that are healthy, effective, and transformational.  https://thrivinggroups.com/   Jason Sniff is the pastor of small groups at Eastview Christian church in Normal, Illinois, and a licensed professional counselor with over 15 years of experience in developing group life within the private and public sectors. Courtney Davis has a PhD in Organizational Communication. She is the Associate Professor of Communication Management at Azusa Pacific University, where she teaches organizational, small group, and professional communication.  Small Group Network Events    ★ Support this podcast ★

Small Group Network Events Use Promo Code AZ70 for $70 off your Accelerate! registration! Promo Code good until Sept 8th. 6 Things To Remember When I Feel Empty★ Support this podcast ★

This month's Reading Lenz features an insightful discussion regarding the modern classic "Daring Greatly" by Dr. Brene Brown. Host Nick Lenzi joins special guests Carolyn Taketa and Andrew Camp to discuss how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we run our small groups.    Other book talk episodes with Nick, Carolyn, and Andrew: Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt We Need to Talk by Celeste Headlee The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker ★ Support this podcast ★

TOPIC:  With so many churches still unable to host large gatherings in person, creating a robust online training is both a necessity and a wise strategy. So what are the elements of an effective online training model?      Will Johnston is from the Chicago-area and, after graduating from Wheaton College with a degree in theology, moved to Washington DC and started working on Capitol Hill.  He then joined the team at National Community Church where he served as the small group pastor, and he is now the adult ministries pastor at Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, CA, where he oversees small groups along with a few other ministries.    Eastside New Leader Training Eastside Leadership Pipeline Modules NCC New Leader Training NCC Training Library★ Support this podcast ★

Guidelines for Getting Together For Saddleback Church Small Groups Gathering together in large groups is still in the future. The natural question at this stage of the COVID-19 crisis is, "Can we begin to gather in small groups?" Sadly, infections are currently increasing at a rapid rate. Our recommendation is that you will continue to meet online as your primary venue, whenever possible and appropriate.  However, we recognize the importance of face-to-face gatherings and the desire we all have to be in proximity with one another. So, if you decide to hold physical gatherings, please follow these guidelines: Check the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and California Department of Public Health websites frequently for the most up-to-date safety guidelines and recommendations, as they are changing often.  (www.CDC.gov   https://www.cdph.ca.gov ) For the safety of our communities, we suggest there should be no inside gatherings at this point in time. If gathering, we suggest meeting outdoors in groups

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TOPIC: What’s next for our small groups ministries? How do we go from all the uncertainty of this time - "here" - and move to where we want to go -“there?” How do we hold tight to the mission and values while reimagining groups in this new normal context?   Guest: Ben Reed is a Pastor at Mission Community Church just outside of Phoenix, AZ. At Mission, he oversees adult ministries: small groups, care and recovery, local missions, global missions, baptism, and a brand new ministry they’ve launched called Thrive. He is the author of the book, Starting Small, and blogs at BenReed.net.   http://www.benreed.net/exploring-uncertainty/ http://www.benreed.net/starting-small-the-ultimate-small-group-blueprint/ https://missionaz.org/thrive★ Support this podcast ★

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBNfFetAfc3/?igshid=1wfz90x66m23r&fbclid=IwAR2lGEW75Pd5vySCWM7bXnmDjC3pSvQFKZqShhhzd92DAW2wYKupGuFM4G4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64viEf0DCEg★ Support this podcast ★

4 Shows, 1 Podcast! Listen as we meet new hosts for our new shows!   Align Small Group Course★ Support this podcast ★

Align: Learning Small Group Ministry Essentials - this new online training course is now open for enrollment!  7 COVID re-entry Musts for the Small Group Point Person 1. Reflect on the COVID season a. What loses—needs to stop b. What was temporary—was good for COVID c. What got discovered—part of the new normal d. What is Core—welcome back 2. What’s the Vision—it can’t be just virtual to physical 3. Clarify success—end in mind 4. Expect high emotion—racial, political, COVID—don’t explain away what’s going on. Presence is more important.  Psalm 27:13 5. Understand your governmental rules—CDC, Fed, State, County 6. Think through your guidelines 7. Pray—read Ephesian 6:10-12 Saddleback's Guidelines for Small Group Gatherings During COVID 19 Group Size—Limit group gatherings to no more than 10 Larger groups should sub-group and meet in different places or at different times. Location—Meet only in places where you can safely distance Meeting outside is encouraged when possible. Hosts should be prepared to clea

Amber has an educational background in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology. She has been working in Group Life on staff at the Church at Severn Run in Maryland for 5 years. Four years ago, Amber joined a SGN huddle, then became a huddle leader, and now is the SGN state leader for Maryland and moderates our Facebook page as part of the social media team. ★ Support this podcast ★