SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

How you're doing is how your small group ministry is doing. After 40-plus years in ministry, Steve Gladen gets asked one question more than almost any other: how did you last? In this episode he and Derek Olson walk through three areas to check in yourself once the fall launch settles down, and Steve is clear that he's aiming every point at himself first.1. Check your vital signs Four warning signs that your soul is running low:Apathy: you've grown callous about miraclesArrogance: you've grown casual about sinDivisiveness: you've grown cynical about staff and leadershipLaziness: you've grown careless about the disciplines2. Be battle ready Four giants that pull you off center, and what answers each one:Busyness, answered by prayer you keep up before the crisis comesMaterialism, answered by givingIsolation, answered by living in the community you're asking others to joinIgnorance, answered by time in God's Word, even if you start with one verse3. Build your rhythmsDivert daily: time alone with GodWithdraw weekly: SabbathAbandon annually: a retreat away from your ministry bubbleA line worth keeping: "Nobody gets into a spiritual hole with a backhoe. It's always with a spoon."In this episode0:16 Welcome3:26 Why your longevity sets the pace for your ministry6:21 Area 1: Check your vital signs14:52 Area 2: Be battle ready23:27 Area 3: Build your rhythms27:22 Wrap-upGo deeper with All Access If this episode showed you something to work on, don't work on it alone. Small Group Network All Access gives you and your team the curriculum, training, resources, and cohorts to build a healthier ministry and a healthier you. Join here: https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com/plans/1975017Help other small group pastors find the show Subscribe wherever you listen and leave a five-star rating. It costs nothing and helps the show reach more leaders. ★ Support this podcast ★

Attendance, Metrics, and Health: Measuring Discipleship in Small Group MinistryPastor Steve Gladen and host Derek open the fall season of SG Squared by discussing how small group leaders should think about attendance, metrics, and health without letting numbers define their identity. Steve argues that numbers are not bad but are indicators connected to souls and stories, and that quality and quantity are not enemies. He cautions that attendance alone can be a false positive and emphasizes measuring discipleship through individual and group health assessments. Drawing from Saddleback’s approach, he describes an individual health assessment (35 questions) and a shorter group assessment (10 questions) built around worship, fellowship, discipleship, serving, and evangelism, with follow-through steps involving goals, partners, curriculum, and activities. He notes that early assessments showed over 85% self-identified weakness in evangelism and points listeners to his books and Small Group Network resources.00:00 Welcome to SG Squared00:26 Fall Football Banter01:58 Culture Shock in Mississippi03:30 Episode Setup Souls and Identity07:52 Why Numbers Matter10:29 Data as Ministry Indicator11:59 Measuring Discipleship Success15:43 Attendance Versus Health17:53 Building Health Assessments25:01 Books Membership and Wrap Up ★ Support this podcast ★

Ron Kelleher on Kingdom Leadership, Workplace Ministry, and Integrating Faith in the MarketplacePastor Steve Gladen records a special SG Squared episode at the Lobby Gathering with Ron Kelleher, first sharing an update that Ron has been diagnosed with colon cancer and requesting prayers for him and his family. Ron describes his 40-year marriage to Barbara, their two adopted children (including a special-needs son), and how Saddleback became their church home through its special-needs ministry. He recounts a 36-year career at Procter & Gamble spanning sales and multicultural marketing, then early retirement in 2009, seminary at Talbot, and a renewed calling to workplace ministry. Ron has written 701 weekly blog articles at www.ronkelleher.com and discusses his book, Kingdom Leadership: Embodying Christ in the Marketplace (https://a.co/d/0fodzIlS), built around 12 biblical leadership characteristics, highlighting stewardship and prayerful leadership. Steve offers six free autographed copies via email, and Ron shares contact info at [email protected]:00 Prayer Update for Ron00:45 Show Intro at Lobby Gathering01:59 Meet Ron and Family03:23 Career at Procter and Gamble06:38 Finding a Church Home09:11 Early Retirement and Calling13:33 Writing and Online Resources14:54 Kingdom Leadership Book Overview17:40 Key Traits Stewardship and Prayer25:11 Next Book Faith Driven Leadership26:59 Book Giveaway and Contact Info28:32 Final Encouragement and Outro ★ Support this podcast ★

Bill Donahue on Leading Life-Changing Small Groups (Plus Signed Book Giveaway)Recorded at the Lobby Gathering, Pastor Steve Gladen interviews Dr. Bill Donahue about his updated book, How to Lead Life-Changing Small Groups, and offers a giveaway of six signed copies to the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and 11th people who email [email protected] with an address. Donahue shares personal background about his wife Gail, their 38-year marriage, their two adult children, and formative experiences that shaped his views of what is “healthy” and “good.” The conversation highlights key helps for small group leaders: preparation that aims to be personal rather than perfect, shared ownership and participation, and learning to give and receive feedback. Donahue discusses measuring group health beyond attendance and numbers by evaluating relationships, culture, conflict navigation, experiencing Christ’s presence, and the group’s impact outside the circle, including online group considerations, and closes by emphasizing love as the central leadership focus.00:00 Welcome and Giveaway Tease01:09 Meet Bill Donahue02:32 Family and Gail’s Ministry05:59 How They Met and Ministry Beginnings08:10 Early Small Group Failures to Growth10:39 Growing Up and Performance Pressure14:48 Kids, Parenting, and Real Life18:33 New Book Focus and Leader Challenges21:07 Book Tools Overview21:32 Conflict Chapter Deep Dive22:28 Online Groups Pros Cons23:40 Coaching New Leaders23:54 Preparation And Ownership26:31 Measuring Real Progress28:23 Feedback Triggers Explained31:18 Healthy Metrics Inside Outside34:19 Book Giveaway And Thanks35:55 Closing Focus On Love39:12 Final Wrap And Signoff ★ Support this podcast ★

1. Groups that primarily Disciple• Primary engagement is spiritual growth• What their felt need is, Spiritual Void.• Team responsible—Spiritual Formation Team2. Groups that primarily Connect• Primary engagement is Serving.• What their felt need is, Value.• Team responsible—First Impressions or Serving Teams3. Groups that primarily Send• Primary engagement is causation.• What the felt need is, Make a Difference• Team Responsible—Mission Team4. Groups that primarily Care• Primary engagement is support.• What their felt need is, Vitalization.• Team responsible—Care & Recovery Team ★ Support this podcast ★

To see the diagram from today's episode, download it HERE. 10 Building Blocks to Engineer a Dynamic Small Group MinistrySteve Gladen and Derek discuss a summer “diagnostic check” for small group ministries by reviewing 10 building blocks to keep groups healthy, scalable, and disciple-making heading into fall. They emphasize first defining what success is for small group leaders, then aligning ministry structures to that outcome through leader training (for members, leaders, and coaches), providing practical tools (including individual and group health assessments and idea resources), and creating a strategic curriculum pathway that addresses weaknesses rather than simply filling time. They also highlight collecting both hard and soft data to support relational shepherding, building a scalable coaching/community-leader structure (often volunteer-based), and defining a group maturity pathway from early fellowship to balanced engagement with the Great Commission/Great Commandment. Finally, they outline three connection strategies—adult Sunday school alignment, a connection strategy when a pastor isn’t fully on board, and church-wide campaigns when leadership is aligned—encouraging leaders to regularly reassess and shore up guardrails using the show-notes diagram and related books.00:00 Welcome to SG Squared01:22 Why Summer Is Ideal04:16 Building Block One Success06:52 Building Block Two Training09:37 Building Block Three Tools12:52 Building Block Four Curriculum15:44 Building Block Five Data18:41 Building Block Six Coaches21:48 Building Block Seven Pathway24:30 Building Blocks Eight To Ten29:42 Final Encouragement Outro ★ Support this podcast ★

People Over Programs: One-to-One Leadership That Keeps Small Groups RelationalPastor Steve Gladen and Derek Olson discuss how small group ministry can drift from being people-focused to program-focused, and argue the most important question is how to keep relationships central. Steve emphasizes the power of one-to-one connection and offers practical ways to reach people beyond email, including texting, calling (with a heads-up text), being present to connect in person at church, sending notes, and even doing brief “pop-bys” with a small gift to create face-to-face contact. Once connected, he shares the SPEAK acrostic for knowing someone personally:Story, Passions, Encouragement (including love languages and key dates), Abilities (including the Benjamin Franklin effect), and Knowledge. He also introduces the “four helpful lists” for improving ministry: what’s working, what’s wrong, what’s confusing, and what’s missing. They close by promoting the May Lobby Gathering event for small group leaders.https://smallgroupnetwork.com00:00 Welcome to SG Squared01:11 Episode Preview02:05 People Over Programs03:01 Power of One to One05:17 How to Reach People06:29 Lobby Lurker and Pop By10:43 SPEAK Acrostic12:47 Encouragement and Dates14:57 Abilities and Franklin Effect19:23 Four Helpful List23:14 Final Challenge and Wrap25:18 Lobby Gathering Invite26:59 Subscribe and Resources ★ Support this podcast ★

The Real Question Small Group Leaders Should Be Asking: What Kind of Disciple Are You Producing?Join all access at the Small Group Network In this episode of SG Squared, Pastor Steve Gladen and Derek discuss how small group point people can get distracted by urgent tasks and connection metrics while missing the most important question: what kind of disciple the church is trying to produce. Steve explains that every small group model includes a connection process, but the strategy must also include a clear discipleship and spiritual formation pathway that goes beyond slogans and cognitive learning to lived obedience. He argues that the small group point person must seek clarity on the church’s discipleship strategy—whether they own it or partner with others—so training, coaching, curriculum, and tools align with the intended outcomes. Listeners are invited to join Small Group Network All Access for resources and updates, including a coaching platform planned for October 2026.00:00 Welcome to SG Squared00:28 Weather and Relativity02:47 The Real Question04:29 Why Connection Matters06:13 Seven Group Models09:32 Discipleship Second Half11:18 Who Owns Discipleship14:06 Point Person Responsibility19:25 Avoid Model Hopping20:51 Wrap Up and Resources ★ Support this podcast ★

Subscribe and Connect with the Small Group NetworkThank you for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform. For more resources and to join the small group community, visit smallgroupnetwork.com. THE MENDOZA STORY130 schools said no.He led the losingest program in college football history to a national championship anyway.Fernando Mendoza was a 2-star recruit from Miami.He tried to walk on at his hometown school. They passed.So did FIU.So did FAU.So did everyone else.At 17, he was sitting in his bedroom, crying over a silent recruiting inbox—after driving to 18 camps with his dad and sending highlights to more than 100 programs.Not one FBS offer.His only option? Yale. No scholarship. No NFL path.Everyone told him to be “realistic.”“Know your place.”“Be grateful.”He didn’t listen.Because Mendoza understood something most people miss:The worst outcome isn’t failing.It’s never getting the chance to try.Two weeks before signing day in 2022, his phone rang.Cal needed a body. One offer. Out of 134 schools.He took it.He arrived as the third-string quarterback.Spent a year on the scout team.Lost his first four starts.Got sacked 41 times behind a broken offensive line.Still got up. Every time.Then Cal brought in a transfer instead of building around him.So Mendoza left the only school that had ever said yes.He transferred to Indiana—the losingest program in college football history.People laughed.“Career suicide.”“Graveyard program.”“Nobody wins there.”One coach told him something different:“I’m going to make you the best Fernando Mendoza possible.”That was enough.Mendoza wasn’t just playing for football.His mother has battled multiple sclerosis for 18 years.Before every snap, he thought of her.“My mother is my why.”Indiana went 16–0.Beat six Top-10 teams.Won their first Big Ten title since 1945.Mendoza threw 41 touchdowns.Won the Heisman—first in school history.First Cuban-American to ever do it.Then came the title game.Miami. Near his hometown.Fourth-and-4. Season on the line.Quarterback draw.The kid 134 schools rejected spun through defenders and dove into the end zone.Game over.Indiana—national champions.The losingest program became the best team in America.All because a 17-year-old refused to believe “no” was the end.Rankings don’t decide your ceiling.Gatekeepers don’t write your ending.Being overlooked isn’t a verdict—it’s a starting point.Sometimes all you need is one shot…and the courage to bet on yourself when nobody else will.Don’t quit.00:00 Thank You for Listening!18:31 Subscribe for More Content18:35 Join the Small Group Network18:43 See You Next Time! ★ Support this podcast ★

5 Small Group Strategies for 2026Welcome to SG Squared with Pastor Steve Gladen, who brings over 25 years of small group ministry experience to provide practical advice and encouragement for leading small groups. In this episode, despite battling the flu, Steve and Derek discuss the importance of leading with purpose, building trust, developing people, celebrating wins, and clarifying roles and next steps. These five key strategies are designed to help you lead small groups more effectively and foster stronger engagement. Whether you're leading in ministry, at work, or at home, these transferable principles will equip you to be a better leader. Don't miss out on this insightful masterclass!Check outSmall Groups With Purpose by Steve GladenandPlanning Small Groups With Purpose by Steve Gladen00:00 Welcome to SG Squared00:23 Catching Up and Health Updates02:21 Five Ways to Lead Effectively05:00 1. Lead with Purpose06:35 2. Build Trust09:10 3. Develop Your People12:41 4. Celebrate the Wins15:13 5. Clarify Roles and Next Steps17:12 Recap and Closing Thoughts18:02 Subscribe and Stay Connected ★ Support this podcast ★