SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

Steve 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 talks about the 3 Leadership Pipelines You Must Have In Your small group ministry: the group leader pathway, the community leader pathway and the group member pathway.Host Development PathwayNick and Dave Photo ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve 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 talks about how you can grow your small group ministry by 300%! You can do this by using Saddleback Church's secret sauce of ministry - the church-wide-campaign. Steve and Derek will break down the following:1 Know the compelling question.2 Align Children’s, Student and Adult ministries. 3 Stick to the principles and apply your own methodologies. 4 Language matters - host strategy5 Employ various avenues of learning.6 Once a year is enough7 Provide a clear start and end date.8 Expect high intensity for staff, volunteers, and members 9 Remember and celebrate.10 Plan for after the Campaign 11 Give people an “out” after the Campaign.12 Budget to remove financial obstacles  ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve 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 more effective small group ministry.In this episode, Steve answers the question "should small groups meet over the summer?" He then proceeds to share some of the pros and cons of summer small groups as well as share some of the things he typically heres about why small groups do not meet over the summer.  ★ Support this podcast ★

Steve 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 more effective small group ministry. In this episode, you will hear an audio recording of Rick Warren talking to the Saddleback church staff about his 10 Principles of Exponential Thinking. Steve Gladen will then breakdown how you can apply these 10 principles to your small group ministry. The following is what will specifically be covered in this show:First – exponential growth is possible.Second – exponential growth is the New Testament model.Third – exponential growth brings honor to God.Fourth – exponential growth captures the attention of the unbelieving world.Fifth – exponential growth is caused by God.Sixth – exponential growth is the result of God’s blessing on your life.Seventh – exponential growth makes God smile…in fact, He rewards it.Eighth – the only barrier to exponential growth is our own unbelief.Ninth – the secret of exponential growth is believing God for big things.Finally, Tenth – exponential growth begins with exponential thinking.Choosing Growth over ControlThe Book of Acts is one of the best resources we have to understand the growth of the church during its formative years. A brief read through of this section of Scripture can quickly show us that the church preferred growth over control as they would preach to thousands and then baptize them shortly afterward. As witnessed throughout Acts, explosive growth was a good problem to have, for it established a foundation upon which its teachings could stand upon. Similarly, we too must be okay with the mess that new small groups may create. Instead of focusing primarily on if a new small group leader is maintaining sound theological discourse within their very first meeting, we are challenged to celebrate the fact that Jesus is being discussed at all and that members are coming together to form community. But doesn’t bad theology and misinformed teaching create more complication for the kingdom of God? Yes, however just as we see in the Bible, doctrine and teaching was provided shortly after Acts through the writings of the Epistles. Just as how Paul conducted “on-the-job” training via letters to the churches he was mentoring, we too can choose growth first and then later practice the approach of surgically addressing any theological concerns through a consistent roll-out of bite-size trainings.A Culture of GroupsWhile we all wish our congregants would be fully devoted followers of Christ who are consistently serving, attending a small group, and in-the-know of the church calendar at all times, the reality is that many of our churchgoers only step foot onto church grounds for Sunday service (or online for virtual Sunday service). In other words, Sunday morning may in fact be the only shot we have to help promote small groups and/or explain the benefits of small groups. If our churches only mention small groups twice a year at the times when there are coordinated group launches, then this means that the typical church attendee only will hear about small groups 4% of the year (even less if they miss one or both of those two services!). If the church’s leadership agrees that small groups are one of the most important ministries within the community, then we become challenged to display the fact that small groups are indeed a part of our church’s DNA. To help execute this, some strategies can include: (1) head pastor buy-in (where the senior pastor becomes one of the most vocal proponents of small group ministry and even attends a group themselves); (2) Church calendar events that strategically funnel individuals into newly created groups (and/or church events that don’t interfere with the weekdays on which small groups typically meet); or (3) Consistent small group promotion from the pulpit (Not every message needs to be a small group sermon, but every message can contain a shout-out or a 30 second tie-in to small groups).Lowering the BarriersIn a post-Covid world, small group ministries have found themselves challenged to embrace new methods in facilitating and nurturing community. While meeting in-person will always be the ideal method of meeting in groups, what we do know is that the concept of virtual groups is here to stay. During this time that we find ourselves in, what type of group is easy to duplicate, is able to meet both online and in-person, is easily sustainable, and also is easy to lead? As we arrive on the other side of the widespread disruption that Covid-19 had brought with it, sermon discussion groups may very well be the perfect type of “growth over control” group to launch within our church’s small group ministry. A sermon discussion guide is not only able to empower anyone to host a group and facilitate engaging conversation, but it also allows what Steve and Dave encouraged us all to practice during last year’s Lobby: rather than simply telling our groups what to do, we instead provide for our groups the destination we want them to reach while utilizing the values we want them to use in order to arrive there. Even though a model of sermon discussion groups chooses growth over control, it does so within a framework that provides its groups a set of guardrails within which to operate. In other words, groups are not grown without oversight, but instead are grown within a model that becomes quite appealing to a post-Covid world where both in-person and online groups are meeting on a regular basis. ★ Support this podcast ★

We are excited to announce some big changes to Reading Lenz, our monthly podcast by Nick Lenzi. Nick's show is graduating to its own channel and changing its name! Search for The Group Takeaways With Nick Lenzi in your favorite podcast app or go to https://share.transistor.fm/s/480a2b74. And don't forget to subscribe at its new home. We're excited for the upcoming season of Group Takeaways and can't wait to share it with you! ★ Support this podcast ★

Exciting news, everybody! Bill Search's podcast "Leadership Journey" has moved! It is now its own podcast on its own channel. Go to https://share.transistor.fm/s/b7e1a4de or search for "Leadership Journey with Bill Search in your favorite podcast app. This week, Bill interviews John Ortberg, the author and pastor on his leadership and legacy. Check it out and don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. it is an invaluable way to support Bill and our volunteers! ★ Support this podcast ★

If you're looking for the latest episode of Here To There with Carolyn Taketa, it has moved! Carolyn's show has grown enough to get it's own channel. Just head over to https://share.transistor.fm/s/b7677a39 or search for Here To There With Carolyn Taketa in your favorite podcast app. And don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Reviews are an incredible way to support our volunteers! ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Steve Gladen breaks down 5 areas where ministry leaders can re-imagine how they do coaching for their groups ministry. The following is what will specifically be covered in this show:History of CoachingStaff or volunteersServe in one Help in anotherSaddleback’s history—building upon, keeping best of…1.0 version (1998)1:5—I could recruit faster than our growth2.0 version (2005)—why it changed, it was broken1:25 paidIntroduced not equal care, but strategic care4 Buckets and Reactive/pro activeName changed from Coaches to CL’s because of paradigm shiftCare 70% Administration, training, connecting 30%,Get in for right reason, but get out for right reasonCL Retreats3.0 Version (2009)—why it changed, it couldn’t scale financially1:25 volunteered, above sameIntroduced any span of care a CL could do4.0 Version (2014) why it changed, they weren’t sure what to doIntroduced the “Starbuck’s” green apron more developmentalFRIENDLEADERCOACHHard and Soft data collectionSkip Level, Trust but Verify5.0 Version (2017) why it changed, we discovered other factors not giving maximum alignmentIntroduced the Village conceptAlignment6.0 Version (2021) why it changed, discovered different types of CL’sHOST to Leader to CL to MinisterCL CourseTraining ModulesTrack training (next gen beyond Starbuck’s green apron) 5 Areas to Reimagine Coaching The Ethos (the environment the CL lives in)the family system (w/o parents it is risky)How’s the family (you, coaches and Group leaders)Do you know what you are producing—the end in mindThe Reason (for the CL)Directive Disciple MAKING—management and guidance, Space flight PSGWP page 201Tom Landry quoteBaseline, Know the health metrics HA & GHAHow will you give course corrections (ideas, curriculum, encouragement, etc.)The Process (finding CL’s)The Group Leader pathway HOST to Leader to CL (P3) to MinisterCompetency and CapacityRetreatsIntroductory CourseThe Pathway (growing the CL)The Coach engagement pathway to the HOST; FRIEND—LEADER—COACHThe Coach’s pathway of growth for themSGP guidanceModules TrainingCourse(s)RetreatsThe Influences (that help the CL)…what I call the VillageShare the Village, who’s in helping? Who surrounds the Small Group speaking health?People (primary)Small Group Point PersonCL or CoachSenior PastorProcesses (secondary)Training Pathway for the leaderTools (HA and GHA)Training Pathway for the CLNewsletterSmall Group Weekend Table connectionSmall Group Website home pageWeekend servicesLeader Retreats and SGHStreaming content (curriculum and training)Social MediaTestimoniesFAQ’sShownotes:smallgroupnetwork.com/smallgroup https://sb-web.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/saddleback.com/connect/smallgroups/9958-SmallGroupsCL-Booklet_Interior_Interactive_092101.pdf ★ Support this podcast ★

The Small Group Network is celebrating its 15th anniversary! Steve Gladen and James Browning look at the history of the small group network and what things that are currently happening that could make a big difference for you or your ministry.Check out our Year In Review to find out just how big of an impact members of the network made last year: https://smallgroupnetwork.com/articles/2021-small-group-network-year-in-review/ 1. Crawl: Have an small group ministry idea? Share it with us and we will crowd source a ministry ideas book! Not only will you get a copy of the fun and helpful ideas book but you'll also be entered to win an iPad. Now that's a great idea! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/ideasbook/2. Walk: We are excited to be launching the Group Talk podcast network. What does that mean? First of all, it means the Group Talk podcast is breaking up and everyone is getting their own show. So make sure to subscribe to each show individually:- Here To There With Carolyn Taketa: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5ec5fb80- Leadership Journey With Bill Search: https://share.transistor.fm/s/205fa92d- and our newest member of the network Why God Why? from Peter Englert at Browncroft Church: https://share.transistor.fm/s/4f738575 3. Run: Help us create GROUP Method curriculum! Stay tuned to the small group network website for details on that or join the livestream at 10am Pacific time on April 13th https://fb.me/e/4bLc3Iczt Our future prediction is that big things are coming from even smaller places. Plus, now is the time to join a huddle. Share your small group predictions for the next 15 years in the reviews section on your favorite podcast app or in our facebook group! ★ Support this podcast ★

Each of us sets out to be successful but who defines what it means to be successful? How do we get there? The answer may surprise you. In this episode of Reading Lenz we learn from Hall of Fame basketball Coach John Wooden, winner of 10 national championships who would be the first to tell you it wasn’t his championships that determined his success. Tune in as host Nick Lenzi and guest Peter Englert, host of the Why God Why podcast cover the book Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court by legendary basketball coach John Wooden. Show Notes:The Pyramid of Success - https://www.thewoodeneffect.com/pyramid-of-success/About our guest Peter Englert:Peter Englert serves as the Adult Ministries Director at Browncroft Community Church. He married Robyn and along with their daughter Hayley, they reside in Rochester, NY. Peter graduated from the University of Valley Forge with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministries and an M.A. of Theology. He is the co-host of the hit podcast Why God Why? ★ Support this podcast ★