Archive for March, 2010
The Hinge of History
All historians must confess that the turning point of the race is the cross of Christ. It would be impossible to fix any other hinge of history. From that moment the power of evil received its mortal wound. It dies hard, but from that hour it was doomed. – Charles H. Spurgeon
What’s the hinge of [...]
What’s the Best Way to Launch New Small Groups?
“What’s the best way to launch new small groups?” As a consultant for small-group ministries, I get asked that question a lot—probably more than any other question, in fact. And for good reason. After all, who isn’t trying to increase the number of groups (and the number of people in groups) in their church?
So what’s [...]
Encouraging “Next Steps” for Your Group Members
One of the main purposes of small groups is to develop mature people who follow Christ more obediently. But in churches, and especially in small groups, different people may view spiritual maturity in different ways. Some may think of it as having lots of Bible knowledge, for example, or having a great quiet time everyday, [...]
100 Percent of your church in small groups? Yes you can!
“Connect 100 percent of your congregation into small groups.”
Now that’s a sales pitch.
Our church was stuck: A small number of our adults—only 30 percent—were involved in small groups. After seven long years of slugging it out the old fashioned way—raising up apprentices to birth new groups—we were headed nowhere. Only one leader started a new [...]
Noli nothis permittere te terere – Psalm 103
When I was a paramedic/firefighter in Chicago, I was having a particularly rough time with one of the lieutenants. He was not kind to me, didn’t appreciate my “christian ignorance” and would find every opportunity to put me down, give me extra work, and humiliate me. I took this hard and was at a loss [...]
