<![CDATA[Rick Howerton's The Vision... Blog]]> <![CDATA[Churches Within a Church, Age Based Ministries and the Markers of Success]]> Okay... I know I'm about to be crucified (metaphorically speaking that is). Last week I led a session at a conference. My topic was intergenerational groups. One of the points that I made was that many churches, especially churches of meaningful size, are actually four churches within a church... 1) children’s church, 2) student church, 3) young adult and mid-adult church, and 4) senior adult church. I then asked myself this question, “If we are really honest with ourselves, what are the markers of success that the average church member judges each of these age group ministries by?” After typing my responses to this question under each category, I was astounded and I must admit… disheartened. Below you’ll find my thoughts.
 
I’ve listed each category, what I believe the average church member believes is the goal of that ministry, and, under each of these statements, what the average church member may be using as markers of success.
 
 
Children’s Church – Information based (the goal is to instill biblical stories and knowledge)
 
Parents whose kids who are excited to go to church
Parents whose kids are happy while at church
Parents whose kids are learning how to relate to other children
Parents whose kids are learning right from wrong.
 
 
Junior High and High School Church – Entertainment based (the goal is to have as many as teens as possible involved in the ministry and so we draw them through big bands, big events, and big activities)
 
Parents whose teenagers are excited to come to church
Parents whose teenagers are involved in substantial and wholesome friendships
Parents whose teenagers stay away from dangerous people, places, and substances
Parents whose teenagers are “pumped” about God
           
 
Young and Mid-Adult Church – Worship and Friendship based
 
Young and mid-adults with kids and teens that attend church without much pushback
Worship service that excites the senses
Preaching that connects with a felt need
Friendships with people of the same affinity
           
 
Senior Adult Church – Program based
 
A safe place to re-engage with past spiritual memories
A place to gather with others in the same life stage
A place that aids in connecting seniors with other seniors by taking them on trips, hosting banquets, etc…
A place that shows them honor without asking much of them
 
After I read these I realized that the children’s pastor, junior and high school pastor, and pastors of adult ministries have completely different markers of success.
 
Might I suggest that, if you lead any of these ministries, that it is important to redirect the thinking of parents as well as adults so that the markers that mean something have to do with making disciples, not making and keeping children, students, parents and other adults happy. This is the only way that any church is going to become a disciple making church.
 
One last thing… I realize that I'm stereotyping. If your age based ministry looks nothing like what I’ve outlined… Congratulations!!!
]]> 5841c1d2-f0b9-42f3-acf7-2e5d8d030696 Thu, 16 May 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Disciple Making Small Groups... Really]]>
 
I continue to grapple with the church's responsibility to make disciples vs. making church members or simply hosting small groups so that people are assimilated into church life. Today I asked myself what might be a good definition for a group that is a disciple making group. After considering that a disciple realizes and allows the discipler to shepherd him or her, has counted the cost of discipleship, and has acknowledged that a disciple’s lifestyle is a new lifestyle than that of the average person, the following definition makes sense to me.
 
A group of twelve or less people being discipled by a discipler whose goal and responsibility is to see each person he/she is discipling become a mature follower of Jesus Christ who will then make disciples.
 
The roles of the discipler as as well the one being discipled might be...
 
            Discipler:
                        1. Is fully aware that he/she is responsible for the nurture of, spiritual                                                                        maturation of, protection of, and ongoing shepherding of those being                                                                        discipled.
                        2. Never lords over the disciple as the discipler is to instill the principles                                                                   and practices of a disciples' lifestyle without creating a legalist.
                        3. Models the principles, practices, and teachings he/she is espousing.                                                            
            Disciple:
                        1. Is fully aware that becoming a mature disciple will demand a change of                                                                lifestyle and much sacrifice.
                        2. Has counted the cost of discipleship and is willing to do whatever it                                                                     takes to follow Christ wholeheartedly and grow in Christ to full maturity.
                        3. Has given the disciple-maker permission to hold them accountable and                                                               speak wise counsel to them.
                        4. Is committed to someday, when ready to do so, be a disciple                                                                             maker.
 
Would love your opinion. What do you think about what you see above? 
]]> 14760f75-9c74-4a18-860f-4a92eb7a3ae3 Wed, 15 May 2013 12:37:05 GMT <![CDATA[The National Discipleship Conference… Join the Discipleship Revolution!]]>
 
I am so very honored to be leading sessions at the first National Discipleship Conference taking place June 18 – 20 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Many of us are praying that this event will start a discipleship revolution that will sweep across North America and the world. Below you’ll find some information that may help you as you consider attending. I hope to see you there.  
 
The National Discipleship Conference will provide an opportunity for leaders to evaluate and sharpen their discipleship story. A discipleship revolution has begun. The church of the next generation must make Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” the driving force behind all she does. If we will seize this Sovereign moment the people of God will obliterate biblical illiteracy, raise up spiritually mature believers passionate to take the Gospel to the world, and set the western church back on the path Jesus designed for her.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS include Jim Putman, Jerry Bridges, Bill Hull, and Sal Sberna
.
 
WORKSHOPS:
 

Personal Coaching - Church Discipleship Ministry - A Ministry of the Navigators
Join us for an hour of one-on-one coaching. We will help the Pastor/leader do an assessment of their current reality in life and ministry and then zero in on their number one need. Pastors/leaders will experience coaching by developing a clear action plan on how to move forward in this area of their life. From there the coachee can determine if they would like more coaching like this in the future.

A Woman’s Journey of Discipleship – Women’s Ministry – Gigi Busa
A Woman's Journey of Discipleship will take you deep into a relationship with Christ. We will focus on spiritual disciplines, daily time in God's Word, making decisions using Scripture, and discovering the value of being and making disciples in a way that leaves a legacy of spiritual generations.
Every Man a Warrior – Men’s Ministry – Lonnie Berger
No man wants to fail. Yet in our culture men are struggling to succeed in life. The battles they fight at home, at work, with their finances and in their walk with God can be overwhelming. When marriages starts to unravel or children begin making bad choices, a lot of men withdraw; they just don’t know what to do! Men need someone to coach them how to fight and win in the battles of life. That’s the purpose of Every Man a Warrior.
 
Hybrid Bible Study Groups - Dr. John Herring
Have you ever wondered why your adult Bible study groups are so dry and dull? Do you need some ideas on how to engage your adult Sunday School class in meaningful conversations? What are you doing to encourage relationship building in your medium to large groups? What’s better – small groups or large groups?
 
Hybrid Bible Studies may be just what the doctor ordered for you and your church. 
We will look at:
  • Large group/small group dynamics·        
  • Creative teaching
  • Conversational teaching
  • Storying in the large group environment
  • Resources for creative teaching that make an impact
Inside/Out - For the Wives of Pastors/Ministry Leaders - Diane Nix
Some of the meanest people sit in church pews. Much of our teaching is relegated to the head. We puff ourselves up with the knowledge that we have concerning the Word, theology and how we are to serve or live out this Christian life. We struggle with victory over secret sin and spend most of our time concerned with how we look on the outside rather than living from an over flow of what is happening on the deepest level. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Relational Small Groups That Make Disciples... Really – Small Groups – Rick Howerton
Small Groups are known for being relational. In fact, the idea of being in community has so impacted the small group world that oftentimes the making of disciples has taken a back seat. This session will guide those attending to understand the components of a relational small group that makes disciples... Really.

The Role of Prayer in Discipling Others - John Franklin
If we are to make disciples of all nations, that means two things. First, we must know how to pray for others as we disciple them. Second, we must teach them to pray. This one hour session examines how Jesus prayed for His disciples, and how He taught them to pray.

The Strategic Impact of Making Disciples Among the Next Generation – Student Ministry – Joe Sweetman – University of Minnesota Navigator Staff
Ominous headlines and studies show that far too many young people are abandoning the church. Perhaps the entertainment-driven youth group culture needs a discipleship wake-up call. Imagine what would happen for the cause of Christ if this cause-driven, passionate, connected generation caught a vision to be robust disciples of Jesus and to be personally engaged in making disciples. How do we do it? Come learn from a practitioner who is seeing disciples rapidly multiply at the University of Minnesota.

Ways of the Alongsider - Discipleship -Bill Mowry
The Ways of the Alongsider paints a new picture of disciplemaking that moves this vital ministry out of the hands of ministry professionals to everyone who wants to participate in the great commission. You will learn a new pathway to disciple people in life2life ways.

Why Become a Disciple-Making Church? - Barry Sneed
We are thrilled that you have decided to join the discipleship revolution. Churches across the globe have begun to realize the importance of this biblical mandate (Matt. 28:19–20) and are imagining the transformation of lives and the culture where their church exists. Church leaders like yourself are dreaming of a congregation and community saturated with mature followers of Christ willing to do whatever it takes to further God’s Kingdom. Together we will talk about the "next steps" and "starting where you are" to become a disciple-making church. 
]]> ceb7c4e2-9eee-4ee3-afb0-f9da4ff41658 Thu, 09 May 2013 19:25:10 GMT <![CDATA[The Key to a Healthy Church... Elder Board or Elder Body? ]]>
 
Biblical leadership is the key to a healthy church. And biblical leadership principles are, in most instances, quite different than leadership principles that are exercised in most corporations. But, there is a plague that is sweeping through churches nationwide… elder teams that utilize business practices in the oversight of Christ’s church. And when that occurs, the church is more an organization than an organism, more a business than the body of Christ, and more prone to look like the world than the church Jesus died for.
 
There’s a difference between an elder board and an elder body. An elder board and a body are not the same animal. There are enormous differences in the two.
 
An elder board utilizes business principles and practices to manage the church.
An elder body systematically seeks out biblical principles and practices then utilizes them in the protection and oversight of Jesus’ bride, the church.
 
An elder board asks the question, what will the majority think of our decision?
An elder body asks the question, what is God directing us to do in this situation?
 
An elder board works hard to “keep the right people happy.”
An elder body will do what’s right even if it means some prominent individuals leave to join another congregation.
 
An elder board sees themselves as the supervisor of the senior pastor.
An elder body sees themselves as confidants, co-laborers, and trusted friends of the senior pastor.
 
An elder board tends to suck the life out of senior leadership through unnecessary scrutiny and an unwillingness to consider methodological modification.
An elder body encourages senior leadership to freely seek God’s direction and to continually pursue new methods that will aid the church in being missional.
 
An elder board separates themselves from the staff and tends to analyze the staff member’s work from a distance oftentimes asking for revision without understanding.
An elder body partners with church staff seeing them as co-laborers with a different but vital responsibility and trusts them to carry out the ministry they are called to do.  
 
An elder board and a elder body are not the same animal. One of these animals eats away at the organism Christ died for, keeping her from the freedom and joy that Jesus’ offers His body, the church. This group is known for rules and regulations, They keep those who are the church from experiencing the ride of their lives. The other breathes life into those who make up her ranks. This type pursues and brings nourishment from God to her constituency. These types exhibit the exuberance of those who don’t just know about Jesus but know Him personally. They are on the ride of their lives and are inviting everyone else to discover the thrill of it themselves. 
]]> 8db9b3c2-6536-4dd3-8119-a464feced9e4 Wed, 08 May 2013 05:37:06 GMT <![CDATA[My Interview With Ron Edmondson… Small Groups and Church Planting]]>
 
Ron Edmondson is one of the leading Christian bloggers in North America. His blog, RE, Thoughts on Leadership, Church and Culture, as of today, is #17. What many people are unaware of is that Ron is also a very successful church planter having founded Grace Community Church in Clarksville, TN, a church that grew from 0 to 3,000 in less than 6 years.
 
I asked Ron if he’d be willing to answer some questions about small groups and church planting. I was thrilled when he gave me an affirmative response. Check out his insights. If you’re planting a church or are early on in the process, you’ll want to pay close attention as Ron unearths some astoundingly important insights.
 
Rick: Ron, I've talked with some small group pastors who are seriously considering planting a church. I'd like to ask you a few questions about that. 
 
What area of ministry were you doing prior to becoming a church planter? 
 
Ron: I was a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school director and deacon of a large Baptist church before entering ministry. Immediately after I surrendered to ministry I was called into church revitalization. It was studying how to do that that I "stumbled" into church planting. 
 
 
 
Rick: How did you know that you were called to plant a church? 
 
Ron: It was really like the frog in the kettle starting to boil gradually. I was in it before I realized that's what God was calling me to do with my life. Even now that I'm back in an older established church, I'm working with church planters, considering ways we can be involved in church planting. I think many times the activity of God is around us and we can't see clearly at the time. As we walk with Him daily, He reveals as much as we need to know for the next step. 
 
 
 
Rick: I talk often with small group pastors who lead me to believe that the primary reason they want to plant a church is because they sense they could be a better senior pastor than the one they are presently serving alongside. What would you say to the small group pastor who is living in this awkward space?
 
Ron: Well, as a senior pastor, I can say it looks different from where I sit than from other seats in the church. Until you wear the hat of senior leader you really won't understand all the pressures that come with the role. I'm sure our staff often thinks the same of me at times. A senior leader has to think not only about the small groups role, but the youth role, the administrative role, the community and missions role, the church growth, worship, and vision casting roles. There are so many hats a senior leader wears. That said, I wouldn't go into church planting with only this as a motivation, but a desire to lead better certainly can be a part of it. I'd ask bigger questions though...like am I willing to lead lonely at times. Am I willing to risk everything? Am I willing to walk solely by faith and know others are depending on me to follow Christ closely enough that they can follow me? Church planting is hard on the best days and shouldn't be entered lightly, but if you're being called to it...it's a great life. 
 
 
 
Rick: When you planted your church, what was your vision for small groups in the church you were planting?
 
Ron: I saw small groups as the lifeblood of the church. Sunday mornings are a door many times, and corporate worship is very important. But to keep people connected, to engage them in true discipleship, requires smaller venues of community. To connect people to the church, and keep them connected, we need small groups and service opportunities. 
 
 
 
Rick: Was that vision realistic or did you find out that what you had envisioned was too difficult to accomplish when starting a church from the ground up? Please explain? 
 
Ron: Well, it was realistic, but it didn't happen overnight. We were intentional though. We launched every new initiative small. So, for the first 6 months, only future leaders were in small group together. Once we had "practiced" together, we felt ready to launch bigger. We never looked back. 
 
 
 
Rick: Concerning the small group ministry in your church plant, what would you have done differently? 
 
Ron: Not a lot. I think we were very intentional with it and it worked well. We might consider doing leader training groups longer. Seems we never had enough leaders.  Also, initially we had all groups break at 12 to 18 months. I'm not sure I'd be as adamant about that next time. Sometimes there are benefits to a group staying together longer term. 
 
 
 
Rick: If you were consulting a church planter, what words of wisdom would you give that church planter concerning starting a small group ministry?
 
Ron: Bring Rick Howerton in before you start! Seriously, Rick, you were a great paradigm shaper in our early days...pre-launch. But, I also think I'd advise them to learn all they can from as many sources before launch. I don't know that we were as "up-to-date" on all the best practices out there. There are so many options. Learn from everyone, but then adapt a system that works best with your church's DNA. Don't believe you have to copycat some other church. 
 
 
 
Rick: I'm sure I left out something vital, what question do you wish I would have asked you and what would your answer be to that question? 
 
Ron: What do you do when groups aren't working? 
 
You try something else. Many people in our early days fell in love with groups by their second try. We encouraged the free look. Try it...and if it doesn't work...don't give up...try it again. We found it was necessary to give people freedom to explore within different groups until they fell in love with group life. Once they did, they would make any group work.
 
Ron Edmondson is presently the senior pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. 


You May Also Want to Read...
Talking Small Groups With Guest Rick Howerton by Ed Stetzer
When to Start Small Groups in a Church Plant by Nelson Searcy


]]> 2a6a2dfa-7ce1-47b0-b59d-3421b5ffb4d9 Tue, 07 May 2013 06:09:25 GMT <![CDATA[Ten Random Things This Blogger Learned Because of His Surgery]]>
 
This past weekend I had an emergency appendectomy. No rupture, not even a whole lot of pain PRIOR TO THE SURGERY. I thought a few random and revealing thoughts might be in order.
 
1.     Three minor incisions can create major pain throughout any given region of the human body.
 
2.     My wife is the most wonderful person on planet earth.
 
3.     People take you seriously when you say, “Please don’t drop by to visit.”, and I’m grateful they do.
 
4.     Even at 55, it’s still comforting to see your mom sitting next to the bed in your hospital room.
 
5.     Working for someone who understands real life is a huge blessing.
 
6.     Hospital food isn’t so bad after all, if you haven’t eaten ANYTHING for 24 hours.
 
7.     Walking from one room to the next is a big deal when you’re in big pain.
 
8.     Brothers can get some very interesting and ugly pictures of you when you haven’t completely awakened from the anesthesia.
 
9.     A small group can be just as exciting and revealing when the leader of the group is unable to attend.
 
10.Good friends are everywhere. Much thanks to church leaders around the country who sent words of encouragement. 
]]> b59a1d4f-51e6-4b13-959f-58a4242994c9 Fri, 03 May 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[National Community Church in Washington, DC Has a One Year Protege Program… Wow!]]>
 
My friend, Heather Zempel, is one of the most impressive church leaders I know. She is a communicator extraordinaire, a captivating writer, and a person who seems to exhibit the characteristics of Christ in every setting in which I’ve seen her. When she mentioned to me that her church offers a year-long leadership development experience, I wanted to make sure that anyone within arms reach of this blog had the opportunity to consider it. Below you’ll see a description of the program as it is described on the web page.
 
 The Protégé Program is a year-long intensive spiritual growth, leadership development, and ministry immersion experience at National Community Church in Washington, DC. The program is designed to focus on three core areas: character, community and calling. As an NCC Protégé, you will be given the opportunity to learn from some of the most innovative thinkers and creators in ministry, participate in the day to day activities of church staff culture, stretch yourself as a leader, and lay a firm foundation for a life-long pursuit of the passion and vision that God has placed on your life.
As a protégé, you will choose a ministry department to focus your efforts throughout the year. You will be assigned a mentor within your department that will work alongside of you throughout the year. If you love kids- we’ve got them, and we want you to help us create environments for them and teach truth to them! If you are passionate about seeing the marketplace and the church collide, we would love for you to experience the management behind Ebenezers coffeehouse. If you love creating environments where community is built and transformational growth happens, our discipleship team would love to take your passion even further! Love creating videos? Our media team wants to invest in your talent to tell the story of God through moving pictures. If you are a worship leader, we would love to pair you up with other talented and anointed worship leaders that want to take your gifts to the next level! 

In addition to your department work, you will attend weekly protégé huddles. These huddles are led by Mark Batterson (lead pastor) or Heather Zempel (program director and discipleship pastor). Huddles offer ongoing discipleship training and leadership development in a small group environment that focuses on topics such as Leading Yourself Well, Character Killers, Dreaming God-sized Dreams, and Leadership Rhythms.

If you have specific questions about the program, feel free to email us at protege@theaterchurch.com.

Applications for the 2013-2014 Protégé Class are due on May 10, 2013.
 
If you’re considering church ministry and you want to be mentored by great church leaders who make great church leaders, you really ought to consider this opportunity. 
 
 
 
 
]]> 47ec89d6-b8cb-4973-9ead-2c42daef7438 Thu, 02 May 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Kingdom Rise: The Latest Resource from the Awaken Movement]]>
 
Very seldom am I so impressed with a movement that I request a guest blog post from a leader of that movement. You see, movements tend to come and go. They move in then they move out. But, when I heard about The Awaken Movement, I was hooked.
 
Worship is so often misinterpreted, even misdiagnosed. But these guys, the Awaken Movement team are aiding Christiandom in understanding the scope of worship
 
I asked one of their team members, Rob Peabody, to do a guest blog post for me about their latest resource, Kingdom Rise
 
Check out the vision, passion, clarity, and creativity that this work brings to the church.
 
 
We all want to change the world.
 
Whether it’s large or small, in some form or fashion, we want to be a part of change.
 
We want to make a difference.
 
We want to leave our mark on someone, someplace, or something.
We want to feel as if our years on this planet actually did something productive.
That we left our relationships, our jobs, our families - whatever it was that we devoted our time and energy to - in a better place than they were before we engaged in them.
In its simplest form, one could argue that we all want to be considered worthwhile, valuable, productive… to know that we are not just wasting time and space.
 
Right?
 
We all wrestle with this concept.
 
But there’s a problem when we translate this human yearning to the way in which we do church.
 
Although we know and identify this desire deep within us, many of us have believed the lie that this is unattainable. That only the “professional” Christians (the pastor, the worship leader, the missionary, etc.) are the ones that God really uses for change. So while the “professionals” are being used at any given church service, the rest of us end up going to church once a week, singing the songs, listening to the sermon, tithing our money and then going home with a “feel good” that lasts for a few hours Sunday afternoon before real life on Monday hits.
 
Many of us have allowed ourselves to come to a place where church, the Christian life and ultimately Jesus are something condensed into a one-hour time slot once a week. Our worship gets isolated to a single event that happens in the service and without even realizing it; we have effectively given Jesus our left-overs in life. And then we question why our faith is dry, why we don’t feel connected to God or see Him moving, or why church… and even Jesus seem boring.
 
There has to be something more…
 
Kingdom Rise was birthed out of this reality. This creative and powerful new worship resource is aimed at engaging both individuals and the church to live as agents of change for the Kingdom of God. This four-session study will challenge your views of worship and leave you never again satisfied with the status quo of merely viewing worship as something that happens in church for an hour a week – but rather a radical life change that empowers and unleashes God’s people to live on earth as it is in heaven.
 
Designed to be used as a personal or small group study, Kingdom Rise: Redefining a Life of Worship and Justice is paired with four gripping short films that enhance the learning experience - taking you or your group to a deeper level of understanding and impact.
 
The complete Kingdom Rise worship resource bundle includes the four-session book study, four short films and Awaken Worship’s Kingdom Rise album (produced by Stu G. of Delirious?) - with songs written to go hand in hand with each session of the study.
 
For more information, or to purchase Kingdom Rise visit: http://awakenmovement.com
 

Find us on:
 
]]> 0e53626d-0879-4149-a5c4-577a5f22cfe4 Wed, 01 May 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[The Power of a Synergistic Conversation and How to Host One]]> Last week I had the opportunity to be in a room with some of the most respected small group pastors in the country. For two and a half days we discussed/debated topics like, “What is discipleship through groups, really?”, “How does a church, especially a small group ministry, respond as Christ would to those in the gay community in search of a growing relationship with Jesus?”, “How does technology play a role in the disciple making process?” and other relevant topics.
 
The conversations were more than enlightening. They were sometimes overwhelming. They were overwhelming in that so much important information was being unearthed that I found myself engulfed in the flow of ideas, principles, and practices.
 
In a synergistic conversation one thought leads to another, one idea to an undeniable principle, one undeniable principle leads to the unveiling of a practice that is universal.
 
Might I suggest that, when dealing with a difficult issue, you gather a group of people for the sole purpose of having a synergistic conversation. A few things you’ll want to keep in mind…
 
1. Choose people who are passionate about the topic or issue that is on the table.
2. Choose people who are secure enough to be questioned and who are open to healthy debate.
3. Choose people who are out of the box thinkers but who are wise enough to know that this conversation has not been created so that they can move a personal agenda of theirs to the forefront.
4. Choose people who know enough about the topic to bring important information into the conversation.
5. Create the right environment by letting those involved know that, 1) Everyone’s input is vital, 2) No one is necessarily wrong in any statement he/she makes, 3) It’s more than okay to play the devil’s advocate, 4) You want them to voice top of the head thoughts so long as they are relevant to the conversation.
]]> faf67994-ae42-41a7-961b-35a92f53d4e9 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:11:23 GMT <![CDATA[3 Things Small Group Pastors Could Learn From My Emergency Room Doctor]]>
 
Saturday morning I found myself experiencing some ominous pain in my lower right side. I went about my morning doing the things I normally do. I noticed, as the day wore on, that the pain was gaining ground. Before evening arrived I found myself in the Williamson County Emergency room. You got it… Appendicitis. Yesterday my appendix was removed and today I’m in recovery mode.
 
The emergency room doctor was astounding. He served me graciously while leading his team with authority. There are a few very practical things some small group pastors could learn from him in relation to the small group leaders they lead.
 
1. When speaking with your small group leaders, acknowledge your equality while establishing your level of expertise. The first thing the doctor said to me was, “I’m your emergency room doctor.” He emphasized the word doctor, immediately establishing that he was the person with the knowledge necessary to lead his troops toward bringing healing to my body. Every team needs to know that someone is the expert in the room, that the person leading the pack has more knowledge than do they and that the small group pastor will use that knowledge to lead the team to accomplish great things.
 
2. When asked a question, be willing to find the answer and get back to the small group leader as quickly as possible. As you might imagine, my wife and I had some questions we wanted answered. If we asked the doctor a question he didn’t know the answer to he immediately went on the hunt for that answer and either returned to tell us himself or asked one of his nurses to speak with us. This raised our respect for him and alleviated our tensions concerning the situation we were in.
 
3. When necessary, send someone to represent you who has the time to  accomplish what you cannot. We were in the emergency room over four hours. On a couple of occasions the emergency room doctor was with us and I asked for something. In almost every instance, he sent a nurse bringing me what I needed. You know what, I didn’t care who met my need, I just needed my need met. Sometimes a small group pastor is asked to do something for someone and they have every intention to do that thing. The problem… they don’t have the time to get that thing done. Small group pastor, asking an assistant or a coach to meet a need on your behalf is, in most instances, just as effective as doing it yourself. Never getting that thing done or getting around to it days or weeks later will diminish your influence and may even cause the leader in need to doubt your passion for them and/or the group they are leading. 


You May Also Want to Read... 
Small Group Pastors... What We Can Learn from Olympians
The Secret Sins of Small Group Pastors
11 Characteristics of the Greatest Small Group Pastors




 
]]> f11fa98c-ba3b-4cde-879e-4751a34e97a5 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:05:12 GMT <![CDATA[Pastor... If Jesus Were Your Mentor, I Wonder If... ]]>
 
Mentoring is a hot topic today, especially in pastor circles. It seems that many pastors are seeking out a mentor to aid them as they journey into what it means to lead a church. Sometimes I speak with pastors who are being mentored and I'm astounded with some of the things they're being told. It seems the supposedly biblical mentor has as the goal to raise up a church leader who is ambitious to build a kingdom for himself.
 
The mentor is primarily about aiding the pastor in growing a big church rather than focusing the pastor on Kingdom principles that are espoused in the New Testament. In fact... If Jesus were your mentor, I wonder if...
 
…There'd be no talk about how big your church will become... Jesus might even suggest that you thin the ranks. (Luke 14:25 - 33)
 
…Before teaching you the leadership principles necessary to direct a large organization He'd be discipling you so that you grow to spiritual maturity. (1 Timothy 3:1 - 7)
 
…He'd be telling you that your primary responsibility is to make disciples who make disciples not gather the largest crowds possible on weekends. (2 Timothy 2:2)
 
…He'd make you aware that staff members aren't throw aways, they're brothers and sisters in Christ just as important to the church as you are. (1 Corinthians 12 - 13)
 
…Jesus would be telling you that you are not under pressure to grow the church numerically because He determines the growth patterns of every church. (Hebrews 3:1 - 4)
 
]]> 777486d6-3afe-4e99-a8ae-cecab6b1b465 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Small Groups and Theology, My Interview with Matt Svoboda Day 3]]> Over the last two days you’ve gained valuable insights from small group pastor, Matt Svoboda, about small groups and theology. Not only has Matt’s answers to important questions been driven by principles, he has also given we pragmatists some real handles to hold onto.
 
But today Matt is giving us wisdom that cannot be overlooked. He’s climbing right into the places where small group pastors find themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Matt’s wise counsel today is vital. So…
 
Rick: Matt, we live in a world where very few people, even many small group leaders hold to a biblical worldview. This leads to a few important questions. I’ll be asking questions along those lines today. How should a small group pastor respond when they find out a small group leader has purposefully or accidentally allowed false teaching to take root during a small group meeting?
 
Matt: I always start that conversation by asking questions. What was said? How did the conversation get there? What was wrong with what was said? (that question helps me know there understanding and if it was accidental or purposeful) How should we address this moving forward? Was there something that held you back from correction the false teaching on the spot?
 
Not until I have those answers can I really move forward. If a leader accidentally taught or allowed false teaching to take place on a major issue, like justification by faith alone, I would open Scripture with them. I would show the leader exactly what Paul is saying in Romans 4 and Ephesians 2 so in the future he can take his group to the same passages. Typically, I will also buy a resource for the leader if it is an area he needs to grow in.
 
Small Group pastors should have the leaders revisit the topic at their next meeting. Again, this is only for major doctrinal issues. I dont want any leaders policing everyone on secondary doctrines like, spiritual gifts, eschatology, etc. When there is room for disagreement, don’t police. 
 
Even in my own small group, if a person says something about a pretribulation, premillennial(which I dont hold to) understanding of the End Times when that isn't the real topic I will simply nod my head and move on. If we are talking about perseverance of the saints I dont want people to spend the next hour hammering out the rapture. When we do a study on the End Times we will discuss different beliefs at the appropriate time.
 
 
Rick: What are the foundational theological issues every small group leader needs understandings of?
 
Matt: Typically, everything in their churches statement of faith. We require all of our leaders to be members, therefore, they have to hold to our statement of faith. Beyond that I allow there to be some freedom and diversity on secondary issues. 
 
In most churches the foundational theological issues are the ones that make up the statement of faith. If that is true for your church, use it. 
 
I don't ask leaders where they stand on secondary issues. All I say to them is that one of the quickest ways to stop being a Small Group leader is to allow their "pet doctrine" to become divisive. For instance, I dont care if they are a calvinist or not. I just care if they allow calvinism to become divisive, whether or not they agree with my stance. 
 
 
Rick: Should every small group leader be made aware of the theological perspectives of the church that sponsors the group? If so, why?
 
Matt: Yes. Absolutely, yes. The quickest way to cause theological disunity is to speak while in ignorance. Small Groups leaders ought to ask questions and make sure they arent going to be speaking directly against their church leadership in an unhealthy way. 
 
For example, we are a complementarian church. I will let a person be a House Group leader if they are egalitarian as long as they don't make it a divisive issue. If they don't know our stance on gender roles they could say things that strongly contradict the church. This can cause confusion and disunity. 
 
Another example, we are Elder-ruled. Our leaders should know how our church functions. If they don't they could answer very important, practical questions very wrongly. 
 
To be honest though, this is primarily the responsibility of the church leadership, not the small group leader. If a small group leader loves the church, wants to be a small group leader and yet doesn't know where the church stands on major and/or controversial issues that is a failure on the church leadership.
 
 
Rick: What is the best way to make them aware of these?
 
Matt: Great question. Have a membership process that values doctrine. We have an "Intro To The Bridge" class. We do a lot in this 2 and 1/2 hour class. One of those things we do is deal with how we approach doctrine, what our statement of faith is, and what other doctrinal distinctives make us unique. For instance, you don't have to believe in a plurality of elders, believers baptism, or complementarianism to be a member at our church. Yet, it is made abundantly clear that is what church leadership believes. 
 
We use that as an opportunity to tell them they are welcome to be a member even if they disagree on those three issues and a couple others, but that we wouldnt allow them to be divisive over those issues. 
 
It is unfair for a church to scold a person for being divisive when it was never made clear what church leadership believes. We make it clear.  
 
 
Rick: What should a small group pastor do if someone wants to lead a group but is not on the same page as the church concerning a non- negotiable theological issue?
 
Matt: I know this sounds harsh to some, but you must refuse them to be a small group leader. This is a major reason why we require membership for small group leaders, we never have that problem. 
 
If they simply don't hold to a central, non-negotiable doctrine it is best to encourage them to go elsewhere. Pastors, telling people your church might not be the one for them isn't the worst thing that can happen. Letting that person in only for them to split your church in half a few years later is much worse. 
 
Have a process in place that guards you from that. If you never ask any theological questions before you make someone a small group leader you are asking for a wolf to come devour some sheep. 
 
 
Rick: What is the senior pastor's role in the theological training of small group leaders? How does a small group pastor go about enlisting the senior pastor to help with this?
 
Matt: His role ought to be the same with small group leaders as it is with everyone else. I don't enlist my Lead Pastor to do anything unique with my small group leaders for theological training. I see that as a crucial part of my role so I give significant time to it. This goes back to one of the earlier questions of doctrine not being for Senior Pastors only. 
 
The most important word in Small Group Pastor is PASTOR. If we can't equip people theologically we need to either address that ASAP or find a new vocation. Pastors, all of them, ought to be about to lead and equip leaders in the foundational doctrines of our faith. If you can't do that you can't make a disciple. If you can't make a disciple you certainly can't pastor. 
 
The Senior Pastor obviously has a role in the theological training of his church, but I dont seek for him to do anything unique with Small Group leaders. At most, if needed, I would recommend Small Group pastors to go to their Senior Pastor only to ask for advice about how to better theologically train his small group leaders. I would not enlist him to do it for me.
]]> 14414189-203f-4350-871a-df7d7980cb1f Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Small Groups and Theology, My Interview with Matt Svoboda Day 2]]>
 
If you follow this blog you are aware that I am doing a three day series on small groups and theology. Matt Svoboda, my own small groups pastor, is the interviewee. His passion for the church and theology is contagious. More importantly, his wisdom on the topic is vital. So…
 
Rick: What is your definition of theology, Matt?
 
Matt: Rick, I try to keep it simply, but a little more specific than most. I simply say theology is the study of God; his being and his works. Its important to remember everyone has a theology. We all believe something about God, even if our belief is that he is mythological.  
 
 
Rick: Because you’re my small groups pastor and one of the teaching pastors at our church I know you’re a passionate theologue. Most small group pastors are more about methodology than theology. What drove you so deeply into the theological space?
 
Matt: Hopefully what drives everyone to go deep theologically; love for Jesus. I hope no one dives into theology just to gain intellectual understanding. That is when theology gets really dangerous. 
 
I want to know God deeply, intimately. I want to see his goodness, mercy, kindness, grace, justice, and righteousness in all he has done and all he is currently doing. We cannot know if our lives reflect the life of Jesus well if we don’t know Jesus well. 
 
I love methodology. It is exciting and always changing, rightfully so. Yet, methodology falls really short if good theology isn’t the backbone of all we do. There is a reason Paul charged Timothy to "watch your life and doctrine closely" for in doing that we will "save ourselves and our hearers." Methodology can't do that. 
 
We ought to work really hard to grow and constantly learn methodology. But, when we end up talking methodology forever and never mention Jesus we have lost our way. 
 
We must realize that if we are to function in a healthy way theology must drive all that we do. 
 
 
Rick: Why do you think many small group pastors give less attention to theology and much more attention to methodology?
 
Matt: I think it is for very different reasons for different people. Some people are simply more naturally inclined to think that way. It is those who are more gifted as a "king" than a "prophet." Part of that goes to the nature of the position. We have to be pragmatists in order to lead a Small Group Ministry well. If we are all theory we can have great ideas and biblical principles that need lived out without any feet on how to actually work them out! 
 
We are also in a culture in which caters to pragmatism over theology, sadly. We see theology as controversial and methodology as creative.  Our Christian culture sees theology as something stale and only for scholars. This is sad and in a lot of ways is killing the American church. 
 
 
Rick: How do you think this has affected the small group world?
 
Matt: We fall into the trap of always teaching "what we do" and "how we do it" without ever going deeper into "why." Ask most people and in Small Group why they are there and they wont give you a good answer. They give a bad answer, we then think, "uh oh, its not working" and then change our methods again rather than shepherding them and walking them through the "why." We can’t treat people like robots in a healthy Small Group ministry. We have to tell them the truths that drive the practice. 
 
I believe most people disconnect over fallout from never understanding why they are doing what they are doing, not because the method needs to be improved even more. 
 
We, Small Group pastors, are not called to make systems, but to make disciples. If we believe people are to live in gospel centered community (whether you use that language or not) with other Christians they need to be told and shown why, not just told its good for them. Every person, if not told and shown why they are doing something will eventually quit. Why? They can’t embrace the value and importance of it. They also cant invest its value into another disciple if they don’t know the "why." 
 
In summary, our lack of theological focus leads us to not answer the question why for our people. This hurts Small Group ministry because we end up throwing people into a system they don’t understand and therefore cant reproduce. 
 
 
Rick: What are you doing to help the small group leaders you have oversight of to build a theological foundation?
 
Matt: A few things:
1.             Building a culture that values theology for the right reasons. They wont build a foundation on something they don’t value. 
2.             Investing time and money to helping them build a foundation. I walk out of a lot meeting with a book to purchase or a blog to find, (or a blog to write!) in order to help my leaders. I spend significant resources helping my leaders not just be better Small Group leaders, but to be better Christians. This includes them having to "increase in the knowledge of the Lord." Colossians 1.
3.             All of my Small Group leaders have Coaches they meet with monthly. Those meeting often include training in one of three areas: theology, leadership, mission.
4.             We also offer Porterbrook at our church. This is a church based theological education. The tag line is "Theology for mission."
 
 
Rick: Many small group pastors didn't have the opportunity to study theology. They were in another area of study in seminary or were in secular jobs prior to becoming small group pastors. Are there some books, websites, on line degree programs, etc... You might direct them to so they could establish a healthy theological foundation?
 
Matt:
Books:
I have a lot of books I can suggest, but I will show mercy to your readers! 
 
Here are the 5 books I would suggest to start a theological foundation:
1.    Knowing God by JI Packer
2.    According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy
3.    Surprised by Hope by NT Wright
4.    Doctrine by Mark Driscoll
5.    Concise Theology by JI Packer (I buy this a lot for HG leaders to use as a reference)
6.    If you want 3- read the first two and buy the 5th as a reference. 
 
Websites:
Honestly, there aren't many I would suggest. Most people who write blogs lean to pragmatism or they are angry theologians. Books are better for building a theological foundation.  
 
The only one I read frequently is The Gospel Coalition blog. There are a lot of good, different writers and they put out a ton of content. I primarily recommend Trevin Wax and Ray Ortlund from The Gospel Coalition. Most of the writers at TGC are good at relating theology to every ministry and life. 
 
Online Program:
Seriously, if you have a Porterbrook Learning Site near you, use it. The content is incredible, you learn theology in community, for mission, and it is incredibly cheap for what you get. 
 
If you want a more full degree I would do SBTS's 60 credit hour MA in Theological Studies or Criswell College's 30 credit hour MA in Christian Studies. 
]]> 825ccd7a-b609-4d58-997a-23d41dab72b9 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Small Groups and Theology, My Interview with Matt Svoboda Day 1]]>
 
When a small group point person mentions the word, “theology” to their small group leaders, some of those leaders sink deeply in the quagmire of their own ignorance. Even some small group pastors are hesitant to consider the importance of theology in group life. It is for this reason that I asked my own small group pastor, Mat Svoboda to allow me to interview him.
 
Few small group pastors are as passionate about theology and the importance of it as is Matt. He continually drives us to know more. What you’re about to read over the next three days is very, very important. So…
 
Rick: Matt, thanks a ton for doing this interview. I'm thrilled you said yes to this. Mostly because you're the right person to enlighten us concerning the topic of theology and small groups. First off... Tell us a little bit about yourself. Describe your family and tell the people reading this post what you do to be sure you make time to be a good husband and parent.
 
Matt: Thanks Rick. I’m not sure I will "enlighten" anyone, but I am thrilled to get to talk about theology and small groups with you and your readers. I am a normal dude that loves sports, the outdoors, and being with people. I have been married for 5 years to my wife, Meredith. I have two sons, Caleb (4) and Calvin (1). Marriage and fatherhood have been a great journey that encourages and challenges me greatly. 
 
There is no magic key to success on how pastors should make time be a good husband and parent. The best thing I do in this area is lead with my style. There is no cookie cutter way a pastor leads a church and the same can be said of the home. We dont pray before our meals, we sing the doxology (not in public, too much of a coward!).  
Here are some bullet points that work with the rhythms of my family:
 
1.Like most people, sometimes my schedule gets out of whack. When this happens I am quick to apologize to my wife. We look at my schedule and we make it right. 
2.Normally I limit my schedule to 4 nights with people a week. (most of the time the family is there)
3.We canceled out television in order to maximize our time together. Not saying TV cant be good in the home, but for now it's better for us if it isn't! 
4.We go to the park, a lot. 
5.I read and consistently analyze how to grow in this area.
6.I study my family and try to figure out what rhythms work and what dont. 
7.We observe the Sabbath, religiously! :) 
 
 
Rick: What churches have you served and where are you serving now?
 
Matt: I serve at The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, TN. It is a great, great church. This is the only church I have served on staff at a full time capacity. It would please me greatly if it was the last church I served on staff with. I serve as the Pastor of House Groups and Training. 
 
 
Rick: Where did you study theology, Matt?
 
Matt: Formally, I studied theology at Boyce College, the undergrad of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  I am now pursuing my Mdiv through SBTS as well. It is a great institution. Learned a ton and met my wife there. Seminary does have its numerous short comings, but I definitely needed the good it offered. 
 
Informally, I study at my home, Starbucks, and our church building. Pastors have to keep a consistent routine of study in their lives. I try to always read one academic book alongside a personal growth or ministry/practitioner book at a time. I usually have a couple more thrown on top of my supposed limit of two! I love to read, but it is also a needed discipline.  
 
Side Note: if I had it to do over again I wouldn't go to an institution that cost 40K+. I would have found a healthy church that valued raising leaders and had a church based theological training. They are out there.  
 
 
Rick: Why did you choose to study theology?
 
Matt: I wanted to be a pastor and I didn’t know any theology. I got saved as a freshman in High School and felt led to pursue pastoral ministry as a sophomore. I’m grateful for that church, but at the same time learned very little my four years there. Its an encouraging reminder that God even saves sinners likes me in churches that are as wrecked as I am!
 
All in all, I knew very little of the Word, yet felt called to be a teacher of the Word. I knew for me to walk in faithful obedience in pursuing pastoral ministry I had to learn the Word. I also didnt want to waste my time getting an undergrad in something I wasnt interested in or thought I wouldn't ever use. Its too much time and money.
 
 
Rick: Why do you believe small group pastors and leaders need to be involved in the study of theology?
 
Matt: Theology is not a game for Lead Pastors only, not even close. Healthy doctrine leads to healthy practice. Bad theology always leads to unhealthy practice and living. We are trying to help people grow in intimacy with God and submit their entire life under his Lordship. For this to happen people need to always be growing in their understanding of who God is, his character and nature. People need to always be growing in their understanding of his goodness and grace to us in the cross and resurrection. Small Group pastors have to teach our leaders how to apply the gospel to every area of their lives and their people's lives. You simply cant do this well without good, deep theological understanding. Post it note quotes wont cut it. 
 
A lot of times, good theology being the foundation to our practices becomes the difference between being real kingdom advancing difference makers versus settling into being busy bodies. The goal isnt simply to "plug people in." We have to go deeper. We want people to "plug in" because Scripture shows us a pattern of following Jesus in community and living out the "one anothers". They need "plugged in" for the purpose of their sanctification and those around them. We dont simply want people to "volunteer." We want them to find their spiritual gifts and become ministers of the gospel through those gifts. 
 
Another area that good theology is crucial is shepherding. We dont simply want people to "be held accountable for sin." We want people to confess and repent of sin, have the gospel applied to their life by their Christian community, and then encouraged to walk in grace. Weak theology on the gospel and sanctification will surely lead to many disheartened, embittered Christians. It will also lead to a bunch of self-righteous legalists.
 
Here are some doctrines that I would look at to see if a Small Group Ministry was healthy:
1.             Priesthood of the Believer
2.             the Gospel
3.             Sanctification
4.             Adoption
5.             Active work of the Holy Spirit
6.             Ecclesiology
7.             Missiology
 
This is obviously not to say the doctrines I didn’t list aren’t important. My point is, I believe the ones listed above are usually the ones that primarily separate healthy Small Group Ministries from unhealthy ones.


You May Also Want to Read...
Why Should I Care About Theology? by Chris Surratt
Three Responsibilities of Those Who Teach
Books Every Small Group Pastor and Leader Shoud Read, The Kingdom Life: A Practical Theology of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

 


 
]]> f15f6789-6662-4664-9f2a-e543d5b312e7 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[When Hiring Staff Members, Be Aware and Beware of Your Personal Biases]]> One of the most important things a senior pastor does is hire a staff member. Once a person is on the team, it's difficult and painful to let them go, especially since the senior pastor was the one who made the hire. When a senior pastor makes a bad hire it reflects that pastor’s reputation. On the other side of the issue… When a senior pastor finds and hires the right person, that area of ministry flourishes and the senior pastor gains the respect of the church.
 
So... It's vital that you are careful not to alleviate the best people based on your own biases. In order to keep that from happening you must know where your biases lie.
 
What biases do most of us need to look out for?
 
1.    The bias of our own stereotypes. It's so very easy to look at individuals not as individual persons rather as a person who fits a particular stereotype, a stereotype that is implanted in a Senior Pastor's mind.  A senior pastor might believe, because a person has been involved in a particular activity, that they will flourish in a particular role. For instance, someone might say that, when hiring a laborer, hire a person who has been a musician in the past because "musicians know how to follow the lead of the person directing them because they have, through the years, become accustomed to following the direction of the conductor or musical director." Or... someone might say when hiring a leader choose someone who played sports because, "people who played sports are natural leaders because they’ve watched coaches lead teams.” Or someone might say, When hiring an assistant, hire someone who has been a homemaker because, "anyone who has been a homemaker knows how to serve without expecting any kudos." This ideology anticipates that every person in a given genre of activity is alike. And anyone who has ever been in an orchestra, played ball, or been in the room with a group of persons who spend most of their time creating a wonderful home environment knows that within each of these groups there are great leaders, great followers, and amazingly humble servants.
 
2.    The bias of our own gender. Because many of us subconsciously hold to "the good ol' boy" or "good ol' gal" syndrome it is important that a leader, when making a hire, be purposeful in taking a close, maybe even a closer, look at those who are of the opposite gender than themselves. I've worked alongside some females who were off the charts when it comes to leadership and I've worked alongside some men who were equally gifted. Overlooking or purposefully writing off anyone due to gender may be to overlook God's person for a role that simply needs a "wise and gifted leader."
 
3.    The bias of our own school of training. If we're honest, at many of our seminaries there is an undeclared pecking order. Those in the school of theology were deemed the most elite, followed by those in the school of education, then the musicians in the school of music, then the school of student ministry, and finally, those persons studying to lead a Children's ministry. Senior Pastor, might I be so bold as to suggest that you do all in your power to set aside a flow chart that has the stench of ecclesiastical eliteness.
 
4.    The age bias. There seems to be a bias in ministry circles today, a bias like I have never seen in my lifetime. Bottom line... "Hire young." I am often contacted by church head-hunters in search of possibilities to fill various positions. One of the executive search guys I was talking with was willing to answer my questions. I asked him, "How many churches tell you they want someone under 50 years of age and that you needn't send them anyone over 50?" I was astounded by his response. He said, "Rick, the churches that call me won't look at anyone who is over 39." While each church gets to make its own call concerning this issue, it might be wise to consider that along with age comes experience, wisdom, and the ability to relate to the life situations almost all your church members will face, as those of age have already raised a family, dealt with many of the stages of life, and have a library of knowledge concerning the emotions that accompany the pains of life. Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that those under 39 are unable to speak to life issues. I'm simply suggesting that, a person who has personally lived through certain life situations will gain a greater hearing from those who are coming to a church leader for counsel. Know my heart... I'm not suggesting that you hire old or young. I would advocate the importance of setting no one aside due to age, too young or too old. Allow God to guide you to the person He has for the position you're filling. I can assure you, He'll get it right every time. 
 
In case you’re wondering… Yes, bias does look and feel a whole lot like prejudice and discrimination. 


You Might Also Want to Read...
Questions Senior Pastors Should Ask Themselves Before Firing Someone
Five Things a Church Staff Member Should Do in Relation to the Senior Pastor Prior to Accepting a Position
6 Statements Many Staff Members Would Like to Say to Their Senior Pastor

 



 
]]> e78c3402-1e3e-439f-9c7e-af285c952ba1 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[10 Characteristics of Irresistible Team Leaders]]>
 
Oftentimes, when we think of a church leader we think of the ultimate human leader leading the church, the senior pastor. Below the senior pastor on the flow chart are multiple team leaders. These individuals are most often staff members but, in many settings they are non-staff members, church members with the leadership gift who lead teams of their own. Because staff members and lay team leaders are without the senior pastor title, in order to be influential enough to be effective, they must be more than good, they must be irresistible. Below you’ll find 10 characteristics of a great team leader, a leader whose leadership style is a magnet for followers.
 
Irresistible Team Leaders...

1. Have been called to a vision/responsibility only God can accomplish.

2. Communicate the vision God has given them so passionately and effectively the unimaginable becomes a visible reality in the listeners minds eye.

3. Gathers followers to aid them in accomplishing the vision by personally inviting those potential followers to join the team.

4. Spends recreational time with the team members and during those recreational experiences disciplines herself/himself and doesn't discuss the work the team is involved in.

5. Seriously considers the team members ideas and proves it by taking those ideas to the rest of the team for discussion.

6. Are available to team members 24/7.

7. Get to know the family members of each team member, sincerely care about each of them, and proves it by asking about the things each of them are involved in (ball games, plays, etc...).

8. Understand team members have busy schedules and call meetings only as often as is necessary.

9. When in conversation continually makes eye contact with the team member they're speaking with and acknowledges he/she is listening by responding appropriately to statements made.

10. Prays daily for each team member without ever telling team members of the time spent praying for them.


You May Also Want to Read...
5 Characteristics of Great Teams
Leadership, Getting People in the Right Seat by Alan Danielson
8 Essentials for an Optimally Efficient Team Meeting
]]> 5985e279-bb50-4010-9466-b2c10a57f3a0 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[If You're Going to Call Yourself a Follower... 6 Responsibilities]]>

Many books have been written on leadership, too few on follower-ship. Below you’re going to find six responsibilities that I think make a great follower. Notice… Every great follower is also teaching someone else how to do what they are doing. This is the key to a follower finding the greatest levels of fulfillment in doing what they are called to do.

1. Follow the leader's lead

2. Find out what you were made to do and do it

3. Find out what you were made to do then continue to learn to do it better

4. Find out what you were made to do, learn to do it better, then teach someone else to do it

5. Stay in the game till the vision becomes a visible reality

6. Take pride knowing you followed the leader's lead, found out what you were made to do and did it, found out what you were made to do then continued to learn to do it better, you found out what you were made to do, learned to do it better, then taught someone else to do it, and that you stayed in the game till the vision became a visible reality.

In doing each of these things you’ve...
1. Exhibited the attitude of Christ
2. Equipped and empowered a brother or sister in Christ
3. Accomplished the work of Christ    


You May Also Want to Read...
Five Necessities for Building Trust Between Leaders and Followers
Followers Under Follow When They...


]]> da47b1f7-269c-42e8-9464-207f9e7b4023 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[If You're Going to Call Yourself a Leader...]]>



If you're going to call yourself a leader then... LEAD!

'Nuff said.


You May Also Want to Read...
6 Non-Negotiable Attributes of a Biblical Leader
Five Leadership Books That Have Influenced My Leadership Style
I'm Embarrassed When Church Leaders...]]> 641279ba-f1c1-4491-839b-520f8edf2e0e Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[5 Reasons Small Group Members Don't Want Homework]]>
 
Okay… Before you read this short list, know that it is not my goal to create internal tension or to be judgmental. Do know this... Someone who is unwilling to spend time with Christ on a daily basis will not, 1) experience a meaningful relationship with Him, 2) will never become a mature follower of Christ, 3) will not have the knowledge or passion necessary to lead their children toward Christ and His church, 4) will be unable to speak wisdom to other group members during group meetings, and 5) will not be witnesses for Christ on an ongoing basis.
 
And so… I share the following 5 reasons that group members don’t want homework.

1. They don't want to have an intimate relationship with Christ

2. They don't want to become a mature disciple

3. They don't care if their children become Christians, attend church when they're adults, or if their grandchildren are separated from them and Christ for eternity

4. They don't care about the other group members

5. They don't care if Christianity in the west dies with their generation


You May Also Want to Read...
Three Questions Every Small Group Point Person Should Ask Daily
One Thing Every Small Group Point Person Must Do Daily 
How to Get Small Group Members to Read Their Bibles V... Models

]]> 699f85f3-7c06-499b-b83d-99de08f5b604 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[How One Non-mega Church Gets 90% of Weekend Worshipers into Group Life]]> Last week I had the opportunity to meet with some of the leading Southern Baptist churches in the state of Ohio. My role was to stretch them and create a conversation in the area of disciple making.
 
While with them I met Troy Palermo, the Executive Pastor in charge of small groups at Lifepoint Church in Columbus. This church will have about 1400 people attending worship on a given weekend. During our conversation I felt comfortable enough to ask him what percentage of adults attending weekend worship are in and attend a small group consistently. I was thrilled when he told me that the number would be between 85 and 90%. To be honest… I asked him again just to make sure I heard him right.
 
We often hear of the Saddleback Churches and other mega churches whose reputation is known nationally and whose senior pastor gets much media attention having numbers like these. But, this seldom happens in a church the size of Lifepoint.
 
I asked Troy to share his strategy with us. Check out the practices he’s utilizing to make this happen.
 
 
1.     Create a Culture of Invitation
We ask our small group lead­ers to be intentional about meeting new peo­ple in our week­end wor­ship gath­er­ings and in the course of the con­ver­sa­tion to invite them to check out a group. There are times when a guest requests infor­ma­tion on groups and when I fol­low up they let me know that they met one of our lead­ers on Sun­day and are already sched­uled to attend their group that week. That’s a pretty awe­some thing for me to hear.
 
 
2.     Know who’s in and who’s not
At least 3 times each year, our team runs a com­par­i­son in our data­base of our group ros­ters with a list of mem­bers and reg­u­lar atten­ders. This tells us who is engaged in group life and who is not. Once we have those names, we do per­sonal fol­low-ups to see if we can help them find a group. We also ask our lead­ers to look over the list and make a per­sonal invite to any­one that they know. This has really paid off in clos­ing the gap between week­end atten­dance and group involvement.
 
 
3.     Con­sider build­ing in some nat­ural start­ing and stop­ping times
Our groups meet in 3 dif­fer­ent terms per year with 3–4 week breaks in between. Term launches are a natural time for new peo­ple to plug in and because there is an end­ing point it takes some of the “risk” out of try­ing some­thing new.
 
 
4.     Con­sider using small group con­nec­tion cards and cat­a­logs
About 3 weeks before a term launch, we hand out con­nec­tion cards in our wor­ship gath­er­ings and then fol­low up personally with new sign ups to con­nect them to a group. We connect them pri­mar­ily through exist­ing rela­tion­ships but since our groups meet in homes we try to keep them loosely geo­graph­i­cal. We also com­pile a cat­a­log that lists all of our groups and con­tact info for the lead­ers so that people can connect with leaders directly based on topic, night of the week or location. The key is to provide multiple on ramps and make it as easy as possible to connect. You can see examples of both cards and catalogs here: http://tinyurl.com/cqq6jj3
 
 
5.     Senior pas­tors take the lead
Lead pas­tors you must place a high per­sonal value on small groups if they are going to really take off in your church. You don’t have to be the guy dri­ving groups, you don’t even have to know that much about groups but groups do need to be an impor­tant part of your per­sonal life. The peo­ple in your church will value what you value and will live group life the way that you live group life.


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Small Group Leaders Making Leaders, Seven Practical Practices
The Real Reason Saddleback Connects So Many People in Groups by Mark Howell
The 10 Reasons Saddleback Has Connected 130% in Groups by Mark Howell





 
]]> 99fa95a9-5992-4995-91e6-459a17989750 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[The Ways of the Alongsider… Another Must Read for Disciple Makers]]>
 
Sometimes a book comes along that is so potent and so practical that it deserves a read. And so it is with The Ways of the Alongsider.
 
If you’re a small group leader or someone who is on a journey to disciple someone else, this is a very important read.
 
Check out the description below:
 
The Ways of the Alongsider is more than a Bible study or a program. This Bible-centered guide is a fresh approach to making disciples in life2life ways.
 
The Ways of the Alongsider paints a new picture of disciplemaking that moves this vital ministry out of the hands of ministry professionals to everyone who wants to participate in the great commission. The ten chapters are packed with Bible studies, creative assignments, and challenging reflection questions. You will learn a new pathway to disciple people in life2life ways.
 
Written by veteran Navigators staff member Bill Mowry, The Ways of the Alongsider can be used with small groups, in a class setting, or in a one-to-one discipling relationship.
 
Leader helps are included in the book.
]]> de65abcb-3a54-427e-9e89-ace59148fe32 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Followers Think Leaders are Geniuses When… ]]>
 
Followers think leaders are crazy when…
·      God calls a leader to accomplish something beyond human comprehension
·      a leader sets God-sized goals
·      a leader is unwilling to give up on a calling that is beyond human comprehension and goals that are seemingly unattainable when working to accomplish those goals demands greater sacrifice than the average follower is willing to make
 
Followers think leaders are geniuses when…
·      the leader leads followers to accomplish something beyond human comprehension and it is accomplished
·      the goals the leader has set have been reached
·      the leader’s sacrifice has proven to be worth it as the church the leader leads has become a people of faith and a people who will continue to dream God-sized dreams as long as the church exists
 
 
Leader… Never stop dreaming! Never stop sacrificing! And most importantly… Never, ever give up!!!


You May Also Want to Read...
When Leaders Lead...
10 Ideas for Creating a Leadership Culture in Your Church
Three Reasons Leaders Should be Hesitant to Quit
 
]]> 7a7267ef-c477-4531-ae58-a2664f8f1dae Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Last Day to Get A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic Free on Kindle]]>
 
If you read this blog on a daily basis you’re probably thinkin’… “When is Howerton going to stop promoting the free giveaway of his book?” I sure would be asking that question if I were in your shoes. So, for those of you who are ready for something other than this… tomorrow’s your day.
 
Please allow me to tell you why I’m so passionate about this book and so pleased that NavPress allowed me to give it away free through the end of the day today.
 
The culture has changed and we must acknowledge what has changed if we’re going to connect with those who are far from Christ. Most churches tout that being in a small group is where not yet followers of Christ journey toward Jesus. If we don’t understand their journey we are unable to lead them in the direction they need to go.
 
A Different Kind of Tribe, unlike any book I’m aware of, climbs deeply into the mind of unbelievers who exist and have embraced the post-Christian culture. It goes on to unearth how to connect with and reach those persons through group life.
 
This is the final day that you can get this free on Kindle. Even if you think the book is useless to you at this time, I would be so grateful if you went ahead and downloaded it onto your Kindle just in case you someday find yourself in need of its content.
 
Why not?… It’s FREE!!!  


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]]> 4b6c3aca-0fa4-4d33-a878-35623415ef45 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[Giving My Latest Book Away… A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic]]> Today and tomorrow, anyone can get a free copy of A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic on their Kindle. You may be wondering why I asked my publishing company if I could give it away.
 
Bottom line… I have a deep belief that the message that is in this book is vital if the church is going to reach people for Christ in a post-Christian era. A Different Kind of Tribe is focused on that and that alone. 
 
In case you’re wondering why I wrote the book, please allow an excerpt from the book’s introduction…  We are inundated with information about small groups and ways to do groups. It seems every influential church has built a model of its own, published a book, and is espousing it as either “the way to do small groups” or “the new way to do groups.” I have read as many of these books as I possibly can and believe almost every one of them is important and has something substantial to say. But are we seeing so many ways to do group because many, many great church leaders know something is out of sync and are courageous enough to go looking for the answer?
 
A few years ago I began to ask myself: “Are the principles and practices being promoted again and again simply a rehashing of ideologies from a past era, an era that has come and gone? ”This book was written in response to my journey into this
question. Here’s the deal: I believe that the small-group movement cannot continue on its current trajectory or it will become just another neutered experience for already over programmed church types, church members whose greatest adventure is attending the next church-sponsored class, whose greatest sacrifice is dropping a few bucks into the offering plate as it goes by, individuals who will exit the local church as soon as it no longer makes them happy or is unable to shield them from the sinful, dark world that exists outside the four walls of the church building. The world has changed, the way we do group has not — but it must.
 
If you’re a small group pastor, I would be so honored if you would contact your small group leaders and let them know if its availability via Kindle. After all, the book is all about how to evangelize and see lives transformed through groups in a post-Christian society.


You May Also Want to Read...
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic 1: Why I Wrote It
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic 2: Symbolic Group Member Roles
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic 3: New Language
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic 4: Leading a Tribal Bible Study


 
]]> 981ea6d0-724f-4635-b3df-01fdf4eb6a87 Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT <![CDATA[A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic… FREE on Kindle Tomorrow and Wednesday]]> When an author writes a book, she/he is motivated to get a message out, create a conversation, or simply make some money. To be honest… I know few authors who write for the money. I know few who write for the money because, to be honest, for the average person like us, there’s not much money to be made. I know many who sit in front of a computer screen for hours upon hours because there is a message they believe needs to be presented or a story to be told.
 
And so… I passionately wrote A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic. I believe so deeply in the content of this book, I asked my publisher if I could give it away. NavPress was so very gracious and we determined that it would be free on Kindle April 9 and 10. That is, tomorrow and Wednesday.
 
I would be so very honored if you would consider reading it yourself and, if you’re a small group pastor, emailing your small group leaders and letting them know it’s available.
 
If you’re wondering if anyone who knows what they’re talking about thinks of the book, some of the leaders in the small group movement were gracious enough to write endorsements. You can read those in the paragraphs below.
 
“This book is a must-read for church leaders who want to build life-transforming small groups that can reach the lost and radically change this generation.”
 
— Pete Wilson, senior pastor, Cross Point Church, Nashville; author of Plan B and Empty Promises
 
“It’s about time Rick shared his rich experience and wisdom about groups! But he’s given us more than that. He’s called us to renew a timeless value: communal life in the church. This book is a keeper, and I recommend that you read it carefully if you plan on being neck deep in building biblical community through small groups.”
 
— Bill Donahue, PhD, best-selling author of Leading Life-Changing Small Groups
 
“Rick Howerton has been a consistent voice of encouragement and guidance in both my personal discipleship and the strategic decisions I make to mobilize the communities of transformation that I lead. I’m grateful that his unique voice is now only an arm’s length away on my shelf as he invites us to abandon programs
in favor of relationships. A Different Kind of Tribe is not simply a handbook; it is an invitation to play a role in the greatest challenge ever given: to make disciples.”
 
— Heather Zempel, discipleship pastor, National CommunityChurch, Washington, DC; author of Community is Messy: The Perils and and Promise of Small Group Ministry and Wineskins for Discipleship
 
“Rick Howerton continues to challenge and shape our thinking when it comes to what small groups look like in our ever-changing world.”
 
— Margaret Feinberg, speaker; idea wrestler; author of The Organic God
 
“Rick weaves a beautifully accurate picture of ‘idyllic’ America that has been dismantled by postmodern society. And instead of simply railing against it, he gives a compelling, biblical, Christ exalting, and community-centered call to action for the church. I’ve been leading small groups and training small-group leaders for years. Rick has put words to what I have found to be the successful aspects of group life. This will prove to be an indispensable resource for group leaders.”
— Ben Reed, small-groups pastor, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee: marketing and communications director, The Small Group Network
 
“Imagine someone dumping ten gallons of ice water on your head. That’s how I felt reading the first chapters of this book. Rick exposes our broken and post-Christian society (and our failed attempts to reach it) with shocking clarity. Then he offers a
Christ-centered, relational, and biblical warm towel in the form of an in-depth explanation of Christian micro-communities and their potential impact on our society if we’ll just do church differently. What an excellent, practical, and motivational read!”
— Randall Neighbour, president, TOUCH Outreach Ministries; author of The Naked Truth About Small Group Ministry


You May Also Want to Read... 
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe, Why I Wrote It
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe, New Language
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe, Symbolic Group Member Roles
A Peak Inside A Different Kind of Tribe, Leading a Tribal Bible Study



]]> 990271d4-b135-4319-a25a-5427517d9c16 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:15:15 GMT