SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

Steve Gladen | Lumivoz

Small group leaders, pastors, and more discussing strategies for growth and community in church groups. The Small Group Network is an international ministry that equips churches to engage in deeper discipleship and community.

  1. 10 Building Blocks To Engineer A Dynamic Small Group Ministry

    6 мая

    10 Building Blocks To Engineer A Dynamic Small Group Ministry

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

    31 мин.
  2. 1 апр.

    How do you keep the ministry PEOPLE focused verse PROGRAM focus

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

    27 мин.
  3. 4 февр.

    5 Ways We Can All Lead Better

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

    29 мин.

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Small group leaders, pastors, and more discussing strategies for growth and community in church groups. The Small Group Network is an international ministry that equips churches to engage in deeper discipleship and community.

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