Discipleship Leaders Podcast

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The Discipleship Leaders Podcast equips, empowers, and encourages small group leaders at Fellowship Bible Church with practical wisdom and discipleship training each month.

  1. APR 27

    Episode 33 - How to Pray With and For Your Group

    As the ministry year wraps up, this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast looks ahead to summer with a vision for staying spiritually engaged through Short-Term D-Groups. Jay and Amy are joined by Men’s Pastor Jason Elam to talk about how leaders can intentionally build a culture of prayer within their groups.

    41 min

  2. MAR 30

    Episode 32 - Caring for Your Heart as a Leader

    As the group year winds down, it’s easy for leaders to lose momentum and run on empty. In this episode, we’re joined by Care Pastor, Stephen Brannon, to talk about how leaders can care for their own hearts in order to lead well for the long haul. We cover practical rhythms like staying spiritually filled, prayer, time in God’s Word, sharing leadership, and knowing when to rest. Healthy leaders lead healthy groups—so this conversation is all about leading from overflow, not burnout.

    47 min

  3. FEB 25

    Episode 31 - How to Have Fun as a Group

    Discipleship Leaders Podcast Episode 31: How to Have Fun as a Group Jay & Amy with Guest: Jake Briggs After several weighty conversations on discipleship and longevity in ministry, we’re lightening things up this month by talking about something essential—but often overlooked—in group life: having fun together. Joined by Jake Briggs, Discipleship Pastor at Fellowship’s West Little Rock campus, we explore why joy and laughter matter in small groups and how cultivating genuine enjoyment strengthens relationships and fuels spiritual growth. In This Episode: Meet Jake Briggs and hear about his transition from worship ministry to discipleship. Why joy is vital to discipleship (yes—joy is a fruit of the Spirit!). How fun deepens relationships and helps us live out the “one anothers.” Practical ways to build fun into your regular group time. Creative ideas for activities outside of group (meals, games, serving projects, retreats, and more). What to do if you don’t consider yourself the “fun” one in the group. Whether you’re naturally energetic or more reserved, this episode will help you think intentionally about cultivating joy in your D-Group. Thanks for listening! New episodes drop around the first of each month as we equip you to make disciples who live by God’s grace and for His glory—at home and across the world.

    37 min

  4. FEB 3

    Episode 30 - Discipling Your People More Than the World

    Discipleship Leaders Podcast – Episode 30 Discipling Your People More Than the World Leader Training Recap with Jay & Amy In this episode, Jay and Amy recap key insights from this year’s D-Group Leader Trainings across Fellowship Bible Church campuses. The focus is on a growing challenge many leaders face: helping people recognize when they are being discipled more by the world than by Scripture. Drawing from Colossians 1:13–14, the conversation explores the difference between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God—and how subtle, seemingly “Christian” ideas can shape our thinking and living away from biblical truth. Jay and Amy discuss common areas where worldly discipleship often shows up, including self-help spirituality, mysticism, legalism, prosperity theology, and cultural slogans that sound right but aren’t rooted in Scripture. They also offer practical guidance for leaders on how to lovingly and wisely redirect their groups by: Helping people know what the Bible says Helping people understand what the Bible means Recognizing unhealthy influences Trusting the Holy Spirit while leading with grace and discernment Whether you attended the training or not, this episode is designed to equip you to shepherd your group faithfully, grow in confidence as a leader, and help form disciples shaped by God’s Word rather than the world. New episodes drop around the first of each month.

    42 min

  5. 12/22/2025

    Episode 29 - Encouraging People to Commit and Attend Regularly

    Episode 29 — Encouraging People to Commit and Attend Regularly Discipleship Leaders Podcast | Fellowship Bible Church Hosts: Jay & Amy In this New Year episode, Jay and Amy return with practical encouragement for small group and Bible study leaders who struggle with declining commitment and irregular attendance as the year progresses. They discuss how to set your group up for consistency, how to cast vision for commitment, and how to shepherd people kindly and wisely when engagement drops. Key Topics Covered: 1. Choose a Convenient Meeting Time Pick a day/time that works for the whole year. Make attending easy for the group, even if inconvenient for you. Adjust schedules as needed. 2. Start the Year with Clear Expectations Ask members to prioritize the group. Highlight the value of consistency in relationships and spiritual growth. Cast vision for the purpose and benefit of your gatherings. 3. Gently Encourage Through Personal Conversations Check in kindly when attendance slips. Help troubleshoot barriers to consistency. Balance challenge with genuine care. 4. Give Permission to Leave Gracefully Some people need an open door to step out without guilt. Encourage them to be where they can be consistent. 5. Lead in a Way That Creates Spiritual Value Prepare well, foster connection, and guide meaningful growth. People commit to what is valuable—make your group worth prioritizing. Closing Thought: Your faithful leadership helps people stay engaged, committed, and spiritually transformed. Jay and Amy are here to support you as you lead your groups with grace and wisdom. New episodes drop around the first of each month.

    24 min

  6. 11/20/2025

    Episode 28 - Leading Well for a Long Time - Part 3

    Part 3: Create an Environment of Grace In this episode, Jay and Amy sit down for part 3 otheir conversation with Bill Parkinson where they explore what it means to cultivate an environment of grace—in our families, ministries, teams, and personal lives. We break down five essential practices that help us live in the freedom Christ provides while creating space for others to thrive. 1. We Trust God and Others With Ourselves Grace begins with surrender. Why trusting God is the foundation for healthy relationships. How trusting others appropriately opens the door to transformation. 2. We Choose Vulnerability Vulnerability as the courage to be known. How confession, honesty, and authenticity foster spiritual growth. The difference between transparency and oversharing. 3. We Align Ourselves With the Truth Grace doesn’t ignore reality—it illuminates it. Identifying lies we believe and replacing them with the truth of Scripture. How truth creates stability and direction. 4. We Are Willing to Pay the Price Grace empowers effort, not excuses. The cost of growth: humility, repentance, forgiveness, perseverance. Why discipleship always involves investment. 5. We Discover God’s Destiny for Us Living in grace reveals calling, gifting, and purpose. How obedience opens new possibilities. Encouragement to pursue God’s unique design for your life.

    14 min

  7. 10/21/2025

    Episode 27 - Leading Well for a Long Time - Part 2

    In Part 2 of the conversation with Bill Parkinson, hosts Jay McGuirk and Amy Skrivanos discuss two keys to longevity in ministry leadership: building strong teams and pursuing the right kind of teammates. Bill shares decades of wisdom on how creating a supportive structure in every area of life is essential for long-term health and effectiveness. In this episode, we discuss: Building Teams in Every Season of Life (01:17) Why we must intentionally build teams to counteract our culture of independence and isolation. -Marriage (02:08): How having a team of mentors and role models can strengthen your marriage, providing a healthy foundation for ministry. -Family (05:44): The value of creating a "family team" with others to raise children in a community of faith. -Work/Ministry (08:03): How a church or organization built on the principles of humility and trust creates an environment where leaders can thrive long-term. Pursuing the Right Kind of Teammates & Co-Leaders (12:13) The importance of being intentional about who you allow to speak into your life and lead alongside you. -Look for teammates who possess key qualities like courage, the ability to encourage others, strong relational skills, and positive influence. -How finding the right people who challenge you to grow is more important than their age or position.

    17 min

  8. 09/25/2025

    Episode 26 - Leading Well for a Long Time

    Discipleship Leaders Podcast - Episode 26: Leading Well for a Long Time Hosts: Jay and Amy Guest: Bill Parkinson As fall D-Groups settle into their rhythm, this episode focuses on the crucial topic of leadership longevity. How do you lead your small group or Bible study not just well, but well for decades? Jay and Amy welcome Bill Parkinson, a founding pastor of Fellowship Bible Church who recently stepped down after an remarkable 47 years of faithful ministry service. Bill served 25 years as a teaching pastor before transitioning to senior adult and grandparenting ministries. Key Topics Covered Four Essential Practices for Long-Term Leadership: 1. Practice Spiritual Disciplines - The foundation for sustainable ministry 2. Be Mentored and Be a Mentor - Both receiving guidance and pouring into others 3. Build Teams in Every Season - Creating support systems in marriage, family, and work 4. Pursue the Right Teammates/Co-Leaders - Including warnings about why leaders fail Creating an Environment of Grace: -Trusting God and others with ourselves -Choosing vulnerability over self-protection -Aligning with truth -Willingness to pay the price -Discovering God's destiny for your life Perfect for small group leaders, Bible study facilitators, and anyone wanting to serve faithfully for the long haul while maintaining joy, energy, and purpose in ministry. New episodes drop monthly to help you grow in your discipleship leadership skills.

    34 min
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The Discipleship Leaders Podcast equips, empowers, and encourages small group leaders at Fellowship Bible Church with practical wisdom and discipleship training each month.

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