SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups Podcast Por Steve Gladen | Lumivoz arte de portada

SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

De: Steve Gladen | Lumivoz
Escúchala gratis

Acerca de esta escucha

 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.2021 Small Group Network Espiritualidad
Episodios
  • The Best Part of Your Week: How to Make Groups Fun, Relational, and Life-Giving - Featuring Brad Shank

    The Best Part of Your Week: How to Make Groups Fun, Relational, and Life-Giving - Featuring Brad Shank
    Jun 4 2025

    Enhancing Small Group Ministry: Insights from the Lobby Gathering

    In this episode of SG Squared, Steve Gladden and James Browning discuss the annual Lobby Gathering event in Southern California, which brings together small group pastors from around the world. The conversation highlights the inception of the Lobby Gathering, emphasizing the importance of practical networking over traditional conference sessions. The episode features insights from Brad Shank of Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV), who outlines four key rhythms for creating vibrant small groups: eating together, doing life together, growing together, and serving together. Shank stresses the significance of these rhythms in fostering genuine relationships and spiritual growth, offering practical advice for making groups the best part of members' weeks by embodying the spirit of the early church. The episode encourages listeners to reevaluate their small group practices to foster environments filled with joy, generosity, connection, and mission.

    To take advantage of the early bird discount, head to https://smallgroupnetwork.com/events

    00:00 Introduction to the Lobby Gathering
    00:33 The Origin of the Lobby Gathering
    00:59 Mistake #1: Wrong Assumptions
    02:56 Mistake #2: Impatience
    04:29 Mistake #3: Defensiveness
    06:35 Insights from the Lobby Gathering
    08:12 Best Part of Your Week: Building Life-Giving Groups
    15:56 Four Key Rhythms for Small Groups
    19:32 Practical Tips for Group Leaders
    31:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    ★ Support this podcast ★
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • 3 mistakes to avoid with your Lead Pastor

    3 mistakes to avoid with your Lead Pastor
    May 7 2025
    3 mistakes to avoid with your Lead or Supervising PastorMistake #1: Wrong assumptionsIn the middle of a difficult moment with leadership relationships, it is very easy to assume the worst about them. A Christian counselor friend once said, “When we assume the motives of someone else we are wrong most of the time.” I have learned this is very true.We often forget is what it’s like to be in their shoes. Remember when others misjudged you? What did you want from them? What did you wish for? It might be a good exercise to make a list of what you remember as a starting point for making changes in your relationships.The danger of assigning motives, of assuming someone’s intent, is we never know all the facts. They maybe new to the church? To the role? To you? They come with their own often un-named values, beliefs, and assumptions about what we, their leadership, should or should not do. It’s very complicated.The temptation is always to side with your own beliefs, to assume you are correct, because we know them…or think we do. But God is clear when He says, “You shall not be partial in judgment … For the Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty and the awesome God, who is not partial …” (Deuteronomy 1:17; 10:17). Meaningful relations can’t happen if we are assuming the worst or assigning blame without knowing all the data. And we will rarely have all the facts.Conclusion: Choose to believe the best. Ask God to give you His love and grace and to help you give grace, expecting nothing in return. You will never know the full impact of the Lead Pastor world! Help them see you as a “friend” not a “foe”.Mistake #2: ImpatienceWe’ve had a lifetime to get to know our ministry, but when it comes to being the Lead Pastor…not so much. It’s all too easy to impatiently expect these relationships to gel perfectly. Relationships take time … lots of time with many investments of grace, love, and patience. There are so many factors to consider—working styles, age gaps, passion gaps, interest gaps, etc.Often what helps me in impatience is to know, that through PRAYER, God can make things go far faster than I can. Simple, huh? Along with that, you need to be good for your church. You are part of the team to help, not just have your way. You need to show up, but not throw up!Basically, be what a friend taught me, “Be a good General, not a bad General”. A bad General takes their assignment and does whatever higher ups tell them. A good General will assess the situation, give their advise and then execute on whatever leadership decides. If you feel it is wrong, PRAY, God will course correct.Conclusion: We are only responsible to suggest and pray.. God is more than able to work His will in their lives without our help. Our job now is to be patient with the process and trust Him to do the work. SOMETIMES God is working in the background and doesn’t tell us! LOLMistake #3: DefensivenessWhen a Lead Pastor points out a flaw he or she sees in us, it hurts. Our natural inclination is to be defensive, to explain our position and how hard we tried to do our best rather than just apologize and say, “I’m so sorry that hurt you so much or wasn’t done the way you expected.” We forget so easily that we are all flawed, broken people and no pastor is perfect. So why are we surprised when stuff happens and people give us issues?This next statement isn’t natural but … instead of having defensiveness of those of we serve (our Lead Pastor), we should be grateful for the opportunity to mend and apologize for the mistakes we make! Even if it was 100% unintentional. Modeling an apologetic heart and seeking forgiveness will open the door for you to do the same with those that serve under you (staff or volunteer). A friend once said, “Seeing a flaw in ourselves is a joy because we now have the opportunity to be rid of it.” It takes maturity and humility to see our shortcomings this way, but it’s liberating.Only when we own our mistakes and admit where we failed leadership will we grow rich relationships with them and church leadership. The truth is always your friend.Only humility produces the beauty of meaningfully deep relationships. And continually acknowledging our own shortcomings and failures before God makes beautiful our lives in the greater body of Christ. It’s been quite a journey at Saddleback Church since March of 1998. I’ve known lots of misunderstandings and mistakes. Thankfully I’ve known forgiveness too. I love our church so much, including the staff and people LOL. Each difficulty brings uniqueness which challenges us to a greater faith, and that is always good.He’s got us, He’s got our ministry and He’s got our Lead Pastor too! ★ Support this podcast ★
    Más Menos
    24 m
  • The 4 "K"s of Small Group Ministry Spring Cleaning

    The 4 "K"s of Small Group Ministry Spring Cleaning
    Apr 9 2025

    Spring Cleaning for Small Group Ministry: The 5 Ks with Steve Gladen

    In this episode of FG Squared, Steve Gladen, the global pastor of small groups from Saddleback Church, shares insights from his 25+ years of experience to help listeners enhance their small group ministries. Joined by Derek, Steve discusses 'The 4 Ks of Small Group Ministry Spring Cleaning': Kinship with leaders, Keeping clean data, Knowing your playbook, Kindling leadership, and Kicking spiritual butt. They emphasize the importance of building deeper relationships with leaders, maintaining accurate data, ensuring everyone understands the group's playbook, fostering leadership pathways, and ultimately achieving ministry victories. Tune in for practical advice to rejuvenate your small group ministry.

    00:00 Introduction and Welcome
    00:25 Personal Updates and Moving Challenges
    01:46 Spring Cleaning in Small Group Ministry
    03:02 The Four Ks of Small Group Ministry
    03:20 Kinship with Leaders
    07:42 Keep Clean Data
    10:50 Know Your Playbook
    12:50 Kindle Leadership
    16:56 Final Thoughts and The Fifth K
    18:30 Conclusion and Farewell

    ★ Support this podcast ★
    Más Menos
    19 m
Todavía no hay opiniones