Over the past fifteen years, small groups have become a vital way to build community in large churches. Nowhere has this been more apparent than at Saddleback Church. Now Steve Gladen, pastor of small groups at Saddleback, shares the secrets of that ministry's incredible success in creating small groups with purpose.This practical book walks church leaders through the questions they need to answer to develop their own intentional small group strategy. Built around the most commonly asked questions, Small Groups with Purpose outlines the step-by-step process of creating a successful small group ministry. Because it is built upon principles and not methods, this plan can be implemented in any size church. Each chapter ends with a list of questions for readers to answer to help them assess their current situation and their desires for the future. Personal stories, Scripture, and examples ground the discussion and show the system in action.Pastors and small group lea

Small Groups with Purpose: How to Create Healthy Communities

Religion & Spirituality

Gladen, Steve

Christian Books & Bibles

Baker Books

For the new small group leader, the seasoned leader who feels their small group lacks purpose, or the leader who is itching to move their small group to the next level, Leading Small Groups with Purpose is the road map to follow. Steve Gladen, author of Small Groups with Purpose and pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church for more than a decade, takes small group leaders step-by-step toward a healthy, dynamic group with focus and purpose. Every chapter includes ideas that small group leaders can implement immediately as well as ways to shape their small groups over time. Gladen helps leaders define success clearly, develop a personal leadership plan, invite members into the group, and shepherd members through fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship. He also includes a chapter devoted to addressing problems proactively and using them as opportunities for growth. Includes a foreword by John Ortberg and a free small group assessment tool ($12.50 value).

Leading Small Groups with Purpose: Everything You Need to Lead a Healthy Group

Small Group Life: Mission

LifeWay

Building Biblical Community - Member Book is a 4 session group experience designed to help members understand what it means to belong in a small group, know how to live in community and do life together, discover mission, and learn the importance of "story" in group life.
Target Audience:
<ul>
<li>Churches starting a small-group ministry</li>
<li>Churches adding new groups</li>
<li>Churches wanting a church-wide campaign for building community</li>
<li>Struggling groups</li>
</ul>
Session Topics:
<ul>
<li>Celebrating Community: a biblical community looks for reasons to celebrate; Jesus modeled this even in the hours before being arrested in Gethsemane</li>
<li>Learning Community: God created us to be learners; community is perhaps the best context for individual learning as members engage truth, seek to understand, and put learning into practice</li>
<li>Loving Community: draws from 1 Corinthians 13 to develop the notion that love is central to biblical community: a community that loves God completely, loves others compassionately, loves self correctly, and loves the world courageously</li>
<li>Service Community: examines the reasons service seems so “heavy” by identifying the barriers to service within the church and broader community</li>
</ul>
Features:
<ul>
<li>Includes leader notes</li>
<li>Warm-up activities</li>
<li>Discussion questions</li>
<li>Case studies</li>
<li>Devotional experiences</li>
</ul>

Building Biblical Community - Member Book

Donahue, Bill

LifeWay Press

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Books by Gladen, Steve