Blog
Thoughts. Perspectives. Opinions. Feel free to agree, disagree, or add to the conversation as you see fit.
The 5 Stages of a Structured Coaching Conversation
Coaching and mentoring are a way of life. We can turn any conversation into a mentoring opportunity by listening, asking good questions, helping people focus on what’s most important, and empowering them to take next steps. However, there is also a place for using these skills in structured coaching sessions where we intentionally engage in […]
Stop Preparing Lessons for Your Small Group
How much time do you spend preparing a study for your small group? In my experience, most small group leaders spend a disproportionate amount of their prep time on the study. I know I’ve done this—especially when I feel I’m short on time. I do it because the study time feels like the one time […]
How to Develop a Mission Statement in 45 Minutes or Less
Stephen Covey once said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” The main thing is what we often call a mission. Using a well-crafted mission statement provides churches with clarity about why they exist. It identifies their purpose and helps them ensure that future actions align with what they believe […]
Your Small Group Ministry Doesn’t Need More Stage Time
Most leaders of small group ministries have something in common: they believe their ministry will grow if it’s more greatly emphasized by their church. You know the kind of promotion I’m talking about: colourful banners, live testimonials, and the granddaddy of them all—sermon shout-outs! The only thing leaders of small group ministries dream of more […]
How to Discern Your God-Given Call
Discover how to identify your life purpose and help others do the same.
Never Underestimate the Importance of Personal Calling
I sometimes wonder if the urgency to identify our life calling has been lost. Perhaps people assume this process of discovery is a one-time event. Or maybe our churches think it only applies to people who feel drawn to positions of vocational ministry. A person’s call is simply a way of expressing their understanding of […]
Why Most People Don’t Want to Lead a Small Group
I’ve never heard of a church that has too many small group leaders. Too many ushers? Maybe. Too many musicians? Possibly. Too many small group leaders? Highly unlikely. And yet, I know many churches that have grand visions for their small group ministry. Statements like, “our vision is to be a church of small groups” […]
How to Equip Young People to Use Screens Responsibly
It’s been just over a decade since YouTube launched (2005) and Apple released its first iPhone (2007). It didn’t take long for social media to explode—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp—which only increased the attraction of the online experience. Face-to-face interactions were quickly exchanged for messaging by devices. Daily events began to carry the weight of […]
Potlucks, Prayer, and Fighting Fair – How to Build Trust
Without trust, it’s impossible for a team to be healthy and effective. The absence of trust is used as the foundation for Patrick Lencioni’s well-known leadership parable called The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. In this book, Lencioni outlines five problems that many teams face, and every dysfunction grows from the root cause of distrust. […]
Faith Outcomes of Youth are Greatly Influenced by their Post-Secondary School Experience
New research shows a significant contrast in church engagement and beliefs among students who attended a Christian institution versus those who were educated at mainstream schools.