The Sower

Archive for March, 2008

Grow Your Influence in the Workplace

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Maximum Impact puts on a very inspirational leadership simulcast with those who have influence over others in the workplace, or for simply anyone who leads a team: Advance 2008, the largest leadership event of the year.
This conference comes to Bethel on Friday, April 18, from 8:00 to 3:00 in the fellowship hall, and it’s one […]

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Encouraging the CAT in Your Group

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

The 3 main outcomes in your small group are Community in Christ, Action for Christ, and Transformation into Christlikeness. Here are some ways (from a recent small group focus group) for prioritizing each:
Encouraging Community:

Working/serving together on a group member’s project
Social/playing together
Camping this spring/summer
Family nights
Common passion to rally around
Hurts to ministry to/needs to meet

 Retreat
Sub-grouping parts of […]

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For you audio learners, listen to the newest Leader-Listener podcast for leaders of small groups (or for your business and family): Molding Your Group Into a Team.

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The 10 Commandments of Goal-setting

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

Have you asked the Lord what His goals are for your small group for the last few months of this season? If you have, keep placing them before Him and taking the action steps He has directed you to do. If not, here are some guidelines for goal-setting (which may help you in your work/family […]

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Getting Candid with Pastor Dave

Friday, March 14th, 2008

5 Questions put to our earthly shepherd, as he reflects what he is gleaning from our Good Shepherd–and question 4 is a challenge to us leaders in small groups.
1.    What’s God been speaking to your heart about lately, personally? What about for the Body?
One of the things that I’ve been learning, or relearning, recently is […]

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Fun Top Ten List for SG Leaders

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Top Ten Most Popular Self-Help Books for Small Group Leaders!

10. Beyond the Open Chair.
* Bryan Begley, Kimball (MN) Church of Christ
9. Keeping Up with the Jones Group.
* SmallGroups.com
8. You’re OK, I’m OK, the Group is OK.
* Dave Smith, Family Life Church
7. Chicken Soup For The Soul AND As A Small Group Refreshment.
* Dave Smith, Family […]

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 WHERE’D YA GO?    Paul Casey and I attended the Small Groups Conference at Saddleback Church in Orange County, California.  I was especially interested in better understanding how they start small groups and how they keep their process for making disciples purposeful and simple.  And I am always stimulated by learning how purposeful leaders tackle […]

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Your Personal Plan for World P.E.A.C.E.

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

Rick Warren’s newest 40-day Campaign is 40 Days of PEACE, a huge vision of every small group in every U.S. church making a difference in the world for Christ through a missional focus. It starts with a personal PEACE, emanates to your local community, and then culminates with a trip to a foreign country to […]

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Dave Dawson and I (Tim Phillips) attended the Multi-Site Practicum held at Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL. The practicum is designed to assist churches in developing a step-by-step strategy in becoming a multi-site ministry.
One important highlight from the practicum was an emphasis on the role of Small Groups at a satellite campus.
A.    Small Groups […]

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Quotes to Reflect On

Friday, March 7th, 2008

–collected from Saddleback Church Small Groups Conference
“Vision without implementation = hallucination.”
“Things work better when they’re plugged in.”
“The number one task of leadership is to continually clarify and communicate the purpose of the organization.”
“People do not do what you expect, but what you inspect.”
“You either structure for control or growth, never both.”
“Want to move fast, go […]

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