Matching entries from Small Group Dynamics
Collective Decision Making November 6, 2009 2:22 PM
Not too long ago, I listened to an audio book called The Wisdom of Crowds, by James Surowiecki. A section of the book deals with the decision-making capacity of small groups and teams, primarily in a business setting. The...
posted by Dan Lentz on November 6, 2009 2:22 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Renewing our Small Group Purpose October 27, 2009 8:08 AM
It’s always important to think about the purpose of small groups. Whenever I think about this issue, I almost always go back to examining the New Testament pattern of church to confirm the “why” of small groups. Consider some...
posted by Dan Lentz on October 27, 2009 8:08 AM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Bad Apple Effect October 19, 2009 12:54 PM
You have heard it said, "One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel." There was an interesting study recently published by the University of Washington in the journal "Research in Organizational Behavior." Here’s a quote from the study: "One...
posted by Dan Lentz on October 19, 2009 12:54 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Where Two or Three are Gathered... October 14, 2009 12:44 PM
While reading through some online newsletters, I happened across an article that really made me think. The article was by Chip Brogden, and was titled: “Gathering: But Not for the Better!” Here’s an excerpt from the article: “Jesus made...
posted by Dan Lentz on October 14, 2009 12:44 PM | | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)
Eliminating Dangerous Routines October 8, 2009 8:21 AM
My experience with rock climbing has been limited to the artificial rock walls and high ropes courses. But I appreciate that rock climbing, like small groups, is an activity that is risky enough that it should be done in...
posted by Dan Lentz on October 8, 2009 8:21 AM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Basic Prayers of Spiritual Life September 28, 2009 2:02 PM
Many efforts have been made to try and distill our life in Christ down to the most basic elements. Tom Bandy, a church consultant, has put together a useful way of thinking about it. He has identified what I...
posted by Dan Lentz on September 28, 2009 2:02 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Small Group Worship September 23, 2009 1:00 PM
I have had conversations with worship leaders who led worship for Promise Keepers and who also led worship in small groups. They have commented that it is arguably more challenging to lead a worship experience in a small group...
posted by Dan Lentz on September 23, 2009 1:00 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Great Relational Leaders September 15, 2009 1:01 PM
Lot’s of great leadership nuggets can be found at 21stCenturyStrategiesInc.com. I was reviewing some archived material there recently and came across a list of relational leadership traits to avoid, put together by Dan Reeves. I’ve adapted Dan’s list a...
posted by Dan Lentz on September 15, 2009 1:01 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
A Simple Recipe for Group Success? September 8, 2009 9:36 AM
Not much about small groups is “clean” or simple, but Dr. Henry Cloud mentioned in a conference session I attended some time ago that he viewed two “ingredients” as being critical for small group success and group member life...
posted by Dan Lentz on September 8, 2009 9:36 AM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Rehabilitating Small-Group Leaders August 31, 2009 12:30 PM
Because of a chronic illness I have been experiencing over the past several years, I've been thinking a lot about what small-group leaders need as they go through crisis situations in their own life. I used to be of...
posted by Dan Lentz on August 31, 2009 12:30 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Externally Focused Groups August 24, 2009 2:20 PM
I was reading the new issue of Rev magazine recently. The issue is titled, “Moving Small Groups Out of their Box.” Several articles focus on the nuts and bolts of taking your small group to the people rather than...
posted by Dan Lentz on August 24, 2009 2:20 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Breaking Bread Together August 13, 2009 2:47 PM
We've done polls at www.SmallGroups.com in the past about various topics. One poll question we previously asked was, "When was the last time your whole small group ate a meal together?" I was a little surprised, but excited, about...
posted by Dan Lentz on August 13, 2009 2:47 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Pastoral Care—Who does it? August 7, 2009 12:52 PM
Dale Galloway, former pastor of New Hope Community Church in Portland states "No church with more than 50 members can be effective in pastoral care without enlisting and enabling the lay people to do daily work of pastoral care."...
posted by Dan Lentz on August 7, 2009 12:52 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Internal vs. External Motivation July 28, 2009 8:09 AM
I’ve been thinking lately about the topic of motivation. Consider the difference between internal and external motivation when it comes to getting people into small groups. Internal motivation is when people realize the value of Christian community and are...
posted by Dan Lentz on July 28, 2009 8:09 AM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Small Group Topics July 20, 2009 9:34 AM
Ever caught yourself in that dilemma where your group members are looking at each other and asking, "What is our group going to do next?" Truthfully, I get a little embarrassed when my group gets into that situation. I...
posted by Dan Lentz on July 20, 2009 9:34 AM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Consumerism and Small Groups July 14, 2009 8:23 AM
There's been a lot of talk about Western Christians viewing church with a consumer mindset. A mindset that is consumed with what I can get out of church or small group. A focus on having my needs met rather...
posted by Dan Lentz on July 14, 2009 8:23 AM | | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
Church to the People (part 2) July 10, 2009 9:24 AM
As I described in my last blog post, our local church is re-purposing our Sunday worship and small group gatherings over the summer and taking "church to the people" through a series of missional activities. The process of turning...
posted by Dan Lentz on July 10, 2009 9:24 AM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Church to the People (part 1) June 29, 2009 3:18 PM
My local community of Christ-followers, since starting over 8 years ago, has always had the decentralization of discipleship and evangelism through home groups at the center of our strategy. However, we are taking that to a new level this...
posted by Dan Lentz on June 29, 2009 3:18 PM | | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
Space Age Relationships (part 2) June 22, 2009 1:11 PM
The importance of intentional relational training As I mentioned in my previous blog post, being a space/astronomy nerd, I have paid some attention to how NASA does relational training among their astronaut corps, particularly as astronauts work in small...
posted by Dan Lentz on June 22, 2009 1:11 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Space Age Relationships (part 1) June 18, 2009 1:03 PM
I'm sort of a space buff. I love looking and learning about God's creation, and have a couple of telescopes that help me do that (which I don't get out as often as I would like). I also keep...
posted by Dan Lentz on June 18, 2009 1:03 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
The Friendly Brain? June 8, 2009 1:46 PM
When it comes to folks who don't connect well in small groups, or who are in leadership roles but struggle to connect well with the people they are leading, our tendency is to label them and say there are...
posted by Dan Lentz on June 8, 2009 1:46 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Microwave vs. Crock-pot June 3, 2009 9:34 AM
It's a conversation that has repeated itself several times over the years for me. The conversation takes different forms, but the theme is the same: Can people grow into spiritual leadership quickly, or only slowly? Can small groups be...
posted by Dan Lentz on June 3, 2009 9:34 AM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Commitment as a Small Group Health Factor April 27, 2009 12:53 PM
While at the NEXT 2009 Saddleback Small Groups Conference in Atlanta, I had the chance to talk to Boyd Pelley of ChurchTeams.com about measurements that help predict small group health. If you would like to hear my conversation with...
posted by Dan Lentz on April 27, 2009 12:53 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
On site at the NEXT 2009 Saddleback Small Groups Conference April 24, 2009 12:58 PM
Here are some images from the NEXT 2009 Conference (Atlanta). I just took these pictures of the main session, workshop, and even the SmallGroups.com booth that I skipped out of for a few minutes to give you an update....
posted by Dan Lentz on April 24, 2009 12:58 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
The Power of Relational “Small Talk” April 22, 2009 1:06 PM
I haven't talked to a small-group leader yet who hasn't experienced the issue of time pressure during small-group gatherings. There so much to get done (food, fellowship, prayer, study, curriculum, service, planning, outreach, etc.) and so little time. And,...
posted by Dan Lentz on April 22, 2009 1:06 PM | | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
Leading by Discrepancy April 14, 2009 1:14 PM
One of the best "hands-on" conferences I attend regularly is the Xenos Summer Institute. In one breakout session, Dennis McCallum (co-lead pastor of Xenos Christian Fellowship) talked about a leadership tool known as "leading by discrepancy." Let's say you...
posted by Dan Lentz on April 14, 2009 1:14 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Failure or Success in Ministry? April 8, 2009 10:20 PM
Is failure an option in ministry? That's an interesting question. For instance, some would point out Biblical examples of prophets who were called to proclaim God's message to people who would never listen or yield. Imagine a whole ministry...
posted by Dan Lentz on April 8, 2009 10:20 PM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Mission vs. Maintenance March 30, 2009 7:44 AM
I suppose it's an age old leadership question, but it's always relevant: How do you balance the tension between mission and maintenance? This question comes up commonly in an overall organizational sense. For instance: Do we invest our time...
posted by Dan Lentz on March 30, 2009 7:44 AM | | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
The Hot Seat March 23, 2009 12:42 PM
In the U.S., over the past few weeks, we've had lots of people in the "hot seat." What I mean is there have been many corporate and public figures getting grilled with questions from media, lawmakers, and angry citizens...
posted by Dan Lentz on March 23, 2009 12:42 PM | | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)
Those Annoying Labels! March 16, 2009 12:50 PM
For years, I've struggled with the labels of "clergy" and "laity." I've had the opportunity to wear both labels at different times in my adult life. And truthfully, I'm at a point now where no one knows what to...
posted by Dan Lentz on March 16, 2009 12:50 PM | | Comments (8) | Trackbacks (0)
Small-Group Covenants: Part 2 March 9, 2009 10:05 AM
I’m a member of our local church’s senior leadership team. We’ve been re-exploring our group covenant together. It’s important to us because we are team led—we don’t have the traditional senior pastor role in our org. structure. The process...
posted by Dan Lentz on March 9, 2009 10:05 AM | | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
Small-Group Covenants: Part 1 March 5, 2009 11:01 AM
Like many of you, I'm part of the leadership team of our local church. As a Servant Team (that's what we call our leadership group), we've been re-exploring our covenant together. Many of you will already be familiar with...
posted by Sam O'Neal on March 5, 2009 11:01 AM | | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)
