CHECKING IN 1. Share something you are thankful for. 2. How did our lesson on “Praying with Persistence and Power” impact your prayers this past week? KEY VERSEIn all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28 (NIV) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS  What do you take away from Job’s story and from his  response to God?  “Jesus[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Learn more about Jesus's life as a kid from Luke chapter 2. Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12 FREE Bible Stories here: https://bit.ly/2UAS1w7Get MORE FREE downloads at: https://store.saddlebackkids.com/free...Get free parents resources:[...]

The Kansas City Royals were a significant part of my childhood. So, imagine how excited I am to have Ned Yost on the podcast. Ned Yost was the manager of the Kansas City Royals in 2014-15 when they went to the World Series and won. Ned and I sit down and talk all things baseball,[...]

CHECKING IN 1. Share something you are thankful for. 2. Did you try using the pattern for prayer we talked about last week? What did you experience? KEY VERSE “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Jesus came to save everyone. But the ones who know how much they needed it are going to be the most grateful. Just like that lady!Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12[...]

Lance Witt joins me on the podcast this week, and we’re talking about burnout. Burnout is an issue that I think every person, no matter their industry, has had to navigate. Lance openly shares his experience as a pastor at Saddleback and the pivotal moment when he realized he needed a shift in his life.[...]

Join us for this Reading Lenz Classic with Matt Page as they talk about the book "Know What You're For" by Jeff Henderson.

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12 FREE Bible Stories here: https://bit.ly/2UAS1w7Get MORE FREE downloads at: https://store.saddlebackkids.com/free...Get free parents resources: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxM...http://saddlebackparents.com/Watch the most recent upload: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...This Bible story is based on Luke[...]

CHECKING IN 1. Share something you are thankful for. 2. Your group is now halfway through this study. What is one thing that has stuck with you so far? KEY VERSE “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day[...]

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my greattrouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me.”– Jonah 2:1-2The Story of JonahHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to[...]

What does pizza have to do with humility? Also... what is humility? Pizza is our all time favorite food. And to be honest, we love pizza so much. No matter where it's from, we love them all. Any of you feel the same? In today's episode, Jerry thinks of his friend Zoe and Kara first and gives[...]

God's good plans don't make the hard things go away. But knowing God has a plan helps us realize the hard things have a good purpose!Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12 FREE Bible Stories here: https://bit.ly/2UAS1w7Get MORE FREE downloads at: https://store.saddlebackkids.com/free...Get free parents resources: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxM...http://saddlebackparents.com/Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!Watch the most[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Peter and the disciples were on a boat, sailing along, when things got a little scary. First a storm came, which always makes things tough. Next, they all think they see a[...]

Savannah Kimberlin is the Director of Research Solutions at Barna Group, and I am honored to have her as a guest on the podcast this week. Sometimes, data and statistics can be a little intimidating to people (myself included). Thankfully, there are people like Savannah and the incredible team at Barna Group who are called[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!You've probably figured it out based on the episode title, but Lazarus died. But then Jesus brought him back to life! That's a huge deal! But what does that have to do[...]

CHECKING IN 1. Share something you are thankful for today. 2. How did last week’s lesson affect the way you prayed this week? KEY VERSEGod raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6 (NIV) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS  What does it mean to you to pray in Jesus’ name?  Have somebody[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Everyone has heard about temptations like wanting to eat a cookie or candy before you are allowed to. But what if you hadn't eaten for a whole month?! That's what happened to[...]

Kye Chung and Lee Coate from Growmentum sit down with Rusty and share their insights on what it takes to grow your organization. Special thanks to Growmentum for sponsoring Leading Simple throughout the month of June.

A panel discussion on how to overcome the typical barriers of getting new leaders, and how to identify, invite, and recruit new people to lead groups. Group Talk Podcast Panelists: Bill Search - Author of "Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders" and "Simple Small Groups" and serves as Executive Pastor of Ministries at Crossings Community[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Want to hear a crazy Bible story? Of course you do! In today's story, we hear about the time that Jesus washed the feet of his 12 apostles (even the one that[...]

CHECKING IN 1. Share something you are thankful for today. 2. How did our last session about spiritual armor impact you this week? KEY VERSEPray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE Under the “Getting Organized” section of the message outline, Buddy talked about five ways to organize[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Samson was dedicated to God by his parents. And God promised to give Samson super strength to help fight the Philistines. For a while it was working! But the Philistines decided to[...]

J.R. Briggs - Why are leaders in the church so messed up? by Browncroft Community Church

There are so many great articles and podcasts out there about how to create a healthy staff culture.This is not one of them.This week, Rusty reflects on how he broke his staff culture, and what it took to repair it.

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead more effective small group ministry.In this episode, Steve answers the question "should small groups meet over the summer?" He then proceeds to share some of the pros and cons[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!Hey kids! Have you ever had a job that you really didn't want to do? Jonah did. It wasn't even a hard job! God told Jonah to deliver a message to a[...]

CHECKING IN 1. If your group is new, or if there are any new people, introduce yourselves. 2. Share something you are grateful for today. 3. How do you hope to grow through this study? KEY VERSE Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your[...]

Parents: Saddleback Kids offers more fun activities and resources to teach your kids about the Bible, God, and Jesus. Don't forget to visit saddlebackkids.com!In Genesis, we learn that God created the whole world AND everything in it! Did God create the ocean? Yup! How about animals? Definitely. Even lava? Even lava. Check out this quick[...]

A new small group series on prayer from Buddy Owens of Saddleback Church and Lumivoz Studios.

Mark Moore - Why Would I Trust The Bible? by Browncroft Community Church

Paul Hicks joins Rusty on the podcast this week. He is a part of Search Ministries based in Texas, along with another Leading Simple guest, Bruce Matthews.When we think about evangelism, our minds can immediately go to planning some big event with a lot of people. But in Rusty's conversation with Paul, he breaks down[...]

This month SGN's own Daniel Thomas joins the show to breakdown the book Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Edward Catmull. Edward is the co-founder of Pixar makes of hit movies such as Toy Story, Monster Inc. Finding Nemo and much more. In this episode we[...]

Anna Valeria-Iseman & Warren Meeks - Why Does Investing In The Community For 100 Years Make A Difference? by Browncroft Community Church

Mark and Michelle McKinney are co-pastors, parents, and the first dynamic duo on Leading Simple. Rusty sits down with the two of them to talk about the ups and downs of being a part of a church community. Michelle shared her experiences as a pastor, a pastor’s wife, and with her children. Mark also gave some[...]

Rob Cattalani - Why Does 100 Years Matter? by Browncroft Community Church

For the 200th episode, Rusty’s daughters join him to talk about what it’s really like to be a pastor’s kid. Their perspective isn’t just helpful for pastors who are parents, but for anyone raising a child in this generation. Special thanks to Leadr for sponsoring this episode and to our listeners!

"What unites us is much greater than what divides us." This quote by Pope John XXIII is so applicable to this conversation with Kelly Lippenholz from Church of the Nativity - a dynamic Catholic congregation deeply committed to discipleship and community through small groups. Kelly shares about the power of a personal invitation from her own[...]

Holly Tate from Leadr joins Rusty for this week's episode to tackle some of the tough questions people may be having around their careers. Employees may be wondering how to discern the next best step in their career. Employers may be questioning how to help their teams feel supported and fulfilled in their roles. Across[...]

Steve Gladen, Global Small Groups Pastor at Saddleback Church, pulls from his 20+ years of small group ministry experience to encourage and equip listeners to lead more effective small group ministry. In this episode, you will hear an audio recording of Rick Warren talking to the Saddleback church staff about his 10 Principles of Exponential Thinking.[...]

Ben Espinoza - Why can Star Wars teach us theology? by Browncroft Community Church

Why Can't I Feel The Holy Spirit In My Life? by Browncroft Community Church

This week's guest is author and leadership expert Brian Dodd. Rusty and Brian take this episode to make leadership simple. Take a listen as they discuss how to look at life through a lens of leadership and the best way to see growth in your leadership. Brian also shares the top 3 lessons from his[...]

We are excited to announce some big changes to Reading Lenz, our monthly podcast by Nick Lenzi. Nick's show is graduating to its own channel and changing its name! Search for The Group Takeaways With Nick Lenzi in your favorite podcast app or go to https://share.transistor.fm/s/480a2b74. And don't forget to subscribe at its new home.[...]

This month on Reading Lenz we are covering the book Extreme Ownership by two former Navy SEALS, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Jocko and Leif share their experiences and leadership lessons learned on the most violent battlefields of Iraq. </div> <div> </div> <div>To help break down this book and prepare you for the battlefields you face in ministry, this[...]

Each of us sets out to be successful but who defines what it means to be successful? How do we get there? The answer may surprise you. In this episode of Reading Lenz we learn from Hall of Fame basketball Coach John Wooden, winner of 10 national championships who would be the first to tell[...]

When faced with an enviable challenge, how can we best use community to drive us to unity instead defaulting back to our standard of individuality?Join us on this episode as we go back to an impactful book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by award winning wartime journalist Sebastian Junger. In this episode modernity is affecting[...]

In this episode, Lance and Allen discuss the relationship between numbers and success in ministry. For some Easter attendance was a disappointment, so what does that say about the pastor? Beyond that how do pastors stay healthy and motivated in ministry and avoid crashing and burning. Lance gives helpful advice on managing yourself and caring[...]

Amanda Bundy - Why Is Friendship So Challenging? by Browncroft Community Church

For this week's episode, Pastor Rusty George is at Real Life Church to celebrate Easter. You can listen here or watch here

Exciting news, everybody! Bill Search's podcast "Leadership Journey" has moved! It is now its own podcast on its own channel. Go to https://share.transistor.fm/s/b7e1a4de or search for "Leadership Journey with Bill Search in your favorite podcast app. This week, Bill interviews John Ortberg, the author and pastor on his leadership and legacy. Check it out and[...]

Join Bill Search as he digs into Leadership Lessons with John Ortberg. They cover a lot of ground including:- John Ortberg's legacy- The difference between being a mentor and a mentee- Advice that John has received from some of the best leaders of our generationCheck it out and don't forget to subscribe and leave a[...]

Alyssa Matz - Why Do My Friends In Crisis Need Me? by Browncroft Community Church

This week, Rusty is joined by Al Lopus, the founder, and CEO of the Best Christian Workplaces Institute, on the podcast today. Rusty and Al sit down to talk about workplace health as well as Al's brand new book, Road to Flourishing: Eight Keys to Boost Employee Engagement and Well-Being. You can find it anywhere[...]

If you're looking for the latest episode of Here To There with Carolyn Taketa, it has moved! Carolyn's show has grown enough to get it's own channel. Just head over to https://share.transistor.fm/s/b7677a39 or search for Here To There With Carolyn Taketa in your favorite podcast app. And don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.[...]

We talk with the authors of a compelling new book, "Leading Small Groups that Thrive: Five Shifts to take your group to the next level." Based on extensive research, this book provides insights and practical how-tos on building small groups that are healthy, effective, and transformational.  https://thrivinggroups.com/ Jason Sniff is the pastor of small groups at Eastview[...]

Tod Bolsinger - Why Is Leadership So Hard? by Browncroft Community Church

In this episode of Leading Simple, Rusty sits down with Richmond Wandera as he shares his story of growing up in Uganda. At only eight years old, he and his family encountered devastating loss and poverty. Despite that, it paved the way for him to experience the incredible love of Jesus through one 15 year[...]

In this episode, Steve Gladen breaks down 5 areas where ministry leaders can re-imagine how they do coaching for their groups ministry. The following is what will specifically be covered in this show:History of Coaching Staff or volunteers Serve in one Help in another Saddleback’s history—building upon, keeping best of… 1.0 version (1998)1:5—I could recruit[...]

Jay Kranda - Why Will The Next 100 Years Change The Church? by Browncroft Community Church

Rusty sits down with Kevin Queen, the lead pastor of Crosspoint Church as they talk about developing as a leader and getting creative in crisis. Kevin shares his experiences leading through a leadership transition, changing church culture, and a tornado.

The Small Group Network is celebrating its 15th anniversary! Steve Gladen and James Browning look at the history of the small group network and what things that are currently happening that could make a big difference for you or your ministry.Check out our Year In Review to find out just how big of an impact[...]

Show Notes:The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters by Priya Parker The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders by Bill SearchWhy does a group get tired? •Leader begins to coast•Meeting becomes routine•Relationships hit a plateau•Purpose is lost#1 Leader Coasting Am I practicing “Generous Authority”? – [Priya Parker] “’Chill’ is selfishness disguised as kindness.” - Priya Parker Generous Authority[...]

Show Notes:The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters by Priya Parker The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders by Bill SearchWhy does a group get tired? •Leader begins to coast•Meeting becomes routine•Relationships hit a plateau•Purpose is lost#1 Leader Coasting Am I practicing “Generous Authority”? – [Priya Parker] “’Chill’ is selfishness disguised as kindness.” - Priya Parker Generous Authority[...]

Michel Hendricks discusses a neurological and theological approach to becoming more like Christ. While not ignoring the rational, left side of the brain, Michel shares how the right side of the brain is where character develops through the four elements of joy, hesed, group identity, and healthy correction. The presence or absence of these elements[...]

Bill Search goes into the basics on small group ministry and leading groups, churches, and more from a personal and biblical perspective. This is a commonsense reminder episode on what it takes to connect in a meaningful way with your people. 

Rusty George - Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers? by Browncroft Community Church

Is it possible to prove the resurrection? Rusty sits down with J Warner Wallace for this week’s episode. They discuss about the impact that Christ had on history, science, and the modern world. Rusty also also had the chance to get his insight on how to talk to the next generation about why Christ matters.

Each of us sets out to be successful but who defines what it means to be successful? How do we get there? The answer may surprise you. In this episode of Reading Lenz we learn from Hall of Fame basketball Coach John Wooden, winner of 10 national championships who would be the first to tell[...]

Jen Pollock Michel - Why Does Time Management Make Us Time Anxious? by Browncroft Community Church

Matt Allman joins Rusty on the podcast today. If you’re a pastor who’s ever wondered how to promote Easter, then this episode is for you. Rusty and Matt get the chance to talk about Easter. They also dig into how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Matt as a pastor and church planter so he could serve[...]

Show Notes:The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters by Priya Parker The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders by Bill SearchWhy does a group get tired? •Leader begins to coast•Meeting becomes routine•Relationships hit a plateau•Purpose is lost#1 Leader Coasting Am I practicing “Generous Authority”? – [Priya Parker] “’Chill’ is selfishness disguised as kindness.” - Priya Parker Generous Authority[...]

Greg Coutant - Why Is Budgeting A Bad Word? by Browncroft Community Church

Rusty shares a story of a mistake he made while leading and the lessons he learned from it to be a better leader today.

What are younger generations looking for from churches, small groups, and leaders? What are some unique markers of this generation? What does it look like for them to deconstruct their faith? Join us for this conversation with Saddleback's Development Pastor Dave Alford, who has worked with younger generations for decades both in ministry and higher[...]

What are younger generations looking for from churches, small groups, and leaders? What are some unique markers of this generation? What does it look like for them to deconstruct their faith? Join us for this conversation with Saddleback's Development Pastor Dave Alford, who has worked with younger generations for decades both in ministry and higher[...]

Toni Nieuwhof - Why Are We Disillusioned With Marriage? by Browncroft Community Church

Our guest on the podcast this week is Mitchel Lee. He's a speaker and the lead pastor of Grace Community Church. He is also the author of Even If: Trusting God When Life Disappoints, Overwhelms, or Just Doesn't Make Sense, a book that is particularly relevant in the world we're living in today.  Mitchel joins[...]

In each "Inside Saddleback" Group Talk Podcast episode we feature four unique segments: Saddleback Scoop, Network Nugget, Leadership Learning and the Trending Topic. In this exciting new episode, we cover the following insightful topics:Saddleback Scoop: Year 2022 oof!SGPP Vision—focus TRUST—Truth, resilience, Unity, Stewardship, Teachability rolled outCL Launch—Retreat moved to April 8/9, but each campus rolled[...]

I've got a short bonus episode today to kick off this new month. This Lent season, I'd like to invite you to go on a 40 day journey to Easter with me and Real Life Church.If you want to learn more about what this 40 days devotional journey to Easter will look like, then take a[...]

Justin Bowers - Why Do I Struggle With The Church And Not Jesus? by Browncroft Community Church

Many of us will come to a crossroads about our careers. So, how do you decide to leave a job you love for the unknown? We're seeing people wrestling with this question a lot more in the past few years as they take a look at their priorities, goals, and dreams. Clay Scroggins faced this[...]

When faced with an enviable challenge, how can we best use community to drive us to unity instead defaulting back to our standard of individuality?Join us on this rewind episode we are going back to an impactful book Tribe:On Homecoming and Belonging  by award winning wartime journalist Sebastian Junger. In this episode  modernity is affecting[...]

Heather Zempel, Discipleship Pastor and Ministries Director at National Community Church in Washington, DC, discusses recruiting and developing small group leaders, making disciples, and raising the value of groups with busy and important people. NCC is a highly transient culture. Heather gives tips on how to rapids identify and develop leaders. And, this episode was[...]

Daniel Snead - Why Would I Find A Mentor? by Browncroft Community Church

Have you ever wondered how to put together a talk, message, or speech that would compel people towards action? How to tell a story that inspires people and connects them? Then you’ll really enjoy today’s episode with Steve Ryan Carter.  Steve is an expert communicator who was the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek[...]

Show Notes:The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters by Priya Parker The Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders by Bill Search Why does a group get tired? •Leader begins to coast •Meeting becomes routine •Relationships hit a plateau •Purpose is lost #1 Leader Coasting Am I practicing “Generous Authority”? – [Priya Parker] “’Chill’ is selfishness disguised[...]

Toi Sweeney - Why Is What I Wear Spiritual? by Browncroft Community Church

From following a legend to sitting down with one, it was an absolute honor to have Dr. LeRoy Lawson on Leading Simple. He is revered as one of the godfathers of the church and known for his wisdom and integrity. We sat down to talk through his life in ministry. There are lessons in his[...]

Guests: Rex & Andrea Minor Intro:  How has your marriage been impacted by working at a church? How are you navigating the unique stressors of vocational ministry and its influence on your marriage? What are some ways we can build and sustain a healthy marriage that helps us thrive in ministry? In honor of the upcoming[...]

Guests: Rex & Andrea Minor Intro:  How has your marriage been impacted by working at a church? How are you navigating the unique stressors of vocational ministry and its influence on your marriage? What are some ways we can build and sustain a healthy marriage that helps us thrive in ministry? In honor of the upcoming[...]

We're all working hard to progress in our ministries and our personal journeys with Christ. Here's how we can learn from each other as we get from here to there. Here To There focuses on moving from Here, wherever you are as an individual in your personal life, leadership, or church ministry, to There, the[...]

Jairus Williams - Why Are Rhythms Spiritual? by Browncroft Community Church

Nate Ross has faced the unique challenges of leading an organization after his father retired from the role. Take a listen as Rusty and Nate sit down to talk about what that process was like. Nate shares some of the lessons he learned along the way, including transitioning well into a new role and overcoming[...]

In each "Inside Saddleback" Group Talk Podcast episode we feature four unique segments: Saddleback Scoop, Network Nugget, Leadership Learning and the Trending Topic. In this exciting new episode, we cover the following insightful topics:Saddleback Scoop: 3 Keys to Unity1. Success is never a solo entity. You need Mentors, Models, Partners and friends2. The older I[...]

In this fifth and final session, Allen White shares what is working and what is not working with starting small groups in the new normal. For more information about the Small Group Restart: https://allenwhite.org/restart

In Part 4, Allen White shares effective ways to connect people into small groups in the new normal of life and ministry. For more information about the Small Group Restart: https://allenwhite.org/restart

Eric Geiger joins Rusty on the podcast to share his insights. Eric is the Senior Pastor at Mariners Church in Irvine, California. He's also authored several books, including Simple Church (co-written with Thom Rainer). Rusty and Eric talk about what it was like for him to take over for Kenton Beshore, a pastoral legend, and[...]