On June 10th, the Faith at Work Summit at Saddleback Church is hosting Fortune 500, Christian executives from Target, Disney, Cisco Systems, Metronic and Capital Group. Each of these speakers are passionate about the integration of faith and work. They are seeing God move in their companies, specifically through Christian fellowships and Small groups in[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually. You even get half off in person[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events[...]

Three Seasons of Ministry: What I Wish I Had KnownPart 1: StartingSteve Gladen has served as the Global Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church since 1998. He oversees the strategic launch and development of over 7,000 adult small groups on multiple campuses. Steve has authored “Small Groups With Purpose,” which has been translated into[...]

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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve is joined by three special guests - Carolyn Taketa, Bill Donahue and Philip Byers to talk about[...]

What is the difference between small groups and support groups? How do we care for the people in our small groups in ways that are healthy without becoming therapists for them? How do we keep small groups on track for their intended purpose? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions,[...]

What is the difference between small groups and support groups? How do we care for the people in our small groups in ways that are healthy without becoming therapists for them? How do we keep small groups on track for their intended purpose? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions,[...]

Being someone in ministry the desire is in all of us to be the one that rescues others, provides them the support, and gives them care they deserve. But in the books, we cover this month on Reading Lenz we discover that being the hero might not be the best way to get our people[...]

"What will our groups study?" This is a common question in groups ministry and one that is critically important in shaping the dynamics and discipleship process of a group. The sermon based model has been increasingly popular over the past decade and can be a valuable tool to helping groups get into Scripture with one[...]

1. How do you handle unclear or wrong communication?2. How do you handle worry?3. How do you figure out who's after you?4. How do you handle failure?7 Lessons Learned from Face Plants1. Think through your response and LISTEN2. The response is always done with humility3. Everything we do is being watched by the world4. We[...]

The greatest gift you can give those you lead is your own healthy soul. So often, as pastors and Christian leaders, we get weary and depleted behind the scenes even while our ministries are thriving and successful. The statistics on pastors struggling with depression, anxiety, and burnout are alarming.Lance Witt is the founder of a[...]

Description: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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve talks about how to have a successful retreat for your small group ministry. Steve shares about the[...]

Do you serve as a Small Group Point Person in your local church? Would you like to learn how to maximize your small group ministry budget for this new year? If your answer is yes, then you've come to the right place! In this exclusive Here to There Podcast episode, host Carolyn Taketa interviews Pastor[...]

Why are habits the best way to build consistency inside your groups? Join us for this month's episode of Reading Lenz as host Nick Lenzi is joined by Amber Walker to breakdown the New Times #1 Best Seller Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book has sold over 5 million copies, tune into to hear[...]

Listen is as we go back to February 2021 and the 3 Areas for Your Groups to Shine in Today’s Culture. We still find that this will be relevant in your group's setting today!7 Civilities  Listen with your eyes (don’t roll your eyes) acknowledge their view Sleep and hungry—know the right time Social media news[...]

Q As a small group point person, how am I cultivating my own relationship with the Lord?Q How do I create a culture of discipleship within my small group ministry?If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions, you’ve come to the right place! Reid Smith has been equipping group leaders for[...]

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[...]

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. 

Do you "want to want to read the Bible?" Do you or your groups struggle to incorporate Bible reading as a regular habit? We talk with Tara-Leigh Cobble, host of the Bible Recap, a short digest of a daily bible reading. With millions of downloads, Tara Leigh has been enormously influential in helping people love[...]

From the Lobby Gathering in 2019, Pastor Rick Warren shares his heart on Small Groups and what is to come. ★ Support this podcast ★

How engaged is your senior pastor in the small groups ministry? When senior leadership is on board and talking often about groups from the platform, the church is likely to make groups a higher priority and will have more groups, more leaders, and more impact on discipleship. So how do you get your senior pastor[...]

Description: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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Deek talk about 5 Ways to Start the Year Right in regards to your small[...]

How do you define discipleship? How do you know that people are actually being discipled through small groups? If you or anyone on your team is wrestling with these questions, you’ve come to the right place!Reid Smith has been equipping group leaders for effective disciple-making since 1996. He was a part of the Small Group[...]

This month we take a break from reading to tackle the breakout TV show Ted Lasso. We have so much to learn from Ted Lasso. He’s the ideal small group point person. He’s humble, curious, and timely. My guest, Ben Reed, and I break down three key lessons we've learned from the show and how[...]

Do you desire to be the best leader you can be? Would you like to strengthen the weaker areas of your leadership? Do you want to influence people like never before and help elevate your team to new heights? If your answer is "Yes," then you’ve come to the right place!Jenni Catron is the author[...]

Who do you want on your team? And how do you recruit people to join you? Small groups ministry cannot be done by yourself. We all need a team of people with different personalities, gifts, and skills to build a thriving groups ministry. Listen to Steve share the top ten things he considers when he[...]

If we were to ask you, “what are your top 3 challenges in your small groups ministry?” One of your answers would probably be related to getting new leaders or starting new groups! Whether you are launching a new small groups ministry at your church or growing an existing one, it can only happen when[...]

Do you serve in a local church ministry? Are you a small group point person? Are you doing groups in a multisite context? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then this Small Group Network podcast is for you as it will encourage and equip you regarding general ministry principles, leadership &[...]

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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Derek talk about Evangelism Made Easy for Small Groups.The 6 Fs ★ Support this podcast[...]

We would all agree that small group leaders need the support, mentoring, and care that a coaching system can provide, but it continues to be an area of ministry that is challenging, and often a source of confusion and frustration. In this exclusive interview, Host Carolyn Taketa talks with Allen White about issues related to[...]

Dr. David Wang is a licensed psychologist and associate professor of psychology and pastoral counseling at the Rosemead School of Psychology, at Biola University. He is the editor of the Journal of Psychology and Theology and serves on the editorial board for Spirituality in Clinical Practice (an APA journal). He also leads research funded by[...]

Since evangelism is critical part of discipleship, it is typically a high value for our churches. However, practically speaking, many of our groups do not engage regularly in intentional outreach to nonbelievers. In this episode with Joel Comiskey, we focus on why evangelism helps small groups thrive and how we can empower groups to engage[...]

Pioneer of small groups ministry in the United States, Carl George has been an influential voice in churches for decades. Here, Carl shares his thoughts on the small groups movement over the years including trends, concerns, and the future of small groups ministry in the current cultural context.  Carl George, an internationally recognized church consultant,[...]

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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve & co-host Deek talk about 20 ways that you can honor and celebrate the leaders in your[...]

Topic: A question we frequently field from our small group leaders is, "What should we study?" There is an overwhelming range of materials and topics to choose from and it is critical to choose curriculum wisely. What a group chooses to study has a significant impact on group dynamics and spiritual growth. On this podcast,[...]

his month's guest is Peter Englert from Browncoft Church in Rochester, NY. Peter serves as the Adult Ministries Director and is a blogger for the Small Group Network. Together we tackle the book Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss a former FBI negotiator. Listen in as we share what we learned from the FBI[...]

Bio:  Since 2017, Bart has been serving at Traders Point Christian Church, a multi-site congregation in Indianapolis, IN with 5 campuses, as their Lead Groups Minister, Campus Pastor for their 2000+ site, and on their Leadership Team. Prior to that, he ministered for 12 years as a Discipleship and Teaching pastor in Northern Indiana. Bart[...]

Since 2014, Peter Clow has served as a bi-vocational Discipleship Pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in New Hampshire. He oversees the small groups ministry and also serves on the Senior Leadership Pastoral team, assisting in the teaching and preaching, and in the growth and vision of the church. Peter is an Air Force veteran who[...]

Description: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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries. In this episode, Steve talks about the third Leadership Pipelines You Must Have In Your small group ministry: the small group[...]

A lot has changed since Creating Community, by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits was published 16 years ago describing the North Point Church's vision and strategies for group life. New realities, cultural shifts, technological changes, sociological dynamics, and organizational challenges have caused us to reevaluate our assumptions and strategies about small groups ministries. Listen to[...]

Guests:  From Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, CA  Britt Vargas, High School Ministry Director - brittany.vargas@calvarywestlake.org Connor Johnson, Middle School Pastor - connor.johnson@calvarywestlake.org    https://calvarywestlake.org/middle-school/  https://calvarywestlake.org/high-school/    How do we disciple the next generation through small groups?   Why have student small groups?  What do you look for in student group leaders?  How do you[...]

Guests:  From Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, CA  Britt Vargas, High School Ministry Director - brittany.vargas@calvarywestlake.org Connor Johnson, Middle School Pastor - connor.johnson@calvarywestlake.org    https://calvarywestlake.org/middle-school/  https://calvarywestlake.org/high-school/    How do we disciple the next generation through small groups?   Why have student small groups?  What do you look for in student group leaders?  How do you[...]

This month Andrew Camp rejoins Reading Lenz to break down the book How to Lead When You Are Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins   Next month's book Silos, Politics and Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni.

Guest: Greg Anderson    Greg is originally from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and has been in full-time church-based ministry since 1996 as a small group pastor, most recently at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. He has been involved with SGN from the early days of its launch, and currently serves as the Southeast Regional Representative for the[...]

Guests on the Panel:Bill Search is the author of Essential Guide for Small Group Leaders and Simple Small Groups. Currently serving as Executive Pastor of Ministries at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City.  Heather Lee has served on staff at Crossroads Church in Manteca, California for 12 years and as the Groups Director for the last[...]

Part 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6v5K4Qx54JVRwJYvNvKLUR?si=IzSx5CoyRPeQUrxPtTIqjA5 Ways to Reimagine Coachinghttps://open.spotify.com/episode/4yMNGT61KXKMAqiNtRehA7?si=XJeq4nbfTASKreJNwpLnRgCL Development PathwayCL VillageDescription: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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries.In this episode, Steve talks about the 3 Leadership Pipelines You Must Have In[...]

For more information on Ruth Haley Barton check out her website at https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/ and learn more about the Transforming Center at https://transformingcenter.org/Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainEarly Release from IV Press: https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-restAmazon (Oct 11): https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Rhythms-Work-Rest-Sabbatical/dp/1514002639This episode really just took a surface level look at Sabbath and barely even[...]

This month on Reading Lenz we cover Canoeing the Mountain by Tod Bolsinger. Join us as we learn how to navigate uncharted territory of small group ministry.   To help carry the canoe over the mountain, this week's guest Small Group Network's own Northeast Regional Leader Kiersten Telzerow. Kiersten is also the Groups Director at[...]

Most small group ministry leaders would agree that Bible study is a significant part of a small group. Yet, do our groups engage meaningfully with Scripture or are they just bouncing off verses during meetings? How well do we train our group leaders on working through a passage of the Bible and helping members interpret[...]

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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries.In this episode, Steve talks about the 3 Leadership Pipelines You Must Have In Your small group ministry: the group leader pathway,[...]

Guest:  Dr. Bill Donahue Dr. Bill Donahue, Ph.D., focuses his work on building transformational leaders, groups and teams. He is a conference speaker, author and strategic voice in areas of leadership development, community-building, and strategic vision. Bill’s work blends his corporate and church experience as he serves clients in both arenas. After 18 years at Willow[...]

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 healthier, growing and more effective small group ministries.In this episode, Steve talks about how you can grow your small group ministry by 300%! You can do this by using[...]

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

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

"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[...]

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.[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]