In this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast, Jay, Amy, and guest Carrie Carter discuss how small group leaders can lovingly shepherd “difficult” people within their groups while maintaining a healthy, Christ-centered environment. They explore common challenges leaders face, the deeper reasons behind difficult behaviors, and practical ways to lead with grace, truth, and wisdom so that every group member has the opportunity to grow spiritually.

Episode 31: How to Have Fun as a Group

Jay & Amy with Guest: Jake Briggs

After several weighty conversations on discipleship and longevity in ministry, we’re lightening things up this month by talking about something essential—but often overlooked—in group life: having fun together.

Joined by Jake Briggs, Discipleship Pastor at Fellowship’s West Little Rock campus, we explore why joy and laughter matter in small groups and how cultivating genuine enjoyment strengthens relationships and fuels spiritual growth.

In This Episode:

Meet Jake Briggs and hear about his transition from worship ministry to discipleship.

Why joy is vital to discipleship (yes—joy is a fruit of the Spirit!).

How fun deepens relationships and helps us live out the “one anothers.”

Practical ways to build fun into your regular group time.

Creative ideas for activities outside of group (meals, games, serving projects, retreats, and more).

What to do if you don’t consider yourself the “fun” one in the group.

Whether you’re naturally energetic or more reserved, this episode will help you think intentionally about cultivating joy in your D-Group.

Thanks for listening! New episodes drop around the first of each month as we equip you to make disciples who live by God’s grace and for His glory—at home and across the world.

Discipling Your People More Than the World

Leader Training Recap with Jay & Amy

In this episode, Jay and Amy recap key insights from this year’s D-Group Leader Trainings across Fellowship Bible Church campuses. The focus is on a growing challenge many leaders face: helping people recognize when they are being discipled more by the world than by Scripture.

Drawing from Colossians 1:13–14, the conversation explores the difference between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God—and how subtle, seemingly “Christian” ideas can shape our thinking and living away from biblical truth. Jay and Amy discuss common areas where worldly discipleship often shows up, including self-help spirituality, mysticism, legalism, prosperity theology, and cultural slogans that sound right but aren’t rooted in Scripture.

They also offer practical guidance for leaders on how to lovingly and wisely redirect their groups by:

Helping people know what the Bible says

Helping people understand what the Bible means

Recognizing unhealthy influences

Trusting the Holy Spirit while leading with grace and discernment

Whether you attended the training or not, this episode is designed to equip you to shepherd your group faithfully, grow in confidence as a leader, and help form disciples shaped by God’s Word rather than the world.

New episodes drop around the first of each month.

Discipleship Leaders Podcast | Fellowship Bible Church

Hosts: Jay & Amy

In this New Year episode, Jay and Amy return with practical encouragement for small group and Bible study leaders who struggle with declining commitment and irregular attendance as the year progresses. They discuss how to set your group up for consistency, how to cast vision for commitment, and how to shepherd people kindly and wisely when engagement drops.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Choose a Convenient Meeting Time

Pick a day/time that works for the whole year.

Make attending easy for the group, even if inconvenient for you.

Adjust schedules as needed.

2. Start the Year with Clear Expectations

Ask members to prioritize the group.

Highlight the value of consistency in relationships and spiritual growth.

Cast vision for the purpose and benefit of your gatherings.

3. Gently Encourage Through Personal Conversations

Check in kindly when attendance slips.

Help troubleshoot barriers to consistency.

Balance challenge with genuine care.

4. Give Permission to Leave Gracefully

Some people need an open door to step out without guilt.

Encourage them to be where they can be consistent.

5. Lead in a Way That Creates Spiritual Value

Prepare well, foster connection, and guide meaningful growth.

People commit to what is valuable—make your group worth prioritizing.

Closing Thought:

Your faithful leadership helps people stay engaged, committed, and spiritually transformed. Jay and Amy are here to support you as you lead your groups with grace and wisdom.

New episodes drop around the first of each month.

In this episode, Jay and Amy sit down for part 3 otheir conversation with Bill Parkinson where they explore what it means to cultivate an environment of grace—in our families, ministries, teams, and personal lives. We break down five essential practices that help us live in the freedom Christ provides while creating space for others to thrive.

1. We Trust God and Others With Ourselves

Grace begins with surrender.

Why trusting God is the foundation for healthy relationships.

How trusting others appropriately opens the door to transformation.

2. We Choose Vulnerability

Vulnerability as the courage to be known.

How confession, honesty, and authenticity foster spiritual growth.

The difference between transparency and oversharing.

3. We Align Ourselves With the Truth

Grace doesn’t ignore reality—it illuminates it.

Identifying lies we believe and replacing them with the truth of Scripture.

How truth creates stability and direction.

4. We Are Willing to Pay the Price

Grace empowers effort, not excuses.

The cost of growth: humility, repentance, forgiveness, perseverance.

Why discipleship always involves investment.

5. We Discover God’s Destiny for Us

Living in grace reveals calling, gifting, and purpose.

How obedience opens new possibilities.

Encouragement to pursue God’s unique design for your life.

In this episode, we discuss:

Building Teams in Every Season of Life (01:17)

Why we must intentionally build teams to counteract our culture of independence and isolation.

-Marriage (02:08): How having a team of mentors and role models can strengthen your marriage, providing a healthy foundation for ministry.

-Family (05:44): The value of creating a "family team" with others to raise children in a community of faith.

-Work/Ministry (08:03): How a church or organization built on the principles of humility and trust creates an environment where leaders can thrive long-term.

Pursuing the Right Kind of Teammates & Co-Leaders (12:13)

The importance of being intentional about who you allow to speak into your life and lead alongside you.

-Look for teammates who possess key qualities like courage, the ability to encourage others, strong relational skills, and positive influence.

-How finding the right people who challenge you to grow is more important than their age or position.

Hosts: Jay and Amy

Guest: Bill Parkinson

As fall D-Groups settle into their rhythm, this episode focuses on the crucial topic of leadership longevity. How do you lead your small group or Bible study not just well, but well for decades?

Jay and Amy welcome Bill Parkinson, a founding pastor of Fellowship Bible Church who recently stepped down after an remarkable 47 years of faithful ministry service. Bill served 25 years as a teaching pastor before transitioning to senior adult and grandparenting ministries.

Key Topics Covered

Four Essential Practices for Long-Term Leadership:

1. Practice Spiritual Disciplines - The foundation for sustainable ministry

2. Be Mentored and Be a Mentor - Both receiving guidance and pouring into others

3. Build Teams in Every Season - Creating support systems in marriage, family, and work

4. Pursue the Right Teammates/Co-Leaders - Including warnings about why leaders fail

Creating an Environment of Grace:

-Trusting God and others with ourselves

-Choosing vulnerability over self-protection

-Aligning with truth

-Willingness to pay the price

-Discovering God's destiny for your life

Perfect for small group leaders, Bible study facilitators, and anyone wanting to serve faithfully for the long haul while maintaining joy, energy, and purpose in ministry.

New episodes drop monthly to help you grow in your discipleship leadership skills.

In this episode, we share the opening session from Leader Launch 2025 at the West Little Rock campus, where Mike Marquez, head elder at Fellowship Bible Church, challenged our leaders to see God’s glory as the ultimate purpose of our lives, our church, and our D-Groups. This powerful message serves as both a theological anchor and a practical call to keep God’s glory central as we begin a new year of ministry.

📍 Leader Resources: fellowshipar.com/dgroupleaders

Guests: Jay, Amy, and Tyler Vance (Discipleship Pastor, Fellowship Cabot)

As fall approaches, many of our D-Groups and Bible Studies are preparing to launch—and one of the key decisions leaders face is choosing the right curriculum. In this episode, Jay and Amy sit down with Tyler Vance to explore how to make thoughtful, strategic choices about Bible study content that will serve your group well in any season.

This conversation offers a practical framework to help you choose what’s best—based on where your group is spiritually, what life stage they’re in, and how to align with the direction of our church.

Highlights include:

-How to use our Fellowship Curriculum Guide effectively

-Six key questions to help you choose the right study

-Why group context, maturity, and church focus matter

-What to avoid when selecting curriculum

-Tips for choosing resources that are practical, relational, and accessible

📍 Find the Curriculum Guide and more tools at: fellowshipar.com/dgroupleaders

Hosts: Jay and Matt

Discipleship Leaders Podcast – Fellowship Bible Church

In Part 2 of this important conversation, Jay and Matt pick up where they left off in Episode 22—moving from recognizing burnout to recovering from it and building healthy rhythms for long-term leadership.

If burnout is the warning light on the dashboard, this episode is all about what to do next. Jay and Matt offer practical wisdom and ministry-tested tools for creating a leadership “system” that actually sustains you rather than drains you.

They discuss:

What it means to fill yourself up more than you pour out

The importance of knowing your limits and prioritizing commitments

Why “team ministry” helps lighten the load

Managing energy instead of just managing time

Learning and practicing real spiritual, emotional, and physical rest

Embracing seasons of rest rather than quitting altogether

Their encouragement: don’t just take a break—rebuild the system that leads to health, longevity, and joy in leadership.

If you’re feeling the weight of leadership or wondering how to keep going, this episode is for you.

Need support?

Reach out to your D-Groups Pastor—we’re here to walk with you before you’re burnt out.

New episodes drop monthly. Thanks for listening!

Hosts: Jay and Matt Middlecamp

Discipleship Leaders Podcast – Fellowship Bible Church

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Jay and Matt explore the signs and causes of burnout in spiritual leadership—especially relevant as we wrap up a busy school year and enter the summer season. Many D-Group and Bible study leaders are feeling a unique kind of fatigue, and this episode helps distinguish between normal tiredness and true burnout.

They discuss:

Why May is such a draining month for leaders

The emotional and spiritual cost of long-term leadership

How to recognize signs of burnout vs. ordinary fatigue

Honest stories of exhaustion from their own ministry journeys

Why rest alone won’t fix burnout if your system doesn’t change

Key Insight:

“The system is perfectly designed to get the results it’s getting… if you want different results, you have to change the system.”

Stay tuned for Part 2 next month, where they’ll share practical tools for recovery and sustainable leadership rhythms.

Need support?

Reach out to your D-Groups or Ministry Pastor—we want to help you stay healthy and lead well for the long haul.

New episodes drop monthly. Thanks for listening!

Title: How to Develop Deeper Relationships Within Your D-Group or Bible Study

Guest: Jason Elam, Men’s Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church

Description:

In this episode, Jay and Amy welcome Jason Elam to explore how leaders can cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships within their D-Groups and Bible studies. Discover why relational depth matters and get practical tips for fostering community that goes beyond surface-level connection.

Key Topics:

Why deeper relationships are essential for spiritual growth and community

The leader’s role as a “Chief Connection Officer”

Moving from shallow to meaningful conversations

Tools and ideas for building relational bridges (e.g. “What’s Your Story” sheet, shared experiences)

Encouraging connections outside regular group meetings

Recognizing personality, gender, and life-stage differences in relational styles

Growing deeper together through prayer, vulnerability, and shared study of God’s Word

Quote to Remember:

“Following Jesus isn’t a solo sport—it’s meant to be done in community with others.”

📅 New episodes drop monthly—subscribe and join us as we make disciples who live by God’s grace and for His glory!

Healthy Rhythms for Your D-Group and Bible Study

In this episode, Jay and Amy discuss how to establish healthy rhythms for your small group or Bible study. They cover:

✅ Meeting Rhythms – Weekly, bi-weekly, or 3-on/1-off? Pros and cons of each and how to choose what works best for your group.

✅ Special Occasions – Kickoffs, wrap-ups, retreats, and fun events to strengthen relationships.

✅ Group Life-Cycle – How to recognize when your group is in a rut, adjust dynamics, invite new members, or even transition out.

Join us as we explore how to create sustainable, life-giving rhythms that help your group grow spiritually and live on mission together!

New episodes drop monthly—subscribe and stay connected.

Episode 19: Part 2 with Tad Pruitt – The Power of God’s Glory

In Part 2 of our conversation with Tad Pruitt, we shift our focus from grace to glory—the ultimate purpose of our faith and the destiny of every believer. As D Group and Small Group Leaders, we are called to help our people behold, seek, and reflect the glory of God in their lives.

Key Themes:

1. What Is God’s Glory?

• Theological Definition: The public display of God’s infinite worth.

• Practical Definition: The awe-inspiring, life-transforming experience of God’s presence, power, and purpose.

2. The Relationship Between Grace & Glory

• Grace is the push—it saves, sustains, and transforms us.

• Glory is the pull—it reveals God’s greatness and draws us into eternal joy.

• We can’t separate them—grace leads us to glory, and glory is made accessible by grace.

3. Biblical Foundations

• Romans 8:30 – Those justified by grace will be glorified.

• John 17:24 – Jesus desires that we see and experience His glory.

• Isaiah 6:3 – “The whole earth is full of His glory.”

4. Glory Without Grace Is Lethal

• God’s glory, in its pure form, is overwhelming—without grace, we cannot survive it.

• With grace, His glory is our greatest good, transforming us into His likeness from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

5. Where Do We See God’s Glory?

• In Creation – The heavens declare His majesty.

• In Each Other – We are image-bearers, reflecting His glory.

• In Jesus – The perfect and full revelation of God’s glory.

Practical Tools:

• Glory Strategies:

• Ask: How is God revealing His glory in this situation?

• Align thoughts and actions with His ultimate purpose.

• Cultivate a sense of wonder in your group—don’t rush past the beauty of who God is.

• Wilberforce & the Power of Glory

• Inspired by God’s grace and glory, William Wilberforce worked to abolish the British slave trade.

• When we see the fullness of God’s grace and glory, it moves us to action—it transforms lives, communities, and even nations.

Final Takeaway:

The whole universe exists to display the glory of God—and as D Group Leaders, we get to help people see it, seek it, and be transformed by it. Let’s lead our groups to lift their eyes beyond themselves and behold the breathtaking beauty of God’s glory.

This wraps up our two-part series with Tad Pruitt! Stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll explore another topic that will help you to practically lead your groups to live by grace and for glory.

Podcast Show Notes: Grace & Glory for D Group Leaders

Episode 18: Part 1 with Tad Pruitt

In this episode, Tad Pruitt draws from over three decades of experience in discipleship to inspire Fellowship D-Group Leaders to connect the dots of God’s grace and glory in the lives of their groups.

Key Themes:

1. The Call of a D Group Leader

• Help people see, believe, and connect God’s grace and glory.

• Be a “Grace and Glory Yoda”—a seasoned guide, ambassador, and cheerleader for God’s truth.

2. Grace and Glory Explained

• Grace: The sovereign love of God expressed through the redeeming actions of Jesus.

• Practical Application: Grace sustains, transforms, and equips us to love others.

• Glory: The public display of God’s infinite worth and our eternal destiny.

• Practical Application: Glory reveals God’s presence and purpose, drawing us into awe and wonder.

3. Biblical Foundations

• Mark 8:23–25: Jesus gradually opens our eyes to deeper spiritual truths.

• Romans 8:27–30: Grace justifies; glory glorifies.

• 2 Corinthians 3:16–18: We are transformed from one degree of glory to another.

4. Fellowship’s Mission

• A journey from early ministry buzzwords like “life change” and “equipping” to a deeper focus on discipleship through grace and glory.

• How the mission to “live by grace” and “for God’s glory” shapes the life of the church.

Practical Tools:

• Grace Strategies:

• Reflect on God’s work in situations.

• Respond with grace-filled truth, union, and action.

• Glory Strategies:

• Seek God’s glory in every situation.

• Align words and actions to reflect His infinite worth.

This episode invites us to marvel at the “crown jewels” of grace and glory, holding them up to see and cherish. Join us as Tad unpacks these transformative truths.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in February, where we dive deeper into practical steps for living and leading by His grace and for His glory!

Guest: Tracy and Renee Smith

Welcome

In this episode, Jay and Amy discuss practical ways to handle childcare for your D-Group or Bible study. Whether you’re just starting out or have been leading for a while, figuring out childcare can be one of the biggest challenges for group leaders. Guests Tracy and Renee Smith, D-Group leaders at Fellowship’s West Little Rock campus, shares their experiences and insights.

Key Highlights:

1. The Importance of Working ON Your Group

• Taking time during holiday breaks to evaluate systems and processes for your group.

• Inspired by The E-Myth by Michael Gerber: Focus on improving how your group functions.

2. Childcare Solutions for Your Group

• Ask Parents to Arrange Their Own Sitters

• Meet for a clearly defined time.

• Hire Sitters for the Group

• Chip in for sitters and meet in a home with enough space for kids.

• Alternating Meeting Schedules

• Example: Men meet one week, women another, all together a third week, off the fourth week.

• Separate Homes for Kids and Adults

• Kids stay in one house while the group meets in another nearby.

• Rotating Couples as Childcare Volunteers

• One couple watches the kids each week.

• Including the Kids

• Adjust activities to incorporate children if appropriate.

• Campus-Provided Childcare

• Check with your D-Group pastor about available options.

• Creative Meeting Times

• Lunchtime meetings for parents with kids in school.

3. Adapting for Different Age Groups

• Little kids, older kids, or a mix—each situation brings unique challenges and opportunities.

4. Encouragement for Leaders

• Disruptions from kids are inevitable, but the Holy Spirit can still work through them.

• Help parents feel at ease if their child needs attention during the group.

Final Thoughts

Childcare may not always run perfectly, but it doesn’t have to derail your group’s purpose. Be flexible, show grace, and remember: God works even in the chaos!

Closing

Thanks for listening to the Discipleship Leaders Podcast. Join us next month as we continue equipping leaders to make disciples who live by God’s grace and for His glory.

Follow Us

For more resources, visit https://www.fellowshipar.com/d-group-leader-resources/

In this episode, Jay and Amy explore how small group leaders can maintain balance by focusing on three key areas: building strong relationships, fostering spiritual growth, and living on mission. They emphasize the importance of creating space for personal connection, using tools like the “What’s Your Story?” sheet, and ensuring time for casual conversation alongside Bible study.

They also discuss strategies for encouraging spiritual transformation through regular prayer, Scripture reading, and engaging in local or global mission work. Leaders are encouraged to develop new leaders within their groups and challenge members to live out their faith in everyday life.

D-Group Leader Resource Page: https://www.fellowshipar.com/d-group-leader-resources/

In this inspiring talk for Leader Launch 2024, Jay McGuirk emphasizes the theme "Live By Faith" for D-Group and Bible Study leaders. He explores the connection between righteousness and living by faith, encouraging leaders to foster an environment where their group members can grow in righteousness. McGuirk stresses that what we do flows from who we are, and living by faith stems from our identity as righteous people in Christ.

Key Points

-The importance of continuing faithful leadership in D-Groups and Bible Studies

-Understanding the gospel's impact both once and daily in our lives

-Putting people in a posture of spiritual growth through:

-Repentance

-Gaining understanding and insight

-Living with spiritual discipline

Takeaways

-Leaders should focus on helping their group members understand and live out their identity as righteous people in Christ, which naturally leads to living by faith.

-Creating an environment of meaningful relationships, spiritual growth, and mission-focused living in D-Groups and Bible Studies can help members live out their righteousness and faith together.

-Spiritual growth requires consistent discipline and a "long obedience in the same direction," best achieved within a supportive community.

The episode emphasizes the excitement surrounding this in-depth study of Romans and encourages leaders to engage their groups with the new materials. Cameron shares insights on how to use the enhanced curriculum, which includes daily readings and additional resources for leaders. The conversation underscores the potential for personal and group transformation through studying Romans, with a focus on living out its teachings by faith. The hosts conclude by reminding listeners that future episodes will continue to provide guidance on small group and Bible study leadership.

Guest: Rick Everswick, Pastor of Missions for Fellowship Bible Church

Key Points:

-Introduction to local and global mission partnerships.

-Importance of engaging D-Groups and individuals in mission work.

-Examples of local and global partners and their work.

-Steps for engaging with mission partners.

-Prayer for mission partners.

Resources:

For more information on mission opportunities, visit: Fellowship Bible Church Missions

Next Steps:

-Identify a local or global partner to engage with.

-Discuss mission involvement with your D-Group or Bible study.

-Start praying regularly for mission partners.

-Take the first step towards active engagement in missions work.

Our Beliefs: https://www.fellowshipar.com/about/our-beliefs/

Position Papers: https://www.fellowshipar.com/about/our-beliefs/position-papers/

We're joined by special guest Ben Parkinson, one of our teaching pastors here at Fellowship Bible Church. On June 2nd, Ben gave a message on this very subject to help prepare all of us for the lead-up to November.

We dive into practical tips for lovingly steering your groups through potential minefields like disagreements over candidates, varying passion levels on issues, or when politics dominates the whole conversation.

Be sure to catch the next episode coming at you next month!

Guest: Matt Middlecamp

Forming a Group:

-Decide on leadership focus: target audience, purpose, and prayer for guidance.

-Select study material: tailored to group type (Bible Study vs. D-Groups).

-Set meeting schedule: consider convenience for leaders and members.

-Determine meeting location: consider logistics like childcare.

Filling a Group:

-Personal invitation: key for recruiting, involve current group members.

-Utilize online platforms and church promotion for wider outreach.

-Target disconnected individuals in similar life stages, fostering inclusivity.

-Embrace diverse backgrounds and interests to unite around Bible study and gospel.

Key Takeaways:

-Form and fill groups with purpose, aiming for meaningful discipleship connections.

-Connect personally with potential members, focusing on shared interests and spiritual growth.

Guest: Tim Caldwell, Campus Pastor at Fellowship Midtown

Strategies to Grow Your Heart as a Leader:

1. Personal Spiritual Growth Plan:

-Time in God’s Word, prayer, and worship.

-Live out the plan consistently.

2. Create Margin for Rest and Rejuvenation:

-Avoid burnout by setting healthy boundaries.

-Engage in activities that energize you.

3. Study the Bible for Personal Growth:

-Focus on God’s story and heart for you.

-Seek Jesus' presence and enjoy fellowship with Him.

4. Pray for Heart Growth:

-Deepen love for God and others.

-Develop a hunger for spiritual growth.

Episode 8—Effectively Guiding Group Discussion

Guest—Jericho Jones

Today we are going to talk about a common issue that I think most small group and Bible study leaders feel, whether they voice it this way or not—how do I lead an effective, purposeful, intentional discussion with my group that helps people grow in their faith?

1. Start by just getting them to talk

2. Get people to interact with the Bible, not just a book or curriculum

3. Ask great questions

- Head, Heart and Hands Questions

4. Be OK with silence

Episode 7—Handling Conflict Within Your Group 

What are some of the sources of conflict?

-Personalities

-Different theological beliefs/backgrounds

-Different values…parenting, marriage, roles, spending time/money

-Gossip

-People—hurt, sad, scared, angry 

What are some keys to preventing conflict in your group?

-Establish expectations within the group

-Warn them that conflict is likely

-Train them to deal with conflict

-Revisit the topic

-Know the difference between a tension and a problem

-Avoid—in a healthy way! 

Handling Conflict in a Healthy Way

-Practice Matthew 18

-Ask your pastors or elders for help 

-Identify the underlying issue

-Involve only the people in the conflict

-Avoid gossip

-Help them work it out among themselves

Recommended Resources:

-Resolving Everyday Conflict

by Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson

https://bit.ly/3SsEBBc

-The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict

by Ken Sande

https://bit.ly/3U96Bed

-Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

by Joseph Grenny and Kerry Patterson

https://bit.ly/42952Pn

When we say “Groups”, we’re referring to that in the broadest sense…

·     Our groups include D-Groups, Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies, Wednesday Night at Fellowship

·     We also have informal groups that meet in coffee shops, on back porches, and in other settings to discuss books or the Bible, or for general accountability

Why do we do discipleship in groups?

·     It’s the pattern we see in Scripture

·     People can’t fully grow spiritually in isolation

·     It makes the big church small

Who are we aiming at in our Groups?

·     Think about the crowds around Jesus (5000, 120, 70(2), 12, 3, 1)

·     We aim our groups and studies at the 120/70/12

Why is it important as group/bible study leaders for us to know this?

·     It’s always important for us to know:

o  Why” we do what we do

o  Who we’re aiming at with our groups

o  How to encourage people who aren’t in groups to join one

Guest: Aronna Sorvillo  

Today we are going to talk about a skill that we can ALL grow in when it comes to leading a D-Group or a Bible Study—and that’s Caring Well for our People. With us today is Aronna Sorvillo, Care Pastor at our West Little Rock Campus.

Leaders typically agree to lead a group/Bible study for a couple of reasons

·     They want to make disciples through teaching/leading the discussion around the Bible…

·     They want to create a community for people to follow Jesus together

Those things aren’t mutually exclusive…but if you find yourself as more the first type of leader who wants to lead through teaching, then the practice of caring for you people may not feel too natural to you

·     Caring for people in a group setting is as much a learned skill as it comes natural

·     Caring for the people in our groups and studies is a huge part of the role we play

How can we practically care well for the people in our groups and studies?

·     Share personal prayer requests.

·     Provide Meals—births, hospital stays, deaths, or sickness

·     Visit the sick—go to the hospital. 

·     Send Notes, Text Verses, and Communicate Concern

The bottom line:

·     Know your people,

·     Know what communicates care to them in the way they receive it,

·     Lead your group to care for each other as you care for them

Like a family that launches their kids well, healthy groups launch new leaders well.

Healthy groups see launching new leaders as a part of our mission

Healthy leaders see part of “the win” as a group leader as identifying and developing new leaders

Why are we afraid to send out leaders?

We love people!

We don’t want to lose some of the best and most core people in our group

We know that it’s easy to drift apart when we’re not meeting regularly

We don’t like change

How to identify new leaders—the 4 C’s

Character

Competency

Chemistry

Culture

How to develop new leaders—the most basic form of leadership development

I do, you watch

I do, you help

You do, I help

You do, I coach, and celebrate

Change your mindset on developing leaders. 

Start a group, lead for a while, and then gracefully back out.

Have direct conversations with people you think could be potential new leaders.

See your role as being a disciple who makes disciples…who also makes disciples.

In this talk titled "Making Much of God Together," Jay McGuirk, speaking at Leader Launch 2023, emphasizes the importance of making much of God in our lives and in the context of D-Groups and Bible studies. He addresses the common tendency to live with a diminished view of God, leading to various issues such as anxiety, control, addiction, depression, debt, and dissatisfaction.

Jay highlights the need to live a unified life, avoiding the division of life into "two drawers" - one for real life and one for spiritual life. He stresses the importance of recognizing the impact of a diminished awe of God on our lives and the lives of those we lead.

Jay draws inspiration from Isaiah 40, showcasing the grandeur and glory of God, urging listeners to view life through the lens of this awesome God. By anchoring their faith in the unchanging glory of God, individuals can overcome challenges and live with a singular perspective on life, eliminating the need for two-drawer living.

The key message is to make much of God, allowing Him to become more significant in our lives and to lead others in doing the same, emphasizing unifying our lives under the awe and sovereignty of God.

1.   Tell us about your D-Group…who is it for, how long have you been together, what role do you play in the group?

2.   What do we mean by the meta-narrative of Scripture, and then what IS that meta-narrative we see in the Bible?

3.   Why is it important for us to know and understand the overarching story of the Bible?

4.   How do you approach your preaching/teaching through the lens of this meta-narrative?

5.   No matter what our groups are studying together…sermon-based discussion questions, marriage, parenting, a book of the Bible, prayer…how does knowing the over-arching story of the Bible impact how we lead through these studies?

6.   Are there any resources you’d recommend if our leaders want to dive deeper into this topic?

Recommended Resources:

The Story: https://www.thestory.com/

Gospel-Centered Teaching: Showing Christ in All the Scripture by Trevin Wax: https://amzn.to/3tcDXxo

1.  Every group has a life cycle.

2. Send some people out to start a new group.

3. Open new spots in the group for new people.

4. Challenge your people to recommit.

5. Have an ongoing missional component to your group.

6. Take a season off as a leader and encourage someone else to lead while you just attend.

We’re kicking off episode 1 of this podcast by sharing some of the why. So why are we launching this podcast?

Thanks for joining us for the Discipleship Leaders podcast…look for episodes to drop around the first of each month. We’ll be back next month with another topic to help you grow in your small group and Bible study leadership.

1. We want to connect more with leaders

2. We want to provide helpful content

3. We want to speak to leaders no matter how long or how recently you’ve led.

4. We want to grow your heart for Christ and for others

5. Our goal in this podcast is to equip, empower and encourage you as a leader