The PursueGOD Training Podcast

 Hey leaders, welcome to the PursueGOD Training Podcast. Today we’re going to give you a complete roadmap for leading the SALT program—from the big picture 9-month journey to the nightly flow that makes every meeting meaningful, fun, and spiritually powerful.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --If you’re leading SALT, this is your playbook.Segment 1: The Big Picture Vision SALT is a 9-month student leadership program that helps high school students:Grow in their faith,Serve consistently, andLead by example in their local church.It comes straight from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth.” SALT students learn to be distinct, purposeful, and impactful in a world that needs Jesus.The program centers on three core habits:Read daily through the Bible plan.Serve weekly on a ministry team.Meet monthly for teaching, discussion, and accountability.Your job as a leader? Guide students through these habits, cheer them on, and make it relational, consistent, and fun.Segment 2: The 9-Month Structure Here’s the program flow:Boot Camp (Weeks 1–6): These first weeks set the tone. Students meet each other, start the Bible reading plan, find a serving role, and learn the rhythm of SALT.Monthly Meetings (Months 2–8): After Boot Camp, you meet once a month for a leadership lesson, Bible and serving check-in, group discussion, and prayer.Graduation (Month 9): The final meeting celebrates growth, shares stories, and launches students to keep living out their faith.Every meeting follows a similar rhythm—but the first few weeks focus on relationships and introductions, while later months focus more on leadership growth and consistency.Segment 3: Preparing Before Each Meeting Here’s what leaders should do before every SALT meeting:Watch the lesson video/podcast and review the Talking Points and discussion questions.Listen to this leader podcast so you feel confident about the plan.Set the atmosphere: Whether you meet at someone’s home or the church, make it welcoming. Play music, have snacks ready, maybe even start a game while students arrive.Plan the fun: Bring icebreakers or simple games like Uno or Play Nine to make it easy for students to connect.The goal is for students to show up feeling like this is their space—a place they want to be.Segment 4: The Nightly Flow Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s a simple outline for each SALT night:Food and Fun:...

In today’s leadership episode, we talk about how small group leaders can create a culture of care where everyone participates. We’ll explore why care starts with the leader, how to move your group from consumers to contributors, and practical ways to equip others to carry both spiritual and practical burdens—so your group becomes a true family that reflects Christ’s love.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now Create a Caring Group | pursueGOD.org--Find it here: https://www.pursuegod.org/create-caring-small-group/

Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode we'll finish up our Oversee Training series, discussing the responsibilities of a church leader.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --ResponsibilitiesPray for your campus regularlyPrayer doesn’t get us ready for the bigger work.  Prayer is the bigger work. Swan - If we haven’t prayed we haven’t started. All overseers should be on campus prayer teamBe an active participant in overseer meetingsCome prepared, review agenda doc beforehandBe ready to give an update on the serving teams you’re overseeingListen to any podcasts, read any articles that are going to be discussed in the meetingMonitor progress of the campusAttendanceMentoring handoffsGivingSmall Group attendanceDecide on issues of church disciplineDecide on issues of benevolenceFinancial Help Request Form Assist campus pastor in leading the discipleship efforts at the campusconnections/handoffsBaptism requests, prayer requests, wedding requests are all opportunities to make a handoff for mentoringTracking them in Planning Center Being diligent in following up  Oversee at least one serving team/serving team leader at the campusCheck in monthlyReport needs and health of team during monthly overseer meetings Assist in recruiting volunteers for teams you oversee

Welcome back to week two of our Overseer Training series!--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --From the Job Description: An overseer must qualify according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 and PG’s profile of a healthy leader. He must affirm Alpine's doctrinal statement, the Alpine Way, and Alpine’s Statement on Sexuality and Gender. - reference back to the unity we mentioned last week.  It’s imperative your elders/overseers can affirm your philosophy of ministry. 1 Timothy 3:1-5 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader,[a] he desires an honorable position.” 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.[b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker[c] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.Overseer, elder, bishop, pastor - words used interchangeably in NT- to oversee, to care for - caring for the flock is at the heart of the calling of an overseer Several translations say, “He desires a good work.”  Many people desire honorable positions, but how many desire to work for the Lord?  What is the use of a lazy minister? He is no good either to the world, to the Church, or to himself. He is a dishonor to the noblest profession that can be bestowed upon the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)Ashamed of the low expectations I placed on Overseer Team in Logan for the first four years I was campus pastor.  Men often rise to the level of expectation.  I saw that first hand in the years I coached and I’ve seen it in ministry. Above reproach Literally means “nothing to take hold upon” - It is a metaphor of a boxer who so skillfully defends himself, it is impossible to hit him. It can’t mean perfection or there would be no overseers.  Is there a pattern of sin in your life someone can point a finger at?  Not just sins of...

Part 1 of 3 in the Overseer Training series. Go through this with a mentor (or mentors) from the existing pastoral team at your church or campus.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --In the New Testament, you’ll find the authors use three different words to describe the office of elder, pastor, overseer, or bishop.  Episkopos - overseerPhilippians 1:1 I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. (NLT) NIV, NASB, ESV - overseersKJV, NKJV - bishops Poimen - shepherd/pastor Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (NLT) NIV, NKJV, KJV, NASB - pastorsESV - shepherds This term is the least used term of the three in referring to the official position in the church.  Jesus uses this term throughout the book of Matthew; sheep without a shepherd, I am the good shepherd, the sheep know the shepherd, etc. Presbyteros - elder 1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. (NIV) NLT, ESV, KJV, NASB, NKJV - elders Alpine Way - At Alpine Church, we understand and take into account the culture that surrounds us in this moment of time. This helps us to wisely contextualize our ministry practices, so that we can be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in the arena where God has placed us.Our primary field of engagement begins with the Wasatch Front of Utah, and extends to other areas throughout the Intermountain West where the culture of Mormonism is most rooted. We share the Gospel with all those we encounter, but our target audience is disaffected Latter-day Saints and others with a Mormon background. As God gives opportunity, we are open to serving in areas beyond the Mormon cultural domain, but we are especially interested in areas where Mormonism is common.Because of this we use the terms “overseer” and “‘pastoral team” as “elder” and “bishop” carry meanings in the LDS culture that could be confusing to our attenders. Functions of pastor, elder, overseer, bishop according to scripture Oppose False Teaching/Proclaim the Gospel - 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer. 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 4:16, 1 Timothy 6:2-3 He is to be a teacher - “able to teach” is listed as a qualification. According to 1 Timothy 5:17 there are elders/overseers whose role is not primarily

In this episode, we take a look at some principles of effective and compelling preaching. Also in the episode is an interview with author Phil Campbell, who has great insight in how to make sure your congregation stays awake!--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --The Three C’s of PreachingPG sermons are designed to give you a simple skeleton for your sermon. The preacher’s job is to prayerfully put “flesh” on it using scripture, exposition, and personal stories.Prep with the “3 C’s” in mind. Be clear. Be concise. Be compelling. Great preaching engages everyone – seekers as well as believers, young and old, male and female.Ethos, Pathos, and LogosEthos speaks to the credibility of the speaker. Are you believable? What qualifies you to preach in the first place?Pathos speaks to the emotions of the audience. Why should they listen? Have you prepared the message in a way that connects to them?Logos speaks to the logic of the message. Does it make sense? Have you connected the big idea to the talking points with simplicity in mind?Get Phil Campbell's book Saving Eutychus.

In today's episode, we look at the transformative impact of shepherding relationships, emphasizing that true growth often occurs outside the pulpit. We discuss the vital role of preachers in equipping believers for discipleship, fostering unity and maturity in the body of Christ.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --Real transformation happens in the shepherding context (families, small groups, and one-on-one mentoring relationships), not in the preaching context. Matthew 9:35-37Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT) 35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”The preacher’s job is to equip regular Christians to do the work of the ministry. A great sermon empowers conversations throughout the week. Ephesians 4:11-12Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT) 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ultimately, PG sermons are designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more people to go “full circle”. Matthew 28:19-20Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”We build resources with one distinctive in mind: to equip the preacher to support the discipleship infrastructure of the church. If conversations aren’t happening after the sermon, we’ve missed the point.

Today we’re starting a 3-week series called Preacher Training – with a focus on preaching sermons based on the pursueGOD discipleship resources.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --In this episode we introduce five questions for self-reflection to determine if you’re qualified to preach in a local church. Before we get to those questions, let’s talk for a minute about the PG resources.PG uses podcasts on a variety of topics to offer biblical answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. Local churches can freely preach sermons based on our series and then point small groups, families, and mentors to the series page for sermon-based curriculum. You’re welcome to adapt your sermon as needed.Ultimately, PG curriculum is designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more Christians to be disciple-makers. We’ll explain this philosophy of ministry in detail in lesson 2 of this series.Five Questions before you preach:Are you connected to Jesus? Preaching in the early church was a function of spending time with Jesus, not of seminary training. Acts 4:1313 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.Are you honoring God in everyday life? Preachers are qualified by solid character and sound doctrine. Titus 1:5-95 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife,* and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader* is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,* violent, or dishonest with money.8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.Do you care about people? Godly preachers are not motivated by ego or financial gain, but rather by a desire to help people pursue God. 1 Timothy 6:3-43 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.Are you personally making disciples? You can’t lead someone to a place you’ve never been. Matthew...

Excerpt--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the practices of a great board member. They emphasize the importance of being prepared for board meetings and understanding the purpose of the meetings. They also talk about the spiritual side of board membership and the need to hear the Spirit in decision-making. They discuss the process of voting and seeking consensus, as well as the responsibility of breaking the ice when there is a holdout on the board. They also highlight the importance of participating constructively and cultivating emotional maturity as a board member. Finally, they discuss the importance of teamwork and defining success in team terms. TakeawaysBeing prepared for board meetings is crucial and shows that you take your role as a board member seriously.Board meetings have a spiritual side and it is important to hear the Spirit and seek God's leading in decision-making.Participating constructively in board meetings involves speaking respectfully, listening patiently, and asking tough questions without being demeaning or aggressive.Board members should continue to grow in their skills and wisdom as board members, as well as in their relationship with Jesus.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the traits of a great board and common pitfalls to avoid. They emphasize the importance of board members being spiritually attuned, relationally healthy, fully invested in the mission, focused on strategy rather than operations, and self-policing. They also highlight the need for good record-keeping, attention to finances, and avoiding relationship dysfunction and personal preferences over the mission. To do this, the pastors introduce three practical tools: a board member covenant, an annual board calendar, and a prime responsibility chart.TakeawaysBoard members should be spiritually attuned, relationally healthy, fully invested in the mission, focused on strategy, and self-policing.Good record-keeping is essential for legal requirements, credibility, and resolving disputes.Board members should pay attention to finances, have checks and balances, and build financial reserves.Relationship dysfunction and personal preferences can hinder the effectiveness of a board.Practical tools like a board member covenant, annual board calendar, and prime responsibility chart can help improve board functioning.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the relationship between the governing board and the senior pastor. This conversation explores the role of a governing board in a church and the importance of supportive yet accountable board members. It discusses the nature of board approval, decision-making, budget approval, performance evaluation, and the removal of the senior pastor. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear processes and guidelines to ensure effective governance and accountability within the church.TakeawaysAvoid an adversarial or submissive attitude towards the senior pastor.Support the senior pastor by providing encouragement, resources, and wise counsel.Hold the senior pastor accountable and ask tough questions to improve decision-making.Buy into the church's mission and be supportive of the pastor's vision, but avoid becoming yes-men. Board members should provide support and accountability to the senior pastor, ensuring that decisions align with the church's vision and goals.The relationship between the board and the senior pastor should be both supportive and accountable, with a balance between working for and working with the board.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the key responsibilities of a board member in a church. They cover three different hats that board members wear: the governance hat, the volunteer hat, and the participant hat. They emphasize the importance of understanding foundational principles, engaging in strategy rather than operations, and being a positive force in the church. They also discuss the boundaries of a board member, including no individual authority, no personal agendas, confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest.TakeawaysBoard members play different roles and wear different hats, including the governance hat, the volunteer hat, and the participant hat.Understanding foundational principles and documents is crucial for board members to fulfill their responsibilities.Board members should focus on strategy and the big picture, rather than getting involved in operational details.Board members should be a positive force in the church, nurturing relationships, growing in faith, and praying for the church and its leaders.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --This episode is the introduction to a five-week series on church board training. The series aims to help churches think through their governing structure and prepare new board members. The topics covered include key responsibilities of a church board, legal responsibilities, financial responsibilities, missional responsibilities, responsibilities with the senior pastor, and the overall well-being of the church. The series emphasizes the importance of prayer, biblical principles, and collaboration in board governance.TakeawaysChurches need to have a governing structure to make important decisions and ensure legal compliance.The board has key responsibilities in areas such as legal, financial, missional, senior pastor support, and overall church well-being.Board members should be committed to prayer, promoting the church's mission and values, and assessing and improving the board's performance.The biblical basis for board governance is found in the roles of elders and deacons, although the specific structure may vary among churches.The PursueGod resources can be used to facilitate discussions and training for church boards.

PursueGOD is a podcast-based discipleship library. In this episode we'll give you a quick tutorial on how to use our resources with your family, small group, or one-on-one mentoring relationship.Learn more at www.pursueGOD.org/about.--The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now--Pick a series from our homepage. There's plenty to choose from!Each series contains multiple lessons. Click on the numbered tabs to open each lesson.Each lesson includes an audio podcast. Start by listening to the podcast on your own, before you meet as a group. Take notes as needed, and listen again if it helps. Consider starting a discipleship journal to track what you're learning.Meet with your family, group, or mentor to talk through what you learned from the podcast. Each lesson includes shownotes, talking points, and discussion questions. Listen to the podcast below for tips on how to have a better pursueGOD conversation.Click on the # tab to explore additional topics when you're done.

Where we talk about the final module for The Pursuit... and how you, too, can make disciples who make disciples. Find it at pursueGOD.org/go.

Where we walk through topics 7 through 9 in the 12-part series called The Pursuit. This is a fast track overview of the third module of the flagship discipleship track at pursueGOD.org/go.

Where we walk through topics 4 through 6 in the 12-part series called The Pursuit. This is a fast track overview of the second module of the flagship discipleship track at pursueGOD.org/go.

Where we walk through the first three topics in the 12-part series called The Pursuit. This is a fast track overview of the first module of the flagship discipleship track at pursueGOD.org/go.

Excerpt: Many small group leaders must deal with people who dominate the discussion during a meeting. Here are a few tips for dealing with a dominator.Hook/Intro:So what’s the problem?A common problem many small group leaders face is dealing with people who dominate the discussion time during the meeting. Dominators like to contribute their insights early and often to every question. They often speak up before others have a chance to say anything and often give long rambling answers to questions.There is a limited time available for each question and dominators tend to take up most of the time with their own contributions rather than allowing others in the group to participate.When denominators are allowed to continue unchecked in a small group setting it will likely lead less vocal people to check out, become passive or eventually leave the group in frustration.If you let a dominator go unchecked, people will become discouraged. Eventually they will drop out of the group. Worse than that, they won’t be able to process the truth together with the group and their pursuit of God will be stunted.Before you were leading your own small group, have  you experienced a SGD as a member of  a group? Explain. How did it make you feel?Have you ever been in a small group where the host was the dominator? Be sure as a host you’re not dominating the conversationSo what’s the solution?Set discussion ground rulesAt the outset of your group make sure to set up the expectation that you want lots of participation from everyone in the group which means giving everyone an opportunity to share. You can speak directly to the issue of conversation domination before it becomes an issue so that everyone is aware.As the group continues, remind people occasionally at the beginning of each meeting’s discussion time of the importance of everyone participating and not having one person speak too much.If domination becomes an issue, say at the beginning of each meeting something like “I want to make sure everyone has a chance to talk tonight, so let’s give everyone an opportunity to share before anyone speaks twice.” When this encouragement is given broadly to everyone it helps the dominator not feel singled out or offended but hopefully to understand the issue.Transition: Easier said than done b/c if this worked we would not be having this discussion. =)In tougher situations, I will make myself available for a small, quiet side conversation in the moment, while Rich continues to lead the group.  I do my best to wrap up quickly with something like “let’s dig more into this later” and then rejoin the larger group conversation with the dominator.Use gentle correction and/or humorIf a dominator hasn’t picked up on the ground rules, sometimes using more direct tactics can be necessary during the discussion.If you need to address the dominator directly during the meeting, it can be done so gently, casually and using light-hearted humor.You could say something like “Now, I want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to respond, so who else has a thought?” or “Okay, Bill has already used up his answer allowance for this week, so someone else needs to step up.”Talk about some personal examples you have experienced as a leader or member of a group…Other ideas?In our group now, we like to choose at least one question where we ask everyone to answer.  Usually an easy question early in the conversation about “what jumped out at you about this topic” or “how did you most relate to this message”.  We have found if we begin with getting everyone talking, it is easier to keep everyone talking.A few more tricks up the sleeveCall on...

Ready to make disciples with the tools at pursueGOD.org? Remember these five important essentials, and then go out and start helping people pursue God!Commit to a real relationship. Discipleship is relationship, and none of this matters if you don’t care about the person you’re mentoring. John 15:12-17Share the right truth at the right time. Pay attention to the kinds of topics that they need to talk about, and don’t cram your favorite conversations down their throats. Luke 12:12, 1 Corinthians 2:14Just do your part, not God’s. You can’t make someone else pursue God; just walk alongside them and keep showing up, even if they don’t! Acts 8:29Point it all to Jesus. Remember, you’re not just helping someone become a better person; you’re helping them meet Jesus. Pray, pray, pray. Keep a prayer journal and make a habit of praying for the people you are mentoring – and let them know you’re doing it. 

If you’re a Christian, Jesus wants you to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). But how do you do it? Where do you start? PursueGOD offers a simple approach, modeled after Jesus’ own ministry. He discipled his followers through everyday conversations, helping them discover truth by asking questions and providing answers. PursueGOD disciple-making works the same way. If you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple. The process works in three simple steps....

Small group leaders are awesome. They’re the most important people in any local church. They have a big job with many tasks, but there’s one task that surpasses them all. The greatest thing a small group leader can do is give their job away. Here’s why that matters.It matures other people“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬Remember that we grow mature by helping others pursue God. That’s why small group leaders are the most mature people in the room. But if you want to help others mature, you need to give away responsibility. Let them co-lead the group. Train them how. Encourage them to mentor people outside the group and at home. Teach them how to do what you do so they, too, can grow mature.From the first small group Rich and I were in it was easy to see the ways in which it would serve and help to mature us as Christians.  Proverbs 27 has the famous verse about iron sharpening iron.  Small groups are exactly the place where those sort of “sharpening” relationships happen and grow.  It brings the bible and our faith into a public part of our life on a day and time other than Sunday morning.It helps you stay saneExodus 18:14 (NLT) When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”Exodus 18:17-18 (NLT) “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.Leading a group well is fun and exciting. That’s why it’s tempting to hoard your power and make people dependent upon you. Many small group leaders (and even pastors) want to be the superstar. According to Jesus, that’s crazy. He created his church to work like a body with many interdependent parts. So it will drive you insane trying to shepherd everyone around you. Quit it. Share the ministry with as many people as possible.In 1 Corinthians 12 we read about all Christians being part of one body.  It would be crazy to believe that you alone could even begin to do the work of the entire body.  All of us are gifted, and all in different ways.  It is important to the health and growth of the church that everyone be matured and empowered to use their gifts.  The spiritual growth of an entire church is a heavy burden to bear.  But that weight lightens significantly each time we reproduce ourselves as small group leaders!It empowers the next generation“Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬Everybody dies. If small group leaders don’t equip others, their gift dies with them. That’s why Jesus was so intent on equipping and empowering his disciples to carry on his work. He even came back from the dead and put on a seminar for them. You won’t be able to do that, so you’ll have to train people while you’re alive. Don’t wait until it’s too late.Jesus set the example for this.  He chose a group of 12.  He spent time in close relationship with them, teaching and praying and being prayed for.  And then, in no uncertain terms, he sent them out into the world to continue the work of sharing the...

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This is part 4 in our series on the minor prophets.Find more at pursuegodnetwork.org

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This is part 2 of our series on the minor prophets. Find more at pursuegodnetwork.org

 Most people think there are many ways to get to heaven. Jesus, however, shows us that there is only one way to heaven: through him.  Find more at  pursuegodnetwork.org/the-good-place/ 

 Hell is real and God doesn’t want you to go there.  Find more at  pursuegodnetwork.org/the-good-place/ 

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