Sermon-Based Small Groups
“What curriculum should my small group use?” More and more vital churches are answering that question by using sermon-based material. Larry Osborne, pastor at North Coast Church in San Diego, has helped popularize this approach, which makes the weekend sermon the basis for the small group discussion the following week. Not simply a review of […]
Study: It’s Not Teacher, but Method that Matters
Below is an article that should be speaking volumes into every pastor’s heart and mind who is committed to sharing the Gospel in ways that can be heard and make sense. The day of the “sermon” as we know it is dead … or at least should be. -BTB Published: May 12, 2011 WASHINGTON (AP) – […]
Jesus Small Group Leader
A careful study of Jesus life and ministry reveals that Jesus core ministry was that of small group leader. He taught the masses; he helped and healed the many; he concentrated on the few. There seemed to be a kind of gravitational pull toward the small group. He often tried to get away from the […]
The Early Church Practice of Small Groups
The early doctrine of the church (ecclesiology) included the following elements: • They met in homes — “house to house” openly (Acts 2:46) • Worship was participatory rather than a spectator sport (Acts 11:27-30) • Every member was involved in ministry; members shared responsibility (Acts 11:27-30) • Teachings reflected a small group context (Acts 10:22-48; […]
Small Groups are Replacing Adult Sunday School
In my book Dancing with Dinosaurs (1993) I had a chapter in which I said adult Sunday School was coming to an end and was being replaced by small groups that meet in homes. You should have heard the negative letters I received. One person called me a heretic. Another called me stupid. I think […]
The Needs of the One: The Awkward Balance of Ministry and Leadership
Without apologies, I’m a bit of a Trek fan … both the bicycle kind and the sci-fi kind. Most of the time I indulge my Trekness for pure fun and escape; however, I’m a believer that if you keep your eyes open there’s something to be learned in and from almost everything. And so, it […]