SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

How you're doing is how your small group ministry is doing. After 40-plus years in ministry, Steve Gladen gets asked one question more than almost any other: how did you last? In this episode he and Derek Olson walk through three areas to check in yourself once the fall launch settles down, and Steve is clear that he's aiming every point at himself first. 1. Check your vital signs Four warning signs that your soul is running low: Apathy: you've grown callous about miracles Arrogance: you've grown casual about sin Divisiveness: you've grown cynical about staff and leadership Laziness: you've grown careless about the disciplines 2. Be battle ready Four giants that pull you off center, and what answers each one: Busyness, answered by prayer you keep up before the crisis comes Materialism, answered by giving Isolation, answered by living in the community you're asking others to join Ignorance, answered by time in God's Word, even if you start with one verse 3. Build your rhythms Divert daily: time alone with God Withdraw weekly: Sabbath Abandon annually: a retreat away from your ministry bubble A line worth keeping: "Nobody gets into a spiritual hole with a backhoe. It's always with a spoon." In this episode 0:16 Welcome 3:26 Why your longevity sets the pace for your ministry 6:21 Area 1: Check your vital signs 14:52 Area 2: Be battle ready 23:27 Area 3: Build your rhythms 27:22 Wrap-up Go deeper with All Access If this episode showed you something to work on, don't work on it alone. Small Group Network All Access gives you and your team the curriculum, training, resources, and cohorts to build a healthier ministry and a healthier you. Join here: https://go.smallgroupnetwork.com/plans/1975017 Help other small group pastors find the show Subscribe wherever you listen and leave a five-star rating. It costs nothing and helps the show reach more leaders. ★ Support this podcast ★

Attendance, Metrics, and Health: Measuring Discipleship in Small Group Ministry Pastor Steve Gladen and host Derek open the fall season of SG Squared by discussing how small group leaders should think about attendance, metrics, and health without letting numbers define their identity. Steve argues that numbers are not bad but are indicators connected to souls and stories, and that quality and quantity are not enemies. He cautions that attendance alone can be a false positive and emphasizes measuring discipleship through individual and group health assessments. Drawing from Saddleback’s approach, he describes an individual health assessment (35 questions) and a shorter group assessment (10 questions) built around worship, fellowship, discipleship, serving, and evangelism, with follow-through steps involving goals, partners, curriculum, and activities. He notes that early assessments showed over 85% self-identified weakness in evangelism and points listeners to his books and Small Group Network resources. 00:00 Welcome to SG Squared 00:26 Fall Football Banter 01:58 Culture Shock in Mississippi 03:30 Episode Setup Souls and Identity 07:52 Why Numbers Matter 10:29 Data as Ministry Indicator 11:59 Measuring Discipleship Success 15:43 Attendance Versus Health 17:53 Building Health Assessments 25:01 Books Membership and Wrap Up ★ Support this podcast ★

Ron Kelleher on Kingdom Leadership, Workplace Ministry, and Integrating Faith in the Marketplace Pastor Steve Gladen records a special SG Squared episode at the Lobby Gathering with Ron Kelleher, first sharing an update that Ron has been diagnosed with colon cancer and requesting prayers for him and his family. Ron describes his 40-year marriage to Barbara, their two adopted children (including a special-needs son), and how Saddleback became their church home through its special-needs ministry. He recounts a 36-year career at Procter & Gamble spanning sales and multicultural marketing, then early retirement in 2009, seminary at Talbot, and a renewed calling to workplace ministry. Ron has written 701 weekly blog articles at www.ronkelleher.com and discusses his book, Kingdom Leadership: Embodying Christ in the Marketplace (https://a.co/d/0fodzIlS), built around 12 biblical leadership characteristics, highlighting stewardship and prayerful leadership. Steve offers six free autographed copies via email, and Ron shares contact info at [email protected]. 00:00 Prayer Update for Ron 00:45 Show Intro at Lobby Gathering 01:59 Meet Ron and Family 03:23 Career at Procter and Gamble 06:38 Finding a Church Home 09:11 Early Retirement and Calling 13:33 Writing and Online Resources 14:54 Kingdom Leadership Book Overview 17:40 Key Traits Stewardship and Prayer 25:11 Next Book Faith Driven Leadership 26:59 Book Giveaway and Contact Info 28:32 Final Encouragement and Outro ★ Support this podcast ★

Bill Donahue on Leading Life-Changing Small Groups (Plus Signed Book Giveaway) Recorded at the Lobby Gathering, Pastor Steve Gladen interviews Dr. Bill Donahue about his updated book, How to Lead Life-Changing Small Groups, and offers a giveaway of six signed copies to the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and 11th people who email [email protected] with an address. Donahue shares personal background about his wife Gail, their 38-year marriage, their two adult children, and formative experiences that shaped his views of what is “healthy” and “good.” The conversation highlights key helps for small group leaders: preparation that aims to be personal rather than perfect, shared ownership and participation, and learning to give and receive feedback. Donahue discusses measuring group health beyond attendance and numbers by evaluating relationships, culture, conflict navigation, experiencing Christ’s presence, and the group’s impact outside the circle, including online group considerations, and closes by emphasizing love as the central leadership focus. 00:00 Welcome and Giveaway Tease 01:09 Meet Bill Donahue 02:32 Family and Gail’s Ministry 05:59 How They Met and Ministry Beginnings 08:10 Early Small Group Failures to Growth 10:39 Growing Up and Performance Pressure 14:48 Kids, Parenting, and Real Life 18:33 New Book Focus and Leader Challenges 21:07 Book Tools Overview 21:32 Conflict Chapter Deep Dive 22:28 Online Groups Pros Cons 23:40 Coaching New Leaders 23:54 Preparation And Ownership 26:31 Measuring Real Progress 28:23 Feedback Triggers Explained 31:18 Healthy Metrics Inside Outside 34:19 Book Giveaway And Thanks 35:55 Closing Focus On Love 39:12 Final Wrap And Signoff ★ Support this podcast ★

1. Groups that primarily Disciple • Primary engagement is spiritual growth • What their felt need is, Spiritual Void. • Team responsible—Spiritual Formation Team 2. Groups that primarily Connect • Primary engagement is Serving. • What their felt need is, Value. • Team responsible—First Impressions or Serving Teams 3. Groups that primarily Send • Primary engagement is causation. • What the felt need is, Make a Difference • Team Responsible—Mission Team 4. Groups that primarily Care • Primary engagement is support. • What their felt need is, Vitalization. • Team responsible—Care & Recovery Team ★ Support this podcast ★