SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups

Small group leaders, pastors, and more discussing strategies for growth and community in church groups. The Small Group Network is an international ministry that equips churches to engage in deeper discipleship and community.

SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 276 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts SG² Steve Gladen on Small Groups, a education show with 276 episodes published.

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  Episode #274

  Lobby interview with Ron Kelleher

  Aug 5, 202631 min

  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 ron@ronkelleher.com. 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 ★

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  Episode #273

  Lobby interview with Bill Donahue (Win a Signed Copy of " How to Lead Life-Changing Small Groups)

  Jul 1, 202641 min

  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 steve@smallgroupnetwork.com 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 ★

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  Episode #272

  Steve's Breaking News & 4 Types of Groups Every Church Needs

  Jun 3, 202628 min

  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 ★

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  Episode #271

  10 Building Blocks To Engineer A Dynamic Small Group Ministry

  May 6, 202631 min

  To see the diagram from today's episode, download it HERE . 10 Building Blocks to Engineer a Dynamic Small Group Ministry Steve Gladen and Derek discuss a summer “diagnostic check” for small group ministries by reviewing 10 building blocks to keep groups healthy, scalable, and disciple-making heading into fall. They emphasize first defining what success is for small group leaders, then aligning ministry structures to that outcome through leader training (for members, leaders, and coaches), providing practical tools (including individual and group health assessments and idea resources), and creating a strategic curriculum pathway that addresses weaknesses rather than simply filling time. They also highlight collecting both hard and soft data to support relational shepherding, building a scalable coaching/community-leader structure (often volunteer-based), and defining a group maturity pathway from early fellowship to balanced engagement with the Great Commission/Great Commandment. Finally, they outline three connection strategies—adult Sunday school alignment, a connection strategy when a pastor isn’t fully on board, and church-wide campaigns when leadership is aligned—encouraging leaders to regularly reassess and shore up guardrails using the show-notes diagram and related books. 00:00 Welcome to SG Squared 01:22 Why Summer Is Ideal 04:16 Building Block One Success 06:52 Building Block Two Training 09:37 Building Block Three Tools 12:52 Building Block Four Curriculum 15:44 Building Block Five Data 18:41 Building Block Six Coaches 21:48 Building Block Seven Pathway 24:30 Building Blocks Eight To Ten 29:42 Final Encouragement Outro ★ Support this podcast ★

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  Episode #270

  How do you keep the ministry PEOPLE focused verse PROGRAM focus

  Apr 1, 202627 min

  People Over Programs: One-to-One Leadership That Keeps Small Groups Relational Pastor Steve Gladen and Derek Olson discuss how small group ministry can drift from being people-focused to program-focused, and argue the most important question is how to keep relationships central. Steve emphasizes the power of one-to-one connection and offers practical ways to reach people beyond email, including texting, calling (with a heads-up text), being present to connect in person at church, sending notes, and even doing brief “pop-bys” with a small gift to create face-to-face contact. Once connected, he shares the SPEAK acrostic for knowing someone personally:Story, Passions, Encouragement (including love languages and key dates), Abilities (including the Benjamin Franklin effect), and Knowledge. He also introduces the “four helpful lists” for improving ministry: what’s working, what’s wrong, what’s confusing, and what’s missing. They close by promoting the May Lobby Gathering event for small group leaders. https://smallgroupnetwork.com 00:00 Welcome to SG Squared 01:11 Episode Preview 02:05 People Over Programs 03:01 Power of One to One 05:17 How to Reach People 06:29 Lobby Lurker and Pop By 10:43 SPEAK Acrostic 12:47 Encouragement and Dates 14:57 Abilities and Franklin Effect 19:23 Four Helpful List 23:14 Final Challenge and Wrap 25:18 Lobby Gathering Invite 26:59 Subscribe and Resources ★ Support this podcast ★

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