Table of Contents
Foreword Rick Warren 7
Acknowledgments 10
Introduction: The Purpose of This Book 13
What Is a Healthy and Balanced Small Group?
1 My Story: And What It Has Taught Me about Ministry 17
2 The Saddleback Difference: The Ten Foundations of Saddleback's Small Group Ministry 22
3 What Did We Learn from the Book of Acts? The Paradigm Shift 37
What Does This Look Like?
4 Is Your Vision Blurry? Define Success Clearly 45
5 It All Starts with Community: Build a Foundation for Health and Balance 55
6 Leading for Spiritual Formation: How to Create a Church of Disciples, Not Attendees 71
7 Don't Lead Alone: Mobilize Your Groups from Sitting to Serving 81
8 The Church with No Walls: Opening the Doors of Your Church 102
9 More than Music: Worship in the Life of Your Groups 115
Step-by-Step, How Can I Do This?
10 Spiritual Health Assessment: Living Life on Purpose 127
11 Helping Groups Become Healthier: Provide a Clear Pathway for Members to Follow 148
12 Leadership Matters: Selecting and Recruiting Leaders 155
13 The Road Ahead: Developing a Simple Training Pathway 166
14 Laying the Foundation: Developing an Organizational Infrastructure That Works 177
What Does This Mean for Overall Church Strategy?
15 Sunday School and/or Small Groups: Understanding How Groups Fit into Your Church 191
16 Making the Most of Every Opportunity: How to Increase Connection 204
17 Exponential Power: Unleashing the Force of the Campaign Strategy 213
Do I Have What It Takes?
18 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Lessons from My Journey 225
Notes 235