How to Activate Your Small Groups in the Suburbs

Ever since Kerrick Thomas and I wrote the book Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups, we get a lot of questions from readers wondering if the Activate (semester-based) small groups system will work in their setting, whatever that setting may look like. Perhaps the most common of these questions is “The Journey is in New York City, but … Read More


Nelson SearcySmall Groups

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Should You Identify Small Groups by Age?

This is Kerrick Thomas here, Executive Pastor at The Journey and co-author of Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups. Nelson asked me share today about another one of the questions that people ask regularly when setting up their Small Groups System – the question of whether or not to identify small groups by age, or to ask it … Read More


Nelson SearcySmall Groups

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How to “Activate” Small Groups in a New Church Start

This is Kerrick Thomas – I’m the Executive Pastor at The Journey Church and co-author of “Activate” with Nelson. He asked me to address a question today that we receive regularly about when and how to start Small Groups in a new church plant. We’re often asked if the Activate small groups system will work in a small church plant, … Read More


Nelson SearcySmall Groups

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How to Involve Your Full Staff in Groups

Adam Bishop here, Small Groups Pastor at The Journey.  Nelson asked me to post today about how to get your full staff involved in Small Groups. In Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups, Nelson and Kerrick mention that The Journey has a scalable structure for our small group system, including “Coaches.” Sometimes we’re asked who makes up that … Read More


Nelson SearcySmall Groups

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Don’t Miss The Activate Webinar – Tomorrow!

Hey – I don’t want you to miss out on The Activate Webinar that Kerrick Thomas and Adam Bishop are leading tomorrow (January 20) at 1:00 Eastern. If you’re currently doing semester-based (Activate) small groups or are considering them, this is a great training opportunity for you. Best of all, there are no travel plans required – you can join … Read More


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How to Handle Childcare in Small Groups (Free Downloads)

One regular concern that I am asked about when it comes to Activate (semester-based) Small Groups is “how do we handle childcare?” Recently, my friend Roy Mansfield (Small Groups Pastor at Northstar Church in Panama City) shared some of his thoughts and best practices on how to best accommodate the children of Small Group participants. He gave me permission to … Read More


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How to Have Enough Small Group Leaders (Part 3)

Adam Bishop again today, sharing the 3rd and final element to being sure that you always have enough small group leaders at your church. The final, and most important element in identifying and involving new group leaders is TRUST – You have to trust the judgment of the group leaders who are praying for and interacting with the members of … Read More


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How to Have Enough Small Group Leaders (Part 2)

Adam Bishop (Small Groups Pastor at The Journey) here again.  I shared yesterday that the key to identifying and involving enough small group leaders at your church is to make that process a priority for each of your current group leaders. The only way to get your group leaders to actively pray for new leaders, see potential leaders as Jesus … Read More


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How to Have Enough Small Group Leaders (Part 1)

Good morning!  This is Adam Bishop, Pastor of Small Groups at The Journey, and Nelson asked me to share some thoughts about a struggle that many churches face when it comes to small groups – finding enough group leaders! The first question I ask when a Small Groups Pastor shares this issue with me is “Does the system you are … Read More


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When to Start Small Groups in Church Planting

This is Kerrick Thomas (Executive & Teaching Pastor at The Journey and co-author of Launch and Activate. Nelson asked me to address a key question that we are often asked by church planters: When should we begin small groups? Our standard answer to that question is to wait until you have over 100 people attending before beginning small groups, but … Read More


Nelson SearcyChurch Planting, Small Groups

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