I was catching up on emails and enjoying my coffee (Intelligentsia... recommended by Scot McKnight) at a coffee house up the street from Willow when I heard it. There were two guys sitting behind me, one middle aged, one younger, both clearly on the staff of a local church. I couldn't make out everything they said... nor was I trying... until I heard this from the younger one:

“… but this guy feels like God is calling him to make a lot of money so he can help the poor. Jesus never did that! Jesus never made any money!”

His implication, bolstered by further comments, was that "this guy" is a jerk, mistaken, misguided, missing the boat. If "this guy"  really wanted to help the poor, he would renounce his worldly capitalism and do "real" ministry (presumably by volunteering to do something "significant" to assist a church-sponsored program.) Read more...

Everybody's busy gearing up for the new ministry season, and I know that a lot of you are working on video clips to attract people into groups, train leaders, or promote Group Life events.

Send us your clips. The new ones, the old ones, the really good ones.  Read more...

It's not "The Dark Knight" and certainly not "Mamma Mia!" but if you are involved in Group Life we think you will like our conference Trailer and SuperTrailer even better! These short videos showcase the upcoming (October) Group Life Conference and provide you with tools that you can email to friends, link on your Small Group website, or show at a leader training or weekend service.

Read more...

What's the funniest, most embarrassing, or (in retrospect) dumbest thing you've done in Group Life? Eric Metcalf, from Community Christian Church in Naperville, shares his story:

   

Call for entries.  Ready to submit your own Best, Worst story? Read the Submission Rules to learn how.  Read more...