Discipleship Leaders Podcast

Great group conversations don’t always happen naturally—they’re cultivated. In this episode, Jay and Amy share practical ways to create an open conversation dynamic where everyone feels comfortable engaging, asking questions, sharing honestly, and learning from one another. From asking better questions and building trust to embracing silence and facilitating instead of teaching, discover simple ways to foster conversations that help your group connect, grow spiritually, and become more like Christ.

In this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast, Jay McGuirk and Amy Skrivanos are joined by Benton Campus Pastor Cody Calhoun to discuss the prosperity gospel—what it is, how it can sound almost true, and how its influence can subtly show up in the lives and beliefs of people in our groups. Together, they explore how leaders can recognize prosperity-gospel thinking, respond with grace and biblical truth, and help point people away from a transactional view of faith and toward the true riches, promises, and hope we have in Christ.

How do you identify and develop future leaders within your D-Group or Bible study? In this episode, Jay and Amy share why team leadership is central to Fellowship Bible Church's philosophy of ministry and how developing co-leaders helps shoulder the responsibilities of leadership, care, and discipleship. You'll learn practical qualities to look for in potential co-leaders, a simple framework for developing them over time, and how investing in others creates healthier groups and multiplies disciple-makers.

In this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast, Jay, Amy and guest Carrie Carter discuss how small group leaders can lovingly shepherd "difficult" people within their groups while maintaining a healthy, Christ-centered environment. They explore common challenges leaders face, the deeper reasons behind difficult behaviors, and practical ways to lead with grace, truth, and wisdom so that every group member has the opportunity to grow spiritually.

In this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast, Jay, Amy, and guest Carrie Carter discuss how small group leaders can lovingly shepherd “difficult” people within their groups while maintaining a healthy, Christ-centered environment. They explore common challenges leaders face, the deeper reasons behind difficult behaviors, and practical ways to lead with grace, truth, and wisdom so that every group member has the opportunity to grow spiritually.

In this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast, Jay, Amy and guest Carrie Carter discuss how small group leaders can lovingly shepherd "difficult" people within their groups while maintaining a healthy, Christ-centered environment. They explore common challenges leaders face, the deeper reasons behind difficult behaviors, and practical ways to lead with grace, truth, and wisdom so that every group member has the opportunity to grow spiritually.

As the ministry year wraps up, this episode of the Discipleship Leaders Podcast looks ahead to summer with a vision for staying spiritually engaged through Short-Term D-Groups. Jay and Amy are joined by Men’s Pastor Jason Elam to talk about how leaders can intentionally build a culture of prayer within their groups.

As the group year winds down, it’s easy for leaders to lose momentum and run on empty. In this episode, we’re joined by Care Pastor, Stephen Brannon, to talk about how leaders can care for their own hearts in order to lead well for the long haul. We cover practical rhythms like staying spiritually filled, prayer, time in God’s Word, sharing leadership, and knowing when to rest. Healthy leaders lead healthy groups—so this conversation is all about leading from overflow, not burnout.

Discipleship Leaders Podcast

Episode 31: How to Have Fun as a Group

Jay & Amy with Guest: Jake Briggs

After several weighty conversations on discipleship and longevity in ministry, we’re lightening things up this month by talking about something essential—but often overlooked—in group life: having fun together.

Joined by Jake Briggs, Discipleship Pastor at Fellowship’s West Little Rock campus, we explore why joy and laughter matter in small groups and how cultivating genuine enjoyment strengthens relationships and fuels spiritual growth.

In This Episode:

Meet Jake Briggs and hear about his transition from worship ministry to discipleship.

Why joy is vital to discipleship (yes—joy is a fruit of the Spirit!).

How fun deepens relationships and helps us live out the “one anothers.”

Practical ways to build fun into your regular group time.

Creative ideas for activities outside of group (meals, games, serving projects, retreats, and more).

What to do if you don’t consider yourself the “fun” one in the group.

Whether you’re naturally energetic or more reserved, this episode will help you think intentionally about cultivating joy in your D-Group.

Thanks for listening! New episodes drop around the first of each month as we equip you to make disciples who live by God’s grace and for His glory—at home and across the world.

Discipleship Leaders Podcast – Episode 30

Discipling Your People More Than the World

Leader Training Recap with Jay & Amy

In this episode, Jay and Amy recap key insights from this year’s D-Group Leader Trainings across Fellowship Bible Church campuses. The focus is on a growing challenge many leaders face: helping people recognize when they are being discipled more by the world than by Scripture.

Drawing from Colossians 1:13–14, the conversation explores the difference between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God—and how subtle, seemingly “Christian” ideas can shape our thinking and living away from biblical truth. Jay and Amy discuss common areas where worldly discipleship often shows up, including self-help spirituality, mysticism, legalism, prosperity theology, and cultural slogans that sound right but aren’t rooted in Scripture.

They also offer practical guidance for leaders on how to lovingly and wisely redirect their groups by:

Helping people know what the Bible says

Helping people understand what the Bible means

Recognizing unhealthy influences

Trusting the Holy Spirit while leading with grace and discernment

Whether you attended the training or not, this episode is designed to equip you to shepherd your group faithfully, grow in confidence as a leader, and help form disciples shaped by God’s Word rather than the world.

New episodes drop around the first of each month.