Great Groups

In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Nathan and Blair Sherman about things that are going well in their group. This is a follow-up to their brief discussion on a panel during Brook Hills' recent Faith Family Gathering. There were so many things to dig into that we made it two podcasts. Here is the first.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Nathan and Blair Sherman about things that are going well in their group. This is a follow-up to their brief discussion on a panel during Brook Hills' recent Faith Family Gathering. There were so many things to dig into that we made it two podcasts. Here is the first.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Wade and Joan K to learn about their background and call to missions and hear stories about what God is doing in Slovenia, where they serve. We want to help Small Group Leaders see that some future missionaries may very well be in your Small Group now. Let's keep mission work and missionaries in front of our group members and see what God does.

After the podcast, the stories kept rolling. We regret that we couldn't keep recording or make two podcasts out of their stories. God is at work. We heard about the church in Domzale praying the Psalms, about an architect, we said she now believes in Jesus,  about Reformation Day ministry by the church members, and about events that meet the needs of people there.

Prayer Points
1. For the salvation of many people, particularly U, S, and M to come to Christ this year.
2. For the KW's and their kids as they are apart, that the kids would be secure and spiritually healthy, and that God would put people in their lives to minister to them.
3. Pray for the health of the church in Domzale and for Goran and Metke Macura, who also lead the church.

KW Slovenia Info & Support Page

Let's join them on Thursdays at Noon as they meet at 7:00pm there to pray.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In Episode 114, Brennan Strain joins Jay and Chris as they all share ideas for starting the new group year strong following our summer break. We are introducing a new format that we plan to use fairly often - a mix of interview and color commentary. It's just more fun with more people, especially people you haven't heard from yet. Brennan co-leads a young adult group along with his wife, Kasi, and Stephen and Kimberlee Brooks.

Suggested document:

Brook Hills Small Group Values & Great Conversation  - The first group meeting of the year is a great time to share this with your group.

Summer Survey used by Brennan's Group - We just built a sample in a google doc so you wouldn't actually contribute to their survey.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay and Chris host Grayson and Lucy to hear stories about how their group has been on mission for Christ. From the very start, the Gayles have been very intentional about equipping and engaging in evangelism as a group. And the group is all in. Join us to get some tips that you can apply in your group

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Dale Kendrick and Chris Robbins about their Small Group. They use a weekly email to communicate with their group, discussing what they studied last week, looking forward to the coming week, and sometimes giving some homework that links to the upcoming meeting. Listen and hear how they use that and more to build community in their group.

Here's the KR (Kendrick-Robbins Small Group) annual survey. 

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Rus Goodwin, Brook Hills' Pastoral Care Minister and part of our Member Care Team. We take a few minutes to get to know Rus and then discuss the overlap of pastoral care and groups.  Listen and hear how Rus can help you and the members of your group. You can also help Rus coordinate the work of meeting needs.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay and Chris react to Small Group Leader responses to our Spring Snapshot. It's an electronic form we use at Brook Hills to check vital signs for our groups and get feedback from our leaders. We specifically discuss the answers to two questions: 1) STRENGTHS: What are some positive things happening in your group? and 2) STRUGGLES: What challenges is your group experiencing? Listen in and hear some feedback and a few tips along the way.

Referenced Documents:

Spring 2024 Snapshot Online Form

Small Group Values Document

Great Conversations Document

Leader Resources Page

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

In this episode, Jay interviews Parker Snider, Brook Hills' new Young Adult Minister. Listen in to learn about Parker's background, hobbies, spiritual story, small group, and a little about young adult ministry. We'll also discuss spiritual growth catalysts and helping people grow during crisis.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills

Our recent snapshots (feedback from leaders) indicate many groups are struggling with attendance issues. In this episode, Jay and Chris continue to discuss having the right perspective on these issues. They also share some tips and thoughts on ways to strengthen consistency.

Jay referenced the document Small Group Essentials, which mentions faithfulness to attend. One option is to review this document with your group at the start of every ministry year (August).

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.

We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. 

Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

Lifetime Show Notes

Brook Hills Pages:

• The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Small Group Leader Resources Page
• Small Group Discipleship Resources
• Small Groups @ Brook Hills