Small Group Leader Podcast

Welcome to the small group leader podcast, a podcast by small group leaders for small group leaders to be equipped and encouraged as they make disciples for Jesus.

In this episode we give a quick introduction to the podcast, shed some light onto the reason for this podcast and also tell you a little bit about some of what you will hear in the coming episodes.

In this episode, we will be looking at the 4th dysfunction: Avoidance of Accountability 

We sit down with Alex Rodriguez, the National Training Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. We talk about approaching tough conversations and how we can communicate both the gravity and gladness of the gospel with our disciples.

Then we talk with Jonathan Bryce about what it means to care about our disciples' futures more than their feelings. Jonathan is a missionary with Chi Alpha at Texas A&M University. He is a man who loves the things of God and knows how to love those around him in a way that leaves them closer to Jesus.

In this episode, we will be looking at the third dysfunction: Fear of Failure

We sit down with Alex Rodriguez, the National Training Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, and talk about how we can be afraid to start something because we might fail, but also afraid to get back up after we have experienced failure.

Then we talk with Tyler and Brooke Martin, Chi Alpha Campus Pastors at The University of Tennessee. They are both incredibly hungry and passionate and I loved getting to sit down and interview them. I got to ask them about how we can overcome our fears. We also spoke about how failure is an essential part of our growth as small group leaders and disciples of Christ.

Resources:

Discipleship by Design- Harvey Herman

https://www.amazon.com/Discipleship-Design-Harvey-Herman/dp/1606476440/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 

Suffering is Never for Nothing- Elisabeth Elliot 

https://www.amazon.com/Suffering-Never-Nothing-Elisabeth-Elliot/dp/1535914157

In this episode, we will be looking at the 2nd Dysfunction of a Small Group: Inattention to How we disciple.

We sit down with Alex Rodriguez, the National Training Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, and hear about why small group leaders, even with good motives, can fall into this dysfunction. 

Then we talk with Mark Erickson, Chi Alpha Campus Pastor at The University of North Dakota, and leader of a growing ministry full of healthy small group leaders with a thriving discipleship culture.

Mark shares with us what it was like integrating the 6 wins of a small group leader into their Chi Alpha as well as give some other insights into how we can constantly be improving on HOW we are making disciples. 

Resources:

6 Wins of a Small Group Leader Podcast Episodes:

-Go to our podcast and then just go down to our first episodes. There you will find all 6 episodes on the 6 wins!

Driven by Eternity- John Bevere

https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Eternity-Count-Today-Forever/dp/1937558037/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=driven+by+eternity+john+bevere&qid=1647241372&sprefix=driven+by+eternity%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1 

Winning with People- John Maxwell

https://www.amazon.com/Winning-People-Discover-Principles-Every/dp/B082XJC9V5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=winning+with+people+john+maxwell&qid=1647241443&sprefix=winning+with+%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1 

Why Revival Tarries- Leonard Ravenhill

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Revival-Tarries-Leonard-Ravenhill/dp/0764229052/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=why+revival+tarries+by+leonard+ravenhill&qid=1647241525&sprefix=why+revival+%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1 

In this episode, we will be looking at the first dysfunction: inattention to WHO we disciple.

We sit down with Alex Rodriguez, the National Training Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, and hear about what this dysfunction can look like and why we as small group leaders tend to fall into it.

Then we talk with Justin Vistine, a missionary on staff with Chi Alpha at New Mexico State University. Justin is extremely passionate about making disciples who make more disciples and during his years as a leader in Chi Alpha, he has done just that. 

Justin shares about the Engel scale, a useful tool that makes us aware of WHO we are discipling and helps us understand how they can move closer to spiritual maturity.

Resources:

-Engel scale main outline:

https://chialpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/The-Engel-Scale-The-Complete-Process-of-Evangelism-and-Discipleship.pdf 

-More In-Depth Engel scale chart:

​​https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6d/01/6d/6d016d299ad6e964df18c00cfee301c8.jpg 

This is the third episode of a three part series. 

Often in Scripture, we read about the role of a shepherd. A shepherd’s role encompasses finding, feeding, and fighting for his sheep. Christ exemplifies this perfectly and is rightfully called, “The Good Shepherd.” As disciplers, Jesus is calling us to go out and do the same. That’s what this series is about- finding, feeding, and fighting for the lost lambs of God. 

On this episode, we will be looking at Fighting. In John 10, we read about how a good shepherd must be ready to fight and lay down his life for his sheep. 

Today we will be talking to Daniel Young, the Campus Pastor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and then also Edward Silva a small group leader at UTRGV. They are going to share with us the importance of Fighting for others and you will also hear about the people that fought for them and how it has impacted their lives. 

This is the second episode of a three part series. 

Often in Scripture, we read about the role of a shepherd. A shepherd’s role encompasses finding, feeding, and fighting for his sheep. Christ exemplifies this perfectly and is rightfully called, “The Good Shepherd.” As disciplers, Jesus is calling us to go out and do the same. That’s what this series is about- finding, feeding, and fighting for the lost lambs of God. 

On this episode, we will be looking at Feeding. In John 21, Christ says that if we love him, we must feed his sheep. 

Today, we will talk to Alex Rodriguez, the National Training Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and hear some of his thoughts on what it means to feed our disciples. 

We will also talk to Ellie Whitfield, a small group leader at Texas Tech University and get her perspective on what it’s like to purposely feed her small group and get them to start feeding and growing with the Lord apart from her.

Resources:

Sermon: Find, Feed and Fight by Alex Rodriguez:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijebw4mJOzU&t=1s&ab_channel=ChiAlpha

Book: Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

https://www.google.com/search?q=life+together+by+dietrich+bonhoeffer&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS858US858&sxsrf=AOaemvKpAcdV8kFhcXlT5AawzZl2KTNJNQ:1633933652062&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzgKuX3cHzAhWwAp0JHYy0DJkQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1440&bih=623&dpr=2

This is the first episode of a three part series.

Often in Scripture, we read about the role of a shepherd. A shepherd’s role encompasses finding, feeding, and fighting for his sheep. Christ exemplifies this perfectly and is rightfully called, “The Good Shepherd.” As disciplers, Jesus is calling us to go out and do the same. That’s what this series is about- finding, feeding, and fighting for the lost lambs of God. 

On this episode, we will be looking at Finding. In Matthew 18, we read about the willingness of the Shepherd to leave the 99 to go and find the one lost sheep. 

Today, we will talk to Charles Sombrio, the Chi Alpha campus pastor at West Virginia University and hear some of his convictions about the motive and call to go out and find people. 

We will also talk to Jeff Godfrey, a small group leader at WVU and hear what its been like for him to grow over time and get better at evangelism and hear him talk about what motivates him to keep going out after 5 years of small group leading. 

Resources:

Sermon: Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead-

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=282&commentView=itemComments

In this episode, you will get to hear my uncut interview with Derek Britt. Derek was featured in our episode on Missional Rhythm we released last week. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, definitely go check it out! Today, I am excited to share with you the entirety of my interview with Derek where he expounds on some of his thoughts, answers a few more questions and gives us insight to help us become better small group leaders! 

Resource

Full Teaching on Missional Rhythm:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iLNcUwloq1XOkRcWFf8HAvhS8nTLlkPa/view?usp=sharing

On this episode, we are going to be looking at missional rhythm. 

We will be talking to Derek Britt, Chi Alpha campus pastor at Indiana University. We will hear him speak on how we can begin to reach students we might not currently be reaching by living in a missional way and engaging them where they are, on their daily rhythms. 

We will also speak to Caleb Skinner, who has been a small group leader on the campus of IU and has helped disciple other small group leaders as a resource group leader. You will get to hear him talk about what it’s like to daily live in a missional way, the things he has learned from leading a resource group, and his thoughts on meeting people after welcome week.

Resources

Full Teaching on Missional Rhythm:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iLNcUwloq1XOkRcWFf8HAvhS8nTLlkPa/view?usp=sharing