SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Rick speak with Bill Search, a former groups pastor and senior pastor. Bill shares some practical advice for groups ministers about relating to and working with senior pastors. Bill discuss some often overlooked reasons why senior pastors might be hesitant to get involved in a church’s group communities and offers some suggestions for how groups ministers can invite senior pastors to promote and encourage group life with these concerns in mind.

In addition, Brian and Rick discuss a blog post titled 4 Specific Things You Can Do to Make Your Group More Christ-Centered by Mike Mack, and Rick shares his list of five reasons a church-wide campaign can be helpful for a groups ministry.

The Groups Matter Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study expert from the Lifeway Groups Ministry Team, and Rick Howerton, the discipleship and small group specialist at Lifeway and author ofGUEST: Bill lived and studied in Chicago where he completed his graduate degree from Wheaton College. He worked in higher education before becoming a pastor in 1998. An avid reader and amateur historian, Bill is the author of Simple Small Groups. He’s happily married to Karyn, the most brilliant and beautiful woman he has ever met. Together they enjoy their three kids: Maegan, Emma, and Jack. Bill enjoys movies, all genres of music, and great coffee.

EPISODE SPONSOR: This week’s episode is sponsored by SmallGroup.com. SmallGroup.com is an online subscription service that allows churches and group leaders to create customizable, sermon-based group bible studies. Visit the Groups Ministry blog for a quick how-to tutorial, or visit SmallGroup.com to begin your free 2-week preview.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @RickHowerton.