SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Chris speak with Dr. Todd Engstrom, Executive Pastor of Ministries at the Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas, about missional community as the centerpiece of church discipleship. Todd shares the theological, philosophical, and practical goals that his church pursues in an effort to meet people where they are and then lead them to a missional purpose. Todd also discusses how to train leaders in a discipleship program focused on missions and evangelism.

In addition, Brian and Chris discuss three ways to enact a new strategy of missional community in a church’s current discipleship program.

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 and discipleship expert in Lifeway’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at Lifeway and author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us.

GUEST: Dr. Todd Engstrom is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at the Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX. He also directs the efforts of the Austin Stone church planting, which includes training, resourcing, and appointing church leaders to glorify God wherever they are. He regularly speaks, writes, and consults with churches on the topics of missional community and organizational leadership. He is husband to Olivia and father to five kids and serves as a missionary in his neighborhood. You can connect with Todd online at toddengstrom.com or on Twitter at @toodus.

EPISODE SPONSOR: This week’s episode is sponsored by Disciples Path: The Journey, a yearlong program of discipleship working toward maturity in Christ. It’s a purposeful process covering four volumes, 13 sessions each. The Journey was created to nurture believers into disciples who make disciples. Find more information at lifeway.com.

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