Great Groups
A Podcast Designed for Small Group Leaders. Great Groups are small groups that focus on making disciples, building community, serving, and living on mission. You may call your groups Sunday School Life Groups, Community Groups, or a host of other names, but whatever you call it, we want to help your group be a great group. We built the podcast to encourage and equip adult small group leaders at Brook Hills and beyond.
Episodes
138 episodes
Lead with Less Stress (Episode 137)
In this episode, Jay and Chris discuss ways to take the stress out of leading. You'll hear some long-term tips as well as some tips to apply when life is coming at you fast. Listen in and learn how you can lead with less stress.<...
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Season 6
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Episode 137
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29:21
Deep Relationships and Mission Partnerships with Chris Kinsley (Episode 136)
In this episode, Jay and Chris sit down with Chris Kinsley to explore how his group is leading the way in two key areas: building deep relationships and embracing a group mission partnership. You'll hear practical insights and fresh inspi...
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Season 6
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Episode 136
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38:52
Celebrating 5 Years by Sharing Our Top 5 Tips (Episode 135)
In this special anniversary episode, Jay and Chris reflect on five years of podcasting together. They dive into memorable moments, behind-the-scenes bloopers, and a few laughs along the way. But at the heart of the episode is a meaningfu...
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Season 6
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Episode 135
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28:02
Developing Leaders with Dawn Stephens (Episode 134)
In this episode, Jay talks with Dawn Stephens, Brook Hills' Women's Minister, about developing leaders. The session is an overview of her breakout session at the Fall 2024 SG Leader Gathering. The complete title was Building a Leadership Te...
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Season 6
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Episode 134
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37:13
Taking Steps in Our Three Priorities (Episode 133)
In this episode, we’re revisiting the keynote message from our February Small Group Leader Gathering, featuring John Butterfield. John unpacks how people grow—one small, consistent step at a time—and why helping others take those steps i...
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Season 5
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Episode 133
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21:28
Leading Intentionally with Chris Robbins (Episode 132)
In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Chris Robbins about Leading Group Meetings Well: How to Lead Intentionally and Overcome Common Problems. The session is an overview of the breakout Chris led at our Fall 2024 SG Leader Gathering...
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40:56
Ramadan: An Opportunity to Pray for Muslims (Episode 131)
In this episode, Chip and Brooks join Jay and Christ to discuss Ramadan-what it is and why Christ-followers should take note and pray for Muslims across the world during this holiday. Join in and hear some stories from the field and be in...
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Season 5
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Episode 131
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37:43
The What and Why of Groups with John Butterfield (Episode 130)
In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with John Butterfield as we revisit his breakout session from the Fall Small Group Leader Gathering. His session was entitled "The What and Why of Small Groups: Why We Do Small Groups and What We Seek to Acco...
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Season 5
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Episode 130
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35:49
Missionary Connections and Support with Dave Halperin (Episode 129)
Brook Hills' missionaries serve in tough places and they deeply need our support. Groups can have a global impact by building strong, supportive relationships with them. Join Chris and Jay as we talk to a group leader who has led his group well...
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Season 5
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Episode 129
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25:49
Leading Group Meetings 101, Part 2 (Episode 128)
In this episode, we review a recent live class at Brookhills entitled Leading Group Meetings 101: The First Things You Need to Know. In this episode, Chris joins us to discuss preparation, study and organization of content, askin...
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Season 5
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Episode 128
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17:14
Leading Group Meetings 101, Part 1 (Episode 127)
In this episode, we review a recent live class at Brookhills entitled Leading Group Meetings 101: The First Things You Need to Know. In this episode, Chris joins us to discuss preparation, study and organization of content, askin...
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Season 5
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Episode 127
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25:58
Building Community & Hospitality with Parker Snider (Episode 126)
In this episode, Luke Long fills in for Chris Amaro as we host Parker Snider, Brook Hills' Young Adult Minister in a conversation about hospitality. We're recapping the breakout sessions from our Fall 2024 Leader Gatherng. The official breakout...
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Season 5
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Episode 126
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31:01
Leading Your Group Outside the Walls (Episode 125)
David McKnight and Mike Joiner are our guest for the topic "Leading Your Group Outside the Walls: Serving Together and Individually". This was one of our breakouts at the Fall 2024 Small Group Leader Gathering and we went to bring everyone the ...
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Season 5
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Episode 125
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31:23
Praying for Your Group's Purposes (Episode 124)
In this episode, Jay and Chris discuss things to pray for your Small Group and for the Small Groups Ministry at Brook Hills or your own church, if different. Listen in and learn some things to pray for your group. Please consider adding the ite...
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Season 5
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Episode 124
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36:00
Choosing Curriculum with Ashley Chesnut (Episode 123)
In this episode, Jay interviews Ashley Chesnut, Brook Hills' Associate Minister of Young Adults. We are reviewing breakouts from our Fall Small Group Leader Gathering. The full title of Ashley's breakout was Choosing Curriculum for Your Gro...
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Season 5
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Episode 123
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49:52
Meet Luke Long: Generations of Disciple-making (Episode 122)
In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Luke Long, our new Adults & Small Groups Intern at Brook Hills. Join us to get to know Luke and hear his passion for Small Groups that has been passed down from his father and grandfather.
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Season 5
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Episode 122
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33:15
Starting New Groups/Multiplication Breakout (Episode 121)
In this episode, we begin a series looking back on the breakout sessions from our Fall Small Group Leader Gathering. Those include Evangelism, New Groups, Meetings, Serving, Philosophy of Groups, Curriculum, Biblical Community & Hospitality...
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Season 5
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Episode 121
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31:08
Pursuing the Spiritual Growth of Group Members (Episode 120)
In this episode, Jay and Chris discuss ten thoughts on pursuing the spiritual growth of your group members. Here are the thoughts we'll dive into.1. Pray for the spiritual growth of your group. 2. Expect spiritual growth. Don't...
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Season 5
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Episode 120
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29:20
Leader Gathering: Pastor's Talk (Episode 119)
In this episode, we'll hear our Pastor, Matt Mason, as we look back to the Fall 2024 Small Group Leader Gathering. His talk is entitled Three Big "Ones": Encouragement for Ministry and Mission. It includes One Passion: Cultivating our Walk with...
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Season 5
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Episode 119
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36:09
Community & Starting New Groups with Nathan & Blair Sherman, Part 2 (Episode 118)
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 th...
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Season 5
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Episode 118
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20:04
Bible Study and Serving with Nathan & Blair Sherman (Episode 117)
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 th...
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Season 5
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Episode 117
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26:39
Missionary in Your Group? Possible. (Episode 116)
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 missi...
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Season 5
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Episode 116
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56:19
Start the Year Strong with Brennan Strain (Episode 115)
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 commen...
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Season 5
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Episode 115
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34:48
Intentional Group Evangelism with Grayson & Lucy Gayle (Episode 114)
In this episode, Jay and Chris host Grayson and Lucy Gayle 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. A...
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Season 5
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Episode 114
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38:31
Communication, Homework, and Community with Dale & Chris (Episode 113)
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...
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Season 5
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Episode 113
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38:47