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.
In this episode, Jay and Chris share practical ways to kick off your small group with momentum as a new year begins. They cover essential tips on effective communication, prayer, creating a welcoming atmosphere for new members, casting vision, and encouraging faithful attendance. Plus, they highlight the importance of thoughtful planning—and yes, the power of offering food at that first meeting! Tune in to make sure you’ve checked ...
In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Chris and Emily Self about their Small Group's recent trip to Memphis to serve with Refugee Memphis & Send Relief. Listen and get some ideas about how your group can go on missionl
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In this episode, Bill Brown joins Jay and Chris to share a unique approach to group meetings—walking through the entire Bible, one book per week. Tune in as they explore how this fast-paced journey can deepen understanding, and how tools like AI and Logos Bible Software can enhance the experience.
Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a lis...
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.
Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all o...
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 inspiration to help you lead your own group more effectively. And if Chris’s voice sounds familiar—it’s because it is! He is our guest and our announcer.
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 meaningful celebration: “5 Years, 5 Tips” — their top five insights for leading small groups, lists which they created independently, but reveal live during the recording — no spoilers, just real-time reacti...
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 Team in Your Group: Developing Leaders is a Win-Win. It's a win for you as a leader, and it's a win because the process prepares others to lead. Listen and hear some ways you c...
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 is key to leading well. Tune in to hear practical insights on how we can guide growth in the three core priorities of our church.
Small Groups Staff Book Reccomendations:
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. Listen and hear three strategies Chris embraces with his group.
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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 inspired to pray during Ramadan.
Email for Ramadan Info from Chip (chip@brookhills.org).
IMB Prayer Page
(The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention)
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 Accomplish."
See our purpose statements as a church.
Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.
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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 in that area.
Suggested Missionary Support Ideas for Groups
Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episode...
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, asking good questions, staying on track, and much more. Join us to see if reviewing the basics is helpful to you.
Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org...
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, asking good questions, staying on track, and much more. Join us to see if reviewing the basics is helpful to you.
Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org...
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 title was "Building Biblical Community & Hospitality: How to Help People Connect with One Another and With Guests." Listen in and gain some tips for connecting member...
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 content from that session. Visit GreatGroups.org to listen, or better yet, subscribe to The Great Groups Podcast on your favorite podcast app. That way you'll never miss an epi...
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 items below to your personal prayer list.
List of Things to Pray for Your Group
Great Groups BuzzSprout Website
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 Group: Identifying Where Your People Are and Selecting What's Next. Join us for some thoughts on choosing curriculum for your Small Group.
Choosing Curriculum Handout
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.
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 ...
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, Leadership Teams, and Discipe-making. Today, we begin the series with Chris Amaro, both special guest and co-host, who led a breakout session on Starting New Groups & Multiplication. Li...
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