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. Send us a text 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 our contact form . Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham,...
Jun 20, 2025•29 min•Season 6Ep. 137
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. Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all o...
Jun 03, 2025•39 min•Season 6Ep. 136
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 reactions, and candid conversation. Tune in to hear their biggest take...
May 21, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 135
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 can develop leaders. Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. P...
May 05, 2025•37 min•Season 6Ep. 134
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: Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect , by Wi...
Apr 15, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 133
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. Send us a text 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 our contact form . Jay Gordon...
Mar 24, 2025•41 min
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) Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups....
Mar 14, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 131
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 . Send us a text 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 our contact form . Jay Gordon is the ...
Mar 12, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 130
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 Send us a text 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 our contact form . Jay Gor...
Feb 28, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 129
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. Send us a text 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 h...
Feb 25, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 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, asking good questions, staying on track, and much more. Join us to see if reviewing the basics is helpful to you. Send us a text 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 h...
Feb 18, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 127
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 members to one another and connecting guests to the group. Send us a text Thanks for listen...
Feb 04, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 126
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 episode. Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please vi...
Jan 28, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 125
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 Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes. We'd love to hear fro...
Jan 21, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 124
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 Psalm 119 Small Group Template Brook Hills' Recommended Curriculum Brook Hills Leader Resources ...
Dec 19, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 123
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. Send us a text 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 our contact form . Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmin...
Nov 26, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 122
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. Listen and see how starting groups is like the movie, A Wonderful L...
Nov 13, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 121
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 be content without it. 3. Model spiritual maturity for them. High Potency + Clear Communication + Close Proximity + God's Hand = Maximum Impact (Maximum Spiritual Growth) 4. Be transparent about your spiritual highs and lows. 5. Help them Build spiritual disciplines. a. ...
Oct 22, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 120
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 the Lord, One Posture: Eager Reception of God's Word and Application of It, and One Mission: Gospel Conversations. Listen in to be encouraged by Matt's talk. Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for...
Oct 08, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 119
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 things to dig into that we made it two podcasts. Here is the first. Send us a text 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 our contact form . Ja...
Sep 10, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 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 things to dig into that we made it two podcasts. Here is the first. Send us a text 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 our contact form . Ja...
Sep 03, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 117
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 missionaries may very well be in your Small Group now. Let's keep mission work and missionaries in front of our group members and see what God does. After the podcast, the stories kept rolling. We regret that we couldn't keep recording or make two podcasts out ...
Aug 27, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 116
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 commentary. It's just more fun with more people, especially people you haven't heard from yet. Brennan co-leads a young adult group along with his wife, Kasi, and Stephen and Kimberlee Brooks. Suggested document: Brook Hills Small Group Values & Great Conver...
Aug 06, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 115
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. And the group is all in. Join us to get some tips that you can apply in your group Send us a text 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 our c...
Jul 17, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 114
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 giving some homework that links to the upcoming meeting. Listen and hear how they use that and more to build community in their group. Here's the KR (Kendrick-Robbins Small Group) annual survey . Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Pod...
Jul 02, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 113
In this episode, Jay and Chris talk with Rus Goodwin, Brook Hills' Pastoral Care Minister and part of our Member Care Team. We take a few minutes to get to know Rus and then discuss the overlap of pastoral care and groups. Listen and hear how Rus can help you and the members of your group. You can also help Rus coordinate the work of meeting needs. Send us a text 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 ...
Jun 19, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 112
In this episode, Jay and Chris react to Small Group Leader responses to our Spring Snapshot. It's an electronic form we use at Brook Hills to check vital signs for our groups and get feedback from our leaders. We specifically discuss the answers to two questions: 1) STRENGTHS: What are some positive things happening in your group? and 2) STRUGGLES: What challenges is your group experiencing? Listen in and hear some feedback and a few tips along the way. Referenced Documents: Spring 2024 Snapshot...
Jun 04, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 111
In this episode, Jay interviews Parker Snider, Brook Hills' new Young Adult Minister. Listen in to learn about Parker's background, hobbies, spiritual story, small group, and a little about young adult ministry. We'll also discuss spiritual growth catalysts and helping people grow during crisis. Send us a text 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 our contact form . Jay Gordon is t...
May 22, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 110
Our recent snapshots (feedback from leaders) indicate many groups are struggling with attendance issues. In this episode, Jay and Chris continue to discuss having the right perspective on these issues. They also share some tips and thoughts on ways to strengthen consistency. Jay referenced the document Small Group Essentials , which mentions faithfulness to attend. One option is to review this document with your group at the start of every ministry year (August). Send us a text Thanks for listen...
May 01, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 109
Our recent snapshots (feedback from leaders) indicate many groups are struggling with attendance issues. In this episode, Jay and Chris discuss having the right perspective on these issues, and they also share some tips and thoughts on ways to strengthen consistency. Jay referenced the document Small Group Essentials , which mentions faithfulness to attend. One option is to review this document with your group at the start of every ministry year (August). Send us a text Thanks for listening to t...
Apr 25, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 108
