In this episode, Jay & Chris discuss how to share your spiritual story (testimony) in a short(er) amount of time. Listen in as Chris shares his abridged story and reduces it from 8 to 10 minutes down to 20 seconds. 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, Alabama, ...
Oct 12, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In this episode, Jay & Chris discuss how to have a great group meeting on limited time. Our schedule at Brook Hills is changing so that we have to do more with less, but at time all Small Groups face time crunches due to late arrivals, long prayer requests, or virtual tech issues. Here are some tips on how to make the most of limited time. 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! ...
Sep 25, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this episode, Jay & Chris discuss how to make hybrid meetings work. As groups start meeting live again, many are not ready to come back. We need to do a little extra work to keep everyone connected to the group. Here’s how. 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 Birmingha...
Sep 07, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 15
(Part 2) In this episode, Jay & Chris continue to discuss new leader tips with Nate Farrow, Young Singles Minister at The Church at Brook Hills. This session should be good for new and old leaders alike. You may have missed one of these early as a group leadership, so catch them all now. 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 S...
Aug 24, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In this episode, Jay & Chris discuss new leader tips with Nate Farrow, Young Singles Minister at The Church at Brook Hills. This session should be good for new and old leaders alike. You may have missed one of these early as a group leadership, so catch them all now. 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 ...
Aug 17, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode, Jay & Chris discuss major categories of leadership in small groups and invite you to evaluate your own effectiveness in these areas. We cover pillars 6 through 10 on this episode, for pillars 1 through 5, check out Ten Pillars of Small Groups Ministry (Part 1)! 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 Group...
Aug 03, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode, Jay & Chris discuss major categories of leadership in small groups and invite you to evaluate your own effectiveness in these areas...The first 5 are discussed here, 6 through 10 are in Part 2. 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, Alabama, USA....
Jul 27, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode, Jay & Chris celebrate the tenth episode, and just share some things on their hearts. The discussion includes what we've learned podcasting, happenings in our lives, favorite fans, t-shirts, reviews of first 10 episodes, stats, what's happening at Brook Hills, and finally, appreciating you for leading a 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...
Jul 20, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode, Jay & Chris sit down for a discussion with Michael Mickens, an African-American man who serves as an Elder at The Church at Brook Hills. Michael is a former adult small group leader. We discuss where we go from here and how your small group can be a part of the solution. Here's a hint: it involves loving one another. 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 ...
Jul 06, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, Jay & Chris continue an interview with Jim and Betty Warren. In this part, we discuss how the Warrens have started 17 groups in 14 years at Brook Hills. One secret ingredient is love. If you like what you hear, please subscribe! If you really like what you hear, please rate us! To learn more about the Great Groups podcast, please visit us at greatgroups.org! Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our ep...
Jun 15, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, Jay & Chris interview Jim and Betty Warren who create a great environment for disciple-making with love, transparency, mission, and a reliance on God’s word. What makes this episode fun is that Jay secretly emailed the group for their thoughts about their small group and of Jim and Betty before the podcast. 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 o...
Jun 08, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode, Jay & Chris walk through the many challenges of bringing groups back together again! Listen in as we discuss the different responses, unique levels of readiness and overall general concerns involved with the return to in-person meetings. Also - We will touch on a unique topic - ZOOM FATIGUE! (Yes, it's a real thing and you may be totally unaware of it affecting YOU!) Send us a text Thanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of a...
May 26, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This week, Jay and Chris resume and conclude a conversation with Nathan and Wendi* who are Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills. Jay shares a passion for discipleship with them, partly because overseas discipleship strategies and experiences strongly influenced all three. On the podcast, we want to look at Biblical principles used overseas and ask, "Why not here?" Our goal is to equip Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills and beyond to make disciples effectively. The podcast is hosted by Jay Gordon, ...
May 18, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week, we talk with Nathan and Wendi who are Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills. Jay shares a passion for discipleship with them, partly because overseas discipleship strategies and experiences strongly influenced all three. On the podcast, we want to look at Biblical principles used there and ask, "Why not here?" Our goal is to equip Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills and beyond to make disciples effectively. The podcast is hosted by Jay Gordon, with co-host Chris Amaro. Jay leads the Small...
May 11, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode, Jay and Chris share some wacky things that have happened in their online group experiences. But we don't just laugh at what happened, we give you solutions. Of course, a lot of the solutions have to do with the mute button. The funny video we reference is on the front page of our site, greatgroups.org . And you can also grad a pdf version with all these tips under the resource link at the website. The goal of Great Groups is to equip Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills and beyond...
Apr 30, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, we cover the many resources available for connecting with your group online & remotely. We'll also walk through a few tips & helpful suggestions, as well as discuss our roadmap for future episodes. Welcome to the Great Groups Podcast! Our goal is to equip Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills and beyond to make disciples effectively. Hosted by Jay Gordon, with co-host Chris Amaro. Jay leads the Small Groups Ministry at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama where ...
Apr 08, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
The Coronavirus Pandemic has forced us all to think differently about how we do small groups. What are the immediate needs during this crisis? We'll take a look at some priorities for leading through this pandemic. Welcome to the Great Groups Podcast! Our goal is to equip Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills and beyond to make disciples effectively. Hosted by Jay Gordon, with co-host Chris Amaro. Jay leads the Small Groups Ministry at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama where Chris is...
Apr 08, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
For those who are interested, we take this episode to introduce ourselves and to answer the question, "Why do a podcast for Small Group Leaders?" Our goal is to equip Small Group Leaders at Brook Hills and beyond to make disciples effectively. Hosted by Jay Gordon, with co-host Chris Amaro. Jay leads the Small Groups Ministry at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama where Chris is a small group leader. Both of us want to inspire you to make your group great! This is our "Friends &...
Apr 08, 2020•24 min
