Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Small groups

Small Group Leader’s Guide for Kneeling with Giants!

April 14, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

I am very happy to announce that the Small Group Leader’s Guide for Kneeling with Giants is now available! It is also free, and only in the Free Member Library here at GaryNealHansen.com. What could be better than finding ways to draw close to God that really fit? Ways of prayer with deep roots in authentic […]

Filed Under: Prayer Tagged With: Adult education, Adult Study Groups, Kneeling with Giants, Leader's Guide, Prayer, Small groups

John Wesley’s Small Group Agenda

January 10, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 12 Comments

Every small group has its own to-do list. When I was a university student I would work up questions for inductive Bible study. We would try to guide our groups from details of the day’s text, to its meaning, and onward to ways to live it. Since then some of the richest small groups I’ve […]

Filed Under: Community, Theology, Wesley Tagged With: Accountability, community, John Wesley, Methodism, Small groups

How John Wesley Marketed His Small Group Program

November 4, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 10 Comments

Try to start a program in your church and I bet some of these ideas will be in the conversation: Tell people it will be fun. Let them know it won’t be too demanding — we’re busy people. Make sure they see it is going to make their lives happier. Emphasize that they will meet […]

Filed Under: Community, Wesley Tagged With: Accountability, John Wesley, Marketing, Small groups

Want to Join John Wesley’s Small Group?

October 11, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

The pastor had decided to start a small group. Everyone says it is the way to grow your church, or to grow a deeper sense of community. Thursday night a dozen people showed up. They met. They left in frustration. What went wrong? They all brought conflicting expectations. Some wanted the group to be a […]

Filed Under: Community, Wesley Tagged With: Accountability, Bible Study, John Wesley, Methodism, Prayer Groups, Small groups

John Wesley’s Secret for Building Community

July 25, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 5 Comments

In 1748 John Wesley tried to explain the amazing growth of his Methodist movement. He had created a remarkably effective model of small group community, and they were growing fast.  What was the secret? The whole thing took them by surprise, he said. “…they had no previous design or plan at all; but everything arose […]

Filed Under: Community, Wesley Tagged With: community, Innovation, John Wesley, Methodism, Nimble Organizations, Small groups

Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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