Uncommon Leadership Podcast

For Season 2 of the Uncommon Leadership podcast, we're answering the questions you get asked. Have you ever been sitting around at your small group meeting and had someone ask, "Why am I still like this? I've tried so hard to change. No matter what I do I still struggle with _____________." Listen in as Pastor Brian, Pastor Jeff, and Pastor Brit are joined by special guest Dr. Mike Vanlangingham. [S2:E1]

God uses different life experiences and different circumstances to draw people to salvation through Jesus Christ. Some people around you are not yet ready to respond to the gospel, but some are going through circumstances that make them desperate to hear it! This sensitivity to the gospel creates tremendous opportunity. How will they hear it unless you are there to share it with them? (Romans 10:13-14) DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the HARVEST CLOSER site

God uses different life experiences and different circumstances to draw people to salvation through Jesus Christ. Some people around you are not yet ready to respond to the gospel, but some are going through circumstances that make them desperate to hear it! This sensitivity to the gospel creates tremendous opportunity. How will they hear it unless you are there to share it with them? (Romans 10:13-14) DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the HARVEST CLOSER site

Every follower of Jesus Christ has a ministry. Every follower of Jesus Christ should be being equipped to maximize the gifts that are given to them for the sake of the body of Christ. You have a gift, given to you by God to help the church do what it's meant to do (1 Peter 4:10). What can you do to grow your effectiveness as you work for Christ? DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the HARVEST CLOSER site

Every follower of Jesus Christ has a ministry. Every follower of Jesus Christ should be being equipped to maximize the gifts that are given to them for the sake of the body of Christ. You have a gift, given to you by God to help the church do what it's meant to do (1 Peter 4:10). What can you do to grow your effectiveness as you work for Christ? DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the HARVEST CLOSER site

The Bible repeatedly uses the word "walk" to describe the daily, progressive journey of the Christian faith. This is not just a matter of personal discipline, but of emulating the very way that Jesus Christ himself walked. 1 John 2:6 says, "whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." What would it take for you to have your best year yet in your walk with Christ? DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the HARVEST CLOSER site

The Bible repeatedly uses the word "walk" to describe the daily, progressive journey of the Christian faith. This is not just a matter of personal discipline, but of emulating the very way that Jesus Christ himself walked. 1 John 2:6 says, "whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." What would it take for you to have your best year yet in your walk with Christ? DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the HARVEST CLOSER site

Worship means to ascribe value to something or someone. All throughout the Bible, worship happens through an act of sacrifice leading David to say, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." What would it look like if you increased your worship through sacrifice? Would you be willing to give up something you love for someone you love more? DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the Harvest CLOSER site

Worship means to ascribe value to something or someone. All throughout the Bible, worship happens through an act of sacrifice leading David to say, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." What would it look like if you increased your worship through sacrifice? Would you be willing to give up something you love for someone you love more? DOWNLOAD THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Visit the Harvest CLOSER site

This season on the Uncommon Leadership Podcast we want to answer the questions you get asked in your group! Which of the following should we answer? Head over to www.facebook.com/verticalsmallgroups to answer in the comments or add your own. 1. I've tried so hard, why can't I change? 2. Should I attend my family member's LGBTQ wedding? 3. What happens to the person who never even has a chance to hear the name of Jesus? 4. What do I do when someone in the church is upset with me? 5. Why do we keep some of the stuff from the Old Testament, but not all of it?

This is the final episode of our first season of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast! Thanks to everyone who made it happen, and an especially warm thanks to you, our faithful listeners. In this episode we're talking about summer plans. How can you use the summer season to continue discipleship, but at a slower pace that allows you to get the rest and refreshment you need as a leader? Pastor Brit Gilman joins Jeff and Brian to discuss how to do summer right as a small group leader!

In this episode, pastor Dave Learned joins us again to discuss how to lead difficult people. Discipleship is hard work, and you may find that some people are not as easy to love as others. But as we strip away our pride and self-righteousness, we begin to see that we too are nothing and deserve nothing before the Lord, and it's then that we begin to see others as Christ sees them.

Ever have someone tell you why they are upset, but you get the sense that the problem is something that goes a little deeper? The Fruit to Root diagram helps you connect words and actions to common root heart motives mentioned throughout scripture. By identifying underlying sin problems at the heart level, you will be able to not only pinpoint the cause of many problems small group members face, but also point them to the right scripture to lead them to hope. In this video, we give you a brief overview of what the Fruit to Root tool is, and how to use it! Download the Fruit to Root tool for free at: http://verticalsmallgroups.com/fruittoroot/

In this special bonus episode, Brian and Pastor Dave Learned have a discussion about the Fruit to Root tool. This valuable tool helps small group leaders evaluate a member's discipleship needs by identifying the root motives for the things they say and do. After observing behavior and identifying thought patterns, leaders can use the tool to gain insight on what sin patterns or attitudes are affecting the heart. You can check out the Fruit to Root tool yourself at: http://verticalsmallgroups.com/fruittoroot/ 

In this episode we brought back Pastor Dave Learned to talk to us about how to care for our small group members when a crisis hits. Pastor Dave leads us through a great discussion about why it's so important to get the focus off ourselves as the leader and back onto the Lord when helping someone through a crisis. Brian and Jeff give practical tips on how to step back and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and use the resources available to you when giving help to others.