June 30, 2026
Think Discipleship
A reflection on Real Life Ministries, small groups, and how intentional leaders, relational environments, and reproducible processes can move people from spectators to mature disciple-makers.
Articles for tag: small groups
May 16, 2011
Adult Education and the Challenge to Make Disciples
Tom May explores how churches can improve adult education through stronger priorities, planning, marketing, relevance, quality, and innovation in order to teach toward genuine discipleship.
April 18, 2011
Making Disciples?
Kent E. Fillinger reports survey findings showing how small group Bible studies, Sunday school classes, and combined discipleship models relate to church growth and baptism ratios.
March 6, 2011
Smaller Churches Need Small Groups Too!
Eric Bingaman explains how small groups can help smaller churches move beyond Sunday morning familiarity into deeper biblical community, prayer, encouragement, and shared life.
January 24, 2011
Why Churches Should Euthanize Small Groups
Brian Jones challenges church leaders to rethink small groups, arguing that discipleship grows through Spirit-led community and formed disciples—not merely organized meetings and discussion guides.
January 14, 2011
Challenge: Spend Less than $2 per Day for Food
Community Christian Church in Naperville challenged attendees to spend less than $2 a day on food to build awareness and compassion for people living in poverty.
November 5, 2010
Smaller Groups, More Disciples
Michael Mack explains why small group leaders burn out when they try to disciple too many people and points to Jesus’ focused investment in three disciples as a healthier model.
November 5, 2010
Marks of a Successful Discipler
Rick Lowry offers a concise checklist for small group leaders, emphasizing personal spiritual growth, prayerful care for members, intentional discipleship, and purposeful meeting planning.
November 3, 2010
Small Groups . . . Foundation for a Healthy Church
Dick Alexander explains why small groups are essential to biblical church life, offering the community, pastoral care, accountability, and “one another” relationships large worship gatherings cannot provide.
September 20, 2010
Interview with Jay Akin
Jay Akin describes how Elberton Christian Church embraced slow, intentional change, small groups, and community service to connect people to Jesus and one another in rural Georgia.
February 28, 2010
Leadership Coaching in the Local Church (Developing Leaders of Leaders)
Janet McMahon reflects on how volunteer coaching, shared responsibility, and intentional leadership structures can release leaders and help local churches care for people more effectively.
October 14, 2009
No Laughing Matter
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Jay Leno’s disciplined preparation and asks what might change if Christian servants brought similar passion to teaching, preaching, evangelism, and discipleship.
May 20, 2009
Interview with Tony Jeary
Tony Jeary explains how Christians can communicate more effectively through preparation, audience awareness, teamwork, and confidence in everyday presentations.
More Than One Way to Use a Magazine
Mark A. Taylor shares how churches can use CHRISTIAN STANDARD with leaders, elders, and small groups, then previews the upcoming annual megachurch issue.
February 22, 2009
Spiritual Growth at Manchester Christian Church
Josh Peigh describes how intentional discipleship at Manchester Christian Church helps people pursue spiritual growth through worship, small groups, planning, mentoring, and recovery support.
January 4, 2009
Small Groups that Give and Live Graciously
Brian Mavis shares how LifeBridge Christian Church gave small groups half their tithes to invest in ministry, helping members serve needs, grow in generosity, and strengthen community.
December 7, 2008
Stop Baptizing!
Dave Ferguson challenges church leaders to stop doing all the baptizing and let disciples, family members, and spiritual mentors share in the joy and responsibility of baptism.
August 31, 2008
Everyone Connected: Relational Strategies to Get Your Whole Church Involved
Michael C. Mack offers seven relational strategies for helping people connect in small groups, urging church leaders to equip God’s people and restore a New Testament understanding of church.
July 20, 2008
More Than the ABC’s
Mountain Christian Church keeps disciple making at the center of its mission, measuring growth by spiritual transformation rather than attendance alone.
July 20, 2008
Intentional Events
Southland Christian Church’s discipleship approach emphasizes fewer events, deeper relationships, home-based formation, and small groups shaped by shared life, spiritual growth, and service.
