Leading Small Groups That Thrive: Five Shifts to Take Your Group to the Next Level

Nearly every church is trying to help their congregants build relationships with others, grow as disciples, and/or engage in meaningful service through small groups. Many have argued that these small groups are the preferred vehicle for relationship building, disciple making, and membership assimilation in the local church, especially in large, multisite churches.

Leading Small Groups That Thrive shows small group leaders, step by step, how to plan for, launch, build, sustain, and multiply highly effective, transformational, healthy small group experiences where people grow spiritually together. Based on a large-scale research study of small group pastors, leaders, and members, Leading Small Groups That Thrive gives church leaders both what they want--practical, straightforward, actual small group member voices and experiences, and compelling guidance on how to build transformational groups complemented with real-life examples and data of successful small groups--and what they need--substantial, challenging insights and a data-driven model grounded in the latest research on church small groups.

Dr. Ryan T. Hartwig is Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Communication at Colorado Christian University, where he teaches group, organizational, and leadership communication courses. His research centers on teamwork, group facilitation, and collaboration, particularly in the church. His first book Teams That Thrive (InterVarsity Press, 2015) was named Outreach Magazine's Leadership Resource of the Year and won the 2015 Readers' Choice Award from InterVarsity Press. Ryan hosts a blog at www.ryanhartwig.com, and can be found on Twitter at @rthartwig.

Dr. Courtney W. Davis is Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Azusa Pacific University, where she teaches organizational, small group, and professional communication. Her primary area of research involves communication in organizations with a focus on organizational entries of newcomers, member exits, organizational knowledge, and identity. She earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara and has consulted with and coached church and parachurch organizations, non-profit organizations, and professional associations.

Jason A. Sniff is pastor of small groups at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, IL, and a licensed professional counselor with over 15 years of working and developing group life within the private and public sectors. Jason currently serves as the Illinois Director for the Small Group Network (Saddleback). He earned his M.A. In Educational Psychology (emphasis in Community Counseling) from Baylor University in Waco, TX.