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The Shock Absorber
Trailer
Bonus
Episode 47
Season 8
The power and purpose of small groups
MINI-SERIES: The Strategy of Community Groups
Joel, Tim, and Joey take a deep dive into the strategy of community groups, exploring how different churches structure them and why they are a vital part of discipleship. They begin with a cultural artefact from Freya India’s appearance on Modern Wisdom, discussing Gen Z’s shifting views on faith, the gender divide in religious engagement, and the loneliness crisis—especially among men. With more people searching for meaning and connection, they consider how the church can offer genuine community and firm foundations through small groups.
From there, they examine various approaches to small groups, including Saddleback Church’s 5Cs model from the church growth movement and Soul Revival’s intergenerational approach. Does going smaller always mean going deeper? How do different age groups enrich or challenge group dynamics? They explore the value of moderate intergenerationality, where both mixed-age and demographic-specific groups play a role in spiritual growth.
Finally, they unpack the process of planting and leading community groups, emphasising that leadership carries weighty responsibilities in teaching, pastoral care, and discipleship. What makes a good community group leader? How do character, conviction, and competency shape leadership? By fostering strong, intentional communities, small groups become more than just midweek meetings—they become vital spaces for people to grow in faith and serve together as the body of Christ.
00:00 Intro and discussion of the Beilharz name
02:03 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Freya India on the Modern Wisdom podcast
24:14: Different churches have different strategies with small groups
35:59 Making small groups intergenerational
51:38 A process of group leadership
DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Why Modern Women Feel More Lost Than Ever - Freya India
GIRLS (Freya India Substack)
The Atlantic's Editor Jeffrey Goldberg on How He Was Texted Secret War Plans on Signal
The Need for Adults, by Freya India
CONTACT US
Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop
Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here
Joel, Tim, and Joey take a deep dive into the strategy of community groups, exploring how different churches structure them and why they are a vital part of discipleship. They begin with a cultural artefact from Freya India’s appearance on Modern Wisdom, discussing Gen Z’s shifting views on faith, the gender divide in religious engagement, and the loneliness crisis—especially among men. With more people searching for meaning and connection, they consider how the church can offer genuine community and firm foundations through small groups.
From there, they examine various approaches to small groups, including Saddleback Church’s 5Cs model from the church growth movement and Soul Revival’s intergenerational approach. Does going smaller always mean going deeper? How do different age groups enrich or challenge group dynamics? They explore the value of moderate intergenerationality, where both mixed-age and demographic-specific groups play a role in spiritual growth.
Finally, they unpack the process of planting and leading community groups, emphasising that leadership carries weighty responsibilities in teaching, pastoral care, and discipleship. What makes a good community group leader? How do character, conviction, and competency shape leadership? By fostering strong, intentional communities, small groups become more than just midweek meetings—they become vital spaces for people to grow in faith and serve together as the body of Christ.
00:00 Intro and discussion of the Beilharz name
02:03 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Freya India on the Modern Wisdom podcast
24:14: Different churches have different strategies with small groups
35:59 Making small groups intergenerational
51:38 A process of group leadership
DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Why Modern Women Feel More Lost Than Ever - Freya India
GIRLS (Freya India Substack)
The Atlantic's Editor Jeffrey Goldberg on How He Was Texted Secret War Plans on Signal
The Need for Adults, by Freya India
CONTACT US
Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop
Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here