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Small group leaders, pastors, and more discussing strategies for growth and community in church groups. The Small Group Network is an international ministry that equips churches to engage in deeper discipleship and community.
James Browning: Hello, and
welcome to F G squared.
Steve Gladen the global pastor of small
groups from Saddleback church polls
from his over 25 years of experience.
To encourage and equip listeners like
you to lead small group ministry.
So let's listen and learn together.
Derek Olson: Well, welcome to
another episode of SG squared,
Steve Gladen on small groups.
Derek here is always with
the main man, Steve Gladen.
And Steve, we've got a very special
guest in this episode, uh, a dear
friend of you and I and the network.
So why don't you tell our
audience who this East coaster is?
Steve Gladen: Yeah.
Well, first off, let me set up the
show so you guys can understand what
is happening because, uh, what we've
been doing is a three part series on,
uh, kind of like bringing some spice
into your small groups and you've,
you've been listening to these, uh,
episodes, you'll, you'll understand
where I'm going with this because a
lot of times in a dating relationship,
Or even in a marriage, if your, uh,
date nights are the same all the time.
If you go to a, uh, go out to dinner, go
to a movie and then go home and that's it.
It can become very stale.
And many times in your small
group, uh, things can become stale.
If all you're going to do is come
together, have some fellowship, do a
Bible study, do some prayer and go home.
That's the way it's
going to be every week.
And part of what we want to do is we're.
in this three part episode, we're kind
of bringing you three different shows
that are kind of bringing things like
spice into the kitchen so that your
flavors can pop just a little bit more.
And we've done a show on serving and how
your group can be mobilized to serve.
Uh, we did 10 practical ways.
We talked about 10 ways that you can
bring worship into your small group.
Actually had some bonus
pieces on that too.
And in this particular show, we're going
to be talking about how you can bring
evangelism and mission into the forefront.
Now, just a little setup here.
One is that all, all of the things
we're going to be talking about
are going to be in your show notes.
So excited about that.
Plus some information on our guests.
And then the other thing
too, is to understand that.
This is, these are not things
you're trying to shoehorn into
your typical group evening, but
these are things that you say, Hey,
let's relax our group a little bit.
We may not do our typical Bible study
what we have, but we're going to
emphasize purely on, uh, on in this
case about evangelism or mission.
So with that, we have
a great guest with us.
Kirsten tells her, Oh, that, uh, is over.
She's the groups person over
at national community church.
And we're just excited
to have her on the show.
Uh, Kirsten and I have known each other
too long and, uh, And, uh, it's, it's
been a fun time to get to know her,
but what I've loved about her is their
evangelistic heart and that she bleeds
for the people that are outside the walls.
Yeah.
Kirsten has a D men, uh, in holistic
discipleship and also is coming out
with her first book and Kirsten.
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
Derek and I are Thrilled
to have you on the show.
A great SGN friend from, uh, many
decades, uh, say hello to the folks.
And if you can tell us a little bit about
the book that is coming out and maybe
anything I said wrong that I need to,
Kiersten Telzerow: well, hey,
it's so good to be with you guys.
Um, I always love, love,
love our conversations.
I love the small group network.
I love all things, small groups.
And as you said, I love all
things, mission and discipleship.
So, um, I do have a new
book that is coming out.
It's called rise.
Your gift will make room.
Um, and I'm just so excited.
It really was like.
I don't know.
It was a prompting from the Lord that
sat on my phone for way too long.
And much of the story is about my story
in being, um, quick to be obedient to
the Lord's promptings and how, when we
are obedient and we show up as our full
selves in the way that he created us,
that's when our gifts make room for us.
So, um, that's been exciting.
Of course, my doctrine in ministry, um,
has been an exciting process as well.
Um, so, You know what?
It's really my heart, um,
with the holistic discipleship
and mission and group.
So I'm excited for today's conversation.
Steve Gladen: yeah, kind of
all, all dovetails together.
Uh, Kirsten, if, uh, people were going
to get your book, how would they get it?
I know it's coming out.
It's a still a little bit more
in the future, but when it
does come out, how can people.
Kiersten Telzerow: Yes, it
will be on all platforms.
Um, obviously my go to is Amazon.
Um, so that will be just a quick
option for you to be able to order.
Steve Gladen: Great.
One more time on the title rise.
Kiersten Telzerow: will make
Steve Gladen: what's the subtitle.
All right.
Hey, for those of you will have all the
information in the show notes so that
you'll be able to snag that book as soon
as it comes out and go ahead and you
can get that preordered with everything.
And one of the things that we want to do
is as we're talking about evangelism and
mission, it can be kind of a scary thing.
And I'm going to set
up a little bit of it.
And Kirsten's going to be able to,
uh, kind of round it out before
we get into the, the 10 things.
Cause I think it's really
important to understand that.
Uh, when you look at so much of what
Jesus said in the great commission and
the great commandment, that evangelism is
one of the things that you can only do on
this planet on the other side of heaven,
you'll do lots of other things, but the
only thing you can't do on the other side
of heaven is to be able to evangelize.
And so it's something that
we've got to get dialed in
while we're here on this planet.
And one of the things that we've noticed
from people who have taken the health
assessment that we have at Saddleback
for the very first time and what we've
done all through our conferences is
we've noticed that it's been in that
high 80 percent of people would self
rate themselves very, very low in the
area of And for something that's so
pertinent to our lives and each one
of us who are followers of Jesus that
have, have been renewed and just, you
know, the scales have fallen off our
eyes and we're a follower of Christ.
Something that's so very special
seems to be so hard for us
to share with other people.
And so in this show, as we set up some
things that are personal, some things that
are local, some things that are global,
some That you and your small group can do.
I want you to understand a couple of key
verses that I just want to have one here.
And one of them is in first Corinthians
three, six, and seven, and it's where
Paul's talking and it says, you know,
uh, being able to say that some plant.
Some water, but it's the
Lord that brings the harvest.
So, so often in, when we think
of evangelism and going on a
mission strip, we think about
helping people cross the line.
And part of what we want to be able
to do is help you understand that for
some it's to plant some it's to water
and some it's to bring the harvest.
And so keep that in mind, but also
Paul's, uh, words in acts 20, 24, it says,
however, I consider my life worth nothing
to me, but only aim is my only aim is
to finish the race that in complete the
task that the Lord Jesus has given me.
And that task of testifying to
the good news of God's grace.
And so as we talk about this,
and as we're going to be talking
about so many different things
about Personal, local and global.
Kirsten, I know that, uh, in the show
notes, you, you have put some, some
things that I thought were great for
them to understand and to think about
before we get into these 10 things.
Can you kind of share that?
And then Derek will, uh, tee
us off and get us going in this
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah.
So there are some things listed that
are really just like a framework, if
you will, um, of some things that are
helpful to keep in mind throughout, um,
as we're growing together in this area.
And the first is like, don't
overcomplicate it first and foremost.
I mean, cause sometimes our minds
can go towards like, oh, well, we'll
just plan a one week overseas trip.
We'll put it all on the calendar.
A group of 15 people will be able to go.
Like.
I mean, the likelihood of that
happening is probably not realistic.
So we don't want to over complicate it.
Um, at the same time, we want to
keep it just simple and consistent.
I mean, one of the most beautiful
things that I've seen in missional
discipleship is like, it's about.
Continuing to show up.
Um, we say that those who experienced
the greatest transformation in community
is most often within a small group.
So why would we also not believe
the same to be true of mission?
And it's really a little bit like, I
like to think it's like flexing a muscle.
The more you do it, and the more that
you are bent towards it, because it
really is the heart of our DNA as
disciples and followers of Christ.
So, um, we want to be consistent.
The third thing is we want to pray
about and strategize about it.
Like, what's an area that's a great
need that we know already either in
the church or in our neighborhoods
or things like that, that we're
just aware of, or that we're hearing
and we can put in our backpacks.
Pocket for a future time.
Um, and, and we're able to actually put it
to paper and strategize around it so that
we can all commit to something together.
Um, and then the last thing is find out
what people are passionate about, like
leverage the strengths and the gifts
that already exist within your group.
And the most important thing is to do
it together, model it together, live
it out, express the gospel through our
entire lifestyle, um, our everyday living.
We.
Often at national communities, church
will say that like, it's partnering
with God and what he's already at
work and what he's already doing.
So just a
couple of things that will help kind
of frame that we can consistently do,
we can simplify, um, to help us better
practice what it looks like to live on.
Derek Olson: Well, I'm super
excited about this series.
We've been in on ways to add spice
to your small group ministry.
We've in previous episodes, talked
about ways groups can serve.
Um, the last episode was ways
groups can worship together.
And, uh, we're ending it with 10
ways your groups can evangelize.
And I really believe like Steve, if
groups do this, man, you're going to take
your groups to the next level of health.
Vitality and growth.
and
so, uh, Kirsten, we're
so excited you're here.
Let's jump into this.
Um,
10 practical ways.
Um, you've got number one, a prayer walk.
Uh, tell us about this prayer walk.
Kiersten Telzerow: Yes, I
think that this is just huge.
It's why I made it number one.
I think that sometimes we can, um,
just kind of minimalize prayer walking
because it's like, well, that doesn't
look like evangelizing or that, but
the encounters that happen on prayer
walks, it blows my mind every time.
Every time, like those divine
conversations, divine appointments.
So, and we've been challenging at
national community church, our entire
church to actually go on prayer walks in
each of our neighborhoods, collectively
with other people and within our
small groups, um, to really like, how
do you engage for 40 days or 21 days
or whatever that might look like?
Like in your neighborhoods, at your
workplace, because there's so much about
prayer walking that is living on mission.
And you're asking the Lord to, um,
that you would encounter people
that maybe need an encouraging word.
Or you could say something
like, Hey, I was.
Prayer walking today.
Is there anything I can
be praying for you about?
It really invites this boldness into
our small group context to say we're
in this together, but we're also
going to be further rooted in where
we live and where God has planted us.
And then it really just is a challenge.
Like we want to commit to be
interceding and praying for the people
within our spheres of influence.
Steve Gladen: Yeah, I
mean, Kirsten, I love this.
I've done this in my neighborhood
and, uh, one of the things that
just came out to me is that God has
brought so many divine encounters
through that people that I didn't
think I'd bump into things like that.
Sometimes it's a solo trip and it's
a great opportunity to pray for
your your area that you live in
and the houses as you go by him.
But also times, especially during
the summer and the, and the good
weather months, you'll, you'll be
bumping into people and a great
opportunity for you to see them.
So, uh, I love it.
And even if you can, I love your challenge
to people, do it 21 days or 40 days.
Uh, just get out there
and, uh, try to do that.
So, so beautiful.
Uh, the second thing you have
right here is the, to, um, see
if your group can adopt a cause.
Uh, can you talk to, you know, our
small group point people or maybe
a small group leader as they're
trying to figure this one out?
What does that mean?
Kiersten Telzerow: Every small group point
person knows there are so many needs in a
community, and it can actually be really
hard to figure out what do we do here?
And what do we do over here?
And how do we meet all of these needs?
And so I like to put it as we are
adopting a cause, and it might be.
people rallying around something
specifically, such as providing respite
care to families who are fostering.
Or, um, we have several of our
groups that are really passionate
about Operation Christmas Child.
All of those are rallying around
specific causes, if you will, where
we say, this is a need and this is
something that we can actually meet this
need and do it together in community.
And we want to show support in
our community and we want to
continually show up for our community.
So we're going to start with the
needs that are in our backyard.
Derek Olson: I love that.
Adopt a cause.
So cool.
So number three, you've got
one that sounds really great
to me and that is food.
Well,
does that mean we get to eat
as part of this, uh, step?
Steve Gladen: I think I'll be evangelizing
in just a little bit after this show.
Kiersten Telzerow: Yes.
Uh, food is a central
part of evangelizing.
I mean, we always say that even
in the context of alpha, you
can't have alpha without a meal.
Um, but I
think that there's so many beautiful
things that happen around the table.
Um, and there are so many things
that are already happening around
tables within our communities.
It just is finding where those
tables are already meeting.
So, and we actually have a small
group of people that will make
lunches for our homeless friends.
And so, like, if that doesn't
exist already where you're at,
like, make that a small group.
Or I'm at our DC dream center.
We have something called
the reconciliation lunch.
We have a prayer breakfast, um,
where we're actually going together
and listening to people's stories
as a way of partnering with Jesus
doing what he did, wherever we go.
Um, I've done this previously at
nursing homes as well, but there's
such power in listening to stories.
As a form of evangelization, because
it really roots relationships.
It expands relationships.
And to have that over food, where it's
something that you already know you
need, your body needs to eat several
times a day, why not do that together?
And why not do that with
the posture of listening?
I think is a huge part of that.
Steve Gladen: Yeah.
I think another thing, a little twist on
this too, is, um, We were going to save
this a little bit later in the show, but
it kind of kind of fits right here Is you
know a lot of times when you're going to
do mission Projects where you win a lot
of times if you live in a metropolitan
city and you have a lot of ethnicities
around you The food is a great opportunity
to get some to know some mom and pop
people that are very far from christ And
by going to their their place and uh,
I know I was with a a couple that Um,
they're really passionate into Persian
food, and so they've gotten to know the
couple of this restaurant in that way.
So using food is a reason if
you're take your small group out
and adopt, you know, a food group.
That is attached to a people group and
especially, uh, local in your area.
So, uh, just love that.
All right.
Number four, number four,
evangelize your own neighborhood.
Uh, this, uh, this is one of my
sweet tooth that I love to do, but
Kirsten, this is your, your point.
And, uh, tell us a
Kiersten Telzerow: yeah, no, this is a
little bit different than prayer walks
and this can be done together as a
small group and maybe even a little bit
individually as well, um, in various
neighborhoods, but, um, we are so blessed
in my husband and I small group that we
actually have more than half of our small
group all lives in the same community.
And I know that that
doesn't happen every day.
You know, everywhere all the time.
Um, but several of our group
members do live in the area.
And so we, we were able to identify
a gap that actually exists in
our community that there isn't a
chaplain at our police precinct.
And one day an incident had
happened in the neighborhood.
And I just said like,
Hey, I'm, I'm a pastor.
I live over here.
If you need anything,
please let, let me know.
But then there's several of us that we
were able to actually rally around and
say like, Hey, We are really available.
There's, there's many of us that are
a part of this church community, and
we'd love to invite you to church
if you ever would are looking for a
church home or something like that.
Like, there's so much and it
doesn't have to be that exactly.
And it doesn't have to be,
um, you know, that you all
live in the same neighborhood.
But I can guarantee you, your neighborhood
has a need and it's trying to figure out
what that gap may be in your neighborhood.
And what are the gifts or the skillsets
that the Lord has given your group
members, your group leaders, um, right
where he's placed them, that they could
be an answer to prayer for somebody.
Steve Gladen: Yeah.
And, you know, as I'm thinking about
it too, it's, it's, You know, it
may not just be your neighborhood.
It may be your work environment,
maybe your apartment complex, and
maybe your school that you attend.
Uh, the main thing is, is that
God is giving you a sphere of
influence in a, in an area.
don't know what that area is.
For many of us, it is our neighborhood,
but being able to get to know the people
that are in your neighborhood to, I'm
a little bit more of a strategist.
So I'm going to map my neighborhood
physically and I'll know how many
homes I'll know who's in them and
their, their spiritual temperature.
That's not for everybody.
But the point is, is that God's
giving you that influence.
So, um, literally love being
able to figure out what that is.
And taking it.
And even for some, uh, I know
some people in our church that are
into club leagues with their kids.
And that is a whole subculture all by
itself that, uh, they're evangelizing.
So it's like a neighborhood,
uh, on wheels, uh,
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah.
And to your point, Steve, like
the relational mapping piece is so
helpful and so important because
then you're able to remember names
and names have stories tied to them.
And so then it just becomes less
about, Oh, my neighbor three doors down.
And it's like, Oh no,
Susie who lives there.
She just encountered X, Y, and Z.
I'm going to commit to pray for her.
She's going through a really hard time.
Steve Gladen: Yep.
Derek Olson: Love it.
So many places to evangelize in our
spheres of influence that could even
include Steve, like your surfing group or
your cheese connoisseur group, you know?
Steve Gladen: cheese.
It's been a long time.
It's been on a board and
Derek Olson: Uh, all right.
Going to number five.
It says never underestimate
the small hidden things.
Unpack that for us, Kirsten.
Kiersten Telzerow: Yes.
So, um, our small group happens
to be made up of a lot of bakers.
I mean, I know it's unusual,
but we have a lot of bakers.
And so one day it just got me
thinking about like, oh, there's
really some power in cookies.
I mean, I know I'm tying it back
to the food piece, but like people
genuinely feel so, um, thought of
and cherished when you just bake.
A dozen cookies for them
or bake bread or whatever.
And I think for so many
years, I just dismissed it.
Cause I was like, Oh, cookies.
Great.
Like, that's so wonderful, but I
don't really think I thought the
impact that it could have on someone.
And so we always say, never underestimate
the To make the small things that maybe
they won't be, you know, uh, great
opportunities that are written on a board
with a time and a date attached to them.
But rather there'll be those small
promptings from the Holy Spirit that say,
Hey, go and buy that book for that woman.
Um, because that book impacted you.
And I know that that book's gonna
impact.
You don't know the season that
she's in, but the Lord prompted you.
And so in those moments, it, when you were
talking about spheres of influence, when
we're talking about our neighborhoods,
like those small things often open
the doors for ongoing conversation
and the ongoing conversation piece,
I think is just what is, is vital.
It's vital to invitation.
It's vital to friendships.
It's vital to everything.
Um, and so recently I actually had
someone that I was praying for.
And, um, she came up to me
and I had like dropped off.
It's a crazy story, but basically we were
having kitchen work done over Easter.
And so I couldn't even cook Easter dinner.
And I
just felt that the Lord prompted me to,
to, um, Bring this woman, uh, croissants.
Cause oftentimes we, we have a lot
of, um, elderly in our neighborhood.
And I, if I know that family doesn't
come visit, like I always try to make
them a plate or things like that.
So anyways, um, this one woman
I was praying for and I felt
prompted that the Lord was like,
we'll go and bring her something.
I'm like, cool.
I don't have a stove.
I don't have a, like, I
don't have a microwave.
I have got nothing.
And, um, I found some croissants
at the store and I was like, well,
it wouldn't be my go to pick.
But the Lord can do a lot with croissants.
Right.
And, um,
I delivered them to her on
Easter and just said, you know,
just wanted to bless you today.
And I included, sorry, it was a few
days before Easter and I included an
invite card to national community church
and she was floored a couple of days
later, um, she said, I just needed
you to know the difference that you
made by dropping off those croissants.
I think if it's possible, I'd like
to go to church with you one day.
And I was just so amazed that I
was like, over croissant, if that's
all it takes, over croissants.
And it's those small hidden things
that the Holy Spirit moves so
powerfully in because it could be
the right gift at the right time.
And we may never know, or we
may hear about it later on.
Steve Gladen: you know, uh, wait, you're
talking about the small little things.
There's a book that is out
after the boxes are unpacked.
And, um, I know that's one
that Lisa would give out to new
neighbors, uh, who are moving in.
And it was, again, it was a small
thing, but it's led to a lot of
deeper conversations that, uh,
would help people, you know, as
they're settling into a new home.
So great job.
All right.
Number six, neighborhood block party.
So we got food, we got croissants,
we've got a block party happening now.
So talk to us
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah, this one
could be more food, could be barbecue,
or it could just be fun games.
I mean, I've seen some people actually
go all out where like they're able to
block off the street and they are able
to have all the kids, you know, kind of
play all throughout the neighborhoods.
They bring in a big blow up pool.
You could go all out like that,
or it could just be some great
cornhole, like a really good game.
A cornhole will last a long time.
And really what it is is like
a lot of people will, um, first
come to a small group before
they will set foot in a church.
And so if you are having gatherings
with your small group people, then
why not invite it, open it up and
invite it to other people that.
Are in your sphere of influence.
So it could be coworkers.
It could be
neighbors.
It could be you.
You always are in conversation
with the same person at the
grocery store, whoever it might be.
If you're having a party,
the more the merrier.
Um, and I, I love how John one says
Jesus moved into the neighborhood.
And so if we already believe that Jesus
dwells in each of our neighborhoods,
then like, that's even more of a
reason to have a party over at your
home and just have people, um, Really
be able to experience the love, the
peace, the joy of Christ followers.
Derek Olson: So good.
All right.
Number seven, write out your testimony.
It looks like you got a couple of
different versions to tell us about.
So, uh, what's this mean?
Write out your testimony.
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah, this one is
actually, I think a more challenging
one because it can be really hard.
You're like, Oh, where do I start?
And do I share my entire backstory?
My whole life story?
How do I condense it?
Do I need to write it out?
Do I need to memorize it?
It can, especially for an introvert,
it can be a little bit overwhelming.
But basically the heart behind this
is we want to get better at practice.
sharing our testimony, sha doing so
that it doesn't whether in small group
or theaters, that we are rea word.
Um, and so we actua at National Community
Chu training for all of our l your story
in conversatio through short snippets
of If you had 30 seconds, how would
you share what God's done in your life?
Or if you had an entire
conversation over coffee.
Um, and one of the things that stuck
out to me the most was we had this
visiting pastor and they said, you can
always start with something simple.
Like I used to have a hard time
with fill in the blank, but now
I can actually see how God has
been reshaping and restoring me.
Has something like that
ever happened to you?
Just like that.
It invites questions and an ongoing
conversation, and it doesn't just say,
here's my story, and then they don't know
what to say back, but it actually begs,
um, uh, ongoing conversation for you.
for them to participate.
It doesn't leave them hanging.
It says, Oh, I'm in, I'm engaged
here in this conversation.
And I'd love to hear if this resonates
with you or if you can, um, if you are
able to really like, does this fit,
does this sound like something that
you've experienced as your life story?
And if not, then you can
continue the conversation.
If yes, then you have a double testimony.
Steve Gladen: You know, one of the
things I love about this, Kirsten,
is that so often, um, when people
have an opportunity put before them
because they haven't practiced it
and they, they feel like they, they
shy away from it or they don't do it.
And, uh, part of what you can use in
your small group is if you practice a.
One minute, one minute is a lot longer
than people realize or a three minute
or a 10 minute, but just being able to
practice in your small group because
hopefully when you're talking with someone
who doesn't, who isn't a follower of
Jesus, hopefully the first time you're,
you're, you're being able to share is,
is not your first time that you've been
able to practice a couple of times.
Like, Hey, what, what
flowed, what didn't flow.
And it's not that you
have to be super perfect.
But a lot of times if you haven't
practiced, then you're scared,
you're scared to share it.
And so it's a great opportunity.
So anything before I jump us onto
the next one that we may have missed
Kiersten Telzerow: No, that's great.
Steve Gladen: All right.
Number eight, identify your one life.
Let's a little bit more of a saddleback
language, but I love where you're going.
It's, you know, identify someone
who isn't a follower of Christ.
Um, tell me how that can happen
and what your thoughts are
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah.
I mean, we all know someone, um,
that isn't a follower of Christ
and maybe it's a family member.
Maybe it's a friend.
Um, but that can carry that
can really, like, you know, We
carry a lot of weight with that,
especially if there's someone close.
Um, and so I think that one of the
beautiful things about that is it's a
continual reminder to always seek the
one that it's not about necessarily the
masses or about people that we don't know.
It's about people that we're already
connected to that the Lord has rightly
positioned us through relationship
to be an influence in their lives.
And, and we know that it doesn't
all rest on our shoulders.
But we have a responsibility.
And I think that part of that
responsibility is to regularly
intercede for them by name.
And so often we'll encourage our small
groups to say, well, who are the three
people that don't know Christ that you
are actively praying for right now?
Because intercession can
be a form of evangelism.
It might be behind closed doors.
It might be just a small group of
people, but the, the, the prayers
of the righteous are powerful.
We know that.
And so how do we activate that?
How do we believe that for every
single person in our lives?
I once heard a pastor, um,
in the last several months.
And he asked this question
that just blew my mind.
And he said.
If you truly believed, um, that prayer was
so powerful, why are you not praying for
every single person to come to know Christ
by the time the sun goes down today?
And I was so blown away by that because
sure, I may not know everybody, but wow,
the responsibility of prayer to be able to
be praying for the people I do know that
don't know Christ and the people that I
don't know for them to all know the, the
relationship and the love and the life
giving, um, from crisis is tremendous.
Um, and it's a tremendous
opportunity for us to steward
through the form of evangelism.
Yeah,
Steve Gladen: and I challenge people
in small groups to always know We
all know one but until you vocalize
it Uh, it doesn't resonate in
your heart and in your confidence.
So it's just good to vocalize
those people And make sure
everyone in the group knows that
Derek Olson: So well said, Kristen.
Well, number nine, I think some people
might get really excited about this.
It says, have a party.
What kind of party are you talking about?
Kiersten Telzerow: I mean, we,
we have a lot of fun parties
in our small groups all over.
I mean, it could be a volleyball party.
It could be, like I said, the, the
neighborhood block party before, but
really just a, a true celebration.
We've done a lot of.
birthday parties with our small groups.
Like let's celebrate the life of an
individual and all that the Lord is doing
in their life and through their life.
But then again, it's another way
to extend the invite to people.
Um, and this is a part of investing in
the people's lives who are around us.
And it also is an opportunity
to bear witness to Christ.
So.
You're allowing people to really just
see your lifestyle and to see how you
live and to see how you're, you're
living a life of celebration and of joy.
And, um, sometimes I think that we.
We do that maybe just with a few people
or we do that just with the people
that we know are already Christians.
But what does it look like to, um, go out
of our way to celebrate things in people's
lives that maybe they don't even expect
that we're going to celebrate with them?
Steve Gladen: I love that.
Love that.
Yeah, parties are a way of disarming so
many people and it's a great opportunity
for them to see believers as normal
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah.
Steve Gladen: because they always
think believers are what they
see on TV or something like that.
So it's great for them to see
them in a different light.
All right, let's bring us home on number
10, which is explore people different than
you and share a little bit about that.
And, uh, Uh, what that can mean for
each one of the small groups that are
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah,
so it's, it's so important.
I mean, we say in D.
C.
that we just have the privilege to be
able to engage in regular rhythms, um, all
over of people that are different than us.
I mean, I'm regularly hearing
languages that I don't know.
Um, and, um, And so to be able to engage,
to be able to have conversations, it
could be, um, learning ASL, American
Sign Language, so that you can have
a conversation with someone who may
be, um, hard of hearing or deaf.
Um, and so the, the important piece
with this, as I say to our group
leaders, um, engage everywhere.
Learn names and prayer requests from
the people around you, wherever you
go, go consistently to meet at the same
coffee shop for a reason so that you
know their name and you can thank them.
Sometimes you, um, go to the same
restaurant and then you might even
leave a nice tip just to say, Hey,
I just wanted to bless you today.
Is there something I could be praying for?
Um, I, I think the, the easy thing.
Is, and sometimes we, we all, um,
get just stuck in our rut or we are
so busy that it just slips our mind.
We all do this, but the easy thing
is to order our coffee and off we go.
Um, but to actually view every
single person as the image of God,
and we'll actually stop us in our
tracks to say, thank you so much.
What was your name?
Is there anything that I could
be praying for you about today?
And, and the more consistent that
we are, um, and the more that as
a part of our regular rhythms and
where we go, the easier it becomes.
Just like when I talked about at
the beginning, it's a muscle, you're
flexing that muscle, you're training
that muscle so that this becomes a
part of your DNA and a part of, um,
just, uh, an outpouring of what Christ
is doing in you and through you.
And.
Other people will certainly see
that they'll see your rhythms,
um, and they'll see your lifestyle
that's bearing witness to Christ.
Um, and so, yeah, those are the 10
things that I feel like are, are a
part of, um, my heart and some things
that I have, uh, practiced and how we
have grown in our small groups at NCC.
Steve Gladen: I know.
And I love what you're talking about
that because be curious about people.
I mean, so often you meet
people different than you.
their language may be different.
Their skin tone may be different.
Uh, their dress may be different.
And instead of, you know, uh,
keeping a distance, you know,
break down those barriers.
Uh, one of the phrases I love is
that proximity breeds empathy.
And the more you can get to, uh, the
proximity of getting to know people
that are different than you can
lead to so many different things.
And one of the things we've, we've
been talking a lot about, you know,
Uh, personal evangelism with that.
But when you go into local and global
evangelism in your small groups, just
remember the concept of home and away
teams, uh, as you get to know people
different than you, it may lead to doing
something locally in an area where they.
Where someone, an ethnic group may be
more concentrated, uh, than in your
neighborhood that you do a local outreach
to, or maybe even a global outreach to.
But what we like to think of in
small groups are home and away teens.
Not everybody, uh, that just
goes on the, the local trip or
the global trip is the hero.
Some of the people that stay behind
to pray and take care of things are
just as critical in the small group.
So whether you're a home or away
team, but, uh, it's just one of those
great things that When you're thinking
of personal, local, and global, the
whole small group can participate
in many, many different ways.
And so, uh, Kirsten love, love
what you brought to the table.
Anything before, uh, we kind of wrap
up and Derek closes the show that we
may have missed that you want to share
Kiersten Telzerow: no, just an
encouragement that don't be afraid to try.
Um, and, and
don't be afraid to share with your group
what you may already be doing because it
is very, um, evangelism is very relational
and it's very collaborative as well.
And so you may be already
doing something that.
Um, someone else in your group
is going to be like, Oh my
gosh, I could totally do that.
That's a great idea.
Or, or, um, as small group point
people, don't be afraid to share what
you personally are doing to model
for the rest of your group leaders.
Steve Gladen: No, love that.
Derek Olson: I Love
that.
Kirsten.
I love how you are living out the
evangelism piece, you know, so many
small group point people, me included
in the past, you can get so busy
doing all the administrative stuff
and organizing that you can kind
of live in the silo and you're not
doing the most important things.
And so.
When you're living it out as the
point person or small group pastor,
that's just that trickle down effect.
You know, it's become so
real for everybody in your
group and in your groups that man,
if Kirsten can do it, I can do it.
And so love these 10 keys you share.
I think it's really
gonna inspire everybody.
Tell everybody again, how they can
just even follow you on social media.
If they want to keep up
with what you're doing.
Kiersten Telzerow: Yeah, absolutely.
Um, I'm pretty active on Instagram.
Kirsten tells row, um, is where you'll
find my, my handle, but, uh, I will say I
have two large, beautiful golden doodles.
So you may get spammed with some
golden doodle stories a lot, but
you can keep up with me there.
It's either usually food,
golf, or golden doodles.
Derek Olson: Love it.
Well, Kirsten, thanks again
so much for your time.
And, um, we want to thank everybody
for listening or watching this episode.
As always, our hope, our prayer is that
this, uh, episode really encouraged
you as a small group point person
or pastor to lead better, healthier
groups and to take them to the
next level of health and vitality.
And if you enjoy this episode, share
it with somebody, share it with another
fellow small group point person, give
us a five star rating, let Steve and I
know in the comments, how handsome we
look and, um, until next time, have a
great week and a great month, everybody.
Thank you for listening.
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