Abundant Life Groups Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes
Abundant Life
Welcome to the Abundant Life Groups Leadership Podcast where we want to equip Group leaders to shepherd and lead their people well.
What happens when a pastor goes from leading from the front to being part of the group?In this episode, we hear a personal story of how groups have shaped Pastor Joe's faith, marriage, family, and walk with Jesus. He shares honestly about the importance of being known, supported, challenged, and encouraged by other believers- and why even pastors need people to do life with.This conversation is a reminder that community isn't just something we lead; its something we all need. Because people need people.
Pastor Joe and Derek are back! Pastor Joe introduces us to the newest Groups Ministry Team member, Jena Parker. We also continue to discuss the importance of community here at Abundant Life! Thankful you are here for the discussion.
We're excited for this month's discussion! Pastor Joe and Derek discuss the One Another's that we find all throughout scripture and how we can love our Groups well!
Welcome back friends! We are excited to kick off 2026 with an episode with Pastor Joe discussing the vision for the Groups Ministry in 2026 at Abundant Life! We are glad you are here and pray for a fruitful 2026 in this ministry!
Tis the season to be merry! In this episode, Pastor Joe and Derek are gifting you with something fun from the Groups staff. Enjoy hearing from the whole Groups Team as we reminisce about our favorite Christmas memories! Tune in!
Welcome back! This month Pastor Joe and Derek welcome our new Groups Ministry Leader, Abby Peek! Get to know Abby and her story - we are excited for her to be a part of the team!
Today Pastor Joe and Derek are joined by our Connections Director Natalia Ray! We are excited to discuss the impact and role that Connections plays at Abundant Life and how our Groups Ministry works hand in hand with what they are doing to see live changed by Jesus. Listen in for some key takeaways that we can use as leaders to help our group members get connected at Abundant Life!
Join us this episode as Pastor Joe and Derek lead us in a discussion around Cord Four of Biblical Community here at Abundant Life; Responding Biblically! This is an important topic and discussion as we build and continue to shepherd the flock. Tune in!
Exciting conversation this episode as Pastor Joe discusses the heart behind Cord 3 in our Groups Ministry - Sharing Openly! He shares thoughtful ideas on how we can be great leaders in our Groups and how to create environments that allow people the comfort and trust to open their heart in Group! Tune in!
Welcome back Leaders! The discussion this episode revolves around our second cord of Biblical community - Engaging Relationally. Pastor Joe continues to cast vision and we talk through the importance of these core values in Groups. Tune in with us!
Join Pastor Joe and Derek as they talk through what it means to belong intentionally in Groups and why that is so important here at Abundant Life!
Thanks for joining in with us! Pastor Joe is sharing updates to the vision and our core values in the Groups Ministry here at Abundant Life. There are some exciting updates and we are greatly anticipating all that God will continue to do in this ministry. Tune in to learn more!
Thanks for tuning in! On this episode, Pastor Joe discusses with Derek about the Groups Fair that we have on campus and how it is an impactful event for the ministry. Pastor Joe helps us understand how we as Group Leaders can prepare for and maximize the impact that the Groups Fair can bring.
Welcome in for this month's discussion! Pastor Joe and Derek sit down and discuss how to care for our groups in times of crisis with our Director of Counseling, Doug Geiger! Thanks for being a part of the Groups Toolbox Podcast!
Welcome Back! In this episode Derek and Joe welcome our Senior Care Pastor at Abundant Life, Pat Koontz! Our conversation surrounds Care Ministry, what it is, and how we as Group Leaders can lean into the impact this can have within our Groups and also in our church as a whole. Thanks for tuning in!
Welcome Back! Pastor Joe and Derek today are wrapping up our discussion on our Groups core value of Responding Biblically. Thanks for being a part of the conversation!
Welcome back! Today, Pastor Joe and Derek dive into the topic and core value within our Groups ministry of Responding Biblically. We want to begin the discussion on how to actively prepare and how to respond after your group begins to open up and share with one another. Tune in!
Group Leaders! We are looking forward to the discussion on this episode that gives more practical tools and thoughts around how we can model this core value in the Groups Ministry of Sharing Openly. Lets jump in with Pastor Joe and Derek!
Today's discussion surrounds the topic of Sharing Openly within your Group. Pastor Joe and Derek dive into this topic and the importance of this core value in the Groups Ministry. We are looking forward to you being a part of the discussion!
In this episode, Pastor Joe and Derek dive into the more practical side of how we can help people build relationships at Group. As a Group leader, you are such a pivotal part in building community, and we pray this episode can help offer tips on how to get people to engage!
Welcome back everyone! This month, Joe and Derek dive into Marker #2 of our Core Values in the Groups Ministry at Abundant Life: Engaging Relationally. We hope this conversation brings clarity and understanding on why this is so important for Group development and growth. Listen in!
In this episode Pastor Joe and Derek discuss the practical applications of what abiding daily with Jesus looks like. We also get into how we as group leaders can impact those we shepherd in this discipline. Tune in!
Our Groups team is discussing the first of our Six Markers, Abiding Daily. We dive into what this means and discuss how this would apply to us as Group leaders. Come hang out with us and discover part one of this two part discussion on this important core value in the Group ministry at Abundant Life!
This episode Joe and Derek provide clarity and have a deeper discussion on finding your people and what doing life together in Biblical community is like. Each of these are important in the process of building relationships and growing together. Join us as we continue to look into Groups at Abundant Life.
Welcome to the Groups Toolbox Podcast! This podcast is designed to continue to equip our leaders with the tools to lead. In this episode, we are discussing what groups at Abundant Life Church look like and how we can get people connected quickly. Pastor Joe gives us the heart behind community and also what connect groups at Abundant Life are. Joe and Derek also talk through what you can do to serve and lead in the groups ministry.
Join Jason and Tim as they discuss what it's like for someone to coach a group, from celebrating wins to overcoming roadblocks Caleb gives an inside look at what its like shepard young men through their first few months in a group and the discipleship he gives to the group leaders he oversees.
Tag along with Jason and Tim as they have a blast with Jennifer Spears. Jennifer is the director of women's ministries at Abundant Life and she takes us through the many avenues that women can get involved in community. Jennifer truly lives out the mission statement of "People Need People." Fellas will love this episode as we all have women in our lives that are seeking Godly relationships.
Derek Elliot joins Tim this week for an exciting look at what God is doing in his life by taking a spur of the moment job offer from Abundant Life to help lead the Groups ministry and become the care pastor. come take a look at the new changes that are happening with the Groups ministry.
This week Tim is joined by the one the only Chad Glover. Chad comes in to give us an overview of what is happening at the crossroads campus as well as giving groups handles on how to get involved from time in prayer to house churches. This is only the tip of the spear as chad is eager to see hearts moved by Jesus in the heart of our city.
In this episode, we are joined by Jocelyn Kepner, an inspiring young woman who has dedicated her life to the pursuit of being living proof of a loving God to a watching world by fostering and adopting children. Hop on the bus while Jason and Tim discuss how Jocelyn navigates being a young mother to 6 and incorporating them into her community.
In this episode, we take a trip to the Middle East to Mafraq Jordan to understand what community looks like under crisis. Jason and Matt found themselves stuck inside a church due to Covid-19 and they used this opportunity to create community in a time of crisis. Matt Jason and Tim find out how to take an opportunity of distress and use that as a way to become closer to Christ.
In this episode, Jason is joined by his sister Jessica as they discuss family, Christmas and how to share the gospel with your kids.
In this month's challenge, we challenge you to go out and have fun! We focus on our 3rd marker in the group's ministry of Engaging Relationally. Follow along with us as we dive into Hebrews 10:20-25.
In this episode, Jason and Tim talk about how to deal with your group that is coasting and just going through the motions. Featuring Paradigm Pastor Luke Crabb. We hit on everything from mustaches to habitual sin.
Jason and Tim bring the listeners the inside scoop of the group's ministry and the work that goes into making the ministry successful and God serving.
In this episode, Jason and Tim go over the next challenge of living missionally. Find out how to take your group through another exciting challenge.
In this episode we take the Groups Leadership podcast on the road and join the Glover family for dinner to discuss some important takeaways from a group that is married with kiddos!
In this episode we introduce a new serious called “Group Challenge” where once a month we give your group a way to challenge itself to become more like the body of Christ. These challenges do not have to be completed in any particular time or order, however every month there will be a new challenge so feel free to join us each time as we challenge ourselves and our GROUPS to grow in Godliness and love for one another. This weeks challenge is Fasting! Listen in to learn more.
In this episode we celebrate 4th of July by incorporating the things that make this Holiday so special and cultivating them into our GROUP time. Listen in as we talk about practical ways to lead your GROUP and the freedom that you have as the leader.
In this episode we decided to spice things up a bit in our title "Tres Preguntas" aka (Three Questions) and hear from special guest Colt Higgs. Hear Colt's story on how the Lord used the “three questions” to shift the culture of his group in an amazing way. Colt along with the rest of the Higgs family (Cherah his wife and 3 young boys) serve as group leaders here at Abundant life. This will be a unique opportunity to hear from a fellow group leader that can give us some real-life perspective.
In this episode Drew Shahandeh and I discuss the importance of roles in GROUP, what they are, and what they could look like. Just as the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, as we see in 1 Corinthians 12, so it is with our GROUPs. Each GROUP is made up of different people with different gifts, and one of the keys to a healthy community is having everyone involved.
In this episode of the GROUPS leadership podcast, we sit down with author and pastor Dr. Scott Fenton. Pastor Scott has a very special place in my heart, not just because he has been my pastor for 31 years but also because he is my dad! Dad has a tremendous amount of insight when it comes to abiding with the Lord, in fact it has taken him on all sorts of adventures, from living on the mount of olives, to pastoring a church for 32 years, to sleeping in the caves at Mikmash. Wherever life has taken my father he has abided with his heavenly father every step along the way. Join us as we discuss the why and how of abiding daily with the Father.
In this episode, we hear from Hannah Pygman (formerly Hannah Finnegan) who serves on our Abundant Life staff as the Young Adult Women's coordinator. Hannah will unpack on the topic of "How to shepherd difficult sheep". This is a critical issue for us as leaders because we want to shepherd all of our sheep well, even if they can be challenging at times. Listen in for some practical handles and ideas of how to shepherd your sheep...even the difficult ones.
Conflict. This is something that is inevitable when you are doing life with others. Conflict in and of itself is not a negative thing. However, how we handle conflict can be the difference maker on it being healthy or not. In this episode we hear from Steven Branch on ways to have healthy conflict.
In this final segment of the Community Killers, we discuss 2 more types of people, the “Over Grace” member and the “No Grace” member. These tendencies kill the community that you are trying to build if they go unaddressed. We are going to unpack ways to address these issues both in group time and outside of it.
In this segment of the Community Killers, we discuss 2 more types of people, the “Aggressive” member and the “Absent”. These tendencies kill the community that you are trying to build if they go unaddressed. We are going to unpack ways to address these issues as the leader of your group.
In this segment of the Community Killers, we discuss 2 more types of people, the “dis-engaged” member and the “gives counsel from personal opinion”. These tendencies kill the community that you are trying to build if they go unaddressed. We are going to unpack ways to address these issues as the leader of your group.
How to address community killers. Every group has its fair share of "community killer" people and moments. If you're honest with yourself....you've been one at times! In this Episode we cover 2 of the most common behaviors that can kill a community group and what to do about it.
In this episode we are introducing a new mini series called "Milking your Group" where we will discuss ways to get the most out your community group as a leader. Our guest this week, Tim Nichols, breaks down how getting honest and vulnerable with your group as the leader can take your community to the next level.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of casting vision to your group. Also, we give practical ways to improve your ability to tell your group the direction they are needing to go.
In this episode, we introduce a new staff member Jason Fenton. He shares his story of being a missionary and coming on staff at Abundant Life. Pastor Steven Branch shares from Exodus 18 on the coaching structure that we use in the ministry.
In this podcast Pastors, Steven and Mark discuss what you can do to keep your whole group healthy.
In this episode, Pastor Steven sits down with our Discipleship Pastor Dustin Rosner to discuss what discipleship looks like within groups.
In this episode Steven sits down with Luke Crabb to discuss why it's important to cast vision and what we need to do while we do it.
In this episode, Pastor Steven sits down with our Young Adult Ministry Leader, Luke Crabb to discuss 5 principles for connecting with your group during the Covid19 pandemic.
In this podcast, we want to give you some tips on how you and your group can help care for people going through a crisis.