Leader Resources

OverviewBy Tony Myles with Doug Franklin Take a look around at the brokenness in this world and its spiritual poverty. Jesus wants to change all of that, and he's looking for teenagers who want that change to start in them. Youth worker, that's where you...

OverviewBy Mark Oestreicher with Kami Gilmour Parents are the biggest influence on the lives of teenagers—a fact that research has proved again and again. Yet interactions with parents can be one of the trickiest areas for a youth worker to navigate well...

OverviewBy Shawn Harrison When it comes to ministering to gays and lesbians, far too many churches have chosen silence over service, or a reactive stance over proactive involvement. But congregations must abandon their comfort zone and minister to a...

OverviewThis stuff works. That's because the ideas in this book--hundreds of them—come from people like you: people in the thick of youth ministry. These are best-ever ideas from the pages of Group Magazine's Try This One section. These youth group...

OverviewFew teenagers think of slavery as a modern-day issue. It's something they read about in history books-a painful, troubling chapter from the past. Unfortunately, slavery remains a 21st century reality in the form of sex trafficking. Around our...

OverviewBy Austin Maxheimer and Zach Below What if small group ministries had been invented in 2014... by your local churches? Would anything be different? Would any "sacred cows" disappear—or at least be prodded toward fresh vision and action? Answering...

OverviewBy Rick Bundschuh Make EVERY sermon memorable! Here's how... Are you hungry for Sunday messages to be memorable, meaningful, and move listeners closer to God? So why are so many messages forgettable? Pastor and author Rick Bundschuh asked the...

OverviewMost pastors don't go into ministry because they love risk management and balancing budgets and writing human resource policies. And yet each of these things, plus more, is part of a pastor's day-to-day life while leading a church. Neglecting...

OverviewEver tried to replace the organ with a keyboard? Change the service time by 30 minutes? Introduce a new ministry? Retire an old one? Pastors learn quickly that change often meets resistance in church. Even small changes can be hard to make when...

OverviewChurch members look to pastors to guide them in their faith and help them merge theology with real life. Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Arguments among church members, conflicts between couples, and tension over unexpected matters...

OverviewPreach a sermon? No problem. Choose a theologically-sound Sunday school curriculum? No trouble. Conduct annual performance reviews with your ministry staff? Not so simple. Managing People provides pastors with tips for inspiring and leading staff...

OverviewBy Rick Chromey People today want to connect to God; they crave spirituality. But inside the walls of the church they are getting a 30- to 50-minute spiritual monologue. Simply put, sermons do not communicate effectively in a YouTube, Twitter,...

OverviewBy Thom and Joani Schultz "They judge me.""They're just a bunch of hypocrites." "If they're an example of who God is, I don't want anything to do with God." According to the research behind Why Nobody Wants to Be Around Christians Anymore, this...

OverviewBy Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson Can ordinary people live extraordinary lives? Yes—when those lives are externally focused! That's the message Pastor Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson deliver in this timely, Bible-based book. Using a memorable acrostic...

OverviewBy Rick Lawrence There's a surging hunger among teenagers for Jesus. New research shows that they want a clearer understanding of what Jesus really said and did, and how faith in God matters in their lives. In fact, that desire is so deep, it's...

OverviewBy Rick Lawrence If you're a volunteer in youth ministry, you've likely wondered: "How did I get here?" No matter how you'd normally answer, one thing's for sure: You're "here" because Jesus nudged or maybe even dragged you here. That's because...

OverviewAccording to Doug Fields, the number one question people ask him is "How do I start an effective small group program?"; This resource is his answer. Everything Doug and his ministry partner Matt McGill know about launching small groups has been...

OverviewBy Doug Fields Six Reproducible Student Leader Audio Trainings (15 Minutes Each) Helping develop spiritually mature, ministry-focused student leaders is one of the most effective ways you can spend your leadership energy. There are big payoffs...

OverviewBy Doug Fields Leaders are, by their nature, often busy and don't have a lot of time. Because of this, Doug Fields records training sessions and puts them on CDs for the volunteers at Saddleback Church. They are able to easily listen to these...

OverviewNearly 4,000 churches close every year. Why—and can it be stopped? Director Thom Schultz set out on a journey to uncover why churches—once the heart and soul of their communities—are now shrinking in both size and influence. What he discovered...

OverviewNearly 4,000 churches close every year. Why—and can it be stopped? Director Thom Schultz set out on a journey to uncover why churches—once the heart and soul of their communities—are now shrinking in both size and influence. What he discovered...

OverviewNearly 4,000 churches close every year. Why—and can it be stopped? Director Thom Schultz set out on a journey to uncover why churches—once the heart and soul of their communities—are now shrinking in both size and influence. What he discovered...

OverviewBy Josh Packard, Ph.D. and Ashleigh Hope They're called The Dones. After devoting a lifetime to their churches, they're walking away. Why? Sociologists Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope's church development book reveals the results of a major study...

OverviewThe Church Refugees Leadership Bundle will help you facilitate conversations about the Religious Dones, with your leadership team. This bundle Includes 6 copies of Church Refugees and a free download of Exodus of the Religious Dones.

OverviewBy Josh Packard, Ph.D. The reality of the exodus from church is bigger than you feared... and starting much closer to home. That's what sociologist and author Josh Packard has confirmed in his just-released report, Exodus of the Religious Dones...

OverviewUse this guided conversation to lead a safe, respectful, discussion about what may be the hottest issue facing your church: Homosexuality. Designed for any size group, from a church board meeting to an adult class to a congregation-wide forum,...

OverviewThese pocket-sized cards are the perfect reminder to create God Space in our lives every day! Each card describes the characteristics of God Space and includes descriptions of the six "practices" of God Space. These durable, laminated cards will...

OverviewReward your volunteers and staff with these fun and easy-to-use certificates of appreciation. With 13 different certificates to choose from, you will find just the right one for each person. Every design can be personalized (editable PDF) and you...

OverviewGet help recruiting and training your volunteers! The Overflow recruiting package is a downloadable resource, giving you everything you need for a yearly campaign to generate enthusiasm for serving and to let volunteers know just how valued they...

OverviewGroup's Volunteer Leadership Series is here to help you find proven ideas to turn your church into a place volunteers want to plug in. Jump Start is the perfect starting point to get a firm foundation for your volunteer ministry. You'll find...

OverviewGroup's Volunteer Leadership Series is here to help you find proven ideas to turn your church into a place volunteers want to plug in. Moving Forward will help you take on the next phase of your volunteer ministry—recruiting and training your...

OverviewGroup's Volunteer Leadership Series is here to help you find proven ideas to turn your church into a place volunteers want to plug in. Go the Distance helps your volunteer ministry take it to the next level. Move beyond the basics and better...

OverviewBy Mark Waltz Updated! Guests in church often decide whether to return or not before service even starts. It's crucial to create a welcoming environment for guests of your church—to ensure that their first impression is the best impression. Ih...

OverviewBy Mark Waltz Newly updated! Guests in church often decide whether to return or not before service even starts. It's crucial to create a welcoming environment for guests of your church—to ensure that their first impression is the best impression...

OverviewBy Mark Waltz Newly updated! Guests in church often decide whether to return or not before service even starts. It's crucial to create a welcoming environment for guests of your church—to ensure that their first impression is the best impression...

OverviewBy Group Publishing People retain only 10% of what they hear but 90% of what they experience! Make It Stick includes 70 practical ideas for sermons, board meetings, small group gatherings, special occasions, and more! Scripture, theme, and...