The One Thing

A senior minister has an enormous influence on whether their team is healthy. After more than 40 years of ministry leadership, Al Stewart has learnt a few things the hard way.
In this episode, Scott Sanders sits down with Al to unpack the lessons, mistakes and wisdom that only come from decades of leading people.
They talk about the tensions every ministry leader navigates: caring for people while still having hard conversations, building trust without avoiding conflict, knowing when someone needs to move on, and what to do when you realise you’ve got it wrong.
The competing tensions in building a team
Working for the people who work for you
Why senior ministers set the culture of their teams
Why bosses are the biggest single factor in whether staff enjoy their job
Al Stewart is the National Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). He has also worked with City Bible Forum, Geneva Push and Katoomba Christian Convention, as well as serving as a bishop and director within the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church.
Toolbox: 
Growth and Change by Andrew Heard 
Who’s Holding The Umbrella by Bill Jaegar (this book is unfortunately out of print so we could not provide a link, but have a look on places like Ebay and Facebook marketplace - if you are really desperate for a copy Gus McCowatt in the Reach office has a copy)
Credits: 
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠
Support Reach Australia's online library

New churches reach new people. So why is planting still such hard work?
Scott Sanders catches up with Al Stewart to look back on 15 years of Geneva Push and Reach Australia: wins, mistakes and pushback.
Why denominations can get in the way of planting
The challenges of planting in established ministry contexts
Why new churches are often better placed to reach new people
What we’ve learned about supporting planters well
Al Stewart was the National Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). He has also worked with City Bible Forum, Geneva Push and Katoomba Christian Convention, as well as serving as a bishop within the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church.
Toolbox: 
Church Planting Podcast 
Church Planter Questionnaire 
Support Planting Financially

Credits: 
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠
Support Reach Australia's online library

We finally tackle all the awkward small group questions we’ve been avoiding. 
In the final episode of this three-part series, Scott Sanders and Richard Sweatman, discuss the topics about small groups they avoided in the first two episodes.
We explore: 
Unhealthy groups
Low participation
Finding enough leaders
Whether AI has a place in writing Bible study material
Knowing when pastoral care needs to be escalated
Giving honest feedback
Whether ministry staff should be in groups
Richard Sweatman is an author and assistant pastor at Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle. 

Toolbox: 
Ep 201 Difficult Conversations Between A Church Leader and Staff Member
Part 1 of this mini series: Ep 461 The hidden decisions behind every small groups ministry
Part 2 of this mini series: Ep 462 Your small groups are only as healthy as their leaders
Wisdom in Leadership by Craig Hamilton
Being a Small Group Leader by Richard Sweatman
Writing a Small Group Study by Richard Sweatman
DISCOUNT CODE: THE1THING for 30% off at Matthias Media when you purchase 10 or more of either of Richard’s books

Credits: 
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠
Support Reach Australia's online library

Healthy small groups don’t happen by accident. Your small groups are only as strong as the leaders you’re raising.
So how do you find the right people, prepare them well, and keep helping them grow once they’re leading?
In part two of this three-part series, Scott Sanders talks with Richard Sweatman, author and assistant pastor at Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle, about how churches can identify, develop and support small-group leaders well.
They explore:
what to look for in a future leader
how to develop people before they lead
what good support actually looks like
how leaders shape the health of a group
the signs your small-group ministry is growing stronger

Toolbox: 
Last weeks ep 
Being a Small Group Leader by Richard Sweatman
Writing a Small Group Study by Richard Sweatman
DISCOUNT CODE: THE1THING for 30% off at Matthias Media when you purchase 10 or more of either of Richard’s books
Small Group Toolbox Podcast

Credits: 
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠
Support Reach Australia's online library

What if the most important decisions about your small groups are the ones you've never stopped to think about?
In this episode, Scott Sanders chats with Richard Sweatman, author and assistant pastor at Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle, to unpack the hidden decisions that shape every small groups ministry. Whether you've inherited responsibility for small groups or you're rethinking how they fit into the life of your church this episode is for you.
Key highlights:
Clarifying your small group purpose
Defining small group success
Choosing small group structures
Small group pathways
Curriculum and leadership
Practical questions you should ask before making changes

Toolbox: 
Being a Small Group Leader by Richard Sweatman
Writing a Small Group Study by Richard Sweatman
DISCOUNT CODE: THE1THING for 30% off at Matthias Media when you purchase 10 or more of either of Richard’s books
The One Thing Ep 418: Measuring small group health with Richard Sweatman
Growth Groups by Colin Marshall
Leading Small Groups That Thrive by Ryan T. Hartwig, Courtney W. Davis & Jason A. Sniff
Iron Sharpens Iron by Orlando Saer

Credits: 
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠
Support Reach Australia's online library