EQUIP Podcast

In this episode, we hear from David Delk, Executive Pastor at Grace Church in Greenville, South Carolina, as he speaks to the Ministry Staff of Grace. David explains the different types of churches by their main discipleship pathway and addresses scripture to support the responsibilities of church staff and members to create the greatest discipleship impact. To access information about coaching opportunities, additional resources, and upcoming EQUIP events, go to gracechurchsc.org/equip. RESOURCES: Responsibilities of Staff vs Members Document

In this episode, we hear from Matt Williams, one of the teaching pastors and governing elders at Grace Church in Greenville, South Carolina, as he speaks at a 2019 EQUIP Event. Matt helps answer this question, “What is the value of the local church?” To access information about coaching opportunities, additional resources, and upcoming EQUIP events, go to gracechurchsc.org/equip.

In this episode, Bill White describes the growth he has seen in a church that executes vision in a way that is compelling and encouraging to everyone, and seeks to make disciples. Bill unpacks the tragedy of a vision being caught up in what a church says, not what they do. If a church can unveil compelling service behind the scenes, those in fellowship with them will be encouraged and motivated to enter into the mission because they have seen the fruit of a vision in the workings. Capturing a vision through relevant serving can help lead those willing to serve into next steps, or provide encouragement to those currently serving. As he concludes, Bill emphasizes that before you start telling a story, you must have a story to tell. Too often a vision can lose its momentum from the stage, where it only gains as it is proven true and compelling by action. Disciples are made from doing, not from consuming more content. When we learn to celebrate God's goodness and mercy through action, we are only drawn further into serving a great God. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Bill White-Senior Honor: https://vimeo.com/594706728 Bill White-WeChoose: https://vimeo.com/577206365 Bill White-Defined & Directed by Scripture: https://vimeo.com/521954994/03faebedb8 Matt Williams-COVID Update: https://vimeo.com/589955898 Scofield Foster-Baptism: https://vimeo.com/588910285/d77c6e2808 Matt Williams-Natural Burial: https://vimeo.com/579901133 Matt Williams-Care Ministry: https://vimeo.com/552407754/515df41d09 Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip to access additional resources and coaching opportunities. If you have questions, need coaching, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org. Thanks to Scott Beardsley, Meg Gurley and Lauren Bryant for their help in producing this episode.

In episode 17, Chris Rivers speaks with Turner Vaughn, campus pastor at Grace Church's Powdersville campus, as they discuss a new training developed for men at Grace Church around the mission of Men's Roundtable. Men's Roundtable (MRT) exists for two main goals within Grace Church: to assimilate men living in the margins to participate in the life of the church, and to give men language to wrestle with how they are created, wounds from their past, and ultimately how to grow in the Lord's design for the practice of Biblical manhood. MRT has been designed to act as a road map through various studies in order to gauge and identify areas for growth and to better understand unique brokenness as it applies to different aspects of a man's life and responsibilities. MRT carries out the opportunity of discipleship by equipping men to lead in a biblical way, replicate biblical leadership, build relational capital with those around them, and invite them into how God is working in the church. MRT has been influential in the surrendering of lives to the mystery of the Gospel, as well as deepening the roots of faith in the active and working Gospel of Jesus Christ. The goal of the MRT training series is to help onboard new facilitators and to prepare the hearts and minds of those who will someday step into this role. The series hopes to accomplish just that with five new episodes: What is MRT/role of MRT facilitator? How do I prepare to lead a successful MRT study? What does it look like to be a great MRT facilitator? How do I encourage ownership and replicate discipleship within the members of my group? How do I troubleshoot and handle common problems within a study? Grace Church hopes to equip and motivate those listening to do the hard work of ministry just as the gospel in Ephesians 4 commands us. Consider listening to episodes, download the resources below and adapt in your context. RESOURCES MRT Training Handbook: (gracechurchsc.org/MRThandbook) AUDIO TRACKS Overview: DOWNLOAD Four Types of Men: DOWNLOAD Men's Roundtable Teachings: http://gracechurchsc.org/mrt Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip to access additional resources and coaching opportunities. If you have questions, need coaching, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org. Many thanks to Lauren Bryant, Meg Gurley, and Scott Beardsley for helping to produce this episode.

In episode 16, Chris Rivers speaks with Bobby Raulerson, Campus Pastor at Grace Church's Harrison Bridge campus, and David Delk, Executive Pastor. They unpack some of the key ideas in the Grace Church Philosophy of Ministry and discuss how the church's commitment to life on life discipleship helps guide these principles. As a church, Grace values the idea of equipping and motivating members to get involved in someone's life, meet their needs, and help them grow in their relationship with Christ. This means all of the activities and ministries are centered around this idea. Rather than using a dynamic speaker or an over-the-top experience to attract people, the focus is on discipleship and life change. David and Bobby share five key ideas. The entire Philosophy of Ministry can be DOWNLOADED here. 1. What happens during the week in the lives of our volunteers and leaders is way more important than what happens during our worship services. 2. We believe it is way more important to become compelling people than it is to create compelling experiences. 3. Discipleship and shepherding is hand-to-hand combat. Expect leaders and volunteers to carry real weight and get messy with people. 4. We intentionally don't solve all the problems in our church with staff leadership or money; we believe more discipleship takes place when volunteers and leaders figure it out and make it happen. Visit Gracechurchsc.org/equip to access 5. God uses conflict and tension as a tool for transformation. People will seek to relieve tension, discomfort, or suffering before God has done everything he wants to do. We want to shepherd tension wisely to allow people to stay in it until they deal with root issues. Relieving it prematurely only brings more pain later. Resources: - Grace Church Philosophy of Ministry - A Few Key Ideas: DOWNLOAD If you're new to Grace Church Equip, head on over to gracechurchsc.org/equip to access coaching opportunities, additional resources on our EQUIP Hub, and upcoming EQUIP events. Have a question or want to speak to someone on our team? Email crivers@gracechurchsc.org and we will get you connected. Many thanks to Lauren Bryant and Scott Beardsley for helping to produce this episode.

Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip to access additional resources and coaching opportunities. If you have questions, need coaching, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org. In episode 15, Chris Rivers speaks with Matt Kelley, Worship Pastor/Director of Leadership Development at Grace Church, and Davis Craig, Students' Advisor and Internship & Residency Director, about the concept of creating a downline. This discipleship strategy involves intentionally pouring into the lives of others with the goal of replicating future leaders. Matt shares his experience being the recipient of a downline and also building his own downline. He poses the question to listeners: Who are the 2-3 people in your life you need to be investing time into who could be the next person to take your role? Matt and Davis unpack the challenges involved in creating a downline including: seeing the process as a threat to your position, making the time to include people in your world, having flexibility with your schedule, creating opportunities for training and cleaning up the messes this may create, and loving people well enough to tell them the truth. This strategy, while difficult to flesh out, is an important and necessary step in the process of reproducing leaders. With an attitude of humility, patience, and intentionality, listeners can learn to build a discipleship culture that impacts the future of the church and those who will come behind. Many thanks to Lauren Bryant, Meg Gurley and Scott Beardsley for helping to produce this episode.

Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip to access additional resources and coaching opportunities. If you have questions, need coaching, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org. In episode 14, Chris Rivers speaks with David Delk, Grace Church's Executive Pastor, as they discuss the concepts involved in approaching the working world from a Biblical perspective. The reality of the world in which we live sets us up to experience a large part of our lives in the workplace. This episode seeks to explain how important it is for the church to disciple people around the idea of work, and to explore the impact that is possible by recognizing the potential for ministry within an occupation or executive position. David speaks on practical ways to lead a discussion that invites members to offer advice, collaborate on similar struggles, and bond over shared experiences or feelings. Key ideas such as recognizing motivation, the power of encouragement, and servant leadership are discussed as listeners learn how to incorporate the Gospel of Jesus at work. Consider listening to episodes, download the resources below and adapt in your context. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES - What is Senior Executive Roundtable DOWNLOAD - Principle: People Do What They Want To Do DOWNLOAD - How to Conduct a Roundtable with your Team DOWNLOAD - Legacy Business Advisors (Now called Venture) LINK Many thanks to Lauren Bryant and Meg Gurley for helping to produce this episode.

As followers of Jesus, we are commissioned to get involved in someone else's life, meet their needs, and help them grow in their relationship with Christ. Jesus doesn't ask us to simply be nice to our neighbors. He calls us to sacrifice, to love others who are not like us, to enter into others' brokenness, and to inconvenience ourselves for the sake of the gospel. In this episode, Chris Rivers speaks with three members of Grace Church's Outreach Team about a resource they created called The Outreach Serving Tool. This resource helps members of Grace Church identify one action step they can take to pursue their personal ministry in their community. RESOURCES MENTIONED Visit gracechurchsc.org/outreachtools to access “What's My Responsibility in Serving Others” and its accompanying videos. These resources highlight the importance of serving and expound on the concepts presented in the Outreach Serving Tool. Visit gracechurchsc.org/equip to access additional resources and coaching opportunities. If you have questions, need coaching, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org.

Workshop Session from 2021 Creating a Culture of Discipleship. Learn more by visiting gracechurchsc.org/equip

Workshop Session from 2021 Creating a Culture of Discipleship. Learn more by visiting gracechurchsc.org/equip

Workshop Session from 2021 Creating a Culture of Discipleship. Learn more by visiting gracechurchsc.org/equip

Workshop Session from 2021 Creating a Culture of Discipleship. Learn more by visiting gracechurchsc.org/equip

Workshop Session from 2021 Creating a Culture of Discipleship. Learn more by visiting gracechurchsc.org/equip

In this episode Matt Kelly, one of the governing elders at Grace Church, focuses on why building strong leaders is key to effective discipleship. Put these principles into action by bringing your leaders to the 2021 Creating a Culture of Discipleship (April 13-14) event in Greenville, SC! During this two-day micro-conference, we will explore the principles and specific elements that comprise Grace Church’s discipleship model. These are hard-earned lessons that God has taught us over the last 20+ years. Visit gracechurchsc.org/equip to register and access more information, resources, and coaching opportunities. If you have questions, need coaching, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org.

In August of 2019, Grace Church (gracechurchsc.org) Student Leadership created content to give to each campus for their monthly small group leader huddles. A team of experienced staff worked together to develop a suggested time frame, video training, discussion questions, and implementation strategy. Campuses were able to take this material and personalize it to their campus with their own applicable experiences. This strategy helped by taking pressure off new staff at Grace Church and giving them a model to follow. It also served to keep the student team on the same page and maintain consistency with their leaders. Overall, the training and resources have proven helpful and beneficial. In this interview, Chris Rivers speak with Daniel Black (dblack@gracechurchsc.org) and Audrey Williams(awilliams@gracechurchsc.org), two of the staff members who helped develop this program. SUGGESTED TRAINING IDEAS Share the interview with your student leaders and staff. Ask your team to take a week to listen to the content and come up with 1 or 2 ideas that could help advance the growth and success of your student ministry. Meet together as a team and brainstorm the following questions: What did you like best about episode 11? Where is the current status of our student leaders? (new leaders vs. seasoned leaders, are there evident gaps or needs for equipping around certain topics?) What content from the huddle and equipping section of the podcast might be most helpful for our leaders? How should we adapt and roll out this content in our context? (I.e. huddles or a big training?) Access all of the Student Leader Huddle resources by visiting our EQUIP Hub (bit.ly/equiphub) and look for this resource in the Student Ministry section. If you have questions, need help with implementation, or just want us to discuss a topic on the podcast, please email us at equip@gracechurchsc.org.

In this interview, Chris McGowan, Creative Worship Pastor at Grace Church in Greenville SC, shares with us strategy the church is using to draw the members of Grace Church into worship for the 2020 Christmas season. Mentioned in the interview are two opportunities called "Words from the Cross" and "O Come Emmanuel." The digital and print prayer guides as well as guided prayer videos can be downloaded at (gracechurchsc.org/prayerguides). As mentioned in the interview, both are guided prayer and worship sessions that lasts 30 minutes. Email equip@gracechurchsc.org for help with implementation. 2021 OPPORTUNITY Consider joining us in 2021 for Creating a Culture of Discipleship in Greenville, SC! During the two-day micro-conference, we will explore the principles and specific elements that comprise Grace Church’s discipleship model. These are hard-earned lessons that God has taught us over the last 20+ years. Visit gracechurchsc.org/equip to register and access more information, resources, and coaching opportunities.

The Power of Communication teaching was recorded during the October 2020 Grace Church All Staff. Referenced in the teaching is the The Power of Communication Participant notes and Audit tool [LINK]. Consider joining us in 2021 for Creating a Culture of Discipleship in Greenville, SC! During the two-day micro-conference, we will explore the principles and specific elements that comprise Grace Church’s discipleship model. These are hard-earned lessons that God has taught us over the last 20+ years. Visit gracechurchsc.org/equip to register and access more information, resources, and coaching opportunities.

How can churches equip community and small group leaders to shepherd their members more effectively? Why is a biblical framework so foundational and how do we implement it? This is the focus on this month's EQUIP Podcast with Scott Freeman, Shepherding Elder and Pastor of Community at Grace Church. In this podcast, Scott and Chris discuss some great ideas that anyone who works or serves in ministry will find helpful. You can also head on over to the Shepherding Values Hub. This tool offers video teaching, questions for reflection, and additional resources to help you learn more about these Shepherding Values. Want to roll this out with your leaders? Sign up here to let us know you're interested in taking part in a virtual training session. Also, consider joining us in 2021 for Creating a Culture of Discipleship in Greenville, SC! During the two day micro-conference, we will explore the principles and specific elements that comprise Grace Church’s discipleship model. These are hard-earned lessons that God has taught us over the last 20+ years. Visit gracechurchsc.org/equip to register, access additional resources and coaching opportunities.

What are some best practices we can implement that help individuals at all levels connect to each other and build cross discipleship within ministry. In this interview Chris Rivers, Jim Taylor, Aaron Crawford and Shawn Crews discuss a strategy that helps Grace Church staff create outside discipleship with leaders using a method called the 6X6. Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip for more information, resources and coaching.

In this teaching David Delk, Executive Pastor of Grace Church, shares how rethinking the way we move towards tension can help create engagement towards discipleship. Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip for more information, resources and coaching.

Everything begins with some way of getting people’s attention. One of the great mistakes we can make in helping men lead is moving towards satisfaction without spending enough time at “question.” A leader’s ability to spend more time in “question” makes the step of emotion easier to perceive. Emotion is about continuing to ask the right questions to find the underlying issue. Asking good questions comes over time but if you can learn how to “Hold the Q” and keep asking questions as long as you possibly can, you will help others discover for themselves what is keeping them from spiritual growth. Coming up with good questions takes practice. This teaching was recorded at the 2018 Community & Care Leader Retreat at Grace Church. Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip for more information, resources and coaching.

This training was conducted as an opportunity for Grace Church Community Group Leaders to help them focus on listening and leading sermon discussions. Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip for more information, resources and coaching.

During the Behind the Scenes Student and Children’s Ministry Event, Grace Church Staff will discuss eight discipleship topics that help drive our students and children’s discipleship strategy. This collaborative training includes workshops, practical content, and Q&A that give teams concrete next steps for making student/children’s discipleship at their church even more effective. Check out gracechurchsc.org/equip for more information.

In Episode Two Part Two, Chris Rivers and Jeremy Meyer continue their discussion around a ministry called Re|engage that Grace Church https://gracechurchsc.org/ uses that has proven to be highly effective in helping disciple and equip married couples to grow in oneness. During the episode Mike and Joy Meyers, volunteer leaders within Re|engage who share their Re|engage story. They share their experience leading the newcomers portion of Re|engage and how this discipleship process has helped them win in their marriage and leadership. Overall win for the church: - Opportunity to make disciples - a discipleship process disguised as marriage enrichment. - Injected incredible dose of authenticity into the DNA of the church - A resource to the local Community - Created side door to the gospel - Hear the gospel every week - We have had atheists, agnostics and 7th-day Adventists come...and they are hearing the gospel - week in and week out. - 25-30% of our attendance is now from the community - Multiple folks have come to Christ - 5 local churches have sent their leaders and pastors through the 16-week process - Now have either launched at their church or in process - Prevent’s staff burnout and fatigue as it creates a clear path for providing care for couples - by transferring some of the weight by staff to volunteers Learn more about the Impact of Re|engage, access additional resources and sign up for coaching events at https://gracechurchsc.org/equip/

In Episode One Part One, Chris Rivers and Jeremy Meyer discuss a ministry called Re|engage that Grace Church https://gracechurchsc.org/ uses that has proven to be highly effective in helping disciple and equip married couples to grow in oneness. They discuss the cultural attack on marriage and the need to disciple and equip married couples. They address the process Grace Church uses for discipling and equipping couples and the impact within the church and beyond. Problem: - 50% of married couples getting divorced whether church or unchurched. The number is probably closer to 45% according to most scholars. Chief obstacles to cultivating oneness: - People are staying single longer - the median age is at highest in history at 30 years old (men), 28 years old (women) - It is becoming more and more unpopular to get married as the marriage rate is down by 10% since 1990 -- 'Self-Partnering”is now a thing - Cohabitation is on the rise - the number of couples cohabiting is up 29% since 2007 - This does not include the massive impact of the confusion of masculine and feminine genders Typical Solution (from the church): - Marriage enrichment -- Short-term remedies --- Weekend to Remember - very helpful for healthy marriages or damaging for those in crisis --- Marriage Retreats - taxing on staff -- 6-week marriage studies in groups / Sunday school --- Nice but people hide and mask how they are doing - Meetings w/couples: We/pastoral staff become overwhelmed w/pastoral care with too many hurting couples with too little time - Counseling: sometimes is very effective but is all about the timing, accountability, and availability (if they are good, maybe 1-2 months out) -- Problem: --- Interesting stat: Couples wait an average of 6 years before pursuing help (Gottman - 40years- research) --- Quality counselors are limited --- Typically takes 1-2 years --- There is 0 accountability. Most counselors see couples individually without the presence of another couple to keep them accountable to what they know and commit too. A Typical Evening at Re|engage - Time: 2hr program + Leader dinner -- 5:45 pm Leader dinner / Meeting (Group Leaders / A/V / Greeters team only) --- Encourage, equip, and fellowship - 6:30 pm Large Group -- Worship / Video / Game night -- Marriage Story, Interview, or Teaching - 7:30 pm Small Groups -- 16 Lessons over 4-6 months --- Lessons 1-8 apply to character - learning to stay inside the circle ---- Love, Brokenness, Grace, Humility, etc. --- Lessons 9-16 are application - learn to move toward the spouse ---- Communication, Conflict, Expectations, Intimacy, etc. -- All married couples - not for premarital couples -- 1 Leader Couple to 4-5 Participant Couples --- For All couples ---- Healthy & Hopeless/Hurting ---- Crisis & Good-to-Great ---- On the verge of divorce to key leaders, elders/pastors --- Newlyweds to Empty nesters --- 1 year married to 48 years married --- 1st season to their 4th season Learn more about the Impact of Re|engage, access additional resources and sign up for coaching events at https://gracechurchsc.org/