The One Thing

• 419 Are small groups a strategy—or just tradition in disguise? (Silas Thiem)

  Where do small groups come from and why does it matter? Silas Thiem explores the origins of small groups in focussing on Sydney churches, highlighting how cultural shifts and para-church movements helped shape their development. It’s a reminder that small groups weren’t always about structured Bible study—they started as spaces for connection. This episode asks whether they’re still the right tool for the job, or if it's time to rethink how they function in the life of the church.Silas Thiem is the equipping minister at St Alban's Lindfield in the North Shore of Sydney.TOOLBOX:"The Origins of the Home Group in Sydney Anglican Churches, from Unfamiliar to Indispensable" Lucas, Vol 3 no. 4 Dec 2024, p 152-186. Lucas is the journal of the Evangelical History Association.Ep 418 Measuring small group health with Richard SweatmanCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by TrellisThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

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• 418 Measuring small group health: what actually matters? (Richard Sweatman)

  How do you actually measure whether small groups are actually working? Richard Sweatman from Hunter Bible Church joins us to unpack what matters most – from clarifying purpose, to tracking attendance trends, to assessing leader health, group dynamics, and individual growth. He shares practical tips as well as pitfalls to avoid when appointing leaders or multiplying groups.TOOLBOX:Example survey for measuring group healthLeading Small Groups That Thrive by Ryan T. Hartwig, Courtney W. Davis and Jason A. SniffRichard’s Review of Leading Small Groups That ThriveUnmissable Church by Richard Sweatman and Antony BarracloughBeing a Small Group Leader by Richard SweatmanWriting a Small Group Study by Richard SweatmanCREDITS:The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online libraryThis episode was brought to you by Youthworks

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• 417 Saving gospel spaces: why we can’t lose our church buildings

  Across Australia, church buildings sit underused or sold off—while church planters struggle to find space to gather. These buildings, raised by past generations, could potentially be a lifeline for thriving plants.In this episode, we explore questions of stewardship, the identity challenges facing struggling churches, and practical models—from rentals to mergers—that could keep these spaces serving gospel purposes for decades to come.TOOLBOX:Contact: [email protected] How can your church be involved in church plantingCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by ExdiaThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

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• 416 Getting the right people in the room (and the wrong people out)

  Who needs to be in the room? How to choose the right voices for strategic conversations, spot unproductive meetings, avoid groupthink, and build trust-filled, high-functioning teams.Key Points:Symptoms of the “wrong people” in a meeting: conflict, stagnation, or too much agreementWhy character, teachability, and team culture matter more than titlesHow to navigate shifting roles with humility and clarityPractical frameworks (like Myers-Briggs types or Thinking Hats) to build balanced teamsThe danger of filling rooms with people who think just like youTOOL BOX:Ep 404 Three dysfunctional types of teams and how to fix themEp 383 You're better at this than me and other phrases build-teamsEp 357 Inheriting and building teams (Ray Galea)Ep 387 How to run a meeting CREDITS:This episode was brought to you by QuizworxThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

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• 415 The rich prayer life your ministry desperately needs (Peter Adam)

  Is prayer the most neglected part of ministry? In this episode, Peter Adam challenges our prayerlessness as a form of worldliness and warns that pastors must lead in prayer—not just in godliness or preaching. We explore why our prayers are often shallow, how pre-written prayers can train us to pray with greater depth, and why ignoring prayer in meetings and leadership is a missed opportunity. Peter also digs into what unanswered prayer reveals about our self-centred assumptions.Peter Adam is a retired theologian who was previously principal at Ridley College and is now Vicar Emeritus of St Jude's Carlton in MelbournePrayerlessness is a form of worldlinessPastors must lead in prayer, not just godliness or preaching.We need more varied and theologically rich prayersPre-written prayers (like those in the Prayer Book) train us to pray wellPrayerlessness in meetings and leadership is a missed opportunityUnanswered prayer reveals our self-centred assumptionsTOOLBOX:Prayerfulness by Peter Adam Peter Adam’s website with further resources on prayerGospel Coalition article on leading intercessions in church.CREDITS:This episode was brought to you by Lending HandsThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

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