The One Thing

If your preaching only speaks to Christians, you're missing half the room. Al Stewart lays out why preaching to both believers and unbelievers is not optional. It is essential for any church that wants to grow through gospel impact. This is a sharp call to lift your preaching game, build a culture of invitation, and make every sermon count for eternity. What’s discussed: • Why preaching should...

Churches often revolve around couples and families, but what message does that send to the growing number of single Christians? This episode unpacks the hidden assumptions behind “couples bias” and what it means to build churches where singles aren’t just welcomed, but necessary. We cover: Why the nuclear family isn’t the centre of church life How singleness points to eternity, just like marriage...

City life changes the way small groups work. Jess Ngo from Scots Presbyterian Church Sydney shares what she’s learned leading groups in the CBD — where people move in and out quickly, apartments are small, and the community is incredibly multicultural. She talks about why they meet at the church building, how they keep studies short and sharp, and why raising up new leaders every year is so import...

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...

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...

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 servi...

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 agreement Why character, teachability, and team culture matter more than titles How to navigate shifting roles with humility...

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. Pete...

How can movies open the door to meaningful conversations about faith? Russ Matthews from Reel Dialogue joins us to share how films can help spark gospel conversations in everyday life. We talk about why asking good questions and listening well matters, how couples can partner in mission together, and what Russ has learned from using mainstream movies as a starting point for sharing Jesus. The powe...

Multiplication—it sounds bold, ambitious, risky… maybe even unrealistic. But is it? Should every church, including yours, be involved multiplication. Derek and Scott unpack what holds churches back from multiplying, whether you're in the city or regional areas, in a large church or a small church. What do we mean by multiplication? What stops people thinking about multiplication in terms of co...

What happens when denominational leaders get in the same room to talk about gospel growth in Australia? In this episode, Derek and Scott reflect on a recent national gathering hosted by The Gospel Coalition—a moment of unity, clarity, and challenge. A bold vision was laid down: double the number of Reformed evangelicals in Australia over twenty years. Why Reformed evangelical Christians rather tha...

Carla and Corey Matthews have been part of two church plant launch teams — not as planters or staff, but as everyday church members offering time, energy, and faith.  In this episode, they share: Why they said yes (twice!) to joining a launch team How it shaped their spiritual lives What it’s really like to serve on a team from day one The costs and sacrifices of leaving a comfortable church And w...

Planting a multisite church is like swimming in medium water.  It’s a stretch—without the fear of drowning. Jade Hajj unpacks how planting Rockdale as a campus of  Grace City  has given him space to grow in ministry while being deeply supported by a strong team and solid structures. Highlights: A multisite plant offers training wheels without being a tricycle The two main things for a multisite ch...

Preparing the next generation for ministry is an important role for any gospel worker, but it can be hard to get started or not be distracted. The Ministry Training Strategy (MTS), as an entity, has honed their expertise to training the trainer. A part of that is expanding out the vision of what a MTS trainee can be. Clare, in particular, assisting trainers with considering hiring female apprentic...

Second chair leadership is someone who leads with influence without being the senior leader. Most church staff are second chair leaders, but it’s often misunderstood as waiting in the wings for primary leadership. Teams can flourish when this role is understood. Here are some questions we’ll be answering: What are the long term benefits of second chair roles? What attributes are vital in second ch...

What can we do when the candidate pool is so shallow? While the pressure is on when you’re short staffed, you don’t want to compromise or take shortcuts. It involves prayer, planning and cultivating a positive church culture. It’s important to set realistic expectations about the process of developing team members. How long can recruitment take? What can the recruitment process look like? How can...

Long weekends and public holidays can be a disruption to the rhythm of ministry through the year. How can we use them for the benefit of ministry? We ask: What is being celebrated and how does it affect what we do? How does my community celebrate and what does that mean for our ministry? Is this a time to lean forward into mission or lean back into rest? TOOL BOX: TOT 163 Easter 2021 TOT 175 Anzac...

Church management systems are increasingly becoming an essential part modern church ministry. Gavin Courtney discusses common mistakes in implementing systems like Church Suite, their limitations, and the future of church management technology. TOOL BOX: TOT 343 The Great Name Tag Debate TOT 344 Does Australia Need Another Church Management Church Suite Australia CREDITS: This episode was brought...

Working out what sort of team you are is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team. Three types of teams: Shark tank - competitive teams Petting zoo - too nice Mediocracy - nothing happens Working out what sort of team you have New people Conflict Reflecting on change and conflict as a team What sort of team do you have?  TOOLBOX: Harvard Business Review  allows a...

Derek and Pete talk with Paul Harrington at the new church planting campus of the Reach Australia National Conference 2025.  Multisite is an important concept in church planting and they dig into the concept and application for the Trinity Network in Adelaide.   TOOL BOX: Church Planter Questionnaire Why Plant Churches CREDITS: This episode was brought to you by  Kidswise Masterclass The One Thing...

Matt Gorton and Scruff chat about common mistakes in kids' ministry: Assuming biblical knowledge Using Christian jargon without explanation Lack of visual engagement Trying to teach too much at once Neglecting dramatic conflict Matt Gorton is the Creative Director of Quiz Worx, an organisation focused on sharing Jesus with kids, primarily through live puppet shows in schools. Their approach de...

Kids' ministry burns out leaders faster than most church roles, and the trend is spiking. Sandy Galea shares her real-life struggle as a children's ministry director, as well as her observations as someone who oversees many people who work in this area. Why does it happen? The mismatch of expectations and the actual job description of a kids' minister The mismatch of the resources ne...

Perceptions shape a ministry’s effectiveness. For kids ministry, we’re exploring Bible-based views to reinforce it and tackling harmful misconceptions. What are some of the ministry pressures that kids ministry faces? How pressures effect the perception and effectiveness of kids ministry How it should be seen through a biblical lens Decisions that leaders can make that will help or sabotage the pe...

Raising issues with your leader or your team can be tough—too many ideas may overwhelm, confuse or burden them unnecessarily, or it might intimidate you. Russ Smidt from MTS created a tool to help you present problems to your leader or team effectively. What's  the issue? How do you get this down to a sentence What's the  options ? why are options important? What's your  recommendation...

As Christians, we want everyone to understand our message about God, but language barriers can hinder fellowship. Sunflower, an AI tool, helps churches bridge this gap by enabling non-native English speakers to follow services and conferences with ease. Chuhoa Liu is one of the co-founders of Sunflower. What does it do? How fast is it? What do you need to set it up? Dealing with theological and sp...