Episode Summary: We're several weeks into One Story–Every Generation. Groups are showing up, people are reading, discussions are starting to happen—but something feels surface-level.

Answers stay safe. People hold back. And you're wondering: is my group really this shallow? Probably not. In this episode, Jimmy explains why depth follows trust (and trust takes time), but also why depth requires effort—from leaders and from group members. Learn how to build the foundation for transformation through trust-building and consistent Scripture engagement.

Key Takeaway: Depth follows trust. And trust takes time. But depth also requires effort—from you and from them. People won't go deep until they trust each other, and trust is built through consistent, small acts of faithfulness. But you can create all the safety in the world, and if people aren't engaging Scripture for themselves during the week, Sunday mornings will stay shallow.

How Trust Is Built:

• Someone shares something personal—and it stays in the room
• Someone asks a hard question—and they're not shut down or minimized
• Someone admits they're struggling—and somebody shares that they're struggling with the same thing
• Your group experiences life together beyond Sunday mornings—coffee, kids' games, check-in texts

That's where people move from "church friends" to real community—where they see and are seen, know and are known. When that starts to happen, Sunday mornings will go deeper.

Two Jobs for Leaders:

1. Model the depth you want to see Show up having wrestled with the text yourself. Share what challenged you. Be honest about where you're struggling to obey. When you model depth, you give permission for others to go there too.

2. Gently challenge your group to put in the effort Not in a guilt-inducing way. But in a way that says: "This matters. Your relationship with God will only grow if you engage His Word consistently." Hold them accountable to do the reading by asking them point blank about what they learned. Then celebrate when they share something they discovered on their own.

The Reality: You can't facilitate depth if people aren't putting in the effort to go deep.

This Week's Focus:

Start Building Trust: Remind your group that what's shared stays in the room. Welcome hard questions that might not have an immediate answer. And invite everyone to connect outside of Sunday—grab coffee, send a text, or show up somewhere they already are.

Challenge Engagement: Invite them to wrestle with Scripture this week by asking themselves: "What is God showing me? What is this inviting me to do?" And then model it yourself. Show up having done the work, and share what God showed you.

Quote to Remember:"Depth follows trust. But it also follows faithfulness."

NEW! A Downloadable PDF with the Core Takeaways from this week's episode:

Click Here to Download OneSheet Resource

Runtime: 4:36

Release Date: February 5, 2026

Episode Title: Mining for Gold: The Art of the Follow-Up

Episode Summary: You ask a great question. Someone answers. Then silence. Most leaders jump in to fill the gap—but what if the real conversation was just about to start? In this episode, Jimmy teaches one of the most underrated skills in small group leadership: the follow-up question. Learn why the first answer is just the surface, and how to help your group go from observation to application through the simple art of asking one more question.

Key Takeaway: Never settle for the first answer. The first answer is usually observation—safe and surface-level. Transformation happens when people move from head knowledge to heart engagement, and the follow-up question is what gets them there. The follow-up question is what turns a Bible study into discipleship.

Six Follow-Up Questions to Use:

1. "Tell me more about that."
2. "What makes you say that?"
3. "Where do you see that playing out in your life?"
4. "How does that make you feel?"
5. "How would you explain that to a non-believer?"
6. "What's the biggest obstacle to living that out?"

Key Insight: These questions don't give away the "right answer" or turn the conversation into an interrogation. They simply invite the person to keep talking. When you give people space to process out loud, they often discover things they didn't even know they were thinking. That's where the gold is.

A Word of Caution: Not every answer needs a follow-up. If someone just shared something painful or deeply vulnerable, don't immediately ask them to go deeper. Let it breathe. Affirm what they shared. The goal is to create a culture where people feel safe going deeper—and sometimes that means knowing when to stop digging.

Real-Life Example: Jimmy shares a story from a small group where a standard answer about trusting God became transformational when the leader asked, "What does that look like for you right now?" That simple follow-up unlocked vulnerability, gave permission to others facing the same struggle, and turned a surface-level discussion into a deeply unifying and edifying moment.

This Week's Challenge: Ask at least one follow-up question to each answer you receive. Not to put people on the spot. Not to fill time. But because you genuinely want to hear what God is doing in their lives. Watch what happens—conversations will get richer, connections will get deeper, and your group will realize: this isn't just a Bible study. This is discipleship.

Quote to Remember: "When you settle for the first answer, you rob your group of the chance to go deeper."

Runtime: 4:54

Release Date: January 22, 2026

CLICK HERE for the Small Group Leader Follow-Up Question Cheat Sheet

Episode Summary: You made it through week one of One Story: Every Generation—and whether it felt amazing or awkward, you're already winning. In this episode, Jimmy breaks down what success actually looks like: people engaging their Bibles. He also gives you permission to make this initiative yours, leading in a way that fits your unique gifting. Plus, a reminder that you don't have to do this alone.

Key Takeaway: The win for One Story is simple: people engaging their Bibles. If Bibles are open and people are showing up, you're doing it right. Your job isn't to manufacture transformation—it's to create space for people to show up and read.

Three Things to Remember:

1. Define the Win - If someone in your group read one day this week, that's a win. Five days? Also a win. Reading more than before? Huge win. We're not measuring profound insights—we're asking: are they opening God's Word?
2. Make It Yours - Every leader thinks, teaches, and leads differently. Whether you're a lecturer, facilitator, delegator, or collaborator (or interpretive dancer—just kidding), play to your strengths. The study guides are tools, not rules.
3. Don't Be Afraid to Ask - Jimmy is a call or text away. If you have a question, face a challenge, or need a resource, reach out. That's what he's there for.

This Week's Challenge: Take a step back and celebrate what's already happening. Count the wins. Notice who's reading, who's showing up, who's starting to engage. Then? Just keep going.

Quote to Remember: "Your job isn't to manufacture transformation—it's to create space for people to show up and read."

Runtime: 4:29

Release Date: January 15, 2026