Aug 28, 2026 · 32 min · 11 segments
In this episode, we sit down again with Dr. Jon Pratt and Greg Deckert, who spent most of their adult years in different churches: Jon on staff at Eden Baptist in Burnsville for seventeen years, and…
Jon PrattGuestMicahHost
Greg DeckertGuestYou mentioned some of the small groups.
So we talk about the whole body of Christ as a worshiping together in a local place.
You've got some of the small group.
Greg, as you were leading up some of those small groups, how did you then...
I mean, there's...
A small group isn't necessary friendship.
That's not what we're talking about.
How then do you go deeper then? So somebody that's desiring, somebody that is listening to this episode and saying, hey, I desire some of that.
Hey, I've opened myself up to maybe a small group or something like that.
What's then the next opportunity? How can I step into some of that friendship, this iron sharpening iron? What are ways that maybe you've cultivated that within the small group maybe even?
Again, men need to be convinced that this is important because accountability groups and small groups, these are programs, church programs, which are good.
They're not bad, but church programs just put people together and then friendships develop as people are convinced that friendships are good and helpful and biblical.
They don't just necessarily find someone that they have common interests with, although that's helpful, but they.
they're intentional about it and they spend time on it they give effort toward it um you know and all that takes
work i want to ask you greg as you've cultivated friendship we talked about some of that seminary connection you hey john's going to be heading into the pastorate you're in in a lawyer how have you cultivated friendship with even the pastors that that have shepherded you? How have you sought to say, hey, I want to befriend the pastor.
I want to just be an encouragement to him.
Sure.
That's a good question
You know, when I was on the elder team, I had probably closer friendships with some of the guys than I do now.
You mentioned some of the small groups.
So we talk about the whole body of Christ as a worshiping together in a local place.
You've got some of the small group.
Greg, as you were leading up some of those small groups, how did you then...
I mean, there's...
A small group isn't necessary friendship.
That's not what we're talking about.
How then do you go deeper then? So somebody that's desiring, somebody that is listening to this episode and saying, hey, I desire some of that.
Hey, I've opened myself up to maybe a small group or something like that.
What's then the next opportunity? How can I step into some of that friendship, this iron sharpening iron? What are ways that maybe you've cultivated that within the small group maybe even?
Again, men need to be convinced that this is important because accountability groups and small groups, these are programs, church programs, which are good.
They're not bad, but church programs just put people together and then friendships develop as people are convinced that friendships are good and helpful and biblical.
They don't just necessarily find someone that they have common interests with, although that's helpful, but they.
they're intentional about it and they spend time on it they give effort toward it um you know and all that takes
work i want to ask you greg as you've cultivated friendship we talked about some of that seminary connection you hey john's going to be heading into the pastorate you're in in a lawyer how have you cultivated friendship with even the pastors that that have shepherded you? How have you sought to say, hey, I want to befriend the pastor.
I want to just be an encouragement to him.
Sure.
That's a good question
You know, when I was on the elder team, I had probably closer friendships with some of the guys than I do now.
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