Leading a Small Group, Pt. 1
Churches today implore small groups in a variety of ways. Two decades ago, the primary small group existent in churches was the Sunday school class, but as time has passed, church leaders began to explore small groups in different ways. Many still meet in the form of a formal “Sunday school” teaching time each Sunday, but just as many, if not more, meet in small group settings in homes, coffee shops, weight rooms, break rooms, and a myriad of other public places.
While I don’t plan to spend much time establishing the need for small group ministry in this blog, I would encourage you to be knowledgeable of the benefits small groups offer to those who participate regularly in them.
1. A more personal and intimate connection to an innumerable body – the Church of Jesus Christ.
2. Accountability.
3. Personal interaction with people striving for similar goals.
4. ___________________________ – This is a blank for you to fill in. Why do you need a small group?
Ok, so I spent a little time covering some of the needs (in my opinion) for small groups within the church. But what I really want to do is provide some encouragement for those who already lead small groups. How can you most effectively lead the group of individuals which God has entrusted to you? How can you nurture their soul and encourage them to take steps toward Christ-likeness? Here are 8 characteristics of a fantabulous (it is a word) small group leader.
As I see it, these are cross-generational and would work in a Sunday school class full of junior high boys or in a lunchtime coffee shop group primarily consisting of adults. Try ‘em out and see if you don’t realize immediate benefits in your small group.
8 CHARACTERISTICS OF A FANTABULOUS SMALL GROUP LEADER
1. Is Present – Maybe this seems trite, but it’s hard to lead any group if you’re not present in their lives. If you lead a student small group, go to their sporting events, recitals, and concerts. When you see them at the grocery store, engage them in conversation. Be present where they are and they will be present in your small group.
2. Is Supportive – No individual experiences life minus hardship, loss, and trials, and an effective small group leader is right there offering support in the midst of those times. I’m not saying you have to have the answer to hardship, loss, and trials (because most times you will have no answer), but leading a small group effectively requires that you be supportive through tough times.
3. Encourages Personal Spiritual Growth – Now wait a minute. If I lead a small group, shouldn’t I be “leading and feeding?” Well, yes…but their primary source of spiritual nourishment is not in you – it’s in a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. And inevitably, even the best small group leader will not be able to be present in literally every circumstance of life. That’s why those in your small group need to be encouraged to grow spiritually on their own. To purchase, read, and study their Bible on their own. Why? Because their life inside the group is far smaller than their life outside the group.
4. Is Capable of Being Neutral – In certain circumstances, individuals may share things in your small group that might require the capability to be neutral. Here’s what I mean; as a part of #3 (encouraging personal spiritual growth) small group leaders should teach those in their group to seek Biblical counsel, pray, and make decisions accordingly. Your job as small group leader is not to make decisions for individuals, but guide them to make their own decisions. This might require you to be neutral, leaving out your own opinion (unless specifically requested) for the sake of spiritual growth.
Adios for today. See you tomorrow for “Leading a Small Group, Pt. 2″!
(adapted from Doug Fields’ “10 Things a Great Small Group Leader Does” at YouthMinistry.com)
