Everybody needs a coach—whether to help you plant a garden, build a home, improve a golf swing, or lead a small group. The question is: What does coaching look like? How do we inspire, shepherd, and develop leaders of groups so that they grow in wisdom, maturity, and skills?
To help our coaches, we've outlined four key practices for the oversight of leaders.
Modeling: Pursue Christ-likeness. Grow in the life of full devotion you're inviting others to lead. Paul said, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). I remember when Ryan, now almost 16, was about four years old. We were walking down Michigan Avenue in Chicago and I was holding his hand. I let go to pick up a large piece of paper in our path on the otherwise clean sidewalk. I threw it in a trash can and turned to grab Ryan's hand—but he was gone. For a split second, I panicked—it was a busy street with many passersby. I turned around and discovered he was several feet behind me, picking up another piece of trash he had spotted. He threw it in the can and grabbed my hand. It struck me—he watches everything I do!
We're always modeling, whether we realize it or not. Coaches should pursue the Jesus way of life for their own benefit and growth, but should be aware that leaders are looking to them—at least sometimes—to show the way and to live a life worth emulating. We inspire others when we pursue Christ. It's job one for coaches.
Just because people are hesitant doesn't mean they're not ready to be small-group leaders.
by Brett Eastman
When it comes to small group ministry, the need for leaders is always great, yet people are often hesitant to take on this role. Being asked may open the gate to a herd of excuses:
"I'm just too busy."
"I don't have enough knowledge of the Bible."
"I'm not the leader type."
But as Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, says, "A small group leader doesn't have to be a spiritual giant, a Bible scholar, ...
Build leader support events from the bottom up, rather than the top down.
Cindy Chavez
I have just become the new pastor of our church's small group ministry after "growing up" in our small group system. My husband and I have been small group leaders and coaches for the past 10 years and have birthed six new groups. We currently have 350 members in our church with 18 small groups. Our groups consist of the "typical" home groups and "speciality" groups such as divorcees.
A collection of resources that can improve your listening skills and help you apply them in small-group situations
"Small Groups in Depth" collections are assembled by the editors of SmallGroups.com as a method of continuing education for people participating in small-groups ministry. Each collection offers step-by-step training on a specific ministry skill or practice. Individuals may read through each resource on their own as a method of self improvement, or may customize the articles, discussion questions, ...
What makes Christian education distinct from its secular counterpart?
Howard Hendricks
As a Christian educator, my goal is not to lecture, or even to lecture with excellence. My goal is to teach in such a way that students both learn and employ their knowledge. Teachers should view themselves as nothing less than disciplers. The knowledge we communicate affects more than the minds of our hearers; it should change lives.
In particular, I want to see the members of my group develop five ...
Turbo groups are an effective way to train several new small-group leaders and co-leaders at once. They are also an excellent method for exposing potential leaders to the routines and requirements of a small group in order to gauge their willingness and capability for the role.This download, produced from ...
Steve Gladen is pastor of the Small Group Network at Saddleback Church, where he oversees 2,500 adult small groups. In that capacity, he loves watching a big church become small through true community developed in group life. Steve is the author of several resources, including ...
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