Get tips on how to lead an effective small group even if you don't think you're ready.
by Brett Eastman
Some of you have been leading groups for six years—hosting is old hat for you. Some of you have been doing it for six months and may be looking to become a better host. And some of you just completed your first six-week study and, frankly, are still recovering from the experience.
Some of you may have stories like mine: John, who was a leader of a college group I was in for six weeks, tapped me ...
Here are some things to keep in mind when money isn't a factor.
by Nancy Beach
Since many of us who serve in ministry end up leading volunteers, the editors at Gifted for Leadership wanted to find out how leading volunteers differed from leading paid staff. So we asked Nancy Beach, a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church as well as a GFL editorial advisor, who has vast experience in leading staff, volunteers, and the staff who lead volunteers.
How the right approach to your sessions can make your meetings more meaningful.
by Life Together
Being an effective leader demands a planning and a prayerful heart.
When you go to prepare for each small group meeting, review the session and the leader's notes, and write down your responses to each question. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to do something other than engage in discussion. These exercises will help your group live what the Bible teaches, not just talk about ...
Learn what to expect, and how to react, as a small-group coach.
Joel Comiskey
I'm sorry to say it, but no coaching relationship develops to perfect levels of openness and communication overnight. Instead, most coaches pass through predictable stages of highs and lows, which can be understood as a series of coaching stages. The following is a brief walk-through of those stages, including practical advice for growth.
A good coaching system can mean the difference between success and failure in your small groups.
David Owen
"We can get them started, all right. We just can't seem to keep them going!" I was talking with the executive minister of a large denomination known for planting large numbers of new churches. I remembered what he said because I myself was about to plant a new church!
The same thing could be said for small groups. We can get them started, but can we keep them going? An adequate coaching system can ...
Several potential leaders aren't leading because they've embraced common myths—dispel those myths with biblical truths.
Len Woods
With the growth of the Internet has come a huge increase in the spread of so-called urban legends. These mythical stories (for example, the ring of evil doctors that supposedly harvests the kidneys of drugged hotel patrons) have absolutely no basis in truth.
Though these urban legends are patently false, they are unusually creative and interesting. They often seem credible. The effect is that many ...
Great leaders come in all shapes and sizes, but they have these practices in common.
Sheila Ely
Healthy leaders come in all shapes and sizes and successful small group leadership is not reserved for a mysterious few. Some would have us believe that healthy leaders are specially gifted, more educated and own more vibrant personalities than other leaders. Not so! The educated the uneducated, married and single, shy and outgoing, those gifted as teachers and those gifted as evangelists equally ...
About two years ago we fired our coaches. OK, truth be told, we didn't really have any coaches to fire. Two years ago we liberated our small group staff to coach the small group leaders directly—without the aid of a lay coach.
First, let me recognize that this will not work in every environment. I believe that small group structures and systems are not universally applicable. Principles may be, ...
How much authority should you exert over your group?
The Small Group Network Community
Darryl wants to be the best leader he can be. But leading these people is sometimes like trying to shepherd cats! This week he decided to usurp more authority. He'd hoped that his group were up to being challenged, but they just sat there and did not respond. Now Darryl is confused about how "strong" of a leader he should be with the group.
Printer view of these results
