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.
Discuss key questions Christians have faced over two millennia - and provide answers for those questions for today.
The Early Church course provides more than an introduction to church history. It helps people ask the key questions Christians have faced over two millennia—and provides answers for those questions for today.
Session 1
Paul and His Times The apostle Paul was the church's greatest missionary.
Session 2
Early MartyrsIn the first three centuries, many Christians courageously gave their lives to testify ...
Do you encourage and challenge your group to go deeper?
Sue Skalicky
I am impulsive. When I get an idea, I do not like to wait to act on it. Over the years, this quality has been mostly positive, but there have been times when it has dug me into a hole from which it was difficult to get out. A couple of years ago, our pastor was deployed to Iraq and an interim pastor took his place. The interim, Ron, had been a part of our congregation for countless years, but I had ...
Training is essential; here's how to get your leaders to come.
Michael C. Mack
We are having a difficult time at our church motivating group leaders to seek training. Most come to our monthly training meetings, but many others hardly ever show up. Additionally, we have offered optional Sunday-evening classes and area small group seminars for group leaders, but no one has came. There is a great need for training, but we just can't seem to drum up interest. Any suggestions?
1. Having an apprentice in your group is one of the best strategies for evangelism and growth available to the church. In order to bring new people into your group (and the church), you need trained leaders. But where will these leaders come from? If every small group has an apprentice, you'll always have leaders in training. Just as an intern trains in the hospital under a doctor, an apprentice trains ...
Ten steps for training and preparing an apprentice to lead.
Michael C. Mack
Leading the group is not the most important thing a group leader does. Although that is where most churches place most of their energy in leadership training, I submit that the most important thing a group leader does is something else; it is developing the apprentice leader.
I've studied growing churches. I've studied different church and small group models, including the Cell Church and Meta-Church. ...
Using the internet to boost your training process.
Dan Lentz
You are reading this because you value small group community and relational ministry…me too.
A big part of small group ministry is trying to figure out the best way to train and to model relational ministry to emerging group leaders who will then do the same for others in their future small groups. (Sounds a lot like 2 Tim. 2:2!) That makes the connection between you (as a church leader) and ...
Don't let people fall through the cracks of your small group ministry.
Boyd Pelley
I love orange juice and we were out, so I stopped by our local grocery store and went to the freezer unit to grab a couple cans of concentrate. I walked up to the glass door and peered in. It was gone! What, no orange juice! We have a great grocery store, and I know that if I go back today, chances are there will be a full shelf of orange juice concentrate. Why? Because I know my grocery store chain ...
Statistics force us to see the reality of what's occurring in our small groups program.
Joel Comiskey
Over the past few years I have tried numerous weight reduction programs. During those weight loss weeks, I have forced myself to get on the scale, knowing it would tell me the truth—the reality of the situation. In some of my heavier moments, I have avoided the scale like the plague.
The main reason to keep and review weekly small group statistics is quality control—to know the reality ...
Printer view of these results
