Small group leaders are in the most strategic position in the church to effect real, lasting life change and spiritual growth. The church's best method for caring, shepherding, loving, and growing people is through small group leaders!
We've probably all heard assertions like this before, and while we affirm the truth of these statements, we have to ask how we are supposed to make it happen. If small group leaders are truly the best spiritual formation directors in the church, then how do they do it? Let's start by asking some basic questions about spiritual growth and by looking to God's Word for the answers.
1. What is the goal?
Christlikeness: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18). We start with the understanding that the ultimate goal of all spiritual growth is to become like Christ. Everything we do is targeted toward helping people become more like Jesus. Each day, each week, each month, each year, parts of our lives are transformed so that we are more like Him. This means much more than just our actions; it means our attitudes, our thoughts, our character, our minds. The fruit of the Spirit quantify this goal of "Christlikeness": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
2. What is the context?
Authentic Christian Community: "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3). Everything that grows has an environment in which it grows. For a microorganism, it is the culture in the bottom of a petri dish. For a plant, it is the soil. The context or environment for the growth of a Christian is authentic Christian community. That community can be defined by how well the "one anothers" in the New Testament are being lived out. We know the process happens best where people genuinely care for one another, spur each other on, confess their sins to each other and pray for each other, and encourage one another daily!
3. Who or what is the Agent?
The Holy Spirit: "God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood." (1 Peter 1:2). "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22, 23). The agent for life change is not the small group leader or a teacher, but the Spirit of God. The small group leader's role in this is to facilitate the working of the Holy Spirit in people's lives. The leader makes the environment right (both in and out of group time) for the Spirit to work and for growth to occur. This means leaders must be sensitive to the Spirit themselves, which only comes through spending time with God regularly and meaningfully.
4. What are the means?
By the renewing of our minds: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2). The word renewing in the original language means "to renovate." The word minds in the original language means our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, will. So when we are being transformed, we – our whole beings, everything we are – are being completely renovated, not just tidied up. As small group leaders, we need to see people more holistically and realize God wants to use us and our groups to change them from the inside out.
5. What method is used?
Application of Scripture: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). The small group puts the Scriptures to use in people's lives. We don't just "study" it. We do what it says! We don't just do Bible studies to become more knowledgeable about the Scriptures; we actively use it to become equipped for every good work. Transformational leaders make the Bible useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training people in their groups.
6. What is the time frame for spiritual growth?
Lifetime Process: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14). We do not become completely or instantaneously like Christ in this lifetime, of course, yet parts of our character or attitude or thoughts may become like His as we grow. It is a process.
7. What is the Leader's Role?
First, be a shepherd leader. Be concerned where people are in their spiritual journeys. You have to know where people are in order to shepherd them to where they ought to be. The leader and the group love and accept each person where he/she is on his/her spiritual journey. They treat each person with grace, not judgment. At the same time, you want to help the group members grow. Group members encourage one another, spur each other on, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom. But they do not judge one another.
Second, model a disciple's lifestyle. Spiritual growth must be happening in the life of the leader. You are a model for what life change might look like to others.
Third, provide the context: authentic Christian community. Hint: that requires much more than a once-a-week meeting! Real, Biblical community happens when group members are "doing life together."
Fourth, assess where group members are in their spiritual journeys. The small groups at our church use the Christian Life Profile to assess spiritual growth along thirty core competencies. This helps group members to know where they are in these areas, and it helps group leaders develop a strategy for helping people grow in their groups. The questions group leaders need to ask, regardless of how they assess spiritual maturity, are:
» Where are we strong as a group?
» Where do we need to grow as a group?
» Where are individuals strong?
» Where do individuals need to grow?
Fifth, provide a process for growth to happen:
» Application-oriented Bible study as a group. Gear studies toward areas where most group members need to grow. Plan out 6 months to a year of studies to work on the weakest areas.
» One-on-one mentoring by members of the group. Ask group members who are relatively strong in one core competency to disciple a person or persons who would like to grow in the same area. This gets everyone involved in the spiritual growth process!
» Leadership development. Hebrews 5:11-6:1 shows that an indication of spiritual growth is when we begin to teach and lead others. As members of your group grow spiritually, you should include them more and more in the leadership of the group's functions, allowing them opportunities to grow in spiritual maturity and leadership abilities. As we step up to lead others is when we seem to grow the most ourselves. Disciples of Jesus are not meant just to be present at group meetings; they are meant to be sent, just like Jesus' apostles were. Jesus said, "My true disciples produce much fruit."
God has called small group leaders to a very strategic position, a very influential position, a very crucial position in his church. At first, that job may seem overwhelming, but then we realize that He has provided everything needed to carry out the mission He has given us. We are simply His servants, His managers over that which He has entrusted. As good stewards, let's throw our lives into His vision for people fully devoted to Jesus Christ and His cause.
