What a Small-Group Leader Should Be

I'm all for continuing an important discussion.

by Sam O'Neal

We had some good conversation generated from my last post about What a Small-Group Leader Is Not. So I figured: why stop there? Here are a few more thoughts from the same article, this time about how small-group leaders should view themselves (and what they should do because of it).

So, what is the primary focus that small-group leaders should adopt? The answer is that of a spiritual safari guide. That will need some explaining, I know, but first give some thought to the following two principles of small-group leadership:

Principle 1: Small-group leaders are to be most concerned about the spiritual transformation of their group members. Everything else involved with leading a small group—recruiting new members, choosing Bible studies, resolving conflict—are secondary issues and should be subordinate to the spiritual growth of the people involved. If people gather together to enjoy each other's company, eat good food, sing songs, maybe do a service project, but don't grow closer to Jesus Christ as a result, they have only created a Christianized version of a Kiwanis Club. Not a small group.

Principle 2: Small-group leaders are never able to manufacture spiritual transformation within their group members. This is something that small-group leaders must understand. We cannot force our group members to grow spiritually any more than we could force them to grow taller. No matter how good we become at facilitating discussion questions, resolving conflict, and making nachos, our people will not become more like Jesus unless they are carried there by the Holy Spirit.

These two principles seem contradictory, at first. If small-group leaders are primarily tasked with a job that only the Holy Spirit can fulfill, how can they lead well? The answer is relatively simple: group leaders need to create environments and experiences that allow group members to connect with the Holy Spirit.

And that's what I mean when I talk about small-group leaders as spiritual safari guides.
Can you imagine a safari where the guide spent all of your time talking about flora and fauna instead of actually taking you into the jungle? Or encouraged the tour members to discuss what they felt a rhinoceros might look and sound like, rather than leading everyone to an actual specimen? Or took off his binoculars and said, "Don't ask me where to go; I'm as lost as the rest of you."

Such is the folly of a small-group leader who does not lead—who does not bring his or her group members into the presence of the Holy Spirit by directing expeditions into the mysteries of God's Word, the elements of Truth in this world, and the life stories of other people.

posted by Sam O'Neal on May 13, 2010 10:31 AM

Related Tags: Small-group leader

Comments

Sam, the 2 principles you set out really do go hand-in-hand. Ministry is a partnership with God (albeit a really unequal one with God doing about 95% and us doing a max of 5%).

As Paul points out in 1Corinthians 3:6, we may be planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding, and doing whatever is helpful to create an environment for spiritual transformation. However, it is only God who makes growth happen! So our job as small group leaders is to do our best to pay attention and align our shepherding with what God is doing. Then, we get out of the way and see God work!