Three Suggestions for Leaders:
1. Pray for your cell group members by name.
Recall the issues going on in their lives and trust that prayer and obedience will transform them.
2. Be honest and open about any stumbling blocks in your own leadership.
Are you doing/not doing anything that is hindering the group from growing? Are you the bottleneck? Are you unable to trust others with leadership responsibilities? What parts of this Body are still inactivated?
3. Ask God specifically to give opportunities for growth and then be on the lookout.
He could allow a tragedy to bring you closer. He could present a mission opportunity. Or he may just want you to have late-night conversations that lead to deeper and more meaningful relationships.
Three Suggestions for Everyone Else:
1. Discover your strengths and spiritual gifts so you can use them more to build up your cell group.
If you have an amazing gift of hospitality but never offer your home, then your group is missing experiencing your gift. If you are really good at listening to problems but never reach out to the one with a problem, then you’re holding back your ministry.
2. Take responsibility for the growth of others.
Take time this week to get to know one or two people within your group and see how you can encourage and build them up spiritually. Should you gather for prayer? Maybe there is sin in their life, and you’re the one to provide accountability.
3. Take initiative in finding outside opportunities and resources to grow your group.
Perhaps you need to take a retreat together, and your leader isn’t gifted to organize that—so you do it!
I tell my group all the time how talented they are and how much I love them. I do it because #1 it’s true and #2 that’s how Jesus grew his small group of 12 broken men into a movement that changed the world.
