We have found that most people who attend small groups are looking for the opportunity to share. And that expectation translates into the kind of group leader needed in small groups.
In one of our studies, we asked group attendees “which, if any, of the following describe the leader/facilitator of your small class or group?” Here’s a chart with the results.
Notice that making people feel comfortable sharing is expected of anyone who is a small group leader. Being a good Bible teacher is not unimportant; it is simply not viewed as the most important trait of a good small group leader.
Churches that have an emphasis on spiritual formation in their small groups need to recognize this expectation. People engage in small groups because they want to be involved in something bigger than themselves. They are looking for community. Spiritual formation provides the depth and meaning they need, but the relational component in which the group fosters transparency and honest in relationships cannot be ignored. Thriving groups will be both formative and relational.
Small groups thrive when there is intentional leadership.
Multiply Leadership
Built into the fabric of every small group should be the desire for and development of leadership. Leaders must multiply themselves into other leaders. Not only is this how community grows across the life of the church, this provides the kind of stability needed to sustain the life of the small groups.
Churches that value sustained growth, both numerically and spiritually, will spend time and effort multiplying its leadership. The more people are pursuing community through small groups, the more leaders are needed to facilitate that pursuit. There’s always a need for new direction, new leadership, new energy. This won’t happen if leadership is not duplicating itself. Discipling and multiplying leaders must be a high priority of churches and church leaders who want to have thriving communities in their small groups.
For this to really work, the church should have a culture of multiplication. It’s not just leadership. Multiply disciples, ministries, groups and churches. Multiply everything. In that kind of church environment, leaders will multiply leaders. Leaders won’t get burned out but will find the duplication of ministry and leadership constantly providing fresh energy and excitement. This breeds healthy communities in the small groups of the church.
Model Leadership
Good leadership is important to the health of small groups. In order for leaders to develop leaders for small groups, leadership must be modeled for future leaders. It’s not enough to hold a leadership class here and there or give future leaders opportunities to lead. Leadership must be modeled.
Every leader must model. This includes the senior or lead pastors. I’ve chosen to do this in my own church. I am a pastor, but I am also a small-group leader. Why? Because you can’t lead what you do not live.
