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Bible Studies

Leading Well

Tips for small group or Bible study leaders

"I told my group last night that we have been doing it all wrong. But now we're going to get it right!" I was simultaneously excited and dismayed. The small group leader's words spoke volumes. We had just spent a day and a half in a leaders' retreat. This leader's enthusiasm and desire to grow gave me incredible hope for the future of her group, but I was a little worried that she thought she had been doing everything wrong. It was an obvious exaggeration. The truth is that just about everyone can lead a small group and everyone can and should seek to improve. Here are three truths which can set every leader free to lead well.

No Fear

Most people do not consider themselves leaders. It is not a position to which they aspire. When they do take the important step into small group leadership, that feeling of inadequacy can lead to great humility or great fear. To avoid the latter, it is essential to gain confidence to lead.

Listen to Paul's encouragement to Timothy, reminding the new leader that God does not give a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). The Lord gives power to meet new challenges, love to embrace each one entrusted to our care and
self-discipline to stay the course. When the leader realizes the wealth of resources God makes available, she can crush fear with the resulting empowerment.

The key, of course, is to remain humble, teachable. Pray David's prayer from Psalm 25, where he passionately pleads for God to "show him, lead him, teach him." Peter reminded believers that God lifts up the humble (1 Peter 5:6). The leader whose heart is to be a student first—in essence, to be teachable before teaching—will more easily conquer fear.

Small group health does not thrive in a performance environment. If you are worried about how your group members will perceive your skills, you are nurturing fear. Instead, focus on God's assignment for you. See Him first, then people, and no room will remain for debilitating fear.

No Sabotage

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Like Peter, we step out of the boat, glide across the waves, thoroughly enjoy the journey, and then with one lapse of focus, slip beneath the waves. That moment of stray vision costs us joy, growth and influence. How can small group leaders avoid this kind of self-sabotage?

• Pray. No magic formulas exist for successful small group leadership. Any experienced leader will tell you the dynamics are constantly shifting. However, one element is crucial for success: prayer. It is a non-negotiable. Leaders who pray for their group members by name regularly throughout the week will see tangible results in and outside their meetings.
• Prepare. Interaction with God's Word is essential for groups that encourage ongoing spiritual transformation. Choosing good curriculum is a start. (Do the questions stimulate discussion? Does balance exist between interaction with the Word and life application?) Beyond the curriculum, the pivotal factor is lesson preparation. The leader should study the lesson, Bible passages and questions well enough to facilitate meaningful and engaging discussions.
• Share. We learned this lesson when we were children. Leading a group is no time to forget our manners. Small groups offer wonderful laboratories for personal ministry involvement. The leader who intentionally involves each member in the life and ministry of the group, empowering others to assist with everything from hosting to lesson facilitation, from phone calls to prayer, will avoid burnout and raise new leaders.
• Multiply. No matter how spiritual the leader or outstanding the meetings, if a group does not multiply, it will begin to decline. Most group members and leaders will not believe this until attendance has already stagnated and people begin to leave. Sending out new leaders, group members or even the original group leader to begin another group brings new life to both the old and new groups.
  
  Accountability defuses the potential for sabotage. Every leader needs a coach who will give encouragement and fresh perspective on the dynamics of her group. She needs someone who is unquestionably for her, who will have the courage to point out areas for improvement. A leader who will follow trusted guidance will not fall into the trap of habits that sabotage success.

No Guilt

Small group leadership can become similar to pastoring. Leaders are intimately and influentially connected to their group members. That kind of access comes with a deep awareness of serious responsibility. It can also open a door for the enemy to heap guilt on the leader's heart. The refrain goes something like this: My members are not growing. They are not committed. That meeting was lousy. This group is at a standstill. It is all my fault.

Guilt cannot produce permanent, positive change. For discernment between guilt that immobilizes and conviction that liberates, every leader should meditate regularly on Romans 8. It speaks empowerment from the opening verse—"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"—to the closing cheer—"[Nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God." The power to believe these amazing promises comes with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Leaders who want to make an eternal difference will put spiritual integrity at the top of their priority list. Cleaning the house will not supersede seeking God. Making goodies to impress guests will not replace the time needed to pray for those guests. Being able to lead others into the lesson—not as an expert or perfect Christian—comes through a fresh relationship with the Lord.

In addition to taking time with the Lord, spend time with other leaders. Fellowship with people who share your burden can be incredibly encouraging, as long as the purpose is for exhortation, not comparison. Just knowing you are not the only one facing a particular problem is helpful. Additionally, the creativity and idea-sharing that take place in informal gatherings and training sessions with other leaders are invaluable. Never miss an opportunity for "iron to sharpen iron," and you will certainly lead your group well!

LORI O’DEA is the Doctor of Ministry coordinator at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and a former small-groups pastor. She may be reached at lodea@agts.edu.

Recommended Resources:

• Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson, Walking the Small Group Tightrope (2003).
• Joel Comiskey, Leadership Explosion (2000). www.smallgroups.com