Ski Boat or Cruise Ship

Are you captain of a ski boat or a Cruise ship? A ski boat makes a lot of noise, has a burst of sudden energy and 1-2 people get out of the water. A cruise ship slowly pulls out of the dock and gradually builds momentum with a result that hundreds of people are taken to a new place.

The last few weeks we have put a lot of emphasis on training leaders, publicizing groups/classes, and recruiting participants. Some may be tired and thinking “Whew! I’m glad that is behind me. Now I can get down to the business of leading.” But is it behind you?

Multiplying leaders of OPEN groups are continuously (yes, some seasons are more intense than others) looking for new leaders to coach and new participants to assimilate. I am not saying that you should be discontent with those whom God has compelled already, but that Heaven’s economy always has room for more. (Remember the parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:15-23)

Ask the Lord to reveal ways your group/class can increase in significance and influence to move as many people as possible to the place God wants them to go.

4 levels of Learner

Not all students are created equal. While I agree with the mantra of public education that "every student can learn" The readiness (ability & willingness) of students varies. Have you seen the following students in your class or small group?

Circumstantial Guests – These are the kids who may get stuck in a class because their family is visiting Grandma’s church and the parents are in the sanctuary. You may never see them again but you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to impress upon on them God’s love.

Curious Observers – These are the students who have heard all the promotion about classes starting and they will try it 3 or 4 weeks, if they perceive there is value they will continue. If you don’t capture their hearts in that time frame, it will simply go into the archives as an opportunity missed.

Consistent Participants – These are the students who perceive there is value to the group, but they don’t feel like they have anything of value to contribute. You will do well to cautiously draw them out by asking non-threatening questions directly of them or assigning them tasks that have low-risk. (For kids this could mean handing out the Bibles or delivering the attendance sheet to the office or collecting the crayons after the project. For adults it could be providing refreshments or arriving 10 minutes early to run the vacuum or arrange chairs or prepare a sign-up sheet). Extra caution must be used when you ask these individuals to pray or read out loud or you could lose them altogether!

Committed Core – These are the students who make your group a priority—their week just doesn’t seem complete if they miss your group. Often they will be eager to accelerate the group by suggesting meeting more frequently or asking for extra assignments between sessions. One key to leading this type of student is in establishing a manageable pace. Yes, they must be challenged but you must guard that the person does not exchange spiritual passion for legalistic performance. Some will appear committed to your class/group but their first motivation is meeting their emotional need for attention. Your goal is to keep them focused on the Savior.

What have you found to be effective methods of moving people from one level to the next?

Leaders of Big Groups are Dangerous

Remember what the great missionary Samuel Morris said about developing leaders:

“The greatest leaders are not those who win the most followers. Such leaders are often dangerous to the institution. They become mob leaders, demagogues and dictators. The greatest leadership is that which creates other leaders. Christianity depends for its preservation upon the capacity to pass on the torch of leadership from one generation to another.”

Steve Sonderman offers some good insights into how you can be developing leaders rather than a dangerous leader at this website

Perception and Reality

watch here then read below

When have you made decisions or based your actions upon your perception, just to find out what you thought was true, wasn't actually true? I know I have focused my attention upon a person whom I thought was opposing me, just to find out that this particular person was not my enemy, but Satan was using him. Scripture says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.

There have been other times when I polled a small population and assumed their conclusions represented the larger group. When I created an action plan based upon the opinions of the few then received a pushback from the larger group, I learned that my perceptions are not always reality.

The players in the video above actively receive input, interpret the input they receive and create an action plan. But their action plan does not achieve the intended results because their perceptions are not reality.

Counselors know that often the "presenting problem" is not the real reason the client is in their office. To bring about real change requires discerning the real problem.

Teaching that Transforms

I recently ran across an interesting article that is several years old, but is relevant to any individual involved in Christian Education or Spiritual formation. I only included Dr. Hendrick's main points. If you want to read his explanations you'll have to click on the link at the bottom of this post.

Teaching that Transforms
What makes Christian education distinct from its secular counterpart.
by Howard Hendricks

This article was originally written for all Christian educators, both inside the church and out. It has been adapted to focus on small-group teachers and facilitators.

As a Christian educator, my goal is not to lecture, or even to lecture with excellence. My goal is to teach in such a way that students both learn and employ their knowledge. Teachers should view themselves as nothing less than disciplers. The knowledge we communicate affects more than the minds of our hearers; it should change lives.

In particular, I want to see the members of my group develop five qualities as a result of my teaching.

• Deepening Commitment to Christ
• Growing in Character
• Showing Competence to Live Out the Faith
• Creative in Ministry
• Effective Communicators

Teaching that Transforms | Building Small Groups