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Developing leaders is essential to long term growth in sustaining any
ministry. Jesus started with twelve and even within that group there were three
who formed an inner circle. Through micro-groups of three to four (including the
facilitator) leaders can be developed in a small intimate community. As the
group grows they can split off to form more micro-groups (of no more than four
people).
Leaders for Life
 | Discussions can be based on Bible reading for the week |
| Another resource we use is the book "How People Grow" by Henry
Cloud and John Townsend. The book comes with a workbook that can be used as a
springboard for discussion. |
| Core values and agreed upon ground rules should be maintained for the groups to
flourish. |
Goal:
To produce
leaders of excellent character committed to obeying Christ, reaching the lost,
and shepherding the body of Christ.
Thus we will:
| Call men and women to Christian growth and character |
| Equip them to reach out to the lost |
| Mentor them in caring for the soul and developing an
environment for growth |
| Prepare them for temptation and understanding the signs
of leaders at risk and how to overcome them |
| Prepare them to multiply and lead safe communities for
discipleship and outreach |
Core Values:
| Normalization of imperfection, pain, grief and suffering |
| Connection |
| Mentoring the whole person |
| Safety and Confidentiality |
| Modeling |
| Honesty and Vulnerability |
| Transferability |
| The Bible, the Spirit and the Body as foundational for all growth |
| Dependence on God and others in the Body |
| Forgiveness and acceptance |
| Importance of fruit bearing and activity |
| Recognition of our spiritual poverty |
| The necessity of obedience |
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Recognition of
Grace, Truth, and Time needed for Spiritual Growth |
Through this
context of micro-groups over a process of sufficient time, community is
established where life transformation can take place as a proper environment for
growth is modeled. As representatives of the micro-group are developed they are
also challenged and trained to initiate other micro-groups and traditional sized
small groups where outreach and discipleship can take place.
Suggested Ground Rules:
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot
change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the
difference. Living one day at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to your will; so
that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever
in the next. Amen.”
Reinhold Niebuhr
| We respect the confidentiality and anonymity of
each person: “What is said here stays here!” |
| We avoid “crosstalk” (interrupting out of turn)
during the meeting. |
| We provide each other personal support and
accountability (grace, truth and time). |
| We provide safety for honest sharing of personal
thoughts and ideas. (No words are off limits except taking the name of the
Lord in vain). |
| Focus on recent experiences and events, sharing your
personal insights, experience, strength and hope. |
| Allow everyone in
the group to share once before you share a second time. |
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