We’ve constructed a new leadership development pathway for our small group leaders at Grace Community Church.
I talked about it on a guest post I wrote for Matt Steen right HERE.
Here’s a video that I put together for our leaders, with help from Dustin York and Brian Coleman. *Make sure you watch about the 1:50 -2:05 mark for a cool effect that we incorporated.
image credit: Creation Swap User Rob Gros
I grew up in a Christian home. My parents were, and still are, amazingly solid followers of Jesus. I look to them and, when I grow up, want to
They did a great job pointing me to Jesus and, at the ripe age of 6, I began following Him. I didn’t understand it all. But I understood enough to know that, without Jesus, I didn’t have a relationship with God. And I desperately wanted a relationship with Him!
As I got into high school, I started hearing “those testimonies.” You know which ones I’m talking about. The radical conversions. The “I was a drug addict when I walked in tonight, and now I follow Jesus and I don’t even want for those drugs anymore.” The “I slept with every guy I looked at for 5 years…and now I love Jesus.”
Part of me, the sinful part of me for sure, wished I had a testimony like that. I mean, come on…I began following Jesus when I was 6. What kind of serious trouble can I get in by then? If I’d waited a few years, say, at least 10, maybe I could’ve added a bit of flair to my testimony. I wish I had a cool story. For a few reasons:
1. I bet they had a crazy amount of fun. Sure, it was empty. Sure, it didn’t ultimately satisfy. But dang, they had a good time doing it! (I know…don’t judge me. You’ve had those thoughts too). I know Christians can, and should, have fun, but…
2. They can look back on their life and assuredly say, “I’m different now that I follow Jesus.” From drugs to hugs. From passionate love with the opposite sex…to passionately following Jesus. From fights with classmates to fights with the devil. From…ok, I’ll stop. You get the picture.
That second reason really hung over me. And if I can be honest, some days it still tries to hook me in. “You’re not really different” I hear whispered. “What has Jesus really done in your life?” is shot my way. “Are you sure you’re following Jesus?” enters my doubt.
If I only had a sexy testimony!
But wait. My testimony is sexy. It is radical. It is powerful.
Once I was lost, and now I’m found. Once I was an enemy, and now I’m a son. Once I was bent against God, and now He’s my friend. Once I was pointing towards an eternity apart from Jesus, and now eternity with Him has begun.
The radical part of anyone’s salvation isn’t the “sin” part. It’s not in highlighting the depth of depravity that the human soul can dive. It’s in highlighting the love of a beautiful King who’s kind enough to save a sinner like me. It’s in pointing people to a God who rescues the powerless. Pointing people to a God who is gracious enough to save someone who, at the age of 6, doesn’t even fully grasp the depth of His love. Someone who, at the age of 6, has no idea what life holds and how grace will be such a powerful part of it.
I share this because I know I’m not the only one who has doubts. I’m not the only one who doesn’t have a radical conversion story. I’m not the only one who has sinned more after I began following Jesus than before.
And I’m not the only one who needs a reminder that salvation is about highlighting the love of a good King whose willing and able to rescue.
Question:
Ever doubted?
*image credit: creation swap user Rob Gros
I ask small group leaders often, “Who is your apprentice? Your Co-leader? What potential leaders do you have in your group?”
The reply I get more than any other is this:
Nobody in my group is anywhere near ready to lead other people.
I guarantee you, though, if I were to sit in their group meeting, I could pick out a handful of potential leaders.
I’ve found that the word “potential” is a tough word to grasp. We often jump right over it. Instead of “potential,” we hear “proven.” Or “ready.” Or “perfect.”
photo credit: Ahisgett (Creative Commons)
“Potential” is different. Think back to your days in science class, where you learned about the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. It’s the energy of work. The more work you do, the more kinetic energy you produce. The faster you move, the more kinetic energy you build up.
Potential energy is energy that’s stored up, waiting for an outside mover. Waiting for a nudge, a kick, or a “suggestion.” It’s hard to “see” potential energy. A roller coaster, at the top of a hill, has potential energy. A ball, just before it’s dropped, has lots of potential energy. A spring, when fully outstretched, has lots of potential energy.
When I’m sitting with a leader, asking what other “potential” leaders are present in their group, they are looking for “kinetic energy” leaders. They’re looking for someone who’s already leading. They want to suggest someone whose kinetic energy is building, not someone who has potential energy stored up.
Someone who has potential energy may look uncommitted and unmotivated. They may appear lazy. It may seem that they’re far from being ready to lead.
Seeing potential is tough, because you can’t look at who, or what, is in front of you. You’re looking at what’s in front of someone else. Often, what’s in front of them is something that they haven’t seen themselves. Potential energy isn’t moving mountains and creating waves. Potential energy may be sitting calmly, not realizing the kinetic energy right in front of them.
Which is exactly why they need a nudge. From you.
1. Tell them that you believe in them. And mean it. Encouragement goes a long way in nudging a potential leader.
2. Tell them the potential you see in them. Help paint a picture for them of what could be if they were to lead.
3. Give them a chance to lead, and set things up for an easy win.
4. Ask for feedback on your own leadership. Ask them how they think you could improve.
5. Read a book on leadership…together. Meet as you’re reading through it, and discuss observations you find.
6. Give them authority over an area of your organization, or over a special project. Trust them to make decisions and lead well, and follow up to ensure they feel supported and are growing.
Question:
Do you find it difficult to spot potential leaders? How do you give them a nudge?
* photo credit: Ahisgett
I’m taking a break from my blog between Christmas and New Year’s. I’m re-posting a couple of your favorites (based on clicks) and a couple of my own favorite posts from 2011. I hope you enjoy! I’ll be interacting in the comments section, so if you comment, I’ll respond. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
image via iStock photo user Anthia Cumming
You do weird things. And please don’t tell me you have no idea what I’m talking about.
I’m not saying that these things are wrong. They’re just weird to me. I need you to help me understand why I need to do them. Why they’re important. Why you do them every week. Why I need to join in. Why I feel like such an outsider when I’m there.
I don’t want to be an outsider. Nobody does. I’d like to feel like I’m a part of you guys…but I need you to be patient. Walk me through understanding and doing. It took you lots of years to get where you are…help me get there. But don’t assume that, after 2 weeks, I’m going to “get” it.
Because when you don’t help me understand, you push me away…and it seems you don’t care that I come back.
Signed,
* image via iStock photo user Anthia Cumming
Our small groups at Grace Community Church recently transitioned their discussion/study time from a curriculum to being based on, and driven by, the Sunday morning sermon.
I recently had the chance to sit down with my good friends, Brett Eastman and Steve Gladen, and talk through how we go about producing our curriculum every week, and a couple of reasons why we made the switch. Brett and Steve produce The Small Group Show, a series of videos designed to resource and encourage small groups pastors and leaders.
Here’s the interview I did with them.
Question:
Are you a part of a sermon-driven small group, or a curriculum-driven one?
image credit: Creation Swap user Jamie Current
I’ve read a lot in 2011. And there are three books that rose to the top for me.
, by Dale CarnegieThis is an old book, but it’s still unbelievably applicable today. Because relationships are still vital to whatever you do, whether that’s at work, home, or church. This book oozes practical wisdom.
, by Steve Gladen (blog)I know, it’s niche. But it’s good. If you’re overseeing small groups, this book is gold for you. Steve has laid out the method that Saddleback Church has pioneered in launching thousands of small groups. And he’s broken it down where churches who are much smaller can learn from the principles that Saddleback has used.
, by Larry OsborneOur staff read through this book together and it was so, so good. Osborne packs this book full of the wisdom he’s learned in leading his teams of staff members at North Coast Church. If you’re a team leader, or plan on being one, especially in the church, this is a must-read.
Question:
Have you read a must-read this year?
* image credit: Creation Swap user Jamie Current
image credit: creation swap user Matt Gruber
Lots of small groups take the Christmas season off. And that’s fine.
But if you’re one of the groups that really loves Jesus, you’re not taking the season off. You’re soldiering through like the little drummer boy who could. Massive traveling, family celebrating, and time off of work won’t slow you and your group down!
If you’re one of the groups that’s meeting throughout the month of December, you may be wondering what you can do that’s a little outside of the norm. I’ve got some suggestions.
Don’t feel bad about wanting to have fun together as a group this Christmas season. Having fun together is very biblical.
and/or study guide
, by Rick Warren
, by Rick McKinley
to help.* image credit: creation swap user Matt Gruber
image via Creation Swap, Jordan Chesbrough
Jim Elliot is one of my favorite missionaries.
He was a missionary in Ecuador in the 1950s, attempting to bring the Gospel to the Waodani people. The Waodani were savages, and violent to those outside their tribe. You can read his journal HERE
Elliot and his team, who included Nate Saint (you can watch his story in the film, End of the Spear
Jim’s most famous quote is
He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose.
But I ran across another, longer quote that is so perfect for modern-day followers of Jesus. It challenged me. I think it may challenge you, too.
HT: Challies
“Faith” and “safe” are incompatible. Be dangerous. Live courageously.
*image credit: Creation Swap user Jordan Chesbrough
When it comes to talking about the marks of a true follower of Jesus, it’s no surprise that Paul starts out talking about love.
Literally, Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” This is significant because the hypocrite has one thing on his mind:
What will people think of me?
Not, “Who am I?” Not, “How can I serve?” Not, “How can I make much of the power of the Gospel to transform?” The hypocrite is primarily concerned with what others think of them, trying to make the outside look better than the inside. (Matthew 23:27)
Hypocrisy loves to hide.
We have this part of us that tries to hide and appear better than we really are. We don’t want people to see the “real” us. Because the “real’ us may be repulsive, scandalous, depressed, and unworthy. We think, “If you only knew the ‘real’ me…”
The great news about our approaching God is that we don’t have to hide! Christ died for us, right in the midst of all of our messiness. And the Church, authentic community, should be the same. But there’s a vast difference between the group leader who’s pursuing the Gospel with their group…and the one who’s not.
Anything less than genuine love (Romans 12:9) is cheapening the grace and mercy and kindness and power of God. Because it’s making much of you, and little of the God we say we love.
Being vulnerable with your faith story leads to Gospel health. And if our aim is Gospel-centered community, then we need to pursue genuine love. Love that says, “I know you, I know your story, I know your pain and your failures and your frustrations and your questions…and I love you still.” That’s what the Gospel says. (Romans 5:6)
And that’s what we should say, too.
*image credit: Creation Swap User Josiah Kopp
photo credit: Creation Swap user Red Bottle
I don’t know what you’re good at.
Maybe you’re amazing at building things.
Maybe you’re skilled at fixing broken things.
Maybe you’re a gifted communicator.
Or you can write in a way that makes thoughts come alive.
Maybe you have a strong back and can move heavy boxes.
Maybe you can coach soccer like nobody’s business.
Maybe it’s working with electricity that you’re skilled at.
Maybe you have every Friday night free.
Maybe you can think “systems” in a way that structurally organizes chaotic programs.
Maybe you’re a good painter.
Your “best” is a gift. Especially when you’ve been trained (through school and/or practical on-the-job training) to use that gift more effectively. It’s a blessing God’s given you. There’s nothing wrong with making money doing what you’re good at, but God’s not just given you your gift to make money. He’s given you your gift to bless others and make a difference.
It’s time you stopped complaining about not knowing what you can do.
It’s time you stopped making excuses for not doing.
It’s time you stopped bemoaning a lack of resources.
You’re good at something. I guarantee that you are. There’s something that you do that comes easily for you, but others just can’t seem to pull it off.
God’s given you that gift to serve others.
Find a way to start using it.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10
*Photo credit: Creation Swap user Red Bottle
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