I read a great article on leadership of small groups by Rod Dempsey at Smallgroups.com that is a great summation of the task you and I have as leaders. The article was very brief, yet he hit the big issues that all leaders need to wrestle with in their small group.
The four components of leadership are as follows:
Vision: The leader is the one who sees the desired future for the group. This vision keeps the group on task and going in the right direction. Habakkuk wrote "write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run that reads it."
For our small groups, the vision is simple: people will experience spiritual transformation, develop meaningful relationships, and care for others.
Influence: A leader must influence others to work toward achieving the vision. Influence is gained by using words, knowledge, skills, and examples to guide others towards vision fulfillment. The main tool for influence in your group is the Bible. Properly taught and applied, the vision for small groups will be fulfilled.
Development: Leaders must be preparing the next generation of leaders. By developing other leaders, you are multiplying your influence. 2 Timothy 2:2 is Paul's charge to Timothy to do just that: develop leaders. This means you must identify and train an apprentice in your group.
God's priorities: A leader recognizes that it is not about his or her own agenda but God's agenda. We get our marching orders from God, not from ourselves, the latest trend, or the world. Stay diligent in your personal Bible study and preparation. In so doing, you will stay connected to the power needed for leadership.
To foster some discussion, "Which of these is the hardest for you to implement?"
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