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Train Small Group Leaders

Learn how to shepherd a small group with love and joy.

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Have you been asked to be a small group leader for your Bible Study group? You might be feeling a bit scared and overwhelmed about it.

Or, has your church Bible Study grown so much that you have a bunch of new leaders? They might be feeling a bit insecure about this new "role" in their lives.

Just being able to “get the job done” doesn't qualify someone to be a small group leader. And, it isn't wise to assume that someone volunteering to fill a leadership role knows how to do it well without training.

Large churches, as well as small churches, need to provide leadership training for everyone who is overseeing a ministry team, activity, or project. All training should include not just “what you will do” but also “who you are to be” as a servant-leader in the Church belonging to Jesus.

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Learn how to be servant-leaders in a shared ministry

The New Testament is pretty clear concerning the character qualities necessary for anyone in leadership in Jesus’ Church. From 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, we get that she should be humble, teachable, and Christ-focused. From 1 Timothy 3:11, we see that women in any kind of leadership position should be worthy of respect, temperate, trustworthy and definitely not malicious talkers. Such qualities of a servant-leader are also needed for a small group leader.

Whether you have a large church or less than 100 attendees, it is important to provide leadership training to all the women in any leadership role at your church. This would include not only Bible study small group leaders but also women who oversee outreach events, fundraisers, and the retreat. It is especially a good idea to offer training on what it means to be a servant leader as part of a shared ministry in Jesus’ Church. This at least will put everyone “on the same page” of approaching ministry as a team.

Learn the how-to’s of shared ministry

Training should definitely include small group leaders. Small groups provide a great opportunity for women to grow in their faith and to experience authentic, loving relationships with other believers. Your role as a leader of a small group is to maximize both opportunities for all participants, including yourself.

Women are best equipped for small group ministry through regular training and resources in the “how-to’s” of ministry to other believers and in how to use their unique personalities, spiritual gifts and calling to enrich the ministry within the Body.

Leadership training, whether for small group leaders or for ministry heads, should include 5 specific elements.

Character—Character qualities of servant-leadership; correct handling of doctrinal issues; your unique design and spiritual gifts.

Connection—Connecting and working with your co-leader and other leadership team members; learning how to manage conflicts

Community—Building community in a small group; connecting the group members to you as a leader and to each other; managing the complexion of a small group (variety and challenging issues)

Commitment—Commitment to the ministry; the group and your responsibilities as a small group leader; managing crisis situations

Commission—Commissioned by Jesus to be a disciple maker; encouraging the members of your group to follow Jesus as His disciple and to live for Jesus as disciple-makers in their sphere of influence

These “5 C’s” are essential qualities of leadership that contribute to the most enjoyable experience that a small group participant can have. Women of all ages enjoy and benefit from community when it works well. The 5 C’s of Small Group Leadership Handbook will get you there.

How to use The 5 C’s of Small Group Leadership Handbook

The 5 C’s of small group leadership—Character, Connection, Community, Commitment, Commission—are essential elements contributing to the most enjoyable small group experience that any participant can have. The ideas in this handbook have been developed by those who have spent years being women’s small group leaders.

If you are a ministry leader: With The 5 C’s of Small Group Leadership Handbook, you can train your small group and ministry team leaders for effective ministry and disciple-making. Follow these suggestions to do a group training.

•1. Schedule a “small group leader training” day.

2. Before the training day, provide each new small group leader (or those who have not already been through this handbook) a copy of The 5 C’s of Small Group Leadership handbook to read through and reflect on the “Think About It” questions.

3. Use the “small group leader training” day as a gathering time for all leaders (new and experienced) to discuss what they’ve learned from each section, to ask questions, and to brainstorm solutions to any anticipated challenges.

This training will help you to incorporate disciple-making into your small group ministry.

If your church doesn't have any kind of small group leader training: Get this handbook for yourself. Work through all the sections.

Ask the Lord Jesus to help you take to heart the suggestions in this handbook and become the best small group leader you can be.

Happy leading!

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Doing proper leadership training might help to circumvent the “it’s my ministry” mentality that happened in a church recently. I received a phone call from a friend who is the women’s ministry team leader for a small church. The ministry team was concerned about one particular woman who didn’t like anyone messing with “her ministry.” For several years, she had been getting away with this “it’s my ministry” mentality and would intimidate anyone who got in her way. Since my friend’s church was a small church (<200), there had not been the leadership training for women heading up various activities that larger churches may offer every year. I recommended they call everyone together and go through some basic essentials of ministry in a church setting.

Help your ministry team understand how their place is a shared ministry and avoid the “it’s my ministry” mentality.

To get more information and training on leading a Bible Study group, check out my online video course, Bible Study Leadership Made Easy. It's only $20 and covers many aspects of leading a Bible Study group or lesson.