On Saturday I attended a small group leaders conference organized by a couple of local churches. I was looking forward to receiving some encouragement and advice since my small group has been struggling this time around. The timing was perfect.
The very first speaker (Henry Cloud) gave me my wake-up call, and the second speaker (Bill Donahue) reinforced it. They reminded me that as small group leaders, we are not just setting times and dates and arranging for someone to bring snacks. We’re not even (just) facilitating discussion about a passage of scripture. That would make us meeting organisers (at this point I start sinking down in my seat). What we’re doing is sharing our spiritual journey and encouraging others to do the same. And what I had forgotten, or maybe even never realised, is that as leaders, our own journey is maybe the most valuable thing we bring to the group. Before you call the Heresy Police and have me arrested, what I mean by “spiritual journey” is the process we are all going through every day as Christians, to continually put aside our idols and put our trust back in God. We are (ideally) fighting this fight of faith individually and then sharing the experience with others to encourage them to continue fighting.
Fighting is tiring. It takes awareness and critical thought and effort. It’s much easier to organise meetings, buy snacks, and send out emails for my small group rather than walk with God and share that experience with them. In my small group a few nights ago we talked about how easy it is to be busy with Christian things and how much harder to rest and wait with hope for God. Let’s face it, being busy with Christian things just looks better. Guilty as charged.
I knew my small group was struggling. I had wondering if we needed a change of day, an earlier starting time or maybe a different kind of cookie. But, thanks to the conference I’ve realised it needs a leader who is not just an organiser, not just a host, not even just a discussion facilitator. The members of my group need a leader who is committed to working on her relationship with God so she can encourage them to do the same. Which, come to think of it, is the whole point of a small group!
Exhausted, but back on track,
Philomena
Your small group experience is my daily life as a mother - our family is a small group, too. When I was young I was the pickiest eater though my mother was a professional cook. As an adult, I took on her adult traits. It strikes me that our children mature in to the adults we are now. Definitely motivation to learn to sit and listen to and wait on God. Thanks for the reminder.
Beth
Posted by: beth | November 22, 2007 at 05:37 AM