Matthew 5:15 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
I am a light. You are a light. How are you shining?
For Small Group Ministry leaders, we need to create an environment of shining! Creating an environment is about creating a culture for small groups. Create a culture that allows small group leaders to SHINE (and give light to everyone in the house). Here’s areas to consider when devising a small group culture.
A Culture of Curriculum
While I believe that small groups are about so much more than a curriculum, curriculum is a critical part of achieving the goals for small groups. If discipleship is a focus, the curriculum should be deliberate about promoting discipleship (make sure you define discipleship in order to have a common understanding and goal). Whatever your small group vision or focus, the curriculum has to be a critical part of creating the overall culture. Curriculum should be controlled, but not micro-managed. Give options, but don’t dictate the curriculum. Likewise, don’t give free rein to ‘do whatever you want.’ How can you ensure that your vision and focus is accomplished if everyone does whatever they want?
A Culture of Continuing Education
Continuing education is about creating a culture of pouring back into the small group ministry members. A culture of continuing education requires regular checkpoints with the leaders. What are they struggling with, where can leaders improve, how to disciple, etc. You need to have a mechanism for receiving this information and a mechanism for addressing this information with leaders. Schedule regular continuing education gatherings. Use the feedback to cater the topics to the concerns of the leaders. Continue to pour back into small group leaders, equipping them to be the best leaders they can be.
A Culture of Value and Appreciation
Small group leaders can feel like they serve in a vacuum. They don’t serve alongside a team, instead they serve out in the trenches week after week alone. Small group leaders are experiencing the true journeys with their members, highs and lows. It’s exhausting! Small group leaders need to be constantly reminded of their value and they need to see regular appreciation. You must create a culture of constantly and publicly valuing your leaders and individually appreciating the leaders. Value should come from the top. Senior Pastors cannot delegate valuing small group leaders. Senior Pastors must be the chief cheerleader and encourager of small group leaders. Showing appreciation should be individual. Leaders will feel appreciated by a call, a card, a conversation, sharing a coffee together. Appreciation is individual and critical.
What other areas are important to creating small group culture?
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