Restoring Failed Leaders

Jim Leffel

Galatians 6:1

Restoring failed leaders back into ministry is no easy task. For someone who is taking part in God's goal of restoration, the focus should be on hope, grace, and the Christian ethic of love. Continuing to communicate your respect and going deep into the emotions and fears that drove someone's failure is key to their restoration. You must also cling to prayer as God comes in and calls people forward through the road of repentance. Includes an interview with Mike Woods.

Transitioning to a Cell-Based Church

Ken MacGillivray

Ephesians 4:11-13

Small groups pastor Ken MacGillivray, discusses the process of transitioning from what he calls a traditional church (pastor-centered, program-based, church-campus-oriented) to a cell-based church. Frequently drawing from experience he has gained in doing just that, MacGillivray provides a blueprint for making this shift and answers a variety of questions from audience members about making the transition!\r\n

8 Habits of Effective Small Group Leaders

Dave Earley

Ephesians 4:11-13

There are eight habits you can cultivate to become an effective small group leader. They include: dreaming and casting vision; praying for growth; inviting people to come out to Bible studies; following up with people; preparing for your meeting; discipleship; planning fun group activities; and being committed to your own personal growth.

Community & Commitment

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 12:1

Radical commitment to Christ is the substance that attracts people to Him and grows people into maturity. To cultivate commitment in a group it takes creating environments for people to spiritually thrive. The most important element to cultivate commitment is maintaining passionate commitment to Christ in your own life. This is a process that at times calls for challenging conversations and radical dedication to the simplicity of devotion to Christ.

How to Motivate People

Dennis McCallum

Romans 12:1

Motivation is different for Christians than it is for people in the world. Christians need to be convinced and motivated by Biblical truth. To be fruitful in motivating you must instruct, persuade, and convince people of the urgency of Biblical goals. You must also be prepared to speak truth and solve problems that would hinder someone from being motivated. Once someone has committed themselves to the goals of the Bible, it is imperative to continue to nurture ongoing motivation.

Elijah's Departure

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Kings 2:1-12

After God lifted Elijah out of a state of deep spiritual depression, He called on Elijah to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. Elisha becomes Elijah's protege and helper. Many years pass, and Elijah knows that the time has come for him to depart from this world. Elisha travels with Elijah as he goes from place to place, and remains with him until God takes Elijah away. From this portion of the story, we learn about an aspect of his career that was not so dramatic, though exceedingly important: his investment in discipleship relationships. This teaching focuses on the importance developing deep friendships as a means of spiritual growth. In addition, we get a glimpse of Elisha's character as he enters into the position of filling Elijah's shoes, and discuss some of the possible reasons for the unusual and dramatic end to Elijah's career.

Aspects of Godly Influence

Jim Leffel

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica to teach them aspects of Godly influence. He calls on them to imitate his life as he has imitated Jesus' life. He explains five ways to be influential: 1) lead by example; 2) be persuasive; 3) pray for others; 4) communicate gratitude; and 5) give concrete encouragement.

Transforming Discipleship

Greg Ogden

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Just as Jesus prioritized discipleship because of the relational aspect, the vision of multiplication, and ability to model, so should we. There is a felt need for deep discipleship where mentors are not just teaching about what it means to follow Christ but also how to do it, walking side by side with another believer. This requires a shift from a program-centered approach to a relational approach, one in which there exists a focus on building personally committed disciples who can carry on the work themselves. Three key elements of this type of disciple include: transparent trust, the truth of God's Word learned in community, and life changing accountability.

Building Commitment Rather Than Compliance

John Rue

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

When there is a focus on getting results in growing a church, there is often a pressure to shift towards building compliance rather than commitment. In order to have healthy, long-term growth and transformation, however, leaders must continue to move away from compliance thinking. God does not operate this way, and the negative effects are serious. There are various indicators of compliance that can be identified and things leaders can do to help build commitment in their groups. One key aspect of this is ensuring that the leaders are growing themselves, modeling their own personal commitment.