Developing Servant Leaders in your Home Groups

Being a leader for God looks different than being a leader in the world. Explore the verses that build the foundation of one specific church's perception of Biblical leadership and how it functions in today's world. Focusing on community and shared roles, leadership is emphasized by sharing our lives with others.

Living a life of service in leadership means more than following certain rules or looking a certain way, spiritually. Life giving leadership consists of three actions: tell the gospel, do the gospel, and be the gospel. These reach deeper than just outward appearances.

Leading change does not mean an explosive war-filled revolution. Christ proved this when he showed that change begins inside of people and is made of small moments in our hearts. Change comes from processing events and becoming new people. Christ does this by inviting people to understand who they really are in him.

How do we cultivate leader-rich churches? The most important question to answer is: are we prioritizing raising up qualified leaders? Do we see this as the key to success? We need to be properly defining leadership, pushing people toward that, and recognizing those that are growing a following. We look at seven tips for creating an environment in which we can cultivate leaders.

As we continue to discuss raising up new leaders in the church, we look specifically at team leadership. How can leaders effectively work together to be used in a powerful way for God? What things have the potential to tear a team apart? We cover ways to preserve and strengthen leadership teams.

What is the relationship between our role and God's role in seeing church growth? By analyzing church models around the world, we can begin to see emerging principles that reveal why some churches see continuous growth while others wilt. Every church has the potential to grow, and by pursuing eight characteristics can see this growth occur: empowered leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism, and loving relationships.

Our churches need people who are convinced of the need to serve and evangelize, and convinced that they have a role to play. But often people don't seriously believe they can be used to do great things. We need to give individuals a vision for how they can be used powerfully by God for His kingdom.

One key aspect to promoting home group leadership is the presence of team leadership. There are several key principles to apply when striving for quality in this area. These include encouraging fellow leaders, resolving personal conflicts, observing the principle of the "man on the spot," maintaining commitment to success, and focusing on the ministry. Negativity on the team may arise, but we should be wary of our own judgements upon other leaders' ministries and should seek to communicate a balance of both negative and positive facts.

In our culture today, people are seemingly becoming less interested in Christianity, seen through the declining numbers of church growth in America. Seeker small groups, however, target the meeting and discussion around people who are not believers in Christ. A group like this would have a majority of non-Christians with a Christian discussion leader and be a relatively small cluster of people. This provides a safe environment for spiritual discussion and is thus an effective method of evangelism. This can be especially effective for people who may not be close to believing in God yet. We discuss 10 "laws" of seeker small groups, why they are effective, and how to run them.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called not only to share our faith at home but also abroad, as Jesus has a heart for all people and wants all people to come to know him. A good sign of a healthy church is one in which its members are both aware and excited about missions. For the most effective world missions, the church should be sending people who are already servant leaders and who have already gained ministry experience at home before attempting this in a more difficult field abroad. Today, we face challenges such as post-modernism which often views mission leaders as intolerant for trying to proclaim one truth to a people group and a self-focused approach to church. As believers who are being transformed by God into influencers, we can gain the proper equipping and attitude to overcome this and prioritize world missions. \r\n

Balancing family and ministry service can be both confusing and difficult. Instead of approaching this conflict of interests sequentially, such as following a concrete plan of first serving your spouse, then kids, then self or others, we can practice more flexibility. There is a deep need to be simultaneously involved in ministry because of its ability to bring friendships, purpose, and a healthy example for children. In attempting to balance these two fields of life, we can look for ways in which they overlap and actually complement each other.

What does it look like to manage conflict and promote unity amongst members of your leadership team? This workshop gives insight to this very issue with the following goals in mind: 1) learn to handle conflict proactively, 2) learn your tendency in conflict and well as the tendency of your leadership team, and 3) discover at least one thing that God is leading you to do to promote unity in your particular leadership team. \r\n

Saddleback Church made the transition from a large-scale service into sustainable small groups. Following principles from "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, they implemented strategies to involve members and discover the best practice for them. Saddleback uses focus groups, provides curriculum, and coaches through relationships.

Leadership in the Christian life does not equal being greater or above anyone else. Rather, it is characterized by a life of service to others. Everything a leader does should be in the name of Jesus, as servants of God, not as if the church is God. It is a humble and low work.

In 2002, the Xenos College Ministry was an underground movement where the student members of the church did the leading and discipling. Today, many things look different but the philosophy hasn't changed. Giving college students the resources needed to win the lost, disciple, and raise up leaders in a small community context is still at it's core. Resources that are key to growth include discipleship, theological equipping, ministry houses, large meetings, and setting a vision.

There is no recipe for helping people cultivate character that works 100% of the time. If, however, we are in a position of leadership in any capacity, it is first important to make sure we are the kind of person we would want others to model their lives after. It also requires our willingness to enter into the chaos of people's lives and build deep relationships. Having open conversations with people about God's view of character encourages them to pray about it, research or seek input from others, and ultimately come to their own convictions about it.

God's heart and plan to reach the lost is through the church. While God is the one who ultimately causes the growth, we each have a role to play as well. Effective evangelism in a home church setting is driven largely through discipleship relationships between committed workers, bringing the power of the Word and teaching people that exchanging their agenda for their lives for God's agenda is ultimately fulfilling. For a home church to effectively reach the lost, a substantial number of members have to own God's plan for evangelism and reorder their lives according to His value system.

An overview of what student ministry looks like at different ages and how to raise students up to be leaders is discussed. What qualities should be looked for in potential student leaders as well as essential components to time spent with those students. We also hear from a handful of student leaders on their experiences, growth, trials, and successes.

There are many things to think through and consider when deciding what to focus on in discipleship and helping people grow in transformation. Here are six things: 1) get clear about goals and outcomes; 2) move from facilitators and mangers to fathers and mothers; 3) commit to training and guiding those you lead; 4) value a slow and on the go movement; 5) facilitate growth in group living; and 6) invest in the spiritual lives of leaders.

Since teams are knit together from unique individuals created by God, it is important to understand who God made each person to be. Remembering our position in Christ and discovering our passions, spiritual gifts, and temperaments will help us better understand how God created us individually and how we can be used in a team setting. Building unified relationships among a team requires regular communication and spending a lot of time together enjoying shared experiences. Ministry teams can also benefit from having a clear mission and unified ideas regarding their team atmosphere.

In order to promote a leader-rich home group, there are seven conditions that should be present. The church must first believe in the vision that qualified leaders are the key to success, and new leaders must be Spirit-chosen. Spiritual leaders must be held in honor, accountability and discipline. Every leader should seek to replicate themselves and top leaders in the church must prioritize helping develop new leaders. Finally, people should see a clear pathway to leadership, and leaders should be formed into teams to promote increased leadership within the church.

While God has given some people the gift of leadership, not all in a leadership role also have the spiritual gifting. What matters much more than a leadership gifting is the pursuit of character growth and sanctification. When Paul leaves Timothy in charge of the church in Ephesus, he tells Timothy to be an example to the people, preach God's Word, and not neglect the giftings God has given him. Even though Timothy was seemingly not a gifted leader, he was qualified for the office of leadership because he had godly character and was faithful with what God had given him.

When it comes to being a servant leader the main focus needs to be on allowing God to continue to grow you in your character. Everything you are pours out into everything you do. Anyone can learn the skills to be a leader, but it is in the transformative power of God where you can model real sanctification. Your heart must be softened to the work He is doing in your own life.

Leadership disease is real and can impact anyone. This disease starts when leaders put man's interests above God's interests. This is a chronic condition of the heart that can cause leaders to create functional legalists. Leaders need to put their service for God in the middle of His grace. The role of a leader is to edify the church and exalt God. So many fall into seeking their own personal gain and success.

Xenos Christian Fellowship's model for leadership development lands on the biblical picture that the real pastoral work is to be done by the members of the church. In order for the members of the church to lead and pastor there must be significant training. Three areas that are key to leadership development is personal discipleship, fostering an active community life, and theological training.