by There are many benefits to having small groups, and creating Christian Servant Leaders always giving God the glory is the pinnacle of personal discipleship. At some point, the disciple must become a disciple maker and one of those avenues is through being a small group leader. This article explains what is within an optimal Christian servant. No one person is perfect and there should be no hesitation on selecting those that are not, this is to provide a context of what is being looked for.
This article is NOT to discourage anyone from being a small group leader. It is meant more as a list of what a person would mature into as they lead a small group. Maturity occurs at all levels of any community including the church and its leadership.
Characteristics of Transformational, Multiplying Small Group Leaders
Small group leaders should also be active disciple makers. Fulfilling the Great Commission should be part of the discipleship process and those that take it seriously are those that best fit the characteristics of a transformational, multiplying small group leader.
When learning from the past, a look at the efforts of John Wesley is appropriate. A small accountability group at Oxford University spread into a church of 100,000 members and 10,000 discipleship groups before his passing in 1791.1 Who John selected to work in significant ministry were not the highly educated or wealthy with nothing to do, but those in the working class that had spiritual gifts and an eagerness to serve.2 The characteristics of transformational, multiplying disciple makers are also requirements found in the Bible.
Focused Vision on the Harvest
Visioning the future and being able to “see” a harvest of future leaders and being able to “picture” the possibilities is important. There are plenty of people that will be pessimistic, overly critical, and bring problems without suggested solutions. People that are visionaries often motivate themselves and are willing to help see their vision materialize.
Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
John 4:35
Abiding in Jesus
Leading by example means doing what is commanded on how to follow Jesus. This can also be a reason why some disciple makers are unsuccessful as they may not be abiding in Jesus which prevents them from producing “fruit”.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
John 15:4
Dependence on God
Non-believers might perceive the role of a disciple maker as an impossible mission, and if the disciple maker relied on human resources, it would be. It is amazing what can be done when trusting God to do His part in the process.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. . .They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Sacrifice
Early states, “There is no multiplication without sacrifice.”3 Time is what is being asked to be sacrificed to be disciple maker. Effective disciple makers have a weekly routine of participating at church, attending a meeting with their mentor, and lead a disciple group or group of disciple makers. In addition, they make time for personal discipleship to mature and become better leaders.
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:24-25
Persevering Labor and Hard Work
Being a farmer for a harvest is hard work, being a fisherman of men is hard work, there is no easy way to convert non-believers and mature them in Christ.
Early States, “Multiplying disciple makers comes from working hard and doing the right thing over and over. . .even when you are too tired, too busy, and do not feel like it anymore. Too often leaders start down the path of multiplication with great enthusiasm only to give up too soon.”4
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Patient Effort
Farmers and fishermen must be patient when looking for results. God works on His time and that could equal weeks, months, or years before something amazing happens.
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
James 5:7
Atmosphere of a Healthy Small Group
Before and after each small group meeting, the group leader should plan for, and reflect afterwards, on a healthy atmosphere. A healthy atmosphere is important in small groups as it needs to be encouraging for everyone to be open and share themselves with each other. Earley states, “Some atmospheres kill community and others grow it.”5 These are the different atmospheres that should be present during all of the small group meetings and events.
Affection
Each culture has a different interpretation of what would be considered appropriate contact and it might even change throughout the maturity of a small group where the first meeting is a bunch of waves hello to later meetings with an appropriate hug.
Greet one another with a Holy kiss.
Romans 16:16, 1 Cor 16:20, 2 Cor 13:12
Acceptance
Giving everyone the freedom to be themselves is important for true growth. The opposite of acceptance is criticism which is not welcome in any small group settings. There should be no self-righteousness or criticism of others as everyone will sense it and the atmosphere will change for the worse.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Romans 14:13
Active Sharing
There needs to be active sharing by all individuals and not just the vocal few. Each person should open up with their shortfalls and others need to step into that person’s pain and help them walk through it.6
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
Authenticity and Acknowledgement
The small group needs to be a place where everyone feels safe to be themselves authentically. Then they will share more and express their hardest struggles. There needs to be a circle of trust established early in the process.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7-10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Forgiveness
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Encouragement
Providing courage to one another is important in today’s culture as there are many things that will discourage someone and not give him or her the courage to do what is right. Each person in the group should try to give as much encouragement as possible as everyone needs another cheerleader to assist.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Resolve Conflict
Resolving group member issues is important to be done as quick as possible as the atmosphere will change if there are disagreements that spill over into following meetings. This includes personality conflicts, viewpoints, etc. It is interesting as in High School the students that finally ended in a fist fight were normally the closest friends afterwards. No disagreement should end in a fist fight but resolving the conflict is important and is should be done peacefully.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:16
[1] Dave Earley, “Focusing on a Multiplied Harvest,” in Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2013), 175.
[2] Ibid., 175.
[3] Ibid., 179.
[4] Ibid., 181.
[5] Dave Earley, “Doing Life Together,” in Spiritual Formation Is…: How to Grow in Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018), 161.
[6] Ibid., 162.