GROUP LEADER ESSENTIALS

 
 

Thanks for signing up for our Group Leader Essentials training! Please spend a couple of hours reading through the scriptures and materials provided within. Your personal reflection in advance of our coaching sessions will be beneficial. Be sure to check each section for related video training.

 

WHAT GROUPS DO:
THE 4L ESSENTIALS

Group life nurtures discipleship through four essential goals:

  1. Helping others to love like Jesus

  2. Equipping others to learn from Jesus

  3. Walking alongside others as they live like Jesus

  4. Mentoring others to lead with Jesus

WHAT GROUPS DO
ESSENTIAL #1: LOVE

We help people love like Jesus through connection in relationships.

For an introduction to this section, watch LOVE Part 1 and LOVE Part 2.

Loving Communication
Each week you will receive an email from your assigned coach. They will give you some key reminders and announcements, a snapshot of things that are happening at CCC. We encourage you as leaders to communicate these important details to the members of your group each week. Each group and leader may decide on alternate forms of communication outside of email that are most efficient for your group. This may include text messaging, GroupMe, Facebook Groups, or other forms of digital communication.

REFLECT: How do you plan to communicate with your group each week outside of your face-to-face group time?

Planning Center Online is a helpful tool that has the most up-to-date information we have for each group member and family, but we need your help to keep it updated! The videos below will set you up to access phone numbers and emails so that you can connect with your group members and help track attendance. These videos can also serve as a calendar to organize your meeting times and special occasions.

Using Planning Center Online (PCO) as a group communication tool:

How to log in to your PCO account (1 min 24 sec)

How to add or subtract members from your group (2 min 11 sec)

How to email your group members (1 min 23 sec):

How to add an event from your computer (2 min 38 sec)

How to add an event from your phone (2 min 51 sec)

How to add resources to your group (1 min 04 sec)

How to edit your group settings (2 min 59 sec)

How to take attendance (2 min 6 sec)

Why is it important to keep track of group membership?
It is a tool to help us see from year to year if more people are engaging in group life. This helps the leadership team know that people are going deeper than just attending worship on Sundays. It also helps us recognize relational connections between members of your groups and helps us see when CCC guests become engaged attenders.

Why is taking attendance important?
It is to help you shepherd your group and track who has been missing. Maybe there is a follow-up email or phone call you want to make for someone who has missed a couple of meetings.

Loving Through Collective Ownership
Even though you are the group leader, the group should not be just your group. Each person in the group has ownership as well, and everyone should have a role. Too many leaders place the weight of this God-sized vision on their own shoulders and burn out in six to nine months. Leaders must be willing to delegate important responsibilities to others in the group. Ultimately, the group belongs to God and you are a steward of it. 

REFLECT: How are you specifically gifted? How can you begin to discover the gifts of those in your group and mobilize their involvement and leadership?

Team Role Possibilities
Below are some examples of team role possibilities. Feel free to use some of these and dream about others based on your own group members’ gifts and needs.

Hospitality

  • Arrive early to help greet as people show up.

  • Welcome any guests and help them feel connected and valued. 

  • Help coordinate meal or snack schedules for the group.

Discussion and Facilitating

  • Pray for God to lead you in what the group needs to hear that week.

  • Read Scripture and discussion guides in advance, review questions, and add other ideas.

  • Take the lead on facilitating the discussion during the meeting. 

Communication

  • Maintain roster with names and other important information.

  • Send weekly communications to group via email or other method.

  • Get group member feedback, help organize schedules, serving, etc.

Care

  • Lead prayer times and update prayer requests in a notebook or digitally.

  • Make/send follow-up calls/texts during the week between meetings.

  • Coordinate meal trains or other practical help in times of need.

Hands-On Service

  • Help the host clean up after group meetings.

  • Organize a painting, moving, or other “service party” for your group to participate in together to bless one of your neighbors or friends who are not yet connected to CCC.

  • Connect with the CCC Missions Team about local service opportunities by emailing Eva Brandt, CCC’s Assistant Director of Missions, at EvaB@cccomaha.org.

Loving Through Community
Community is our middle name and group life is one of the best places for people to experience community. As a leader, you help set the tone for how community will be shaped inside of your group. In Acts 2:42–47 we see a beautiful picture of what community can look like among Jesus’ disciples.

REFLECT: Read Acts 2:42–47. What do you find most attractive about the community of disciples in the early Church? What might be some barriers to this lifestyle in our culture?

Community Includes Effective Listening
Have you ever been in a group where the leader did all the talking, or where there were awkward periods of silence? The group can only grow closer in community if communication and sharing take place regularly. Remember this phrase from our Adult Ministries mission statement: “We create environments that nurture loving and life-giving relationships through community so that adults move toward wholeness and transformational change.” How do we create those environments? Below are some specific tips to help our groups to share honestly, openly, and transparently during group discussions.

1.     Ask more, talk less

a. Questions are the best way to guide a discussion. Questions help us partner with God. God can speak directly to their hearts when we create space for people to hear from God.

i. Open-ended questions are ideal—use questions that start with the words “how” or “why,” or that begins with “share an experience when…”

ii. Invite participation with specific transition questions such as, “Does anyone agree/disagree with that,” or “What do you guys think about that,” etc.

iii. Add clarifying questions such as, “Can you explain that a little more for us?” or “Are you saying...,” or “Help us understand how that connects to the topic for you,” etc.

b. Active listening helps participants understand one another. Empathetic listening allows participants to connect emotionally with one another. Both of these skills are necessary. If you’d like to learn more about empathetic listening, check out this post on Medium.com.

2.    Get comfortable with a little silence

a.     When we use thoughtful questions, there will be moments of silence. Sometimes people give their best responses after deep thought on a topic, and sometimes that means lots of silence.

b. Silence feels terribly long and awkward for the question-asker, but it usually isn’t.

 i. People may be silent because they are afraid to speak out, especially in the beginning.

 ii. People may be silent because they need time to think about the question asked.

c.  If the silence stretches more than 30 seconds, try rephrasing the question or move on.

3.    Allow people to share voluntarily

a. Sharing thoughts, beliefs, or struggles should always be a voluntary action.

b. At least initially, it is not wise to single people out by calling on them or to go around the circle with the expectation that everyone will share.

c. As the group gets to know each other more, you will get a sense of people’s comfort level of sharing and who you can prompt for sharing.

d. When you do, prompt gently and always give permission to refuse.

4.    Redirect tangents

a. The discussion facilitator must control the direction of the discussion. This is not just because you want to “silence” someone headed in the wrong direction, it also provides space for more people to participate.

b. When someone begins taking the group off topic:

i. Affirm the person first by saying, “That’s a great thought/question...” or “Thanks for bringing that up…”

ii. Ask to come back to their story/question after the prayer time by saying something like, “Can we come back to that when we’re done with tonight’s topic?”

5.    Know that connecting with one another is more important than “finishing a lesson”

a. Building connection with one another and interacting with God’s Word are both essential. This is a balancing act.

b. It’s ok if you don’t finish all the questions in the discussion guide. Relationships are primary.

c.  Gauge the value of what’s happening. Is it personal? Is it meaningful? Is it transformational?

d.  Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you and follow the nudges God gives you to linger on a particular point, or to move on if others want to move on.

REFLECT: What are some specific techniques you’ve used to encourage everyone to participate? What are some other things you’ve learned in facilitating communication in community?

Loving Confidentiality
Confidentiality is extremely important in building healthy community. Before most people in your group are going to share personal struggles, practice confession, and live transparently, they need to know their information is protected. They need the assurance that they are in a safe environment.

  • Lead by example: As the leader, lead with integrity in this area and refuse to discuss any of the conversations that take place within the group outside of the group without explicit permission from the person sharing. Also, be the first to become vulnerable within your group. If you are willing to take the risk, others are likely to follow your example.

  • Group reminders: Have conversations about confidentiality early and often. Periodically mention it and remind your group members of the importance of confidentiality. Not only will this serve as a great reminder to your group, it also helps new people see that this is a high priority in the group.

REFLECT: What are some ways you will help reinforce the importance of trust and confidentiality in your group?

Protect One Another
Gossip can be detrimental to vulnerability, honesty, and significant relationships. Choose to protect the other members of your community by considering information shared in-group to be private information, unless told otherwise. Make it clear that is the responsibility of each member in the group to shut down conversations that sound like gossip, both inside and outside of the group. Do what you can to protect one another and fight for the health of your group.

Turn Off Listening Devices
We live in a connected world. Consider powering off any listening devices in areas that could compromise privacy and safety in your environment. With the advancement of technology, these features are becoming increasingly popular. Many devices come equipped with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google Assistant.

Loving Connection
Classes, programs, and studies are easy to walk away from, but relationships are not. Connections with the members of groups should go beyond your designated meeting times. As a leader, you will set the pace with this—but you don’t have to do it alone! This is where inviting others into team role responsibilities can really help you out. Be sure to invite the entire group into the process of building a loving connection. Utilize things like a Facebook Group, group text messaging, GroupMe, etc.

Developing Connection, Modeling Community
Remember that relationships are primary, not secondary, to the process of discipleship. Informal conversation time is a valuable part of group gatherings. Have fun together! Go to a sports event, an escape room, a restaurant, and plan holiday events together. Celebrate life changes—baptisms, weddings, new babies. Serve one another’s practical needs—meals, childcare, rides to the doctor. Serve together during church-wide mission initiatives—connect with Eva at EvaB@cccomaha.org about these opportunities. Consider occasional gender- or age-specific gatherings, or smaller meals—such as dinners for eight—especially if your group has 12–15+ members.

REFLECT: What are some ways your group might enjoy fellowship outside of the normal weekly gathering?


 

WHAT GROUPS DO
ESSENTIAL #2: LEARN

We help people learn from Jesus as they are formed through study, the Spirit, suffering, and sharing in community.

For an introduction to this section, watch LEARN Part 1 and LEARN Part 2.

Learning Through the Study of God’s Word
The daily discipline of reading the Bible is essential for any growing disciple (more about this under Essential #3). But studying the Bible more deeply in order to understand the biblical narrative, historical context, literary genre, and interpretive principles is particularly important for those who lead and teach. Below, we’ve listed some resources that may be helpful to you as you learn to go deeper. How are you setting aside the time and energy necessary to learn from God’s Word? Do you have specific, focused study time set aside on your calendar each week? A special, prepared, inviting space in which to study? Other leaders who encourage you to do so? Making study a priority begins with a desire to dig in.

REFLECT: How have you created space in your life in which to study God’s Word more deeply? What encouragement or resources do you need most?

Pray before you begin, inviting the Holy Spirit to give you clarity and wisdom as you read and study the text. God wants believers to be able to understand and interpret the Word (Isaiah 30:19b–21). Use multiple translations or versions of the Bible. This used to involve several print copies, but now they are easily available online. 

Check out the variety of resources on Bible Gateway. It includes the option to view parallel versions, which allows you to look at passages side-by-side in multiple translations. It also provides links to many Bible dictionaries and other resources.

Read or listen to the text in multiple versions. Both Bible Gateway and the YouVersion app offer an audio option. Take notes or ask questions and assess translation challenges by consulting commentaries or other resources. The Holy Spirit provides needed discernment for this process.

In addition to multiple translations of the Bible, consider purchasing a study Bible with notes inline (the CCC Resource Booth stocks a quality NIV Study Bible). Another recommended resource is a general overview like the IVP Bible Background Commentary, and a quality Bible dictionary. The IVPBBC has both an Old Testamentand New Testament version. Many of these resources are available, at least in part, online.

Reach out to your Adult Ministries Team coach; they may be able to recommend particularly helpful authors or sources. Remember that the authors of these commentaries (like all of us) interpret through a particular perspective. Study notes and commentaries are not inspired by God in the same way that Scripture is, so they should be read critically just as any other outside source should be.

REFLECT: What Bible study resources have you found to be most helpful? Are there any you would NOT recommend? Why?

Learning by Listening to the Spirit
Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Sometimes we spend so much time teaching content that we forget to make space for God to speak personally to members of the group. Even if content is good, it’s not enough to learn about God and God’s Word—we need to learn directly from God. In his book Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby says “Many people have grown up attending church and hearing about God all their lives, but they do not have a personal, dynamic, growing relationship with God.” Leaders recognize that we can do nothing apart from the vine (John 15) and we cannot “make” people change into disciples. However, leaders can create environments where people welcome and experience the presence and power of God so that the Holy Spirit can form our hearts.

Prayer is “the greater work” we do (Oswald Chambers) and affects people’s lives at a deep level. One important element of creating an environment that leads to transformational change is by modeling and practicing a prayer life that includes listening to what the Spirit whispers to each of us. When we do this in the context of community, we can help others discern between God’s voice and the world’s voice.

Often, we include prayer during group time in the form of an opening prayer or as a list of supplications from group members at the end of the discussion time. What if we went a little deeper and created space to listen and learn from the Spirit during group prayer times?

  • Open each session with a time of silence. Ask God to be present. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to each person what they need to hear from the Word in your time together.

  • Pray the Lord’s Prayer together, where Jesus says, “your Kingdom come, your will be done.” God’s Kingdom is anywhere God rules and reigns. When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we pray for God’s rule and reign to increase in our lives and the world around us. We pray in accordance with the values Jesus modeled when he walked on earth—freedom, humility, justice, submission, integrity, purpose, holiness, love, miracles, faith risks, forgiveness, and grace.

  • Use the Book of Common Prayer for a responsive reading/prayer/confession time (one online version is available at commonprayer.net). Allow silence after calling for confession. Practice “confessing to one another.”

  • Take a neighborhood prayer walk and pray for specific outreach opportunities that the Holy Spirit might reveal to you.

In addition to these listening prayers, you can add variety to your group’s prayer time in other ways. Make prayer a lifestyle through the week, not just something you do at group meetings. Keep a notebook or digital version of ongoing prayer and praise requests so that you can look back and see what God is doing in your group. Divide into smaller groups of two to three people for prayer times so more group members feel empowered to pray aloud. Consider having participants write a request on an index card and then trade with someone else in the group—they can use that to pray for each other through the rest of the week.

REFLECT: What prayer practices have worked well for your group? What challenges have you faced?

Learning from Pain and Suffering
Jesus often experienced pain and suffering while he was on earth. We learn from Jesus when we identify with that pain. We are sanctified by the experience of suffering, becoming more like Jesus as we persevere through trials and trust God for the outcome.

We live with a constant paradox. On one hand, we recognize that God is good, just, and faithful. God’s promises are true and God’s Word bears witness to those promises kept. On the other hand, we live in a fallen world. Life is sometimes hard and unfair. The trials we go through (whether emotional, physical, or spiritual) can wreck our faith and cause us to lose confidence in the God we thought was good. But scripture also contains a record of those followers who suffered tremendous loss yet praised God “through the storm.” Job is one example, losing health, possessions, and family, and still recognizing God’s presence in the purifying process of pain (Job 23:10–12). Paul’s experience in mission and ministry would never have been used on a recruiting brochure—but he trusted that God was using those troubles to transform him from the inside out and increase his Kingdom impact (2 Corinthians 4:15–18, 6:3–13, 11:23–30).

Read through the following texts: Romans 5:1–5, 8:16–18; 2 Corinthians 1:6–7; Philippians 3:7–12

REFLECT: What do you notice in these texts about the reality of suffering? How might this encourage you during times of trial?

In a presentation on mental health for ministers, Paul Alexander notes the following suggestions for surviving and thriving through the trials of life:

  • Practice the presence of God. Recognize that God is alongside us in the midst of the pain, not just observing from afar. God’s presence is a comfort, even when the despair is deep and the circumstances don’t change.

  • Trust the Holy Spirit’s availability to interpret our hearts to God. When we don’t have the words to pray, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26–27).

  • Stay in God’s Word. Scripture can sustain us on hard days. Two good examples can be found in Psalm 46 and 62. God accepts and welcomes us, even in the midst of doubt.

  • Worship anyway. Let praise music be your liturgy when you can’t bring yourself to sing along. Join with brothers and sisters in community, recognizing that “even when [you] don’t see it, [God is] working” (from Way Maker, written by Sinach).

  • Accept Jesus’ invitation to “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus wants to be a place where we find rest and refreshment, even during times of trial and pain.

REFLECT: How have you persevered through trial? What practices keep you focused on the goodness of God during those times?

Learning From One Another
Often, we learn through those with whom we do life together. God can speak to us through his Word and his Spirit, and sometimes God also speaks to us through an encouraging friend. Additionally, learning in the context of community provides discernment and deepens our understanding.

This is why we encourage group members to study God’s Word in a collaborative, discussion-based atmosphere. Groups are not meant to be a class where a teacher disseminates information and students absorb it. Additionally, groups should avoid using long video sessions in favor of in-person discussions (RightNow Media is a great resource for those looking for study guides. If you are choosing video clips for a group meeting, we recommend you use shorter ones and focus your time on the actual discussion between participants and the biblical content). Our goal is to help participants learn to read the Bible for themselves, consider implications of that text with their community, and then discern the application to their own lives in transforming ways.

In this regard, recognize that the discussion guides provided are meant to be just that—only a guide. You know your group dynamics and the individuals in your group better than we do. You know what they need most on a given week. Curriculum is meant to serve as a resource, not as a list of things to learn about a particular topic.

REFLECT: Think about a time your group got off topic (according to the curriculum) but you still had a wonderful time of sharing and community. How did that impact the group? What did you learn about yourself as a leader during that process?

Group life is also meant to help participants stretch and grow their faith, to expect spiritual transformation, and to deepen their love for God. Encourage your group members to respond to God’s call to be changed from the inside out. Set an example as someone who lives “attached to the vine” (John 15). When you, as leaders, model authentic vulnerability and willing obedience, other group members are likely to follow your example. 

As relationships in the group deepen, members should be encouraged to be accountable to one another for growth and transformation. Without authentic relationships with people who know us—warts and all—we are unlikely to grow into the deeper life, and into a more Christ-like lifestyle. Challenge group members to ask a partner one or more of these questions:

  • Am I practicing what I’ve learned?

  • Do you see more of this fruit of the Spirit in me today than last year?

  • Am I becoming more like Jesus?

  • If you notice me speaking or acting in a way that doesn’t reflect Jesus, will you call me out on it?

REFLECT: What have you learned about yourself, simply because you are “doing life together” with this group of people? Where do you still need to grow?

 

WHAT GROUPS DO
ESSENTIAL #3: LIVE

We help people live like Jesus as they are formed in the Word, worship, prayer, and sacrificial service.

For an introduction to this section, watch LIVE.

Living with Daily Devotional Reading Practices
If you’ve been a Christian for very long, you’ve no doubt heard that you should read your Bible. If you want to follow Jesus, it’s good to be reminded that spending time daily in the Word makes a huge impact on your discipleship growth. Daniel Im notes that “reading your Bible positively affects your ability to consistently obey God and deny self, serve God and others, share Christ, exercise your faith, and build relationships” (No Silver Bullets: 5 Small Shifts that Will Transform Your Ministry, Nashville: B&H, 2017, 220). We’re not referring to deep Bible study with word studies and a concordance—that was included with Essential #2. We’re just talking about opening the Bible and reading it regularly. Anyone can do that.

Engaging with the text through daily devotional readings is an important part of the disciple’s walk with Jesus. 

Phil Collins created some excellent resources to help you understand the difference between Bible study and Bible engagement. He notes, “Understanding doesn’t equal spiritual growth. In some ways, understanding the Bible intellectually is the easier of the two processes. It is the reflection process, the place where we are mostly likely to meet God and be changed by him that we especially need to learn” (Phil Collins on Bible Gateway). We want to encourage this type of Bible engagement and devotion among our group members; Bible Gateway has many other resources and practices to consider.

One resource available to you online is a workshop on Bible Engagement. It includes a list of scriptures that describe characteristics of God’s Word, the benefits of reading God’s Word, and specific engagement practices including Lectio Divina. You can access that handout here. Additionally, you might be interested in (and surprised by) a video that discusses several other measurable benefits of being in the Word at least four times per week. In addition to interacting with the scripture text itself, there are many good devotional resources available to read alongside your Bible. Some are thematic in nature; others are calendar dated for a brief reading (often with a suggested text) per day. You can also sample a wide variety of sacred authors in Richard Foster’s book Devotional Classics, which is available both in print and online.

REFLECT: What are some ways you’ve kept your daily Bible reading fresh and current? What are you currently reading? How can you engage group members more deeply in the Word?

Living with Personal and Corporate Worship
Creating a lifestyle of worship goes beyond Sunday morning. Incorporate regular reading of the Psalms throughout your week. This age-old practice forms us and reflects all types of emotions. Make sure your playlist includes uplifting lyrics, music you won’t mind your kids singing along with, or music you wouldn’t be embarrassed to have your grandkids overhear! Quality music recordings and ways to access them abound. Let God’s presence “dwell in the praises of his people” (from Psalm 22:3). Listen to worship music instead of 24-hour news stations or talk radio during your drive time.

Include worship practices in your group gatherings. Maybe you listen to a Psalm read aloud, sing together, or listen to a recording. Ask each member to share something for which they are thankful. Speak God’s attributes aloud or create a visual poster of those characteristics. Have group members think back over the past year and remember ways God has been faithful. Whenever possible, gather to worship together on the weekends. Many groups find ways to attend the same service and sit near one another as a way to connect with each other on Sundays. It’s also a great way to meet new people and invite them to your group. Have you noticed how we tend to sit in the same area each Sunday? Use that to your advantage. As you get to know the regulars in your section, you’ll also be prepared to greet each guest. When they see the community among your group’s members, they’ll be excited to hear more about your group gatherings.

REFLECT: How have you incorporated worship into your daily life? Into your group life?

Living a Life of Prayer
In the earlier section “Learning by Listening to the Spirit,” we discussed ways to include silence and listening space in your corporate, group prayer times. In addition, we encourage anyone who follows Jesus to make time for daily, ongoing prayer practices. This may be connected with the space you make for regular Bible reading. As you read, ask questions of the passage (perhaps in a journal) like, “Does the passage include an example for me to follow? A call to action? A specific commandment to obey?” If you write alongside your reading, God’s Word can guide you into personal prayer as well as prayer for others. One great resource for using scripture as the basis for your prayer is Beth Moore’s Praying God’s Word; this article on Crosswalk.comis also a good resource. Another great guide for prayer is the Psalms! You can find every possible emotion and heart-cry in that book. For centuries, the Church has used the Psalms as daily readings, spoken prayers that form us into the corporate people of God.

Another suggestion is to pray the names of God and focus on specific attributes for which you want to give God praise. Great resources for this include Ann Spangler’s Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide and this article by the Navigators.

You can also use the ACTS acrostic to remind you what to include in your prayers (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). We tend to focus on intercessory prayer in our groups (praying for one another’s needs), but prayer can be much more than asking God for what you want or need. Because God longs to be with us, he desires prayer to be a two-way conversation.

REFLECT: How are you including prayer in your daily life? What practices are most helpful to you?

Living and Serving Together as a Sacrificial Community
God calls us to live a life of sacrifice. When we hear the word sacrifice, we might think of the scandal of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac, or of the numerous bloody animal sacrifices required under the Old Covenant. But that’s not the type of sacrifice God wants today. In Romans 12:1–2, we are called to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice… this is your true and proper worship”! Another version says, “this is your appropriate priestly service” (CEB). When we offer our bodies to live the way Jesus calls us to, the cost may seem even higher than “giving up your life” for someone else. We lay down our lives in surrender to the one who first laid down his life for us. Jesus is our ultimate example of a cruciform (cross-shaped) life (Philippians 2:5–8):

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant… [and] humbled himself…

When we put one another’s needs before our own and honor one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10), we are living out God’s call on our lives. We are becoming more like Jesus.

READ AND REFLECT: Look for the “one anothers” in the below texts (a helpful infographic by Overview Bibleis available to view or save here). How should this inform our daily lives? What might it look like to serve one another in love?

Romans 12:9–16

Ephesians 4:32

Colossians 3

James 5

1 Peter 4:8–9

1 John 3

It’s important to remember that our serving one another may not always be easy. In fact, in Philippians, Paul compares it to the cross! This shouldn’t surprise us because Jesus said something similar in Matthew 16:24–25:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

That’s a hard saying! Are we ready, as followers of Jesus, to surrender our wants, preferences, and lifestyles in order to be a disciple? What might you have to give up to live a sacrificial, Christ-like life? 

REFLECT: Is it easier to serve those who are in our groups, or those who are outsiders (non-believers)? Why is that? How can we expand our ability to “serve one another in love”?

Living in Freedom and Healing through Surrender to Christ

When we talk about Jesus as our Healer, we don’t just refer to physical healing. Jesus wants us to find healing in relationships, from addictions, and from strongholds. The only way to experience this kind of healing is to come to the end of yourself and recognize your need for God. In John 5:1-15, we see a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus asks him “Do you want to get well?” Before he was healed, the man needed to acknowledge his need for help.

Sometimes we (or others in our group) need more support and encouragement than what a community group can provide. We offer renewal groups on the CCC campus for various topics led by trained facilitators and licensed counselors. Find out more at cccomaha.org/renewal.

READ AND REFLECT: Read John 5:1-15 and Mark 5. Write down some of the various ways Jesus healed people. How is God calling you toward greater healing and freedom? Do you want to get well?

WHAT GROUPS DO
ESSENTIAL #4: LEAD

We help people lead with Jesus through a deeper life for greater mission impact.

For an introduction to this section, watch LEAD Part 1 and LEAD Part 2.

Leading by Example—Choosing to Go Deeper
We recognize that every group is made up of unique individuals at varying stages of spiritual growth. Regardless of your current knowledge or experience, everyone can choose to go deeper in their walk with Christ. Both time and a teachable attitude are required for deeper spiritual growth. Growing deeper spiritually results from living by the power of the Holy Spirit, learning and applying the Word of God, thriving through challenges, and enjoying the encouragement and accountability of other believers. As a group leader, you can model how one lives out these elements.

Leading Others to Grow Deeper
Building relationships is the first step that Jesus modeled with the twelve disciples. It will be difficult for most group leaders to deeply engage with all of their group members. As your group meets for four to six months, notice those who are ready and eager to grow deeper spiritually.

Identify Those Who:

  • Are eager to engage in the group discussions

  • Are available to meet with you outside of group meetings

  • Come to the group prepared

  • Desire to grow and know Jesus better

Once you’ve identified one or two disciples, you can begin meeting as often as you want, but twice a month is a good average. Take advantage of mealtimes and the events and activities you have in common to get together. Get to know them personally (family, relationships, and work). Challenge their next steps of growth. Where do they desire change? What are they learning about themselves and God? What practices might help them grow spiritually? This affirms their desire to grow and calls them to higher levels of leadership and learning.

Grow as a Shepherd
As you encourage a deeper spiritual walk in your group members, you are functioning as a shepherd or guide. The Apostle Peter exhorts leaders to consider this responsibility well in 1 Peter 5:2–4:

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

REFLECT: In this passage, what do you learn about God’s heart for shepherding? Which areas of shepherding come naturally to you? Which ones would you like to develop?

Leading for Everyone—Inviting Others to Use Their Gifts on Mission
A spiritual gift is a manifestation of the Spirit. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Spiritual gifts are for the common good of the Church. God gifts every believer to build up the body of Christ. As you grow, mature, and develop in Christ, you will better understand your gifts and how you can use them for God’s purposes.

Help Your Group Members Use Their Gifts
God chose the human body as the analogy of the Church because the Body of Christ is a living organism. Each member has a place in the body, and every part belongs (1 Corinthians 12:12). Help group members discover how they belong and “serve the common good.” Cast vision for group members serving in their giftedness by reading these passages together:

Romans 12:6–8

1 Corinthians 12:8–10

1 Corinthians 12:28

Ephesians 4:11–13

1 Peter 4:9–10

REFLECT: If you knew God was inviting you to serve through your giftedness, how and where might that be? In your group? At CCC? In the neighborhood? Around the world?

The discussion of spiritual gifts may raise lots of questions, and it always draws attention to the variety of members in the group. Praise God for this variety! Consider having group members discover their gifts by taking the Spiritual Gifts Assessment (one version is available at GiftsTest.com). Then, encourage group members to serve within the group in the following various ways (see also “Loving Through Collective Ownership” under Essential #1):

  •  Leading discussions

  • Planning social events

  • Conducting prayer times

  • Keeping the group roster updated

  • Communicating service opportunities

  • Organizing group outreach

  • Hosting/preparing for group meetings

  • Apprenticing to become a new leader

  • Providing communication for group members (calendar for group meetings/events, birthdays, etc.)

  • Providing feedback and evaluation

REFLECT: What would the friends in your group say you get excited about? What excites you the most about this group? How might that be the way you serve in your group?

As a group, discuss the following ways to serve in the church and beyond:

  • Serving at CCC: Have group members share teams with which they are already involved

  • Serving the City and World: Have group members share about any missions experiences they have had

REFLECT: If you had the unique ability to make a difference in the city or around the world, what would that be? How have the members in your group served others together?

Leading by Experience—Choosing to Invest in Other Leaders
A group leader develops a new generation of leaders so that the mission of making disciples of Jesus continues in our groups, our church, and beyond. The Apostle Paul modeled this with Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). Start by observing group members that perform tasks or work with people. Give them additional group opportunities and responsibilities to see if they grow in their leadership potential.

REFLECT: What tasks are you currently doing that you could share with someone in the group?

Dr. Tim Elmore, CEO of Growing Leaders, talks about the invitations Jesus extended to his disciples. Read the following texts:

REFLECT: How did Jesus model discipleship?

Observe those who demonstrate these characteristics:

  • Becoming a disciple who is following and becoming like Jesus

  • Being secure enough to be real and honest about themselves

  • Facilitating discussion and listening to others in a caring way

Identify an apprentice/co-leader:

  • Pray regularly for an apprentice (Luke 6:12–16)

  • Look for group members who are highly engaged with the group

Invite them to become an apprentice/co-leader:

  • Visit with an Adult Ministries leader about becoming an apprentice leader. To find out more, schedule a time to meet by clicking this link.

  • Complete the potential leader application here.

Encourage them by joining them in training:

  • Participate with your new leader in their New Leader Orientation with a staff coach

  • Walk them through the 4Ls “Leader Essentials” training available online

Develop an apprentice/co-leader:

  • Allow them to lead some discussions in the group

  • Follow up their leading with feedback and evaluation

  • Pray regularly for their personal and leadership development

REFLECT: If you were personally developed as an apprentice leader, how did you benefit from the experience? What practices from this leader’s experience might be helpful to you?

Leading for Eternity—Bringing Others to Christ
Because Christ resides in us, our desire to communicate who Jesus is and what he has done for us grows. “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:27–28).

As we love Jesus and continue to experience his forgiveness, grace, and love, it moves us to bring others to Jesus. “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

As we go about our days, the Lord bestows upon us the heart of reconciling people to Jesus. “All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).

REFLECT: What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ? How will our lives be different when we lived in this way?

Prepare Your Group to Embrace Seekers
A “seeker” is someone who does not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus and may even be unsure as to whether they want to know Jesus better. 

How comfortable would a seeker be coming to your group? Seekers will be more likely to attend a group where members are willing to build relationships with them and listen to their stories. By listening to their stories, you gain insight and direction for how to best connect them to Christ. Jesus welcomed strangers, sinners, and skeptics to his table—we should welcome them too!

Remember that awful feeling playing musical chairs but being the last one out? That’s how it feels to not be welcomed into a group. We always want our groups to have an “empty chair” available for anyone who chooses to join.

REFLECT: How might the members of your group react to having a seeker join them? What preparation might they need to make this a regular occurrence?

Four guidelines to share with your group:

  • Focus on the needs of the seeker, not on your personal agenda

  • Allow seekers to make comments that might appear strong or opinionated; don’t argue

  • Respect their point of view; listen more than you talk

  • Be ready to share Jesus when the opportunity arises; as trust and safety are established, you’ll have ways to share the good news of Jesus in a clear and relevant manner

REFLECT: Think through your relationships with coworkers, neighbors, and family members. Which of these people might be open to Christ or to your group?

Cast vision and equip your group members with a group discussion guide that promotes outreach. Check out these two resources online:

 

WHAT GROUPS DO
GUIDE REVIEW

LOVING, LEARNING, LIVING, AND LEADING

General Review Questions
Of these four essentials, which do you feel comes most naturally to you? Which is most difficult?

How might this realization help you understand your own wiring?

How might this realization help you ask for help or resources when needed?

Essential #1 Review

What is one specific practice that you need to begin or improve from this essential?

  • Better communication/listening skills

  • Relational connection outside of group time

  • Sharing responsibilities

  • Discuss/expect confidentiality

Essential #2 Review

What is God using most to teach you personally in this season of your life?

  • The study of God’s Word

  • Personal/family suffering

  • Listening to the Spirit

  • Sharing in the community

How will you incorporate learning from each of these in your group life?

Essential #3 Review

Which of these four daily practices is most consistent in your life today? Which needs attention?

  • Reading the Bible daily

  • Praying

  • Worshiping together

  • Serving others

What can you do to encourage your group members to grow in consistency in each of these four areas?

Essential #4 Review

“Growing towards a deeper life in Christ expands our influence and multiplies our leadership.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

Are you modeling discipleship like Jesus did? See the Dr. Tim Elmore section under “Leading by Experience” in Essential #4. Which of those verses convicts you the most?

How can you best encourage your group members to embrace the value of “the empty chair”?