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Small Group Leaders’ Training

To envision and equip you to lead a Small Group

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Expectation

• Doing the course does not entail a firm commitment on your part to lead a Home Group

• Doing the course does not entail a firm commitment on our part to ask you to lead a Home Group

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The Vision

• Glory to God• Growing in our knowledge and worship of our God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

• Growth• Growing in size and going in service

• Community• Growing in our commitment to one another and to

the world

• Transformation• Growing Christlikeness in us and others

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Values for the small group

• Intimacy• Accountability• Simplicity• Honesty• Generosity• Community• Unity• Inclusivity• Boldly!!

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Pastoral Structures

• Small Groups Together

• Meet periodically• Allow development and exercise of a broad range of gifts –

prophecy, music, teaching…• Give people a sense that this is where they might meet and

make new friends• Good size for socials

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Pastoral Structures

• Confirmation of Small Groups– All welcome– Meet Weekly

• Led by a Small Group Leader(s)• Up to 10 members (around 8 ideal)•C.I.A. – Confidentiality, Intimacy, Accountability• Good size for deeper prayer with one another, for

discipleship and mutual support, for Bible Study and for special interests

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Goals

• To encourage each Church member to be in a Small Group

• To encourage ministry and Bible study within Small Groups

• To foster the C.I.A. aspects of Small Groups

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Christian Leadership

• Key Texts: Php 2:5-11; Mk 10:35-45

• What is Leadership?

• Write down in no more than two lines a definition of leadership.

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Christian LeadershipSmall Group Leader:

• Prayer

• Commitment to group

• Be well prepared

• Pastoral oversight

• Equality

• Communication

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Christian Leadership

• Character of Christian Leadership– Put others first– Self-giving love– Serve others– Change in values– Christian leadership is cross-shaped

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Christian Leadership

• Christian Leadership– Power with– Support– Co-operation– Realistic– Enabling– Equality– Change– Flexibility– Give

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Groups 1

PURPOSE

Dynamics: Pastoral Epistles 1&2 Tim; Tit.

PROCESS PEOPLE

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Groups 2

• Purpose– A gospel-shaped church

• Process– Kind to everyone; keep instructions without

partiality; in your teaching show integrity

• People– Recognise your group membership eg. Older

people; younger people; preaching; teaching; leading

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Groups 3

• Purpose– To do the job

• Process– To keep the group together

• People– Recognise individual contributions

Initiating, informing, clarifying, summarising, testing, expediting

Harmonising, encouraging, observing, evaluating, compromising

Teaching, encouraging, exploring, releasing

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Groups 4• Life-cycle

– Settling-in– First Growth– Developing Growth– Reaching Maturity – preparing for harvest

• Good beginnings– Leaders Agreement– Group Agreement

• Sticky endings– “Natural” causes– Leadership failure

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Leaders Agreement

• Consistent, fair, honest

• Recognition of worth, respect

• Structure, direction, boundaries

• Standards, norms, values

• Feedback, advice, suggestion

• Loving and compassionate authority

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Group Agreement• Attendance• Ownership• Accountability• Accessibility• Affirmation• Acceptance• Availability• Prayer• Honesty• Sensitivity• Confidentiality

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Further Thought, Study and Reference

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Christian Leadership • The Shepherd Jn 10:1-18• Active, not passive – Jesus was never passive

Jn 10:17ff• Good leaders are good followers

– Jesus gives very little instruction on how to lead, but a lot on how to follow!

• Leaders relate intimately to their group– The leader is part of the group, fulfils one function

enabling the group to be the group. 1 Co 12:12-26

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Christian Leadership • Character Lk 4:1-4

– Essence of Christian leadership is its practice of power: serving, not lording over

– SG Leadership is a spiritual matter• Integrity: discuss in pairs a recent challenge• Consider in light of Lk 4:1-4

– Jesus’ testing was a challenge to his self-understanding… “If you are the Son of God”

– Doing it in God’s way, his time, his power– Prayer: declares our dependence– Leadership: is not to meet our needs– Worship: leads to humility– Confession: counters the pressure to conform to the

world; fosters accountability.

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Ministry • Jesus the Model

• He appointed 12 that they might be with him and that he might send them out… Mk 3:13-14

» I do, you watch » You do, I watch and feed back» You go to do and report back; I comment» You do, she/he watches

• The Role of the Holy Spirit• Another Counsellor Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7• A role parallel to Christ: “…it is for your good that I am

going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you.” Jn 16:7

• Surely I am with you always Mt 28:20• Now to each the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the

common good 1 Co 12:7

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Church’s Distinctive Activity

• Acts 2:42-47– Moving Up

» Apostles’ Teaching» Breaking Bread» Prayer» Praising God

– Moving In» Fellowship» Together» Everything in common» Ate together

– Moving Out» Enjoyed… favour» …added to their number

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Christian Community

– Created in the image of God: Ge 1:26– Look to God to understand humanity. God is Trinity – three

persons in communion: Father Son and Spirit totally given to each other in love and unity of purpose. I am truly a person when I relate. If God has made me so that I can only flourish with you, I will not manipulate , dominate, ignore or abuse you.

– The image marred: Ge 3– Alienation from God and one another– Culture of blame, rebellion, sullenness – Adam; Cain

– Christ breaks down wall of hostility: Eph 2:11-22– God’s redemption plan was to form a people: Ge 12:1-3

» To help fulfil God’s purposes as a group and as persons – Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together….

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Christian Community• Imperatives of the New Testament

– Be devoted…[give] preference to one another Ro 12:10– Accept one another Ro 15:7– Care for one another 1 Co 12:25– Bear one another’s burdens Ga 6:2– Forgiving each other Eph 4:32– Encourage…and build up one another 1 Th 5:11– Stimulate one another to love and good deeds Heb 10:24– Confess your sins to… and pray for one another Ja 5:16– Serving one another 1 Pe 4:10– Love one another 1 Jn 4:11

• The Goal of Christ’s redeeming work– May the God who gives you endurance and encouragement

give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ro 15:5-6

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Ministry Description Small Group Leader Task: To lead a holistic small group in the Mease Valley Group Goals: To enable group members to worship together, nurture faith, provide

pastoral care and encourage new membership. Sub-tasks:Attend Group Leader’s MeetingsDevelop pastoral care for group members.Provide discussion material for group sessions from time to timeEncourage group members to use their giftsEnable all group members to share their views and questionsUndertake training as requiredAccept responsibility for growth of group, encouraging new membersPray for the group and its membersTake part in ‘Groups Together’ occasions 

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Contact People:Responsible to: Holistic Small Groups Co-ordinatorResponsible for: Small Group MembersWorking with: Holistic Small Groups Co-ordinator and Leadership Team Spiritual Gifts:Shepherding, Prayer, Hospitality Time Commitment: Flexible Length of Assignment:2 years with review after 1 year Training: Willingness to undertake Group Leaders Training Programme as and when necessary Name of Leader:Date:

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Ministry Description Holistic Small Groups Co-Ordinator (N)

Goals: To enable group members to continue to grow spiritually, groups to grow numerically, and to ensure a supply of group leaders for new groups when they are needed.Sub-tasks:• Ensure provision of weekly material for groups in consultation with team rector / incumbent and small group leaders.• Identify and train new group leaders.• To organise training for group leaders so that their groups continue to grow spiritually and numerically.• To ensure that groups are mutually supportive and to address problems that may occur within groups.• Organise 'groups together1 evenings when agreed.• Meet regularly with group leaders for support, prayer and feedback.• Oversee division of groups when they regularly exceed 10 members.

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Contact People:

Responsible to: Team Rector/Incumbent and Leadership Team Responsible for: Small Group Leaders and Members Working with: Small Group Leaders and Leadership Team

Spiritual Gifts: Evangelism, Shepherding, Leadership

Time Commitment: 16 hours per week approx

Length of Assignment: 2 years with review after 1 year

Training: Familiarity with our Group Leaders Training Programme and outside training available from NCD, District and Diocese

Date: