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Fundamentally the church is a fabric of relationships. Jesus gives a clear command to love each other (John 13:34, 35), with His love for us being the
standard.
Throughout the New Testament there are specific suggestions about church relationships. Congregations are to care for each other and give attention to the
needs of each other: (1 Cor. 12:25; Phil. 2:4), forbear and forgive (Eph. 2: 2, 32), defer to each other (Eph. 5:21), bear each other's burdens (Gal. 6:2), teach
and admonish each other (Col. 3:16, 17), encourage and build up one another (1 Thess. 5:11), confess and pray together (James 5:16), and love each other (1
John 3:22, 23; 4:4, 11).
To be a Christian is to join a body whose head is Jesus Christ. It is a theological contradiction to become a Christian and then live in isolation and
independence.
Since building relationships is a primary function of the church then it must provide settings and structures that give opportunities for this to happen.
Experience has demonstrated that the small group is one of the best vehicles for the church to become what God intends it to be-a people sharing Christ,
meeting each other's needs and reaching out in love to the world.
Duties of the Small Group Leader
There are some basic tasks that you must do when you take the responsibility of leading a small group. They are:
- Preparations. Before the meeting the leader should pray specifically for the people who are coming. Pray
also for yourself as a person and as leader. Specific preparations must be made prior to each meeting:
- Arrangements: What needs to be done to care for details such as location, seating, Bibles, temperature,
food, child care, music, materials, etc.?
- Relationships: How will you help people to feel cared for and caring? What will you do to help people get
to know each other and build positive relationships among the members of the group?
- Study Topic or Task: What steps will you follow to accomplish the task or go through the study? You will
want to make a list of questions you will use and estimate the time each will take. What are your goals for the
praying time? What will be your prayer format? Who will pray?
- Time: How much time is available and how will you divide it? Block out the time into major segments and
jot down the activity to be done in each segment. What is your "real" starting time? Your firm closing time?
How will you open and close each segment? Are you attempting too much? Too little? Do you want to ask
other people to take responsibility for some segments at this meeting?
- Facilitator. During the group meeting the most important function of the leader is to ask questions. As
group leader you are not the expert lecturer but the facilitator for discussion and sharing. Be sensitive to
individual needs. Try to create a climate of openness and acceptance through affirmation and encouragement. You will
direct the flow of discussion by making sure everyone has an opportunity to express their thoughts and
feelings. Try to keep the discussion on the subject. Make sure everyone in the group can see each other by arranging
the chairs in a circle and removing the empty chairs. The leader helps the group members to be personal by
sensitively asking questions that enable them to share openly without feeling coerced, intimidated or put on the
spot. You will also need to deal with the problem of those who talk too much. Help the group focus on
solutions rather than only problems. Ask questions that help people be positive and affirmative about themselves
and other group members.
- Caring for Individuals. Outside the group meetings the leader stays in touch with group members by
phone. You are the lay pastor of the people in your group. Watch for those who seem to be hurting or have
questions during the meetings. A prime time to offer care and support is during the informal conversation
immediately following group meetings. Try to plan your time so you can stay by. But don't let troubled people consume
your time and energy. Be free to say, "You seem to be hurting a lot. How can I assist you in getting help?
Outreach. A healthy group always "keeps an empty chair" for new people. One of the tasks of the leader is
to find likely group members, invite them to try the meetings, and help the group to make them feel
comfortable and safe. You should watch for visitors on Sabbaths, newcomers in the community, individuals going
through lonely times in their lives and especially unchurched friends and acquaintances who seem to be opening up
to spiritual things.
Resource Materials
- Nine Facets of the Effective Small-Group Leader is a video training series with Carl George. One of the
best training seminars for small group leaders available. Call AdventSource, 1-800-328-0525.
- Dynamic Small Groups: How to Make Them Happen (1992, Review & Herald) by W. Clarence Schilt is
written by an Adventist pastor on how to begin and nurture small groups.
- Small Group Outreach (1991, Review & Herald) is a practical book by Seventh-day Adventist author
Kurt Johnson who has had success in evangelism through small groups.
- Sharing Scripture (Pacific Press) is a quarterly relational Bible study tool for use in small groups published
in coordination with the Seventh-day Adventist Adult Sabbath School lesson. Available from your ABC.
- Sabbath School Leader magazine has articles from time to time about small group process. Also the
Teaching Helps each week give sharing questions and relational Bible study.
- The Serendipity New Testament for Groups published by Serendipity House is an excellent source of
relational Bible studies that encourage self disclosure and build fellowship in a small group.
- Information about additional resources and answers to your questions can be obtained through
the denomination's "help desk" by calling (800) SDA-PLUS. A number of helpful fact sheets can also be
obtained on the Adventist Forum on CompuServe or through the Fax Plus automated fax-back system. Dial (800)
474-4SDA.
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