Small Group Leadership Training

"Go and make imitators of me." - Jesus Christ

 

"Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." - Jesus imitator, Paul

"A group of people are in unity, not when they are in uniform outwardly, but when they are in uniform inwardly." - Yours Truly, Jesus imitator wanna-be

 

We have a bunch of leaders at the Southwest church (including, but not limited to, the elders and ministers) who have committed to being in or leading a small group of people who meet for the express purpose of  becoming what God intended us to be...like Christ.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere that is life-giving, then they must:

1) genuinely love God,

2) genuinely love all people,

3) be on the journey of becoming more like Christ themselves, 

4) be willing to help others on the journey of becoming more like Christ.

 

The truth they have learned, and I from them and among them, is that they can do none of the above without doing all of the above. They've learned this from the Bible, from their experimentation with love, form their regretful experiences in lacking love, from their own hearts, and from one another.

 

Every group of people, large or small, if they are any kind of group, ends up with an internal vocabulary that communicates much more among them than the actual words themselves. Our group has a list of "elements" that make up what we call an "atmosphere of life". We find that Christ himself created this atmosphere when he walked among us on earth, and we are attempting to create this same atmosphere as we walk the same earth...like Christ did...and only with his help.

 

We have some words, that while we want them to communicate clearly to everyone, communicate in ever-increasing clarity to and among us as we learn to live them out.

 

This group of leaders is giving this (living out thing) a go, some for the first time, some once again, and some in their continuing efforts. In support of them, and out of great faith in them, and for the sake of the world, I (humbly) offer this list of elements that continue to communicate deeply and meaningfully to us, and hopefully through us.

 

I love these guys and galls, and am with them in the incredible work of Christ that God has gifted to them.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of acceptance, then they must unconditionally accept themselves in all their imperfection and messiness.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of teaching, then they must learn all that they can that really matters and then share it freely and constantly.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of modeling, then they must do only those things that bring them life.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of accompanying, then they must be willing to go with people into their hardest places when it is uncomfortable for them to do so and stay there for an uncomfortable amount of time.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of invitation, then they must build a life that is "inconvenience-able".

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of challenge, then they must tell the absolute truth in absolute love.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of remembering, then they must bring all things back to what Christ has done as their reason for everything they do.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of celebrating, then they must value any little step towards life, by any one, and be eager to point it out to everyone as such.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of freedom, then they must be operating out of their freedom.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of guidance, then they must listen to God on behalf of other people.

 

If they want to create an atmosphere of transcendence, then they must believe that God is afoot in every relationship they are in, that God is showing Himself in every moment and every thing, and that He will be appropriately amazing when we see Him..

 

It will cost them their lives...and it will give them their life. Life to the full, by the word of Christ.