Lead Like Jesus: Principles For Small Group LeadersEgzanp

BE PRESENT (and connect their faith to a community)

When Jesus’ ministry began, He didn’t invite the masses to join Him. He chose 12 men of various ages with different jobs, backgrounds, and temperaments. Some would die for Him. One would betray Him. But all of them were invested in by Him. And after Jesus’ ascension, the disciples were able to stay strong in their faith because it was connected to Him and each other.

As a small group leader, your steady presence—in and out of group—will help to strengthen the faith of the kids or students you lead. Their faith will grow in part because it’ll be connected to you and the other people in your group. Faith in God isn’t designed to work in isolation. It flourishes best when our faith experiences are tied to the people around us. And by being present for your few, you are providing them with another context through which to experience and understand God’s love. Now, of course we know that Jesus was perfect, and the time He spent with his few was infused with His perfection. The good news is that, even though no one is perfect (and no small group community is either), God isn’t asking for you to be a perfect small group leader. He’s just asking you to be a present one.

Your own faith is probably tied to the people in your community. And that’s the way it should be. God designed it that way. When you are present for your few, you are well on the way to connecting your kids and students to a community of believers that will encourage authentic faith. That’s what investing in other people looks like. It isn’t always convenient, but it is good. So be present for your few, and give them a place to work through what it means to live in community the way that Jesus encouraged us to by His own example!

Questions:

Has someone had a consistent, positive presence in your life? How did this person communicate God’s love to you?

How has God been present for you? How can you, in turn, be present for your small group?