Recruiting, Developing, and Training Small Group Leaders For Every Size Church Dave Robertson

“To Build a Christian Community Where Non-Religious and Nominally Religious People Are Becoming Deeply Committed Christians.” Church of the Resurrection Purpose Statement

“It is easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects – education, building, missions, holding services…the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men (people) in Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity (p.171)

For at least several decades the churches of the Western world have not made discipleship a condition of being a Christian. One is not required to be, or to intend to be, a disciple in order to become a Christian, and one may remain a Christian without any signs or progress toward or in discipleship.

Contemporary American churches in particular do not require following Christ in his example, spirit and teachings as a condition of membership—either of entering into or continuing in fellowship of a denomination or a local church.

So far as the visible Christian institutions of our day are concerned, discipleship is clearly optional…Churches are filled with “undiscipled disciples,” as Jess Moody called them. Dallas Willard

Steps in the Development of Small Group Leaders Identify Recruit Empower Deploy Sustain

Identify  Best Leaders Lead (Disciple makers instead of committee leaders)  Who Are Your Most Engaging Church Attenders (not necessarily your most knowledgeable ones)  Introductory Classes (such as Alpha)  Personality Types, Spiritual Gifts, Thinkers/Learners, Passionate

Identify  Train existing good leaders to spot potential in others  Gage Interest at Time of Joining  Brainstorm as a Staff and Leadership Team Who Your Most Effective Leaders Are  Raise Up People By Mentoring Them

Recruit  Planting Seeds-  Have You Ever Considered…  I Would Like for You to Consider  I Would like to Buy You Lunch  Here are Concrete Reasons I Believe You Can Do This  Share the Vision of the Church and Disciple Making  Can’t Be Afraid to Ask- Make the Pitch with No Arm Twisting  Understand the Barriers and Reduce/Eliminate Them  Give Them an Out- Try it for a Year…

Empower  The Basics-  How to Facilitate  The Purposes of Every Small Group  Intentionality  Trial Leadership- Short-term Table Leader  Investing in Them- Leading the Leaders  Starter Kits and Curriculum  Make Training Easily Accessible- Be Willing to Meet Regularly w/Tools

Deploy  Fellowship Event (s)  Large or Small Teaching Event  Have People Commit to One Study to Get to Know Others (Not Committing to a Lifetime w/People They Don’t Know Yet)  Make Introductions Before First Get Together (i.e.- worship, community, etc)  Leaders Have the Right Tools to Succeed (vision, purpose, handouts, etc)

Sustain  Regular Check-in’s (Leader Knows How Often)  Accessibility- There When Leader Needs You  Training Events With Other Leaders  Encouragement- Share Successes You’ve Heard  Encouragement From the Group/Showing Appreciation  Celebrate- Small Gifts/Hospitality  Large Teaching Events  Lead the Leaders- Summer Studies