Small Group Leaders

What is a leader and what is leadership? 

• Have you ever been in a small study group or small task group a committee or board? 
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• Did it operated smoothly or did a few people dominate? 
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• Are you frustrated with small groups?

Think about this approach.


Too often we in the west have the idea that leadership is an individual trait that exists outside a setting. This implies that a leader can do it all, knows all and can accomplish all without the assistance, mutual interaction of others.

I think leadership is the ability to get everyone in the group to work together. Every person has a leadership function in the group/leadership team. Think of the human body and realize that it is a metaphor for the way we humans are designed to function most effectively. The brain is very important but not the only important member nor is it the only leader. If the brain decided that, since it is so highly evolved and so critical to all the body’s functioning, all other members are inferior, the result would be disastrous. The nervous system, heart, kidneys, liver and so on will atrophy and the body will die.

In a similar fashion to indicate that only one person is The Leader misunderstands the most effective way to lead. Leadership is the way the entire church and/or group functions together. No one part of the body is The Leader nor is any part more important than any other part. To “lord it over one another in an arrogant fashion is to negate the very thing we profess.

Think about a team or group and the people who have the gifts matching the following functions. I think that every group has all these gifts but no single person does. It is the task of the formal leader to make sure all functions are fulfilled by the group members.

A.    Conveyer-Calls the group together for work.

B.     Organizer-Structures times, places, eats, responsibilities, etc.

C.     Learner Focused-Makes sure the group is growing in the Word of God.

D.    Pastoral Care Giver-Tunes in to the personal, familial and relational needs of the members.

E.     Praise-Worshiper-Leads the group in singing, prayers and listening to God.

F.     Outreach Focus-Interested in evangelism, growth and expansion.

G.    Gate Keeper-Recognizes when it is time for quiet people to speak and talkative people to listen as well as when it is time to pray, nurture a needy person, etc.

H.    Time Keeper-Keeps the group focused on the schedule.

I.      Task Keeper-Keeps the group focused on the task. Works with Time Keeper and Gate Keeper to open and close the appropriate gates at the right time in the right ways. Often needs to challenge those focused on Learning, Worship, Pastoral Care and Outreach to stay focused on the group's priorities.

J.      Fellowship Guard-Tunes in to the ongoing needs to celebrate special times encourage the members and encourage the flock.

K.    Humorist-Dispels tension and gloom.

L.     Prayer warrior-A passion for prayer.

M.   Sabbath keeper-Makes sure the group rests and relaxes as well as works.

N.    Listener-Is great at being with people who need others.

Interested in more?

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