If you are
interested in growing your church (and who isn’t), you know the importance of
creating new groups. In fact there is a website whose entire purpose is to
stress the importance of starting new groups and how to keep them healthy. If you haven’t been to the website, here’s a
link to it – www.groupsmatter.com.
One of the
steps in starting new groups is training new leaders. Below is a great article
by Rick Howerton about how to enlist Bible study leader apprentices who will
become the leaders of new groups you create.
Apprentices
are the key to a Bible study small group ministry that grows numerically while
also making disciples that make disciples. An apprentice is a future small
group leader who is mentored by the current leader of the group the apprentice
is currently attending. In almost every instance, it is best if the small group
leader determines who the apprentice for his or her group will be. But very few
group leaders know what to look for when determining who will fill this vital
role.
Ask these
questions to determine who will be an effective apprentice:
·
Are they fully on board with the
vision of the church and the small group strategy your church utilizes?
·
Are they in agreement with the
theology and doctrinal perspective of your church?
·
Is the Bible their guide for life?
·
Do they have the heart of a
shepherd? That is, will they nurture and protect a flock/small group?
·
Are they engaged in daily spiritual
disciplines?
·
Is the possible apprentice a person
of integrity? That is, do they live by the ideals they verbalize?
·
Do they know and understand the
gospel? Are they able to explain it? If not, are they willing to allow you to
aid them in learning this essential aspect of Christian leadership?
·
Are they teachable?
·
Do the other group members listen
attentively when they speak? If so, this is a good sign that they are already
perceived as having leadership qualities.
·
Are they willing to fall under the
authority of the church leadership, be directed by them, held accountable by
them, and attend training and events that are made available to them?
THINGS YOU MIGHT
BE INTERESTED IN ….
FOR CHURCH LEADERS: 15 Books Church Leaders
Should Read in 2015 - http://www.briandoddonleadership.com/2014/11/23/the-top-15-books-christian-leaders-should-read-in-2015/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BrianDoddOnLeadership+%28Brian+Dodd+On+Leadership%29
FOR EDUCATION MINISTRY LEADERS: 2015 BACE Conference,
Johnson Ferry Baptist/Marietta, April 9-10, 2015 - http://www.baptisteducators.org/conference/
FOR CHURCH DEVOTIONALS: DevoHub is Coming!
Church devotionals delivered directly to personal devices - http://www.devohub.com/?emid=BL-BSI-DevoHub-20141118
FOR BIBLE STUDY
LEADERSHIP: 2015-18
Plans for The Gospel Project unveiled –
A Chronological Journey for all ages! -http://www.gospelproject.com/2015-2018/
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Ordinary by Tony
Merida - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/ordinary-bible-study-kit-P005644105
FOR KIDS MINISTRY: VBS 2015: Journey Off the Map Preview Events and Resources –
http://www.lifeway.com/n/Vacation-Bible-School?intcmp=VBSSite-Shop
FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: D’Now resources -http://www.lifeway.com/n/merchandised-landing-page/DiscipleNow?intcmp=DnowSearch-MTX-Button-ViewAll-20130227
FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: LifeWay Girls
Conference, Nashville,
TN, February 20-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Student-Event-LifeWay-Girls-Conference-Nashville-TN
FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sermon on the
Mount by
Jen Wilkin -http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-sermon-on-the-mount-leader-kit-p005644877
FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: What Love is by Kelly Minter - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/what-love-is-the-letters-of-1-2-3-john-leader-kit-P005635537
FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: The Main
Event 2015 will be in THREE locations! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/The-Main-Event?type=events&emid=BL-BSI-MainEvent-20141230
