Why do you lead a Small Group?
Tell me if you recognize this scenario:
Rush to get the house picked up. Close the shower curtain in guest bathroom to hide all the kid’s bath toys. Hide toys and laundry in closets and the dirty dishes in the laundry room. Throw anything else messy into your room and LOCK the door, in case anyone might mistake that room for the bathroom. Make sure snacks and beverages are lined up. Panic to get something on paper to show you’re not completely unprepared for discussion time. Look all over for your “church” Bible. You know the one that isn’t 4 inches fat that makes you look like you think you’re more spiritual than everyone else, the one that is slim and neat looking. You finally find it in the car where it’s been since Sunday because you only use that Bible for church and small group. Yell at the kids to stop doing, well, whatever they’re doing and threaten them with something bad if they have a meltdown like they did at the last group. When the first guests arrive, look calm and act like it’s totally natural to have 3 kids under 5 and a perfectly spotless house at 6pm. Is that transparent? Authentic? Is it just me or does anyone else feel like this on small group night?
Truth is, the commitment to serve in the capacity of a small group leader is huge!
So why do you do it? Tell me why you make the decision to open your home or drive to the local cafe to initiate biblical functioning community. Do you know why? What is your motive?
When Heath and I first started leading it was really out of obligation and not desire. We meet at someone else’s house so the tidying up part did not affect us…but the being prepared part did! What I found was that it was ok to admit I did not spend a huge amount of time on a lesson and that it was also ok to tell the group that I had questions that sometimes I could not answer. While we started out leading because of a need we actually found that we loved this group of people and a genuine community was formed…in our weaknesses. When we all let our guards down a bit we found friendships that I believe will last a lifetime not just for us as adults but for the children involved as well.
We just took a break from leading the group but we still participate as another couple has stepped up. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to go to our first meeting as ‘participants’ and see someone else that we had come to appreciate and love step into the role of leader.
How leaders emerge and grow is always an interesting story. It’s great to see how you and Heath stepped into leadership and were just obedient to the Holy Spirit’s call to serve. The fruit that comes after that is up to Him and it’s so apparent! I’m so grateful for your family!