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Leadership Development

Why do we make it hard

  1. Because it is. We learned very little about it in school, and very few of us had strong leaders who deliberately built skills and desires into our lives. And we do not get much time to travel together like Paul did with Timothy or Titus.
  2. We use books too much. A lot of them make it complicated.
  3. Maybe we should just have two subjects to impart: character and church.   CE National has discussion guides from Bible verses on these two subjects, by the way.
  4. We forget it is just TLC – time with men in a group of 4 to 6 others, Love shown and said, and Content of the scripture that hits the heart.
  5. We do not ask ourselves and all staff to lead a group of 4 to 6 others to develop in character strength and church leadership.

Continue reading “Leadership Development”

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Variety of Small Groups or Cells

 

Type

Purpose

Size

Suggestions

To study the Bible and apply it to life.

Any size, but more effective when smaller

üDecide if Bible content is really what is needed.

üIf it’s a study that can catch the interest of the non-churched, plan it that way.

üTrain an assistant teacher to be helping so when you start another one, that teacher can take the lead.

 

2.      Strategic Discipleship

To study life and the Bible and getting the two together with a goal toward either more involvement in church ministry or leadership.

5-7

üPick the people carefully – with potential.

üContent is not as important as building your heart into the hearts of others.

üInclude some accountability and discussion about life and growth.

üInclude studies and discussions about the church and needs and commands.

 

3.      Support

To provide spiritual and emotional strength and healing for people that have been through similar negative experiences.

Depends on the subject – usually small, from 5-10.

üHave a goal to help people out of the group some time and not meet perpetually.

üWhen it’s a technical area, like sexual abuse, be sure there is a technical advisor or teacher, somebody accountable.  A legal issue.

ü“Find a need and meet it.”

üBlended families, alcohol, eating disorders, divorce, recovery.

 

4.      Accountability

To provide spiritual and emotional support for each other and growth in a place of checking your life.

 

3-6

üAll male or female.

üCandor will only happen in smaller groups.

üContent is not the issue here – but true friendship.

5.      Evangelistic

To interact with the non-believer and help them to understand the message of Christ.

Open group and sometimes the more the better.

üNeighborhood or workplace.

üKeep it open to new participants.

üKeep it nonthreatening (“gentleness and respect”).

üStay focused on Bible message.

 

6.      ABF Care Groups

Each ABF organizes care groups to be sure each person is cared for/shows care.

 

Up to 15

üCare groups can be most effective if, when they meet, there is a healthy balance of learning, caring, and outward focus.

7.      Fellowship (“Super 8”) social groups

To relax and know each other better.

6-10

üConsider as great way to welcome newer people.

üMay be best to shift to more personal purposes after meeting a few times.

üMany groups have other labels, but really accomplish this purpose.
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Reminders About Established Church

reminder

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  • It is not good to receive the call to an established church with an agenda to change the church drastically, unless that has been agreed upon.

 

  • It is not good to try to change a church just because of your personal desire.

 

  • Sometimes leaders become unaware of how people are reacting to their leadership decisions, because they are isolated/insulated, or because people are not honest with them.

 

  • We must honor what others have done in the past, not act as if previous ministries do not matter.
  • Just because it has been done or exists as an attitude does not mean it was or is good in God’s opinion.

 

  • The same church that understood the missional reasons to do things a certain way in the past can understand the missional reasons not to do things a different way.
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Basic Ingredients for Strong Staff Teams

Basic Ingredients for Strong Staff Teams—

as picked up over the years

by talking to many senior pastors and staff members

You decide, but this is more than friends operating together.

 

 

A.     The senior or lead pastor

1.       Both the senior pastor and the person reporting have a discipleship group of either all men or all women, depending on which one they are! J Continue reading “Basic Ingredients for Strong Staff Teams”

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HOW TO FIND GOOD STAFF

 HOW TO FIND GOOD STAFF Downlaod 

  •   Networking with other pastors in large churches.
  •   Always looking and mixing at district and national conference. Write down names when meet a vibrant church staff person even when you do not need one.
  •  Not going to placement services (too many names).
  •  Not talking to senior pastors who are not doing well but think they would do well on a staff.

Continue reading “HOW TO FIND GOOD STAFF”