How to lead
A Community Group
How (Not) To: Lead a Small Group
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hi my name's Erin and I've led dozens
tens at least a handful of small groups
and almost everybody who was in those
small groups are still believers I think
so I wanted to give you my top 5 ways to
lead a small group step one be
unprepared go into it totally unprepared
I mean it's a small group small like
small potatoes small fry no big deal
leave the preparation of the theologians
and pastors that's why they make the big
bucks I like to take a passage of
Scripture and your people I mean you
have everything you need right there and
then you know maybe cross-reference some
verses with genealogies internet up kill
a bunch of time step to never do
anything outside of group time don't get
sucked into this vortex of leanings of
build rapport or something like that you
don't need to know these people's
private lives that's why it's called a
private life and as far as they're
concerned you don't exist outside of the
group you're a ghost step 3
be structured as a leader never never
never let your group get off track off
schedule off topic
if the group starts at 6:30 be wrapping
up your opening prayer by 6:30 - amen
this is going to happen trust me I've
had to shut it down more times than I
can count
somebody's gonna come in with some
off-topic thing like their mom's in the
hospital or some tragic accident do not
take the bait I repeat do not take the
bait if you take the bait you are a
guppy and we all know it happens to
Guppies they get put in a tank fed dried
fish food for their entire lives until
one day we find them belly-up and then
get flushed do you want to get flushed
don't take the bait don't get off
schedule don't be a guppy step 4
be afraid of silence we've all heard the
phrase silence is deadly that's right
you'll make people uncomfortable just
listen well nobody wants that you don't
want to make people uncomfortable with
silence your curriculum will probably
have questions in it read them memorize
your answers know them be ready try this
anybody have anything else to add nope
great let's move on step 5 be a
know-it-all your small group members are
like sheep you need to feed them do they
have five Bible apps on their phone like
you do do they have an online
certificate from a Bible course no they
can't just be talking about scriptures
and worldview willy-nilly on their own
they need a leader who knows it feed
them like a buffet of Bible knowledge
with the steam pouring off the mashed
potatoes that's a good leader
[Music]
