When a small group leader looks into the eyes of their group members, they are looking into the eyes of a group of people they have a responsibility to move forward in their journey to spiritual maturity. But, before that can happen, the leader must conclude precisely where the group member is on that journey.

There are four questions that need to be answered concerning each group member. The answers to these questions will determine how the group leader relates to and sometimes converses with each group member.

1. Is he or she a follower of Christ? If a small group leader realizes that a group member has not yet crossed the line of faith and become a Christ-follower, the leader needs to 1) make the most of every opportunity the Holy Spirit creates to voice the gospel to that group member, 2) watch the group member closely during group meetings and capture a transformational moment when it occurs, 3) carefully answer any question the group member has and bathe that answer in the person and story of Jesus. 4) Integrate the Gospel into every group conversation when it is possible and appropriate.
2. Is there a past experience the Enemy, Satan, is using to hold the group member captive? Some group members are Christ-followers but the Enemy is using a past experience or past experiences to keep the group member from realizing the joy and peace that Jesus promised. Past experiences might include ongoing verbal, physical, or sexual abuse by a family member or someone else, a group of high school friends defriending the group member, a church spiritually abusing, etc.… Satan uses such experiences to demean the person and destroy the new heart one receives when adopted by God. Realizing whether or not a group member is in this situation will explain their attitudes and reactions to many conversations and will make it possible for the group leader to point them toward the help they need that can aid them in their movement toward freedom.
3. Is he or she proactively on a journey toward Christ-likeness? Many believers received Christ and are active in church but are not proactively striving to become Christ-like. When a group leader is aware of spiritual apathy that group leader then begins to do whatever is necessary to motivate the group member to be involved in spiritual disciplines, spend time conversing about the things of God, and slowly move the person toward a walk with Christ that is real and passionate and transformational.
4. What can I do to help the group member take the next step? Once a group leader is aware of the answer to the three questions you just read, the group leader must ask herself/himself how they can help the group member to commit to taking whatever the next step is for them. Helping group members commit to next steps is the first step toward transformation that is real and eternal.

Rick Howerton - Navpress, Global Small-Group Environmentalist
Read more from Rick's blog: http://blogs.navpress.com/rickhowerton/My-Blog

• The conscientious. Who is always on time? Who is always prepared? This person is committed and takes the group seriously.
• The sincere. Who demonstrates the ability to apply spiritual lessons to her own life? She will be able to lead others to do the same.
• The transparent. Does your potential leader demonstrate a willingness to share openly and honestly?
• The receptive. A leader must let others speak. Who demonstrates good listening skills?
• The respected. Look for the person others seek out for advice and counsel.

If someone demonstrates at least a few of these qualities, it's time for these next steps.

1. Tell the person about the qualities you see in her.
2. Encourage her to pray about whether God is calling her into greater involvement.
3. Give her an opportunity to lead in a small way, perhaps by soliciting prayer requests.
4. Trade places for a meeting. She leads. You participate. This lets her discover she can do it but with the reassurance that you are there if she gets stuck.
5. Follow up immediately. Evaluate the meeting with her. Give plenty of positive feedback. Help her with those areas she perceives as troublesome.

Repeat the last two steps as necessary. Eventually your trainee will have the confidence to lead a group of her own.

Marilyn Yocum - Copyright © 1999, Discipleship Journal, a publication of NavPress and The Navigators. All Rights Reserved.

The members of my small group understand that memorizing God's can boost their spiritual growth. However, many of us find memorizing Scripture difficult. So we've decided to focus on the same verses and make memorizing a priority.

On Our Own:
Following are some hints I've given group members to help them memorize verses at home.

• Start with a short verse, then work up to longer verses or passages.
• Identify the theme of the verse. Seek to understand what the verse means before memorizing the words.
• Read the verse daily between group sessions-five times in the morning and five times in the evening. By the end of the week, you may discover you know the verse by memory.
• Concentrate on three or four words at a time, rather than the entire verse. Divide the verse into bite-sized chunks by highlighting short phrases with different colors.

During Meetings:
Here are a few strategies that have helped us when we're together. We don't use them all at once, but employing a variety accommodates group members who learn in different ways.

• As group members arrive, they write out the verse they've been memorizing on a sheet of paper.
• We pair up to recite verses to each other.
• If everyone in the group is memorizing the same verse, we might create hand motions to illustrate key words.
• Charades help review verses we've already studied. One member acts out the verse while the others guess. Whoever guesses correctly must finish reciting the verse.

Eileen Rife - Copyright © 2005, Discipleship Journal, a publication of NavPress and The Navigators. All Rights Reserved.

Do members of your small group interact regularly with international neighbors or coworkers? Perhaps your group supports foreign missionaries but knows little about the people groups those individuals reach. Attending a cultural fair together can increase your group's heart for people of other cultures while equipping members to reach out more effectively to their international friends. Here's how to make the most of the experience.

Plan. Campus associations for international students may organize celebrations for significant holidays. Many cities host fairs that highlight local immigrant groups. In our community there are annual festivals sponsored by Chinese, Hispanics, Italians, Greeks, Israelis, Caribbeans, Poles, Swedes, Germans, Africans, and Scots. Check your local calendar of events for similar activities in your area. Museums are another great place to learn about other cultures.

Prepare. Research the people group and its predominant religion beforehand. Talk as a group about distinctive elements and symbols of that religion. During the event, look for evidence of religious beliefs, including subtle references in artwork, clothing, music, and mementos.

Participate. Engage as many of your senses as possible. Smell and taste traditional foods. Look at displays. Listen to the music. Join in the national dances.

Pray. Purchase keepsakes that symbolize the culture, and use them as reminders to pray for that people group. A knickknack displayed in a high-traffic area at home can prompt you to pray when you see it. Jewelry or clothing can inspire prayer each time it's worn.

Process. After the event, talk about the particular needs, both physical and spiritual, of that culture. If you know missionaries ministering there, discuss how you can encourage and support them more effectively based on your new understanding. If you chose an event based on the personal contacts of group members, brainstorm ways those individuals can use the experience to build relationships with their international acquaintances.

Copyright © 2005, Discipleship Journal, a publication of NavPress and The Navigators. All Rights Reserved.

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