In Ephesians 4, Paul casts a powerful vision of the church. In his own context, the church at Ephesus was a diverse one made up of people who, apart from Christ, had every reason to never associate with one another. They were different ethnicities, had different backgrounds, and were converts from different religions. Yet there they were, together, as people who had believed the gospel, and in so doing had become one. In chapter 4, Paul described the role of leaders:
And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness (Eph. 4:11-13).
The vision Paul casts in Ephesians 4 describes the one, overarching job of church leaders. Namely, that pastors in the church should be primarily focused on equipping the saints for the work of ministry.
That word, equipping, indicates a bringing to a condition of fitness, perfecting. “Equipping” is a process, and though the term is only used here in the New Testament, the verb associated with the term is often used in the context of spiritual growth and maturity. Importantly, though, this process is purposeful; it is not merely for the sake of the person being brought to ready maturity, but implies a sense of preparation and readiness for a specific purpose or task. About this word, John Stott comments:
“The former expression about equipping God’s people is of far-reaching significance for any true understanding of Christian ministry. For the word ministry (diakonia) is here not used to describe the work of pastors but rather the work of so-called laity, that is, of all God’s people without exception. Here is incontrovertible evidence that the New Testament envisages ministry not as the prerogative of a clerical elite but as the privileged calling of all the people of God.”
Put simply, your job as a leader is not to do the work of ministry; it is to equip the saints so that they can do the work of ministry. Much of that ministry happens in a small group setting, so how can you, as a leader, empower the leaders of your work to do that good work of ministry themselves? Here are three suggestions:
1. Define for them the “win.”
Lots of things happen in small groups. In a given meeting, people will likely (and hopefully) study the Bible together, pray for one another, learn more about each other’s lives, and encourage each other to follow Jesus. These are all worthwhile purposes, but taken together, they can often result in a lack of focus.
So what’s the one thing you want your group leaders to accomplish, beyond anything else? Is it to teach the Bible? To pray? To fellowship? That answer matters because knowing what that “win” is will help your group leaders practically lead. It will help them know how to allocate time, let certain things go when needed, and force the issue of what is non-negotiable in your group setting.
Every group leader should know with pristine clarity exactly what they are trying to accomplish on a given night. If they can achieve other things, even better, but knowing what specifically must be done frees a group leader to prioritize rightly.
2. Invest in them personally.
Your small group leaders will no doubt benefit from being in a group, but their primary purpose in that group is to be poured out for the sake of others. As the leader, their primary role is to sacrifice themselves on behalf of the rest of the group. Often, then, they don’t receive the prayer or fellowship or the compassion because they are facilitating those things for everyone else.
How can they be filled up with those things when they are being poured out week after week? It’s when you take time to personally invest in them. In a sense, you are, for them, what they are meant to be for others. So rather than just communicating to them about what they are supposed to do in their groups, invest in them personally.
Do you have a prayer list about the personal lives of your group leaders? Do you have a reminder on your calendar to give specific group leaders a call just to check on them? If not, then make sure you have an operationalized means of checking in with them.
3. Give them the right tools.
Nothing is so un-empowering as being given an assignment without the right tools. Imagine showing up to a job site only to find you don’t have the right kind of equipment in order to accomplish the job. And yet so many times we put our group leaders in the same situation.
What are the right tools? That depends on the context. It might be the right Bible study or curriculum. But it might also be a toolbox full of tips on how to deal with difficult situations. It might also be the necessary theological training to answer tough questions. Only you and your group leaders know, and the only way you add to that knowledge is by asking.
Have you asked your group leaders what tools they need? And are you acting in an organized and intentional way to get them what they need?
Our job as church leaders is to equip. To make ready. To bolster and to encourage. It’s not to do the work for our group leaders, but it is to put them in a posture where they are ready to serve. Let’s make sure they have the tools they need to do so.
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By Michael Kelley, Rooted Network Executive Director