Subverting Mediocrity, Jason Allen, Leadership, Church Planting, Ministry
Subverting Mediocrity
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    • « Wednesday Links | Home | New Book on Worship (new to me) »

      Activate: Rethinking Small-Group Leadership

      By jason | June 4, 2008

      Big Idea #10: Think Apprentice…Not Expert

      Conventional Wisdom: Group leaders need to be biblically knowledgeable, longtime Christians and must undergo extensive training in order to lead a group effectively.

      Reality: Serving as an apprentice/coordinator in a group will prepare potential leaders to lead a life-changing small group on their own, regardless of how long they’ve been Christians or what their level of training and expertise.

      1. I do and you watch.
      2. I do and you help.
      3. You do and I help.
      4. You do and I applaud.

      Big Idea #11: Think Decentralization…Not Staff Control

      Conventional Wisdom: To ensure successful groups, paid staff must be in control.

      Reality: Groups will multiply faster and be healthier when you trust God with your volunteer leaders and trust your volunteer leaders with your people.

      Big Idea #12: Think Leader Multiplication…Not Group Multiplication

      Conventional Wisdom: The best way to increase the number of small groups in a church is to split existing groups.

      Reality: Through the semester-based system and the practice of apprenticing, you can multiply groups naturally by multiplying leaders.

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      Topics: Community, Community Groups, Leadership, LifeConnection |

      10 Responses to “Activate: Rethinking Small-Group Leadership”

      1. matt Says:
        June 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm

        i like this one even more.

      2. Melinda Says:
        June 4th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

        The best writer I’ve ever known told me the one simple principal made his writing great: Less is more. Poor writers dilute great messages with unnecessary words. Great writers can tell a story with a single word.

        It seems to me that you, and many other “great theologians” of our time, have committed this very same error. The message of Christ is simple. What God wants from us is simple. Quit watering it down with a bunch of propaganda. It only drives people away from the church.

      3. jason Says:
        June 5th, 2008 at 6:16 am

        Melinda - can you clarify what your intention is with: “It seems to me that you, and many other “great theologians” of our time?”

      4. Matt Says:
        June 5th, 2008 at 7:29 am

        Whoa. Seriously?

      5. great theologians Says:
        June 5th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

        I thought all great writing was propaganda!

      6. Melinda Says:
        June 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

        Yes, seriously.

        Jason, you get a whole post. Enjoy.

      7. Matthew Says:
        June 6th, 2008 at 7:44 am

        I, for one, wish you would start limiting all of your blog posts to two words or less.

        Thanks in advance…

      8. Melinda Says:
        June 6th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

        Matthew- are you referring to Jason or myself?

        Because, if you are referring to me, it’s a sign of your unwillingness to become involved in, or even allow, an open dialog regarding important and/or controversial issues. Not a very Christian attitude… and I’d like to think you are better than that.

      9. jason Says:
        June 6th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

        That is where you went wrong Melinda. Matthew is certainly not better than that. :)

      10. Matthew Says:
        June 7th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

        Easy there tiger…just referring to J-money…

      Comments