Adults

Posts about L Leader

Home / L Leader / Page 14
Sep
1
E Leader , F Leader , I Leader , Jay Fennell , L Leader

Developing a Transformational LIFE Team

By Jay Fennell

Effective leaders are people who influence by intentionally equipping and empowering others. Ephesians 4:7-13 clearly calls leaders to equip (empower) people so the body of Christ can be built up.
In Developing the Leader within You, John Maxwell says: “The one who influences others to follow only is a leader with certain limitations. The one who influences others to lead others is a leader without limitations.” Equipping or empowering people changes followers into leaders.
The core structure of our LIFE Groups ministry at Brentwood Baptist is expressed by the acronym L. I. F.E. L stands for Love One Another. I stands for Involve ourselves in Community. F stands for Focus on God’s Word. And E stands for Engage the World with the Gospel. These are the four functions of a LIFE Group.
When your LIFE Group is small in number, one or two people may champion each one of these functions, but as the group grows numerically, it’s really important to develop a team of people who can take leadership of each one of these functions. We call this developing a Transformational LIFE Team. In other words, put together a team of people who are using their spiritual gifts to serve the group by championing each function of a LIFE Group.
But how do you put together a Transformational LIFE Team? I want to give you a few pointers to putting together leadership team in your LIFE Group:
 

  • Begin with Prayer. In Matthew 9:38, Jesus says, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.” Prayer is the essential first step to enlisting leaders in your group.

 

  1. Enlist Potential Leaders face to face. The general announcement to the whole group “we need leaders” rarely works. What works best is for the main leader to take the time to set up a time to meet with a potential leader face-to- face. The message that’s sent is that this leadership opportunity is important.
  2. Communicate clearly why the leadership role is very important. Don’t downplay the role as marginally important. People want to be a part of something that’s significant. They want to know that what they give their time to will make a difference. Explain the opportunity and make sure you communicate the importance of the role.
  3. Give reasons why you are approaching a potential leader. What observations have you made that led you to approach them? Perhaps you’ve witnessed their giftedness in a certain situation. Maybe their personality type is a great match for a specific role. Whatever the reason, be sure to tell them why them.
  4. Invite them to pray about the opportunity. Don’t expect an answer on the spot. Allow them time to process and pray.
  5. Follow up with the person within an agreed time. Don’t wait for them to get back to you. You take initiative to follow up to see if they’re ready to commit to the leadership opportunity in the LIFE Group.

As leaders, we are called to mold other leaders, investing in them for the purpose of releasing them to fulfill God’s call in their lives as they use their gifts to serve the body and glorify God. Be intentional about connecting people to ministry in your LIFE Group.

Jul
8
F Leader , L Leader , Susan Hill

Praying for the Spiritual Growth of Those You Lead

By Susan Hill

Experienced LIFE Group leaders know that each new week brings a variety of prayer requests vocalized by group members. All of us would agree it’s important to intercede on behalf of those we lead and many of us have seen extraordinary answers to prayer.
But how often are we praying for the spiritual growth of those God has entrusted to our leadership? Are we praying as fervently for their spiritual growth as we are their temporal circumstances? The prayers of Paul recorded in Scripture reveal how often he prayed for the spiritual growth of those he led.
Here are just a few examples of Paul’s prayer requests:

  • I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17)
  • And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment. (Philippians 1:9)
  • For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (Colossians 1:9)
  • And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

In biblical community, it is both appropriate and necessary to pray for one another’s temporal circumstances.  However, as leaders we will be wise if we look to Paul to gain insight into how he prayed for those entrusted to his spiritual leadership. Spiritual growth is dependent on prayer. While it’s important to pray for good test results, approved mortgages, traveling mercies, and a variety of other requests, it’s crucial we pray for the spiritual growth of those we are called to serve.