A few weeks ago I did a blog post titled, “Small Group Leadership, Should We Lower the Bar?” Since then small group pastors have begun to contact me asking how to go about raising the bar. For the next four days I’ll be speaking into that question. Today the blog is all about a leader’s responsibility to “model Christ-like maturity.”
“Christ-like maturity” is a term that screams at us. It demands that spiritual maturity is recognized as being marked by Christ-likeness. It’s that simple. But what does that look like? My read on the gospels would lead me to believe that a Christ-like small group leader modeling Christ-likeness for their group members would be one who is…
Guided by the Holy Spirit (even into uncomfortable places) Matthew 4:1
- A disciple finder and maker. Matthew 4:18
- A teacher and defender of truth. Matthew 5 – 7 and throughout the gospels
- A modeler of the spiritual disciplines. Luke 11: 1 – 4
- A need meeter. Matthew 14: 13 – 20
- A protector of group members from false teachers. Matthew 15: 1 – 9
- A faith builder. Matthew 8:23 – 27
- Partnering with God to see healing take place in the lives of group members (emotional and physical) Matthew 8:14 – 16
- An empowerer. Matthew 10: 1 – 42
- A model of good citizenship. Matthew 22: 15 – 21
- A transcendent hope builder. John 14: 2 – 4
- A sustainer of and leader in communal expectations. Matthew 26: 26 – 30
- A defender of the principles and practices of the church. Luke 19: 45
- Willing to die for God’s Kingdom. Matthew 27: 32 – 50
- Sending others out to make disciples. Matthew 28: 18 – 20
