What If Jesus Led Your Small Group? What would it be like if Jesus led your small group?
I thought about that question and for a long time thought I could never get the chance to know the answer until I realized that the “Upper Room Discourse” in John 13-17 was a small group meeting. Let’s see Jesus in action! How did he lead a small group meeting?
Preparation
**He intentionally prepared to have uninterrupted time with His small group. This meeting was not just thrown together.
1. In Luke 22:10-12 He gave careful and specific instructions as to the preparations of their time together.
2. Food and furnishings were important.
3. A private and intimate place was important. Once the door was shut, the crowds were not allowed in.
**Small Groups don’t happen by accident
1. They require intentional planning on the part of the leader.
2. The leader decides that he will focus on his small group and ignore everyone else.
3. Intentional planning of the meeting room.
--- Will where we meet allow people to talk openly?
--- Will we answer the door, others demands during meeting?
4. Think through all the details. What can go wrong?
5. Walk through every minute of the meeting. Do I have every thing?
Modeling – Jesus lived what He taught!
**He expected his guys to serve one another in humility, so He washed their feet!
**He wanted them to be people of prayer, so He modeled for them His relationship with His Father. A relationship of dependence and gratitude.
**Leaders live by the rules. “Do what I do!” Follow me and my example. I will lead you by example.
Time for Questions
**Jesus allowed time for questions. Most of what was taught in the Upper Room Discourse was a response to a question asked of Him.
**He never made fun of or scoffed at a question asked of Him, no matter how dumb it appeared. He always responded with patience and tenderness. Example: Read John 14-5&6. What question was asked of Jesus, and how did He respond?
**A good small group happens when everyone is asking questions. Welcome questions, even though they seem unimportant
**Create an atmosphere where questions are taken seriously and answered with patience and care.
A Safe Atmosphere – Jesus created an atmosphere where it was safe to be imperfect. It was okay to make mistakes as long as they learned from them.
**Two times Jesus told His disciples that they would fail.
1. The disciples were upset at first, but later remembered the promises that go
along with it.
2. They would learn that success in ministry is based on the power and presence of
Jesus. . .not personal performance or abilities.
**Application
1. Help people to deal and face their own sin and failures. Help them to live with
those failures and weaknesses.
2. This will help them survive emotionally when they do fail (and they will), to
survive because they know they are loved.
3. Be open and transparent with your sin. Keep it in the “light.” This helps people be open about their own sin, and the “voices of evil” from accusing.
First Among Equals
**Jesus led from friendship, not authority
**Read John 15:15. Why did Jesus treat His groups like friends?
**Asking questions is different from defying Him and Challenging His every word.
**The biblical model of friendship:
1. Galatians 6:1
2. 1 Timothy 2:4
3. Ephesians 4:25
**Application – What does this look like?
1. Let the group be a part of the decision of what direction a group will go.
2. Help people create and feel ownership
3. Biblical leaders led by example.
Flexibility
**Jesus had a plan (agenda) but He could change that plan according to the Holy Spirit’s direction.
**Read John 16:5-12. What did Jesus do in response to their grief that He would be leaving?
**Are you sensitive enough as a leader to feel the emotional pulse of the group?
**What would be some circumstances that you would put aside your “plan,” and deal with other things?
Absence / Seasonal Friendship
**Jesus stepping out of the disciples lives was the best thing for them because now the Holy Spirit could come and minister to them.
**Sometimes out ministry with someone is seasonal or only for a period of time. Then they or you need to move on. This is reality!
**Could you get up from this group and let them run it themselves, or would it fall apart?
**Your group learns that it belongs to them, not to just the leader!
