Group Ministry

June 1, 2021

Are You Leading From a Place of Grace?

Most of us start out as leaders of groups with high energy and even higher anticipation of what’s to come. Then, personal challenges arise. You start carrying burdens along with your group members. You become focused on being the “best” group or leader.

No matter what prompts us, it’s too easy to step away from leading with a focus on grace. We shift to lead out of our emptiness instead of from Christ’s fullness.

How can we pause and refocus on leading from a place of grace?

Thankfully, pastor Matt Chandler speaks to living from the fullness of the grace of Christ in his latest Bible study, John 1–3. Below is an excerpt from this study that includes encouragement, edifying scripture, and practical reflection.

From His Fullness

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

John 1:16

You’re probably familiar with the analogy that some people look at a glass of water and see it as half full, and others look at it and see it as half empty. How we mentally frame things tells us a lot about what we believe. As Christians, our goal is to align our thinking with the truths found in God’s Word.

Generally speaking, do you tend to see a glass as half full or half empty? What are the pros and cons of seeing things the way you do?
According to the passage above, from Jesus’ fullness we have all received grace upon grace. What did John mean by Jesus’ fullness?
In what areas of your life are you in need of the fullness of God?

Bringing to mind and recalling various ways that God has shown His grace in our lives stirs our faith and helps us to see He will show us grace for our future needs. Jesus secured our salvation by His sacrifice at Calvary. Paul wrote, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). In other words, since God has already offered us the ultimate gift in Jesus—He will undoubtedly continue to give us everything else we need in the future.

Do you ever struggle worrying about whether or not God will provide the grace you need? If so, what specific areas are you concerned about?
What role does prayer play in presenting your worries to God?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your prayer life?
Think for a moment about your history with God. List several ways He has proved Himself faithful.

Grace to Help

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

According to the text above, what do we receive when we draw near to the throne of grace? How do we take advantage of this?
Why do we tend to place limits on the amount of mercy and grace we can receive from Jesus? Why is this attitude unbiblical?

The author of the Book of Hebrews extends an astounding invitation by encouraging readers to approach the throne of grace with confidence. If you are a child of God, you don’t have to come timidly to the throne. While we should certainly approach God with reverence and respect, we can simultaneously come with confidence. The Bible teaches that we can come to the throne of God and receive mercy and grace in our time of need, but we must approach the throne to ask. Prayer is a privilege that we neglect at our own peril.

What prevents you from taking your needs to God in prayer?
After this week’s study, do you think you have a scarcity mentality or an abundance mentality? Why do you feel the way you do?
Which areas in your thought life do you need to realign with the truths found in God’s Word? What passages speak to those issues?

Eugene Peterson’s translation of John 1:14 captures the grace and generosity of Christ:

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

John 1:14 (MSG)

Close your time in prayer giving thanks to God for the grace He has shown in your life. Ask Him to empower you to be someone who is quick to show grace to others.

This content was excerpted from Matt Chandler’s John 1–3 Bible study, session three, personal study section two. Find out more about the study here.

Group Leadership

May 20, 2021

Choosing the Best Curriculum for Your Group

By Group Ministry

By Reid Smith

A question every small group leader contemplates when starting a new group or season is what content they will use as their study focus. Sometimes, this question is answered by church leadership, if your church creates weekly study material based on the weekend messages or a church-wide groups-based campaign is implemented. Ultimately, you want to have a philosophy and plan in place to select small group curriculum.

We all have our biases about what we like or don’t like with study material, so I’ll be upfront about mine. I look for Bible-based material that comes from a trusted source, matches my church’s DNA (theology, core values, language, and style), is clear with its purpose, manageable in size (5-8 weeks), is designed to build relationships and activate faith (through good, open-ended, application-oriented questions versus fill-in-the-blanks and leading/predetermined-answer questions), has creative and engaging content delivery, and isn’t too burdensome, academically or homework-wise.

If the curriculum is video-driven, I look for bite-size segments versus sermon length teaching, to encourage more interaction. Be mindful of your group as you make decisions about homework, watching videos ahead of group time, and other time demands. Expectations outside of group time are perfect for some groups but don’t work quite as well for others. I prefer material that enriches each member’s personal devotional life and challenges them to serve together. Rick Warren’s “40 Days in the Word” is a good example of this.

Most group leaders are intimidated by the idea of having a pure Bible study and only using the Word of God, which is too bad. If you discover this, think of ways you can help them build their confidence and competency in this area. There are plenty of “through-the-Bible” or “exegetical” Bible study tools that can help, such as The Gospel Project, and there are many studies that focus on a single book of the Bible. Regardless, a church’s point leader for groups should be prepared to answer questions related to choosing and using curriculum for maximum impact.

Find out if your lead/senior pastor has preferences about curriculum before you research and offer recommendations. This simple step might even inspire greater alignment between the weekend programming of the temple courts and the group life of the house-to-house movement in your church! The 12 criteria below are intended to help you think through the best choices for your group or small group leaders.

Criteria to Consider	Question for Leader
Publisher / Author	Does the study come from a reputable source?
Theology	Does the group curriculum look to the Bible as its source of truth and concentrate on the essentials of our Christian faith?
Scripture	Does the content reference Scripture and succeed at getting group members to dig deeper into God’s Word?
Purpose	Does the curriculum’s objective or purpose support your group’s focus this upcoming season, taking into consideration the personal goals of your group members?
Communication	Does the language, emphasis,and style of what’s being communicated reflect your church’s DNA?
Duration	Does the number of sessions required to work through the material make it a reasonable commitment for new or existing members?
Video	If your group curriculum is video-driven, does the average length of each segment work easily within your allotted meeting time?
Engaging	Is the delivery of the content dynamic or boring?
Questions	Are the questions designed to be thought-provoking, stimulate conversation, and promote life application?
Homework	If there is homework, how much are participants being asked to do in advance of meetings and how do you think group members will respond?
Access & Cost	How easy does the access and cost of the material make it for people to join in? (This varies depending on whether the content is for the leader or the members, if it can be downloaded, etc. Find cost effective options.)
Chemistry	Does the content fit the personality of the group? In other words, based on what you know about your group members, do you think they will resonate with the “feel” of the curriculum and the style in which it’s communicated?

Familiarize yourself with what’s out there and prepare to answer questions related to choosing and using curriculum for maximum impact.

Remember that curriculum is meant to serve your small group—not the other way around. Always be flexible and prepared to scrap the material if it feels like the energy of the group is waning. Essentially, the curriculum you choose should support the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives. It shouldn’t feel like a chore to get through it, rather, it should be inspirational and faith-stretching!

At the end of each season in a small group’s life together, you want to see evidence of people loving Jesus more, loving others in the church more, loving God’s Word more, and loving spiritually-lost people more. Remind group leaders how the Lord will use them, their group members, and many other factors—including the curriculum—in this process.

Reid Smith has been equipping leaders in churches of all sizes and stages of growth for effective disciple-making since 1996. He lives in Wellington, Florida where he serves as a Groups Pastor at Christ Fellowship. You can find more of his helpful resources at www.reidsmith.org.

Church Leadership

May 11, 2021

When It’s Time to Leave a Ministry

By Group Ministry

By Jared Musgrove

Knowing the right time to step away from a ministry—whether volunteer or vocational—requires wisdom. It’s typically not “if-then-this” but “if-then-else”.

Whether leading a small group, volunteering in a ministry, or pastoring a church, God’s people should consult the Lord, His Scriptures, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and godly counsel from believers who love God and want His best for you.

Some questions to consider in community with God and one another if you are thinking of stepping away from a ministry:

Have you completed the work that God gave you to do in that place for that time? (John 4:34; Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:7)

What gives you the biggest thrill right now—to minister to people or to be ministered to? To be associated with “winners” or to serve even if it goes unseen? To rack up “wins” for recognition or to count recognition as loss for Christ’s calling on your life in this ministry? (Mark 10:45)

Are you running from something or to something? (1 Corinthians 16:9, 2 Corinthians 2:12-13, Revelation 3:8) Has the Holy Spirit closed one door and opened another for effective ministry? (Acts 16:6-10). Would your current church leadership consider this a leaving or a sending?

Are you persecuted or rejected for your gospel preaching, teaching, and ministry? Or is there mounting adversity or conflict that is not resolved after exhausted efforts? (Acts 15:36-40, Romans 12:18) It may be that you move from your present ministry to another (Matthew 10:14, Luke 10:10-11, Acts 8:1).

Is the opposition you feel as strong and widespread as it is loud?

Are you relying on your own power to keep you leading and coming up with ideas, or God’s Holy Spirit? Do you blame others when things don’t go as you’d hoped? What is the overall effect of your leadership on God’s people in your care?

Are you retaining a following or are you constantly trying to invent new systems to keep or get volunteers, leaders, etc?

Have you reached the limit of your ministry effectiveness here? Are you willing or not to seek growth, gain new skills, repent, or improve your effectiveness? Do you have the energy or resources to do so here?

Are you growing spiritually? Are God’s people in your care growing with you? Have you been wholeheartedly devoted to Christ, prayerful, diligent, humble, dignified, godly, and yet your leadership is not being followed? Consider if you are casting pearls to swine; there may not be a response to your spiritual life and ministry (Matthew 7:6).

What effect is this ministry having on your family? Is your family being adequately cared for? Are your spouse and children growing spiritually? (1 Corinthians 9:4-14, 1 Timothy 5:8, 19).

Have you fasted, prayed, and sought a word from the Holy Spirit about this? Have you shared and sought counsel with your community, pastor, friends, or mentors? (Acts 13:1-4; Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 20:18, 24:5-6, 27:9)

Has God given you a vision for a new harvest field? (John 4:35-38)

Are you using your spiritual gifts where you are serving? Is your heart after God and talents aligning in this role?

Is this decision being made in isolation? Is it being made when you are awake, calm, well-rested, walking in obedience to God’s Word, and with sobriety?

Is there something in this role that you don’t want to do or some place you do not want to go in ministry? Are you open to laying down these preferences in order to obey God? Remember Jonah’s call to Nineveh.

Dr. Jared Musgrove is Pastor for Leader Development and Groups at The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX.

Group Leadership

May 4, 2021

Three Conversations to Activate Spiritual Gifts In Your Small Group

By Group Ministry

By Reid Smith

We tend to think about spiritual gifts on an individual level, but it can’t stop there! Small groups offer the best environments for discovering how the Lord has graced each member and they’re ideal outlets for believers to exercise their God-given gifts together. The biblical community that grows in small groups inspires Christ-followers to be faithful and bold in using what the Lord has deposited in them to advance His Kingdom.

A spiritual gift is a special enablement that God gives to each believer, according to His grace, to build up the Body of Christ (Rom 12:6–8). Spiritual gifts enable us to do things with greater spiritual effectiveness because we’re not operating by our strength alone. The Lord has called us and empowered us by the Holy Spirit to share our gifts by serving others.

God’s power flows to and through a group in life-changing ways when spiritual gifts are being used in concert together. As a small group leader, you want to be sensitive to the supernatural composition of your group so as you think about how to grow and serve together, begin by asking who is in your small group rather than what you should be doing. You can facilitate three conversations to help in this discovery process.

Conversation #1: Introducing and Identifying Spiritual Gifts

Introduce spiritual gifts to your group and highlight how every believer has them. Refer to 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Have everyone complete an assessment and bring their results back to share with the group. Here’s a couple of examples: https://www.freeshapetest.com/ or https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/
Invite your small group to affirm how they see the spiritual gifts evident in each person who shares.
Draw a circle and segment it according to the number of your church’s purposes (or core values). Brainstorm where each of your regular group practices fit under the purposes represented.
Talk about how the spiritual gifts represented in the lives of your group members relate to your…

Church’s purposes
Group’s practices
Group fulfilling your church’s mission

Spiritual gifts help believers discover their unique capacity to serve God and effectively advance His purposes in the world. They also help small group leaders empower each group member to carry responsibilities for the group and turn its energy and focus outward, keeping it healthy.

Conversation #2: Building Well-rounded Group Life Together

These questions can be used for a conversation on how to leverage spiritual gifts to build community within your small group and strengthen its impact:

How can each group member use their God-given gifts to strengthen and enrich the group (1 Cor 12:7)?
Which practices are frequent and active in our small group (Bible study, sharing meals, prayer, etc.)?
Which practices are infrequent or inactive that we need to somehow incorporate in our small group life (e.g. sharing the gospel in word and deed, etc.)?
What is needed to continue developing the frequent group practices and to elevate the infrequent or dormant ones?
How can each one invest their spiritual gifts in our larger church family and further what the Lord is already doing?

The goal is to empower each group member to connect their gifts to a group practice that will express your church’s purposes. Consequently, biblical community will grow and your group members will be empowered to live out your church’s mission together.

Conversation #3: Connecting Spiritual Gifts to Group Practices

One way you can empower your group members is to ask each one to champion an area of your small group life that’s in keeping with their gifts, you can approach this by…

Creating a list with two columns: One for what’s needed to continue developing the frequent group practices and the other for what is needed to develop the infrequent or dormant group practices.
Brainstorming with your group what an easy (baby) step could look like for one season or semester of your small group’s life together.
Asking group members to pick 1-2 group practices they can picture themselves developing and to give the group a snapshot of what that looks like. Which opportunities tug at their hearts the strongest?
Observing what people naturally gravitate toward and asking questions to explore their interest levels. Help people see connections between development opportunities and the deployment of their spiritual gifts in your group or your larger church family.
Inviting group members to take responsibility to develop or strengthen a group practice for a season/semester of your small group life or deploy their spiritual gifts in a ministry of your church.

As individuals are faithful to use their God-given spiritual gifts to build up others, they can be entrusted with greater responsibility in stewarding an area of your small group life. This will empower them in ministry, lift the load of responsibility you’re carrying, multiply leadership development, and grow biblical community, which is transformational for everyone!

Group Leadership

April 27, 2021

Small Groups are Spiritual Warfare

By Group Ministry

by Jared Musgrove and Travis Cunningham

“Spiritual warfare has increased ever since we decided to step into leading a group.”

We just heard this from four more newly launched group leaders. And it’s not the first time.

Why are we constantly surprised?

Group leaders are often the most frontline ministry leaders in the local church. Of course the enemy of God targets those leading His children into a space for community with Him and one another.

Listen, there’s nothing the enemy hates more than Christians joining together in unity. If he sees you getting along, developing friendship, experiencing healing, or even suspects that you might have a shot at this… he’s on the move.

We won’t get knocked back in our group ministry when we realize, recognize, and expect the reality of spiritual warfare. We should pray up and prepare our leaders for it.

We’ve come to realize that a large part of discernment is being aware of where the enemy is countering with resistance. Where are the places where it’s just not working? It just feels… off? Out of sync? Reminiscent of Babel?

Here’s the unexpected encouragement: the enemy doesn’t attack what doesn’t concern him. If you feel attacked as a group leader or groups point person in your church, lean into the resistance. There’s a reason for it. Maybe the enemy sees potential that even you don’t. Refuse to give the good ground and ask for discernment to see his schemes against the good God has for your group.

Instead, go on the offensive. Here are a few simple ways to keep your group from being pelted or pecked to death by the enemy of God.

Prayer Before

A simple, yet profound way to prepare for the warfare and the work in group is to pray over the seats in living rooms or classrooms. Many times a prayer team or volunteers will do this before a service meeting on a church campus. We should do the same before our group meets.

Your group members are likely people of habit who sit in the same general spot each time. Use this for the work and warfare. Pray for the individual who sits in each seat by name. Ask for the Lord to give you Scripture to pray for them, pray what you know, what they’ve shared, ask for God to meet them tonight in group.

Prayer Over One Another

The enemy hates friendship or even just healthy relationships between Christians. No wonder these are so hard. The enemy’s assault on them is constant.

So too should be our prayers over and for one another. Spend the first part of group time acknowledging the truth of the warfare in your group. Pray over and for one another. We’ve found the best method for this is to pray the One Another commands of Scripture when you meet. As you are apart, keep praying for one another and what the Lord is doing in your group.

Prayer Afterward

Small group is spiritual work and warfare. Pray to close the group and include a blessing over the house where it’s held. Ask that the Lord would guard and guide the souls in the groups and the homes represented. Such cleansing prayers are simple but essential to being sober-minded and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).

In closing, when it comes it comes to demons and darkness and the spiritual realm, we face two common dangers in regard to our small groups:

On one side, we can attribute every problem to demons and darkness. Physical ailments, illness, injuries, depression, divorces, whatever else. It’s all demons and it’s all spiritual. And that’s not true. Sometimes a cough is a cough. And sometimes a talkative small group member is just a talkative small group member.

On the other end, we can attribute nothing to demons and darkness. There is no spiritual realm, there are no demons, there are no operators of Satan in our world out to oppress and possess people. Again, this is not true. We will face the enemy’s head-on resistance in our efforts to lead people into community with God and one another.

Prepare as leaders and prepare your leaders for this reality through prayer.

—

Dr. Jared Musgrove is the Pastor for Leader Development and Groups at The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX.

Travis Cunningham is the Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at StoryChurch in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

Group Leadership

April 8, 2021

9 Steps to Being a Great Group Member

By Group Ministry

By Cheri Liefeld

As ministry leaders, we spend time training our group leaders and helping them succeed. But 90% of the group is made up of group members who are not leaders. Our small groups will only be as great as the people attending and their involvement. Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a great group member? Here are nine steps to being a great group member.

Communicate. Basic communication with your leader and your group. Respond when they reach out. Engage in group texts. Let them know you will be there, and if you have to miss, please let them know. They would rather have a heads up instead of a “no-show.”
Show Up. In my experience, only 1/3 of people who sign up for small groups make it to the first meeting. The others are missing out. Be the one that overcomes first-night jitters and joins. Then keep showing up. It is hard to fully experience the small group and build the relationships you desire if you attend sporadically. Fight the urge to stay home when you feel tired. Once you get there, you’ll be glad you did. Showing up is a simple key to success both in your group and your life.
Listen. Show your group you value them and want to get to know them by being present and actively listening. Yes, people overshare, but haven’t we all at some point? Fight the urge to look at your phone or drift off. Remember how you feel when someone is present and engaged as you talk. Listening is one way to honor your group. This creates a safe space for people to wrestle and grow in their faith.
Join the Conversation. We want to hear from you. This can be challenging for those who are shy or don’t have a friend in the group. Be courageous and share your thoughts. You have something important to contribute to the group. Nod your head, especially on Zoom groups, to show you are engaged and listening. Be willing to be vulnerable. When we can be ourselves, honestly share our struggles, and celebrate our wins, we grow closer to each other.
Do the work and be prepared. We all experience busy weeks, and there will be times we don’t complete the homework. Let that be the exception, but still show up. Honor your group by being prepared, ready to engage and contribute to the discussion. It can be discouraging for a leader to ask a question and be met with silence because no one read the book or watched the video. It’s like hosting a potluck, but only one guest brings a dish. Dinner isn’t quite the same. You get out of the group as much as you are willing to contribute.
Encourage others. We live in a challenging season; everyone could use a bit of encouragement. Affirm other’s contributions. Ask how they are doing. Follow up on a prior prayer request. Little acts of kindness tell others you value them, and that is how great friendships begin. Text someone in your group each week. Write a note of encouragement. Send someone money through Venmo for coffee. These gestures are contagious and will spur others on to do the same (Heb 10:24-25). You won’t regret it.
Serve Your Group. Offer to bring a meal when someone is sick. Reach out if someone is absent to see if they are ok. Invite someone to coffee to hear their story. The Bible says to outdo ourselves in honoring and loving others (Rom 12:9-10) and to serve others, faithfully using our God-given gifts (1 Pet 4:10).
Take Initiative. Offer to bring snacks or plan a social event for the group. Be courageous and pray at the end of the group. Ask how you can support your group leader. Offer to lead when they want to take a week off. This type of support is meaningful to your leader. When we take next steps, relationships start to grow.
Pray. Take time each week to pray for your group and your leaders. Pray over their requests and for their families. Ask God to bless your group and create community among you. One of my leaders said of their group members, “I love how they pray for each other and support each other on their own. It is so beautiful to see how they have a supportive community within the group.”

Which of these resonates most with you? Which would be an area of growth for you? Try one of these steps this week and see how it impacts your group.

Cheri Liefeld is the Director of Small Groups at Eastside Community Church in Anaheim, California. She was previously Director of Women’s Ministry at Mariners Church. She is a writer and loves to gather people around the table. You can read more at adventuresinthekitchen.com.

Group Leadership

April 1, 2021

Meet Levi Lusko: Author of Through the Eyes of a Lion

By Group Ministry

It’s here!

Through the Eyes of a Lion releases today from an author new to Lifeway Adults. This study takes us through a personal story author Levi Lusko and his family experienced and shows how we can find incredible power despite impossible pain.

But, who is Levi Lusko? This pastor, father, and leader serves in many capacities where he’s located in the northwest.

Levi answered some “get-to-know-you” questions exclusively for Lifeway Adults at the outset of this new release:

When did you first feel called into ministry or know that you wanted to be a pastor?

When I was two years old. I either wanted to be a pastor or a baker (mostly so I could eat cookies and white sugar). I didn’t pursue baking nor do I know how to bake. I always knew I was called to be a pastor since a young age.

What’s your favorite thing about your wife?

Her laugh, making her laugh, and being around her when she laughs.

What’s the most underrated Montana restaurant?

In my family, it’s Taco Del Sole.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?

Do ice baths count? If not, what about saunas? If not, I like reading.

What’s your favorite spiritual discipline or habit?

Spiritual discipline: silence. Habit: tithing.

What’s the best part of being a pastor for you?

Being there for people in the most difficult moments in their lives, and in the most happy times—weddings, funerals, and everything in between.

What’s one sentence of encouragement you would give to other pastors doing ministry in 2021?

Our ministry is the most important when it’s the most difficult. It’s difficult right now because it’s complicated, so don’t quit just because it’s hard. It’s the most necessary it’s ever been.

Find out more about Levi Lusko and his new Bible study at lifeway.com/lion.

About the study:

It’s hard to understand in the moment, but sorrow can give you perspective, purpose, and a platform. It’s called a “roar story.” And you can use it to inspire others to see the bright future beyond their darkest days. Whether you’ve suffered in the past, are in a trial now, or want to prepare for the inevitable challenges to come, this Bible study can provide help, hope, and healing, all for the glory of God.

About Levi:

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, located in Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah. He is the bestselling author of Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, and I Declare War. Levi also travels the world speaking about Jesus. He and his wife, Jennie, have one son, Lennox, and four daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Group Leadership

March 30, 2021

Navigating the Gray Areas with Scripture

By Group Ministry

By Jared Musgrove

More often than not you are presented with gray situations in ministry leadership: these aren’t black and white, but somewhere in between. They aren’t clear, but seem murky. Such situations in your own leadership and the lives of God’s people whom you shepherd require hokma (wisdom) to navigate.

Here is a short consideration of ten wisdom considerations from Scripture that can help you personally and pastorally traverse an ever-changing world with God’s unchanging principles.

Would involvement in this activity be prohibited by one or more of the Ten Commandments or violate the law of love?

Exodus 20:1-17

Deuteronomy 5:1-21

Matthew 22:34-40

Romans 13:8-10

Can I do this thing to the glory and honor of God?

1 Corinthians 10:31

Can I ask God’s blessing on this activity or endeavor?

Proverbs 10:22

Would this thing be a hindering weight?

Hebrews 12:1

Is it of the world, the flesh, or the enemy?

1 John 2:15-17

Ephesians 4:27

Does it honor the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Has it the appearance of evil?

1 Thessalonians 5:22

Will it be a stumbling block to others?

Romans 14:13, 21

1 Corinthians 8:9-13

Can I do this in faith, without doubt?

Romans 14:22-23

Would I want to be doing this when the Lord returns?

1 John 2:28

Dr. Jared Musgrove is Pastor for Leader Development and Groups at The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX.

Group Leadership

March 26, 2021

How Jesus “Turns Off the Dark”

By Group Ministry

One thing all people have in common is a desire to be happy. God wired human beings with a desire for joy and fulfillment. Have you ever met someone who hasn’t pursued happiness? Me neither. But it doesn’t take long to realize this world is filled with pitfalls that can derail happiness. Evidence of darkness is everywhere we look, and we even see it in our own lives. Maybe it’s in the form of loneliness, fear, depression, or guilt. Deep down, we know things aren’t the way they are supposed to be, but we don’t know how to fix it. Thankfully, in His mercy, God sent light into the darkness.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5

The opening verses in John’s Gospel are known as the prologue, and this passage is one of the most informative accounts of Jesus’ coming. Right away, the apostle John reveals that Jesus is more than a teacher or a prophet— Jesus is God (John 1:1,14), and He is the source of all light.

In Scripture, the words “light” and “life” are often referred to as the opposite of “death” and “darkness.” Metaphorically, death and darkness refer to sin and its effects on the world. Jesus came to shine light in the darkness—to turn off the dark. Since Jesus is all-powerful, He could’ve done this in any manner of His choosing. Certainly, Jesus could’ve shined His light from a distance, and it would’ve been powerful enough to reach us, but that’s not what He did. He made the choice to come to us.

The Light of Immanuel

See, the virgin will become pregnant

and give birth to a son,

and they will name him Immanuel,

which is translated “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:23

Did you catch that? Immanuel means “God with us.” Jesus entered into this dark world because He wanted to be with us. He isn’t distant or aloof. Jesus willingly took on flesh. In doing so, Jesus entered into our pain and suffering with the intention of being present with us and shining a light in the dark cracks and crevices of our lives.

Because Jesus came to earth and took on the form of a man, He can sympathize with our sins, sufferings, and weaknesses (Heb. 4:14-15). Jesus understands the hardships of being a human being, and He has compassion for us. Jesus not only understands our plight—He makes Himself entirely approachable and available to help. Consider this invitation from the Book of Hebrews.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

The Light that Destroys Death

It’s one thing to believe that Jesus can shine light into darkness and eradicate things like loneliness, fear, despair, and guilt. But what about when we are grieving the death of a loved one? Or what if we fear death ourselves? Paul addressed this topic in a letter to Timothy, his younger understudy. Paul wrote:

Jesus Christ […] has abolished death and brought life

and immortality to light through the gospel.

2 Timothy 1:10

Jesus came to turn off the darkness of death by turning on the light. Hebrews 2:15 says Jesus came to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” The incarnation came before the resurrection—so we could live with hope and die without fear. Paul wrote:

O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?

1 Corinthians 15:55

Ask yourself:

How does the hope we have in Jesus diminish the sting of death?
How does the ability to grieve with hope make Christianity distinct?
How does Jesus, through His death and resurrection, turn on the light?
How can this impact how you encourage those in your group?

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This content has been excerpted and partially adapted from Personal Study 1 of Session 1: Turn off the Dark from Levi Lusko’s Through the Eyes of a Lion Bible study. Find out more about the study here.

Group Leadership

March 16, 2021

Building Relational Ministry Teams

By Group Ministry

By Reid Smith

How much thought do you give to the relational dynamic of your ministry teams? It is worth taking the time to help your church’s ministry teams function more like small groups because healthy ministry flows from healthy relationships. By adding some intentionality to building community among people who serve together, leaders will see powerful outcomes they want everyone on the team to experience. Members of relational ministry teams…

Are naturally motivated to invite others to serve alongside them
Feel a deeper sense of belonging and purpose
Are more inclined to remain committed to serving
Ooze more joy while serving, resulting in greater impact together

So how can a team experience more of the life-giving dynamic we see in Acts 2:42-47 and have an even greater ministry impact?

Appoint somebody on the team to compile everyone’s contact info and then distribute to the members on that team. Consider setting up a group on WhatsApp, GroupMe, or Facebook so people can stay in touch between times of serving together.
Pray together for one another before your ministry task. Prayer knits people together and makes the combined effect of their service even greater. Again, you can appoint somebody on the team to help champion this.
Periodically host a social gathering (e.g. 3-4x/year). Prioritize having fun together because that goes a long way when times of need or hardship arise. Find ways to spontaneously express appreciation.
Find out birthdays and anniversaries (in marriage and ministry) and celebrate them with your team by gifting that person/people one of their favorite treats. Your communications person (see first point) or someone else on your team can help look after this.
Stand together, facing outward. Help one another think and operate evangelistically. This can happen by praying for the lost each week, welcoming others on the team, engaging in a local service opportunity together a couple times a year, etc.

Team members who experience community while serving together are more likely to catch the vision of small groups in your church and be champions of serving within them. Taking the steps above will help your teams function more like small groups so that everyone can experience the joy that comes with fulfilling the church’s mission together!

Are You Leading From a Place of Grace?

When It’s Time to Leave a Ministry

Three Conversations to Activate Spiritual Gifts In Your Small Group

Navigating the Gray Areas with Scripture

How Jesus “Turns Off the Dark”

All Ministry Sites

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