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Members
experience tremendous release and healing as they find that others face
similar challenges and have similar feelings- they are not alone!
There is an incredible atmosphere of trust and bonding as we learn to
share our hearts in safety and in new ways. We agree not to
interrupt, condemn, correct, fix or challenge another's heart. We
simply are there to listen with compassion, understanding and support as
each one hears God for themselves, as they walk through their healing.
We simply promise to stand with them for healing, freedom and victory!
SMALL GROUP MINISTRY
COVENANTS
are agreements I make with
Jesus on a voluntary basis, to be accountable to Him. This is not a demand, but
a desire to be submitted to each other as well and:
to love and accept you unconditionally regardless
to deal lovingly and directly with you vs. hide what I think or
feel
to open my heart to you, warts and all and to remain open to you
to sacrifice time in prayer for you because your needs
important
to serve you with time, energy and anything that I have
to attend faithfully, not hindering the work of Jesus in our lives
to give you the right to question my walk, as you are
led by God
to keep everything shared absolutely confidential and to cover you
to begin to find ways to sacrifice myself for others outside the
group
There are several
ways of sharing
that may be good in other situations, but will kill the open atmosphere of the
small group ministry. Group ministry is not the platform for critical prophesy,
dominating by teaching, talking down to as a parent might, recruiting for your
side, long-winded stories, rushing to avoid real sharing, hogging the group time
with new victim roles, always having new visitors, and disrupting the flow of
the Spirit and or the leader.
Rather receive ministry one on one?
Request an
application for RPM.
WHY
WE TRAIN CELL GROUP LEADERS
Cell group ministry is an
effective tool to teach members to minister with love and compassion, as they
listen to the Spirit with one ear and listen to a person with the other ear. As
members are encouraged to own their calling to membership ministry, they
themselves are healed. The family atmosphere is developed more easily in small
groups. Leaders help members to get their own needs met by ministry in the
Spirit, knowing they are then more likely to move their focus outside of
themselves and minister to others, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The emphasis in
cell group
ministry is on learning to minister effectively rather than learning the content
of the lesson mentally. Facilitating Spirit led discussion replaces lecture
style teaching methods. Openness to input and counsel is encouraged over hiding
weaknesses. Giving pat answers, advising and bragging give way to active
listening and supporting an individual, as they hear God in their own
situations.
As the leaders sense those
who are good team members (receiving the truth in love and deferring to others
in group balance), they will allow them to demonstrate effective ministry
imparting that submission and sensitivity to the whole group. Those who still
tend to "have all the answers" and dominate the group with their
intellectual prowess, with be gently encouraged to depend on the guidance of the
Holy Spirit for the fresh manna.
Prayer ministry is always a
major ingredient because teaching information does not heal and deliver our
bondages. Without prayer ministry, we would teach by our own example, that we
should change ourselves by more self-effort. Singing and praising is never a
mood setter for the teaching, but is accessing God's power through praise.
Sharing is from the
member's heart to heart relationship with God and usually begins with their own
personal interactions versus trying to teach or someone else's revelation. The
word says we should confess our sins to one another that we may be healed. This
is not the place for competition for the stage or religious superiority. A good
leader is a facilitator in helping people learn to listen carefully to each
other and to learn to follow the creative leading of the Holy Spirit for this
moment.
WHAT WE WANT TO DEVELOP IN
POTENTIAL GROUP LEADERS
1. Personal security to weather storms and personal criticism
2. To be visibly faithful and consistent to exemplify love, obedience and
openness
3. Ability to rise above personal feelings to meet needs in the group
4. Empathy to actually feel the needs and feelings of others
5. Ability to accept others exactly where they are and to be flexible
6. Leads in order to serve others, not to feel good personally
7. Knows when to sacrifice attention to the one for the good of the whole or visa versa.
8. Has a solid grasp of the Word and essentials of our faith
9. Are raised up as the quality of their wisdom draws others to them
10. Makes long term commitments to build the members of this body
11. Follows leadership well with a heart felt support of the vision and goals
12. Can receive and give love, openness and correction with true humility.
TIPS: Know the vision of your
cell group and include those who are like-minded. A similar measure of maturity
and pattern of needs contributes to faster growth. Enable quieter personality
types to participate more and extroverts to listen more attentively. Allow
stretching in the ministry with spiritual gifts by giving them room to
"miss it." Lastly,
remember to pray and minister in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, that breaks every yoke.
Schedule
cell
group training for your church or ministry!
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