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CALL US: 850-830-8584
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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