Your Group Needs a Leader

“You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

I attend many different Bible study classes in many different churches throughout the year. In these visits to different classes, I have discovered that the success of the class rises and falls on the leadership of the teacher. I would like to challenge all teachers to take an introspective look at what I believe it takes for you to lead your class to become the Kingdom- focused and transformed group of disciples that the Lord desires.

Practical Pointers for Leading Your Class

1. Prayer: As the teacher/facilitator, you must become a genuine prayer warrior and intercessor. If you are to lead and teach others, you must be in tune to the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lead by example…pray.
2. Preparation: As the leader, you must have a high degree of preparation. This is not only about the lesson but also about the needs and circumstances of your class members.
3. Painless: As the teacher/facilitator, you must make every effort to allow guests and new members to have a painless experience when they are in your class. This means you have to train your regular attenders to be sensitive to new people.
4. Participation: It is import to have as many people as possible to feel comfortable participating in the lesson discussion. This means ask open-ended questions , do not allow one person to monopolize the discussion and do not allow anyone to be embarrassed or put on the spot because of their comments.
5. Patience: Every leader must show patience. Remember, people do not have to attend your class: They should want to attend. Every class has “Extra Grace Required” people. Let the Lord love them through you.
6. Priority: Remember, everyone needs to have a personal relationship to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Your priority must be to see that the message of Jesus is clear, not only during the lesson but also in the 24/7 times that you and your members interact.
7. Purpose: Your purpose is to be a vessel the Holy Spirit can use to promote spiritual transformation in the lives of your class members. You must take the lead and be the example of staying focused on the high calling God has on you as His teacher/facilitator.
8. Powerful: The power must come from the presence of the Holy Spirit. We tend to try to accomplish too much in our flesh, and the church is losing its power and influence in our culture. Let the Holy Spirit empower you to lead the way He wants; then expect and see great things start to happen.
9. Perky: Be enthusiastic. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” You do not have to teach a class…you are blessed by God to be able to teach a class.
10. Pray: Again…Yes! If you are going to lead your class to be one where genuine spiritual transformation is taking place, it has to be from God. Seek His face. Obey His commands. 

You are the teacher/facilitator. If your class is going to be unique in a godly way, the change starts with you taking these practical pointers to heart. Lead by example.

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Dale Davenport is the Education and Leadership Development Director for the Illinois State Baptist Association, www.ibsa.org