Continuing from the previous post are two additional passions for building a strategic foundation for your Small Group Bible studies.
Passion for Growing People
Your church leaders and teachers must have a passion to grow people. The Great Commission says to “make disciples…teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus taught us and God desires us to have a passion for people to have the abundant, joyful life that is only available through a life lived according to the truths of Scripture.
Teaching should not be drudgery or a laborious chore. Teaching should be an exhilarating and electrifying experience. But as the Bible cautions, it should only be undertaken by those called of God to teach biblical truths. When you teach biblical truths and the ways of God to others, it is a thrilling and moving experience, especially when you see a truth being caught by learners. Remember also that teaching is not dispensing knowledge. Teaching is guiding others through the learning experience. God has given us two (that I have discovered) natural learning abilities—discovery learning and imitation.
As a teacher, guide people in the discovery of God’s truths and principles for their lives. This is where learning takes place. Good, effective teachers do not give all the answers. They guide learners down the path of discovery learning. As Christian believers, we are to grow people into the likeness of Jesus as we grow closer ourselves. As long as we are alive on earth, we are to be learners and to be guides and leaders of learners, always striving to observe and teach others to observe all things that God has instructed.
Passion for Prayer
As believers we should have a passion for prayer, communion with God. Communion is a spiritual union through a close relationship. How can we have a close relationship without spending time with the other person in the relationship? It would be impossible. The only way to have a close relationship is to be in frequent two-way communication with each person involved in the relationship. The more contact and open communication we have, the closer and stronger the relationship will grow. The more time we spend with God studying His Word and in prayer (communing with Him), the closer our bond and relationship will be with Him.
The closer our relationship, the more apt we will be to hear and understand the voice of God leading us through our lives. Always striving to draw closer to God in our relationship will allow us to be better equipped to lead and guide others. Through small-group Bible study we can learn with others about the closer intimacies of a relationship with God as we study and pray together.
The second principle or set of factors for a healthy growing church through small-group Bible study is through strategy: intentional strategic planning and implementation. In short we need a strategic plan for implementing and continuation of each of these four passions.
For more on building Passion and Strategy in your small groups contact George Yates at SonC.A.R.E. Ministries and visit soncare.net