Leaders are life-long learners. They are always pursuing the high ground of truth and seeking to apply wisdom, which is why I post the monthly summaries of our update meetings. This month, I asked the questions:

• What are you thinking as you approach home group?
• What are you doing when you are in home group?

Regarding the first question about what leaders are thinking, the following responses were given:

• We get together to enjoy each other
• We talk about God
• We get to reach out to new people
• How are we helping people grow to become something new
• We’re working on relationship building
• I’m inadequate in leading people and need to learn to be dependent on the Lord
• What I prepare for is not what happens at times. (Yes, we need to be more concerned about the needs of the group at times!)
• What issues are the participants working through? (Yes, and how do you prevent rabbit trails that get us off track?)

I made the challenge– think multiplication.  In everything, think multiplication. The reason? If the leader is thinking multiplication, then he’ll also be thinking he needs a Biblical Foundation on which to multiply; a Relational Environment which fosters multiplication; Intentional Discipleship, which encourages multiplication; and a Reproducible Process, which is the key for multiplication.  An emphasis on multiplication takes in first three factors, but those factors may or may not lead to multiplication.

We talked about what issues people are thinking about in home group and the following topics surfaced::

• Transparency – how do we foster it?
• Encouragement for the one who is stepping up to lead some aspect of the group!
• Sin issues – people do not want to share these immediately.
• Guy/gal issues – primarily in the younger home groups
• Break up of guys and gals – home group is a great place to deal with it, but all people need to encourage leaders of these groups, so they don’t get discouraged.
• Amount of time spent in the meeting – how do you keep on track for those on a schedule themselves?
• How to do prayer – steps to take to help everyone become engaged.
• How to phrase questions – so that members will want to talk.

The questions asked by the leaders showed that they were thinking about their group, not just showing up to cover the weekly content! These are great everyday topics that generate a shepherd’s heart and compassion in understanding and service.

Regarding the second question about what leaders are doing in home group, we intentionally discussed the following thoughts:

• You don’t know what someone is thinking unless he is talking
• As people talk, you can assess their spiritual stage of growth
• You can work with the co-leader to decide what functions a person might be ready to begin practicing to gain experience, confidence and spiritual growth.
• Talking to participants on how to take a risk in leading in the home group.
• After establishing credibility as a leader, seeking to put other people in the positions of leadership for the opening, facilitation of the discussion, leading of the prayer time and different aspects of hosting.

This meeting was completely successful, because the leaders were communicating and looking to each other for answers and direction.