As a small group leader, how many people do you think you can effectively lead, shepherd, and disciple? Eight? Ten? Twelve? Twenty? Let me ask this question another way: If you are to bear much fruit, fruit that will last...
Tag: Burnout
Interview: Leadership Expert Deborah Ike on Leading Healthy Small Groups
I recently met Deborah Ike, who works with church leaders to help them grow their churches and create a life with healthy margins. She is the author of two books, Volunteer Management Toolkit-Church Edition and Protect the Vision: A Practical...
The Brazil Cell-Church Conference: What I Learned … #3 – Burnout Is Universal
Robert Lay, holding up my book, The Pocket Guide to Burnout-Free Small Group Leadership, translated into Portuguese Brazilian leaders deal with burnout. When I was first asked to speak on the topic of leader burnout in Brazil, I was surprised....
Trying Hard in the Spiritual Life: Rx for Burnout?
As Christ-following leaders--of small groups, ministries, churches, families, businesses, ourselves--we know that our relationship with God must come first. If we spend time with him, committed to walking with him, seeking him, and putting his kingdom first, he will take...
Two Rocket Boosters That Will Propel Your Small Group to Accomplish Christ’s Mission
I've found two boosters that, when either is utilized separately, develops more authentic community, spiritual growth, accountability, a deeper prayer life, leader development, and multiplication. But when these two are used together, they turbocharge your group for carrying out Christ's...
20 Questions to Ask at the End of Your Rope
If you're at the end of your rope, there are some important questions you need to ask yourself:What is the other end of this rope tied to? Where is this rope supposed to be taking me? Is it tied to the right...
Missional Groups Are Team Led! (Scott Boren tells why.)
My friend Scott Boren is writing an excellent series of blogs on the 9 practices of missional small group leaders. (Go to his blog here.) Today he writes about Practice #3: Leading as a Team. Scott tells his own personal...
Leadership Is Not a Solo Act
For several decades, small group leaders have been taught that leading is a solo act. I've seen (and even used) a model that pictures a small group leader sitting alone in the middle of a circle, surrounded by all the...
No More Leader Burnout
Don’s small group started smoothly and seemed to go well the first several months. Within the first year, Don called me to tell me he was stepping down from group leadership. When I met with him to ask what happened,...