Qualities of Effective Small Group Leaders
Rick Lowry outlines practical marks of a small group leader whose life, relationships, and meetings point people toward spiritual growth. The checklist emphasizes personal discipline, intentional discipleship, relational openness, and purposeful planning.
- Effective group leaders model servanthood and spiritual growth in daily life.
- They pray for group members and intentionally help them grow as disciples.
- They view every meeting as an opportunity for spiritual impact.
By Rick Lowry
Personal Life
- Models servanthood before group members.
- Is in the Word daily, along with being in prayer and practicing other spiritual disciplines.
- Feels a sense of personal spiritual growth and passes on that challenge toward growth to members of group.
- A spiritual leader outside the group meeting.
- Accountable in life to another spiritual leader outside the group.
Passing on the Faith
- Prays for individuals in the group.
- Places a high priority on the group and the people in it.
- Is spiritually, emotionally, and relationally open to group members.
- Is always sensitive to teachable moments when with members of group.
- Has identified the specific ways each member of the group needs to grow, and can sense whenever one is further along in those areas than he or she used to be.
- Is actively reproducing himself, with a view to the group. Members are themselves becoming disciplers.
Meetings
- Sees every group meeting as an opportunity to make a spiritual impact. Shares at least one spiritual insight every time with the group or with individuals in the group.
- Constantly bears in mind that this is not just a weekly Bible study. Never loses a sense of intentionality and purpose.
- Uses creativity to plan meetings and to make the most of a spontaneous moment—like Jesus did.
- Spends regular time outside the meeting with each individual in the group.
- Plans well. Knows the long-term direction of the group and designs each meeting to fit into that overall scheme.
Rick Lowry serves as small groups minister with Crossroads Christian Church in Evansville, Indiana.
