What does a person need to know, love, obey, and experience in order to flourish as a community group leader? This training plan was built as an answer to that question. The main virtues or skills a leader needs are listed below, and all of these skills are sorted into the four themes of character, calling, competency, and communion & chemistry. Each skill has a training tool (something to read), and a self-assessment tool (something to write and turn in online). See a fuller explanation of how to use this training plan here.
Preparing for Community Group Leadership
- ❏ Character ➔ Self-Awareness
- Listen to "Blessed Self-Forgetfulness," Timothy Keller (40:27)
- Complete the Gospel Self Assessment
- ❏ Character ➔ Humility
- Read “Self-Glory,” Dangerous Calling, Paul David Tripp (pp. 167–182)
- Complete the Identifying Pride self-assessment
- ❏ Character ➔ Holiness
- Read “Piety’s Pattern,” and “The Pleasure of God and the Possibility of Holiness,” The Hole in Our Holiness, Kevin DeYoung (pp. 31–47, 63–77)
- Complete accompanying study questions
- ❏ Character ➔ Teachability
- Read “Teachability,” ESV Men’s Devotional Study Bible, Dave Kraft
- Read “The Most Essential Life Skill: Teachability,” David Murray
- Complete accompanying reflection questions
- Action Step: We all have blind spots. This week, ask one of your community group leaders for feedback on one or two ways they've noticed you can grow, based on their observation of your participation in the group.
- ❏ Character ➔ Love God, Love People
- Read “Love is Indispensable,” Leading With Love, Alexander Strauch (pp. 1–35)
- Read “Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism,” Desiring God, John Piper (pp. 77–109)
- Complete accompanying reflection questions
- Additional resource (not required): “Love: The Labor of Christian Hedonism,” Desiring God, John Piper (pp. 111–141)
- ❏ Character ➔ Push Back Darkness, Pt. 1: Gospel Hospitality and Serving the Poor
- Watch “The Gospel Comes with a House Key,” Rosario Butterfield (58:08)
- Read "8 Ways to Easily be Missional," Jonathan Dodson
- Read “Leading Your Community Towards Feasting with the Poor,” Saturate
- Complete accompanying reflection questions
- Additional resource (not required): Watch "Generous Justice," Timothy Keller (29:23)
- ❏ Calling ➔ Margin and Simplicity
- Read “Outward Simplicity,” Freedom of Simplicity, Richard Foster (pp. 110–145)
- Read “The Unbusy Pastor,” Eugene Peterson, Leadership Journal
- Complete Reality Self-Check Assessment
- ❏ Calling ➔ Desire to Lead
- Read “Vocation: Discerning Your Calling,” Timothy Keller
- Complete the accompanying reflection questions, especially as it relates to your unique role of service in the local church
- Additional resources (not required): “How to Discover Your Calling,” Michael Horton, and “What is Your Calling?,” David Powlison
- ❏ Competency ➔ Conflict Resolution
- Watch “Resolving Everyday Conflict,” Ken Sande (22:15)
- Read “How to Fight Right,” Paul David Tripp
- Read “Committing to a Lifestyle of Reconciliation”
- In Thune and Walker’s The Gospel Centered Life, read “Lesson 9: Conflict,” and complete “Exercise 9: Gospel-Centered Conflict Resolution”
- ❏ Competency ➔ Leading the Three Rhythms
- Read Frontline's guide to the Discipleship Groups rhythm, the Discipleship Group Rhythm Sheet, and listen to the accompanying teaching on Discipleship Groups.
- Read Frontline's guide to the Family Meal rhythm, Making Family Meal Meaningful.
- Read Frontline's guide to the Missional Gatherings rhythm, Pushing Back Darkness Together: A Guide to Missional Gatherings.
- Complete the accompanying reflection questions
- Additional resources (not required):
- Watch "Mission Through Meals," Tim Chester (30:08)
- Listen to "Aiming for the Heart" and follow along with the accompanying notes
- Skim “Family Meal: Ideas, Tips, and Plans”
All future leaders must complete the training and assessment tools listed above prior to launching their group. Whenever a potential leader is ready to invite formal evaluation and assessment prior to being released into leadership, they can fill out the interest form, which can be found here.