Encouraging Our Group Leaders At Church 鼓励我们教会的小组组长
Author : Bro Nicholas
Another year has just passed on so quickly. Upon reflection, we can all agree wholeheartedly that time is a precious resource that God has given to us but often take for granted. Another precious resource that God has given us are our leaders at church.
But why encourage your leader? Let me give you three reasons.
Firstly, it’s a simple act of obedience. The Bible calls us to encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11), leaders included. The ideal is that they can do their ministry “with joy and not with groaning” (Hebrews 13:17).
Secondly, it’s an expression of love. Jesus has loved us and given us leaders as a gift (Ephesians 4:11). It’s right and good that we now love not only our friends but also the leaders God has put over us, with a patient, kind, polite, unresentful love (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Encouraging your leaders is a simple way of loving them.
Thirdly, there’s not so many leaders around that we can afford to burn through them each year. Group leaders don’t respawn. If they tap out due to discouragement, there isn’t necessarily anyone lining up to take their place. We need to encourage the ones we have.
I think there are three main ways to encourage your group leaders, which are attendance, submission, and spiritual transformation.
Firstly, encourage your group leader by turning up to your group (and church). in Hebrews 10:24-25 it says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”. The message is clear: keep meeting together! When group leaders prepare a study and people don’t come, they are unsurprisingly discouraged. This is how leaders feel when you don’t turn up. With the covid-19 situation improving across most developed nations including ours, it will be encouraging for your group leaders to see you attend cell groups and church in person!
Secondly, encourage your group leaders by submitting to their leadership. The author of Hebrews writes: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” (Hebrews 13:17) and (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). In practice, It means following their lead in group time—contributing when they ask a question; praying when they invite prayer; being keen for the group social, group ministry or weekend away they initiate.
Thirdly, encourage your leaders by being spiritually transformed during your time in the group. Teachers and coaches stay in the job when they can look back over the year and see that their class or team has grown together in skills, character and teamwork. It’s rewarding, and it’s the same in small group ministry.
Encouragement can sprout quickly. For example, it only takes a couple of weeks of your full attendance to cheer a leader. And how about a quick thank-you text to your leader now? Finally, of course, pray for your leaders. Paul regularly asks for prayer from his people (e.g. Romans 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19; Colossians 4:2-4). Your small group leader should be someone you pray for every week.
文:吴国梁弟兄
翻译:王佩瑾师母
眼看一年又即将过去了,想想,大家应该都能认同时间是神给予我们最宝贵,却也是最常被当作理所当然的资源。神还给了我们另一样宝贵的资源，那就是我们的领袖。
为什么要鼓励我们的领袖？让我来给你三个原因。
第一: 那是一种顺服的表现。圣经告诉我们,我们要彼此鼓励(帖前5:11),这也包括了领袖在内。若是他们能够带着‘喜乐而不是呻吟’做他们的事工,那是最理想的了。(来13:17)
第二：鼓励是一种爱的表象。耶稣爱我们,把领袖作为礼物送给我们(弗4:11)。如今,我们不只要爱我们的朋友,也要用忍耐、仁慈、礼貌、没有怨言的爱来爱神赐给我们的领袖。给与他们鼓励就是爱他们的一种简单方式。
第三：我们并没有那么多位领袖可以全年无休地工作。他们无法复生。若是领袖们因为感到灰心而放弃,我们不一定找得到接班人,所以我们必须给予现有的领袖们更多鼓励。
我认为有三种主要的方法可以鼓励我们的组长,那就是我们的出席率,对他们的顺服,及属灵生命的改变。
首先：通过你在小组及教会的出席率来鼓励你的组长。来10:24-25所写的:“我们要想办法彼此相顾,激发爱心,勉励行善。不要停止聚会,像那些停止惯了的人,要互相鼓励,特别是你们知道主再来的日子近了。”这信息非常清楚,就是要不停地聚在一起!当组长们为小组做好所有的准备,但组员没有出席,他们感觉到气馁也是不稀奇的。这就是当我们不出席小组时,组长们心里的感受。现在疫情在许多国家,包括新加坡已经受到一定的控制,若是您的组长看见你们出席小组及教会的话,必定受到鼓励！
第二：通过你的顺服来鼓励你的组长。希伯来书的作者写到“要顺服引导你们的人,因为他们为你们的灵魂时刻警醒,将来要向上帝交账。你们要听从他们,使他们满心喜乐地尽此职责,不致忧愁,否则对你们毫无益处。”(来13:17及帖前5:12-13)在实践中,顺服也意味着在小组时间,跟随他们的带领,参与小组讨论:在组长邀请组员祷告时祷告,及响应他们所安排的小组活动或周末外出。
第三：在小组里让你的组长看到你属灵生命的改变。当教师和教练回顾班级或团队在一年中技术,品格和团队精神的成长时,便能获得继续工作的能力。那是非常有满足感的,而小组组长也是一样的。
鼓励是可以迅速萌芽的。比如,你的组长可能因为你连续两周出席小组而受到鼓励。又或者,你可以发一则简单的简讯给你的组长,向他道谢。最后,也别忘了为你的组长祷告。保罗常常请他的子民为他祷告(罗15:30-32,林后1:11,腓1:19,西 4:2-4)。而你的组长应当是你每周为之祷告的人。