Small Groups

Prayerfully ponder each of the following categories and descriptions and plot your group experience somewhere on the spectrum. Talk over the results with your small group pastor or coach:

Category		Plot your group experience
Sharing of Life:	A group of acquaintances that meets weekly	. . . . . . .	A family of friends whose lives are intertwined
Safety/ Intimacy:	Sharing and prayer requests tend to be superficial	. . . . . . .	Members feel freedom to risk sharing deep struggles
Dependence on Truth:	Opinions and personal feelings dominate	. . . . . . .	God’s Word is considered the final authority
"Every member" ministry	Leader ministers; members mostly observe/ receive	. . . . . . .	Each person encouraged to use gift(s) to care for others
Lifechange:	Little evidence that folks are progressing spiritually	. . . . . . .	Tangible signs that individuals are growing
Group Discussions:	Monologues (dominated by one or two members)	. . . . . . .	Dialogues (involving the entire group)
Outreach:	The same people attend week after week	. . . . . . .	Group fills the "empty chair" by inviting visitors
Participation:	Members routinely skip meetings and gatherings	. . . . . . .	Members make group functions a top priority
Leadership Development:	Leader is practicing and developing his own skills	. . . . . . .	Leader is identifying and training new leaders
"One another" care:	Little outside interaction or involvement	. . . . . . .	Group members show active, ongoing concern
Overall sense:	Group is limping along out of a sense of obligation	. . . . . . .	We are excited because of all that God is doing!

Assessing Your Leadership Effectiveness by Len Woods

Rate yourself 1-10 (1 being "HELP!" and 10 being "Hallelujah!") in each of the following categories. Discuss the results with your small group pastor or coach at your next scheduled meeting, with the goal of devising a plan for gaining competence and/or help in weak areas:

Delegating

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Teaching the Bible

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Planning

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Leading discussions

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Tending to details

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Guiding toward the goal

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Making newcomers feel welcome

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Evaluating/discerning

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Shepherding

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Showing compassion

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Equipping others

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Developing new leaders

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Keeping the group on task

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Creating a warm, safe atmosphere

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Getting others involved

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Listening

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Counseling

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Getting people to open up

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Hospitality

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Discernment/wisdom

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Leading in "fun"

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10