Jesus - small group leader

It might take you by surprise to learn that Jesus was a small group leader.

If Jesus was a small group leader, than there's something there I can learn from.

Neal McBride suggest that all you need to know about Jesus as a small group leader can be summarized in seven statements:

Jesus began His expanded earthly ministry by establishing His small group.

He said to a couple of brothers, "follow me," and then went on to gather around him 12 guys.

For the first year and a half, Jesus spent a lot of time in private with his small group. After that, his ministry exploded. People seeking after him. What a crazy wild ride for 18 months that in reality changed the world.

His small group went from creating fellowship to actual ministry to those outside their group.

Jesus, secondly, ministered to his small group, but also to individuals and collective groups. He preached to the masses and spoke to the hurting on a one-on-one basis.

Thirdly, the ministry of Jesus to large groups was usually preceded by and birthed out of the context of the small group.

The Bible gives us an interesting phrase in Mark 3:14, that Jesus brought together 12men so that "they might be with Him."

We get really jazzed about the power and authority in the next statement and sometimes overlook that being human himself, Jesus needed relationship and human love. It's true: sometimes we can be the most lonely in a crowd. I often have those feelings myself.

Fourthly, Jesus spent the majority of Hi time with His small group of disciples. If you would log the hours that Jesus ministered with the 12, you would find that he spent the majority of his time with them.

Fifthly, and very importantly, HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, RATHER THAN ORGANIZATIONS, WERE CENTRAL IN HIS MINISTRY AND METHOD OF REACHING THE WORLD.

Jesus didn't teach in rows, but in relationship.

Sixth, Jesus used the informal small group to model and teach spiritual knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.

Finally, Jesus used the small group setting for leadership preparation and equipping for future ministry.

More tomorrow.....