River Leaders – River Group Leader Resource Website: Recent Episodes
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Terry spoke on a vision for mentoring and challenged and encouraged leaders to work to recognize and develop emerging leaders. He also spoke about the Sequence in Learning by need.
Slides from the presentation
Terry challenged and encouraged leaders to have a vision for transformation in their own lives and to challenge their group members to pursue transformation. He did this by sharing a brief bible study from 1 Timothy 1.
Terry gave information about the plan for Sermons in 2025 and also gave information about how we want to make prayer more of a priority in the coming semester.
Aaron gave us on update on the River Training Center and a potential partnership for teaching accredited classes with Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Rodney spoke about helping people change. This is an introduction to an upcoming River Christian Training class. Helping People Change Handout
Brenda spoke about mentoring as the bottom line of a group leader’s ministry. She also went through our leadership core commitments.
Jim Lewis shared how he and Justin and Neil have been reading the bible together over the last year. Each of theme shared some of the benefits of reading together and Jim encouraged and challenged group leaders to lean into reading the bible together.
Terry spoke about differing levels of complexity in life but our focus as group leaders to be faithful. The encouragement was to pursue simplicity in group life. Read the bible, pray, and do it in community.
Several weeks ago Austin and I had a good small group meeting. People were open and honest. We had a good discussion about the message. We have a guy who attends our group who is not a believer. He mostly listened. He felt welcomed and enjoyed being a part of the group.
After our group meeting that night Austin said something to me that was very insightful and helpful.
He said, “That was a good group but did it feel more like a therapy session than a small group?”
Great question! So grateful that Austin asked.
Austin was acting as a faithful leader assistant by asking the question and helping me think about our group meeting. Leader Assistants you have an important role to play.
Back to Austin’s question: was this a therapy group?
I started wondering – What would our non-believing friend be thinking about our small group time when he got home.
“That’s a great group of guys.”
“They gave me some great advice.”
“I sure do feel better after going to group.”
None of those are bad thoughts. I hope he had all of those thoughts.
What about these thoughts…
I don’t know what I believe about Jesus, but those guys believe in Jesus.
Those guys really trust Jesus.
Those guys think Jesus really loves them and they are devoted to him.
Ultimately I want this person to say – These guys trust Jesus. I want to trust him too.
Our friend trusting Jesus is a work of the Spirit, but is it clear in our group meetings that we trust in Jesus.
I think after Austin asked me this question I have a new slogan for conducting group meetings.
Here is the slogan: WWJBD
What Would John the Baptist DO?
He would probably dress weird.
He probably wouldn’t have the best snacks in his small group.
Who knows if he would start and end on time.
If John were a small group leader there is one thing that John would be clear about – He would point to Jesus.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
IF you were in John the Baptist’s small group you would know that he was all about Jesus.
If someone confessed sin in John’s small group. I can imagine he would say, “Thanks for being open and honest.” And he might say “Jesus has paid the price for your sin and forgiven you. He wants to take that sin away from you.”
John might say, you have confessed that sin to us, now why don’t you talk to Jesus about it. Give it to Jesus and ask him for help after all Jesus is the one who came to deal with your sin.
I remember a time several years ago when I was with someone and they confessed a sin to me.
I asked – have you talked to God about this sin in your life? They began to cry.
Immediately my reaction was, “Oh no, I made it worse.” “They trusted me and I made them feel bad.” “They will never trust me again.”
I didn’t want them to “feel” bad. I did want them to experience forgiveness from Christ.
It was right for me to ask them to talk to Jesus about their sin. I helped them. I told them what to say, but Jesus is just as real as Rodney. He is the one who cleanses and forgives.
WWJBD – What would John the Baptist Do – He would say take your sins to Jesus.
John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
How do I conduct my small group meetings with a desire for Jesus to INCREASE.
I might be a good teacher. I might lead well organized groups but what is one thing that I want my non-believing friend to know after leaving group – These guys really trust Jesus.
What are some activities you might do in your group?
ACCOUNTABILITY
How are you doing with your quiet time?
How are you taking care of yourself?
How are things at work? Questions about purity, loving your kids, your spouse, etc.
Important activity – Accountability is vital
Look to Jesus’ words to tell us WHY we are doing accountability.
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands.
John 14:23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Love me – do what I command and then I will be at home with you.
When we do accountability in our groups, we are helping people to love Jesus.
Do you do accountability in your groups with a desire to help people be obedient to Jesus’ commands? If you do, you are helping people love Jesus.
PRAYER
One of the things that John the Apostle does in his writings is to repeat words.
If you want to, read ahead in John 14-16 – Circle the word ask and count how many times Jesus’ tells us to Ask.
Here is just one verse – John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
What does Jesus tell us to do there? He says “ASK”
He doesn’t say do the math and try to figure this out. He says ASK.
Dallas Willard wrote that praying is primarily asking.
Praying is not reasoning with God.
Praying is not advising him.
When you pray, just ask for what you want.
Jesus asked – “What do you want me to do for you?”
Is he too busy for us? Is he not strong enough? Is he not wise enough?
Just ask and let him sort it out. Model simple asking in your group.
I often ask people – How can I pray for you?
Not a bad question.
What if I asked, “What are YOU asking JESUS to do in YOUR life?”
I’m not endorsing the prosperity Gospel, but encouraging us to take Jesus at his word. He says ask, so we should ask.
I’m encouraging you to tell your group members to go to Jesus for what they want. Go to Jesus for what they need.
A theology of prayer may be complex.
Praying is simple. Ask Jesus for what you want.
Back to our WWJBD slogan.
What would prayer request time look like in John the Baptist’s small group?
He might say… No prayer requests tonight – If you need something. If you want something, let’s ask Jesus for it. Of course we can pray for each other but why don’t we talk to Jesus rather than just talking to each other.
Ask Him for what you want.
Let him sort out what you need.
Be grateful for what he gives.
Be faithful to what he says.
I’ve been meditating on Psalm 121:1
I lift my eyes to the hills, “Where does my help come from?”
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
The maker of heaven and earth is your helper.
That is pretty good help.
He gives me help through books. Through friendships. Through the church. Through his word.
But HE, the personal God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is our helper.
Yes I want my non-believing friend to be helped by our group meetings.
The best help that he could receive is for him to trust the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
I want him to be surrounded by guys in our group who are growing in trusting Jesus.
I want the guys in my group to go to Jesus for help. If they come to me for help, I want to be like John the Baptist and say – Look to Jesus.
What do you want?
Q: Why do you believe in and trust the Bible?
-what are the intellectual, emotional, “spiritual” reasons?
Q: What reasons have you had or heard that people have had, who struggle to trust the Bible?
Francis Schaeffer wrote, “The God who is there” “He is there and he is not silent.”
He had a ministry in Switzerland where students from all over the world, in a pre-internet time (1955-1984)found their way to his house, L’bri (shelter).
Many people, came to Christ through their ministry, in a very disorienting and confused era of history.
-Vietnam, Watergate, Drug culture, sexual revolution
One person, who came to be Labri…was more interested in being impressive than finding truth went on and on in a group session.
Finally, Shaeffer said, “If you have a real question, I will take all night listening to you. But I will not play with the truth.”
This is now we must lead our groups…with that kind gentleness and with that kind of certainty and clarity
We will listen and love…but we will not play games with the truth…there is just too much at stake.
Everything is at stake…we don’t play with truth here. We cannot.
Julian Huxley was an atheist who said that somehow or another, against what one might expect, man functions better if he acts as though God is there.
That’s because God is there.
A personal God has made us in his own image.
We would expect God to communicate to us in verbalized form since has made us verbalized beings.
If You were God and wanted to communicate to humans who you are and what you value how would you do it?
I would speak directly using words.
I would show through my actions.
I would show up in person.
This is exactly what we have.
Now, what if you wanted to communicate through multiple generations, how would you do that?
You would want a written record, one that could verified and protected for as long as necessary.
That is what we have.
The purpose of the Bible is the revelation of Christ.
Bible Can Be Understood According these 8 categories:
Law: Foundation for Christ
History: Preparation for Christ
Poetry: Aspiration for Christ
Prophecy: Expectation of Christ
Gospels: Manifestation of Christ
Acts: Propagation of Christ
Epistles: Application of Christ
Revelation: Consummation in Christ
You get the point…Christ is the reason for the revelation of Scripture, and he is the interpretative key to the Bible.
Even as he is the interpretative key to our very lives.
The Bible is the Word of God…it is truth with no mixture of error.
People have and do struggle with this.
When they struggle to have confidence in the Bible…the will struggle to apply it…to their own harm.
So, let’s do some training about reasons for our confidence in the Bible.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:15-17
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:16-21
God has revealed himself to humans using their personalities, styles, experiences…but what they wrote is divine inspiration.
He has given us his word in a variety of literary styles, through at least 40 different personalities.
It is Truth with no mixture of error…God gave it to us.
“But humans, wrote it and they are not perfect.”
-There are math books that are without errors…God can easily see to it that we got a perfect Bible
The Bible is not a science book, but when it touches on science it does not err…same with history, and ethics…it is truth with no mixture of error.
But there are so many versions of the Bible…how do we know what we have is the right one?
There are many translations…people think “versions” means, entirely different books.
Revised Standard Version
English Standard Version
New International Version
*These are not different Bibles; they are different translations with some differences in theory of how to translate accurately from one language to another.
-Some more word for word, some more idea for idea.
They all use the many manuscripts God has providentially provided.
Some are better than others…if you use a good one, you have God’s word…you can be sure of it.
Dan Brown, infamous author of Di Vinci Code in early 2000’s..wrote some non-historical fiction about a supposed conspiracy to suppress the real truth of the Bible.
-It is utter Nonsense…non scholarly, but it, and other books like it…have undermined the confidence of some in the Bible.
-A Friend who is agnostic recentlysaid, “The Bible was determined at the council of Nicaea by a bunch of people.”
“No, they didn’t deal with the canon.”
There were times when the church meet and discussed what books are “Scripture”
But what they were doing was not “determining” Scripture they were recognizing it.
Councils did not decide, God did…the church already was using it.
And the church had specific guidelines and reasons for what was Scripture.
My friend got his misinformation from a non-reliable source and readily believed that he was well informed.
His response to me was, “oh, didn’t know that.”
My goal for this part of our time is not so you can remember certain facts or win arguments.
By the way, I had no argument with this friend…he asked, we talked, he was grateful…it was a conversation inside a relationship.
My goal is that you would be able to help the people you lead, when necessary, have confidence in the Bible.
Many of them already do have confidence and don’t really have questions…this is fine and not an irrational position to hold.
Some of them, belief and don’t know why…a question may not unsettle them…they just haven’t heard it or thought of it yet.
In my small group, a man in his late 60’s said, “I don’t have any questions.”
He is a very intelligent, well-educated man, who know the Bible well…his response is belief on the other side of years of life, study, and experience with God.
Simplicity on the other side of complexity.
I have found with great interest that River Next kids sometimes have more trouble with mystery than do older adults.
It’s okay to not have questions…it’s okay to have them…there are answers for those who want or need them.
Let me give you some books as reference points if you are feeling ambitious or curious:
- From God to Us: How We Got Our Bible: Norman Geisler
- The Books and the Parchments: FF Bruce
- Scribes and Scripture: Meade
- Who Choose the Gospels? Hill
- Josh McDowell, Evidence that demands a verdict, and more evidence that demands a verdict.
Trace: RCT Training class: Principles for interpreting Scripture, Spring 2023.
River Christian Training
I am going to give a summary of the main points regarding the Scriptures using an acrostic I put together.
THE BIBLE
There—It matches what we see in the world and it changes lives.
-God is there
-He has spoken
-His Word, therefore matches what is there.
-His word, even when applied by non-believers “works”
-His word, when not applied even by believers “works” (against them)
Historical evidence—archeology
-There are a number of historical facts that were only known in Scripture, until archeology discovered evidence.
-People doubted some events and places in Scripture because there was no other evidence…then it was discovered…as people dug in the dirt.
-The Popular Handbook of archeology and the Bible. Geisler
*There are many articles and books that describe how the Bible is proven true, every time you dig in the dirt in Israel.
*Unlike, for instance, “The Book of Mormon.”
End times—prophecy
-Christ
-Exile
-Temple
*It doesn’t tell us as much as some say it does, at least in specific details…but when it spoke of the future it was right…it will always be just that.
Bibliographic—number of manuscripts
-6,000 Greek Manuscripts, 25,000 total.
-The most of any other ancient book is Homer’s Iliad (643).
-The gap for most ancient manuscripts is about 1000 years(between original and extant copies), the NT 100 years or less
Autographs are infallible, not the copies.
No difference or debate over major issues…only minor ones.
-Your Bible will footnote them.
**Textual criticism
What we have is reliable, God has seen to that.
YO# H9ve won 20 million dollars.
-100 percent of the original message comes through.
Internal consistency—it is non-contradictory.
Even more not just that it doesn’t conflict with itself…it is a miraculously consistent book.
-There many books and a lot of good research on the way the Bible is put together.
-God’s Kingdoms Through God’s Covenants: Wellum
-The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the OT: Clowney
-According to Plan: Goldsworthy
-When you read the Bible, as it is written…not out of context…it fits together in a way that is miraculous.
Bestseller—God’s hand on it.
-It has been smuggled, protected, died for.
-POW’s have longed for it more than food.
-It is the world’s best seller
-How do you explain its reach in mere human terms.
-Men and women have given their lives to learn languages, to write down formerly non-written languages, just to translate the Bible.
Lord Jesus—affirmed it and those who wrote it
Extra biblical sources:
For instance: Josephus, a Roman Jewish Historian and military leader who was born about 4 years after Jesus died.
There are many other extra-biblical books, that are written during the first and second century that confirm the Bible.
JESUS AND THE BIBLE
Jesus affirmed the OT as the Word of God.
He quoted from the first book to nearly the last in a single verse:
“So, all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.” Matthew 22:35
The OT as we have it was recognized and used by Jesus and the Jews of his time, Jesus did not refute any of it, quite the opposite.
So hold an OT in your hand…God became flesh confirmed it as his word.
The NT was written by eye witnesses to Jesus and all of it was easily affirmed or would have been dismissed by those who knew Jesus and what he taught.
So the whole Bible…is confirmed by the Lord Jesus.
So, Start with Jesus…Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.
Then go to Scripture…he affirmed it, it all pointed to him.
Christ, the Word of God made flesh, has confirmed the Word of God written down for us.
Be confident.
Express your confidence.
There is much at stake…we cannot deviate from Scripture…struggle to understand and apply it, but you need not spend time and energy wondering if we have the Word of God.
Link to Powerpoint File
We focused on Mission at Leadership in the fall. Terry began by talking about F.I.T.S. Which stands for Friendships, Identify with Christ, Team up with Others, Share the Gospel. Each of these aspects should be approached with prayer. God is the one at work, we are invited to join him.
During the training a different leader came up and talked about how they have lived out each of these different aspects.
Trace shared three methods for sharing the gospel. He also encouraged leaders to have their group members grow in gospel fluency.
In the final session of the leader’s retreat, Dr. Allison talked about the transgenderism and gender dysphoria. He discussed the church’s proper response and errors for the church to avoid.
Dr. Greg Allison spoke on the Gendered Body in session 2 of the leader’s retreat. We are embodied beings, made either male and female, but both are made in the image of God. Our embodiment is the proper state of human existence.
Dr. Greg Allison spoke to River group leaders about the Created Body on September 9, 2023. There is a Q&A section in the recording and some of the audio is difficult to understand. For the leader’s retreat we are focusing on theology, because we are a church and good theology is essential to our call as leaders.
Terry recasts the vision for the reality that our Beliefs shape our values which in turn inform our behaviors. He gave us an overview of group life and then the staff led the time through the different components of group life: Meetings, Mission, Member Care, and Mentoring.
Terry talked about the meaning of being well-differentiated as a leader and took the leaders through some exercises to help people think about the importance of being well-differentiated. The well-differentiated leader is someone who cares and is connected but it not controlled by the drama and emotions of others.
Jim, Brenda, and Rodney talk with group leaders about mentoring threats and opportunities.
Terry talking about the importance of seeing people as whole persons. We are spiritual / physical hybrids. A group leader’s responsibility is in seeing people with the whole person in mind. The physical, spiritual, mental and relational are all facets of a persons life.
Terry spoke about Spiritual Leadership using stories from personal experience and instruction from Hebrews 10.
As a church we just finished going through the book of 2 Timothy. Terry took a few minutes to highlight a few key lesson from group life from our time in 2 Timothy.
First Saturday in February, 7:45 in the morning…I had left home about 5 to drive to Topeka. I wasn’t feeling exceptionally encouraged…I wasn’t feeling much of anything except tired. The person running the meeting looked at me and asked, “Chaplain, have anything for us?” I looked around the room of about 30 people…wearing masks…hard to discern what was on their minds. My mind quickly scrolled through some thoughts: -First of course… I’m tired and don’t really feel like saying...
Terry discusses the importance of viewing member care in group life as a spectrum. The spectrum goes from Necessary to Nice. Necessary are those physical, emotional, spiritual or relational needs in member’s lives where the need exceeds current capacity. Everyone is called to carry their own load so we can’t eliminate every burden, nor should we but at times people need help when the burden is to heavy to carry alone. At the nice end of the spectrum are those...
Rodney talks about Mission being the forgotten M of group life. Meetings are on the calendar and member care faces us at every meeting, but mission can be forgotten. Our role as leaders is to equip our people and to remind our members to engage in mission. Trace shared about how he is working in Christian Challenge to keep Mission on the forefront. Possible Mission Goals for Your Group Pray regularly for the lost in group Gospel conversation scoreboard Memorize...
Brenda encourages group leaders to remember the importance of member care in group but to not fall into the trap that member care is one size fits all. Individuals in your group feel love and cared for in different ways. Member care can look differently from group to group. Possible Member Care Goals for Group Get to know one another better – families, concerns, praises, etc. Serve one another in times of need. (Life events – babies, weddings, death, job...
Jim encourages leaders to think about the different components of their meetings. Meetings are important. They are the squeaky wheel of group life which means they get lots of attention and rightfully so because if you don’t meet you don’t have a group. The tension that is important is learning to get meetings the appropriate attention but not let them dominate group life. Possible Goals for Meetings Manage Time (Start / End & Pray / Share) Delegate responsibility Get members...
Brenda introduced a model for mentoring called the grow model. It is an acrostic that can help direct in a mentoring relationship or direct a leader as they are seeking to grow in a certain area. G.R.O.W. What is your FOCUS? Goal: Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve? Why is it important? Reality (Current Reality): Where are you now? Obstacles/Options: What prevents moving towards goal? How can you move through or past the obstacle?...
Terry shares about the purpose and vision of group life and reminds leaders to pursue faithfulness to their calling to lead their groups.
[audio src=https://riverleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-Leadership-Kick-Off.mp3] Terry introduced a Roadmap for Group Life and for Leadership Community at River. After the introduction he discussed 5 questions related to a leaders essential responsibility to mentor potential leaders.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Leadership-Community-2-10.mp3] At this Leadership Community, Terry Talked about the Value of Small Groups.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Having-Appropriate-Boundaries.mp3] Terry talks about the importance of boundaries in life and ministry and how to pursue appropriate boundaries.
Terry talks about the shaping values of River called the Heart Attitudes and the importance of leaders practicing these values in our church.
[audio src="https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Leadership-Community-3_4_18.mp3"] Terry talks briefly about spiritual warfare and Rodney talks about developing people as followers of Jesus.
[audio src="https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Developing-a-Missional-Lifestyle.mp3"] At Leadership Community we re-visited the practices in Evangelism that we introduced last year. We focused on our role in being faithful and trusting God.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Facilitating-Change.mp3] Risa instructed leaders again on Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change to help group leaders gain skill in helping others close the gap in their lives.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Leadership-Your-Gift-and-Responsibility.mp3] Terry spoke at the Leader's retreat from 1 Peter 4:8-10. Calling leaders to see their opportunity to lead as both a gift and a responsibility.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Leadership-Community-4-30-17.mp3] Terry discussed how to talk about and help people handle issues of Marriage, Remarriage and Divorce in your groups from a biblical perspective.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LC-11-6-16-Helping-People-False-Cause.mp3] At Leadership Community, Terry talked about a way to help people. You as a leader can help them by helping them see "False Causes" of the difficulties in their lives.
[audio src="https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LC-11-06-16-What-to-Do-with-OT.mp3"] At this Leadership Community, Terry discusses how to understand the Theology of the OT to help group members in their understanding of the Bible and how the Bible applies to their lives.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/92516-leadership-community.mp3] Rodney discusses principles that our groups and group members can be faithful too if we want to be more faithful in Outreach.
[audio src="https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LC-2016-08-27stages-of-change.mp3"] Risa Rehmert talks about the Stages of Change that people progress through when they are trying to "add" a new behavior and "remove" an old behavior from their lives.
[audio src=https://www.rivercc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/basics-of-counseling.mp3] James Smith discusses the Basics of Counseling of at River Small Group Leaders Retreat August 27th, 2016