Fear of Leading

Leading a Life Group is not always easy, is it?  It can be frustrating, tiring and completely overwhelming at times.  In fact, there are aspects that can be down right terrifying.  After leading Life Groups for many years, and getting to know, train and mentor new Life Group leaders, the one area of greatest anxiety seems to always fall into the "Spiritual Guide" area, or being the "Pastor" of the Life Group.  Yep!  You're a pastor, if you didn't realize that already!  Sorry to stress you out, but it's true!  Most of us have no problem organizing the group meetings, leading the discussion or even teaching out of Scripture.  But when it comes to being responsible for guiding someone in the spiritual areas of their lives, we instantly feel our heart rate begin to increase.  But don't worry!  It's actually pretty normal, and you know what?  It's a good thing as well.

James 3:1 & 2, says "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check," (NIV)  James is basically saying, "Make sure that God has called you to teach.  Because you're putting yourself on the front line!"  It's a huge responsibility because we have a huge stake in someone else's spiritual journey.  Like it or not, those that are in your Life Group are going to look to you for spiritual guidance. If they haven't yet, they will eventually, because they think of you as having some spiritual authority.  If you make the mistake of telling them to go right, when God needs them to go left, they will eventually have to back track, and you will too to some extent.  Who like giving bad instructions?    

So, are we supposed to be fearful in leading Life Groups, as if God is looming over us with the proverbial paddle in hand, waiting for us to screw up?  Not at all.  What I think James is trying to get across in the above verse, is the same thing that the Psalmist is communicating in Psalm 1:7.  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."  The fear we are talking about is not an anxious, sickening or terrifying fear, but a reverent fear of who we are compared to God's holiness, and the power that emenates from Him.  As leaders, we should fear God, and the responsbility we hold, but only because the stakes are so high.  God can use any means necessary to communicate His truth, but he choses us to help Him.  That's amazing when you think about it!  What an awesome blessing and honer!  And yes, what a huge responsibility!  Always take it seriously!  

See also Acts 20:18 - "Now it's up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God's people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for." (The Message)