Critique Yourself

Are you a successful Life Group leader?  Really.  Do you think you are?  If you ever ponder this question, what kind of criteria do you use?  And whose criteria so you use?  Other people?  Other leaders?  The "experts"?  God?  Yourself?  Here's a few things that I've compiled that I used to used for my own self-critique when I was regularly leading Life Groups.  Ask yourself these questions:


1.  Do I have a strong desire to experience deep intimacy in Life Group relationships, and do I have a willingness to do the work necessary to get to that point?


2.  Do I have a strong desire to provide an peaceful environment where hurting people can experience God’s love and healing and people can experience God’s guiding with spiritual growth in their lives?


3.  After prayer and considering my own time commitments, life experiences, personal and spiritual health, am I confident of God’s calling to this ministry?


4.  Am I able to create an accepting, non-judgmental environment for those around me?


5.  Do I have a firm commitment to total confidentiality?


6.  Can be transparent and vulnerable about personal issues in my life without using the group inappropriately to meet my own needs?


7.  Am I able to empathize with various age groups and life stages in my Life Group?


8.  Am I able to trust God to be the one in charge of the healing process in others, rather than seeing myself as the one who needs to “FIX” everything?



9.  Am I able to comfort others, and respond to other peoples emotions with loving and caring emotion?



10.  For all practical perspectives, does my Life Group represent real Christian community? 


These are only a few of the things I've looked at over the years.  You might have other criteria that you use, and may come up with something different than the points I suggested.  There's no perfect list because all Life Groups and are different.  Consequently, all Life Group leaders are different as well.  The important thing is that we regularly reflect on what we're doing as leaders and how it relates to the success of our Life Groups. 


Start with the list above and see what you come up with.  And if you come up with some new ideas, share them on the blog or use the Gateway Life Group Leader Facebook page.  You can find it at Gateway Life Groups  or just click on the Facebook link just to the right of this blog.  I also use the Facebook page to link the blog and other good information that I come across.  Don't forget to "like" the page so I can get a better idea who uses Facebook.