God’s work is to change people’s attitudes and heart posture toward Him. Small group leaders can’t make people care about reading their Bible, fighting sin, or reaching their neighbors, but they can grow people’s awareness to facilitate the work God wants to do in their lives. Consider the three main categories we use to grow people’s awareness to help God change their hearts:

• Word - God gave us the Bible as the means by which we can know him and his plan for our lives. We must never stop reading, studying, and applying the Bible for ourselves and those God brings into our lives.

• World - People need to know, and think about, what God is doing in the world to know how they can engage in his mission. We have to remind them that their non-Christian friends have no hope in Jesus unless someone shares it with them. They have to see, maybe firsthand, God’s plan for the nations to call on him.

• Work - We must make people aware of what they can do. There are numerous ways for anyone at Faith Fellowship to jump into the ministry God has called us to. The first step may be regular group attendance or leading a rhythm. Next, are the opportunities to serve at church, in local outreach initiatives, or going on a short-term mission trip

As Christians, the way we present ourselves to others is of vital importance to the way others perceive Jesus and His Church. Our conduct should never be an embarrassment to Jesus and His Church, but should exemplify the best qualities of a mature believer and servant-leader.

Exemplifying the highest moral commitment, Faith Fellowship Small Group Leaders are to maintain a disciplined life of spiritual growth. You must also refrain from such things as:

• profanity

• indulging in much wine or other alcoholic beverages

• dishonest gain

• illegal drugs

• pornography

• sexual immorality

• all behaviors which might grieve the Spirit to grieve and others to stumble

By providing an example in speech and action, Small Group Leaders encourage others to grow in Christ and become growing disciples themselves.

God is most honored through living, active, death-defying, out-of-the-box faith. In fact, the only time Jesus was ever “amazed” was when he saw expressions of great faith and little faith. Big faith was a big deal to Jesus. When people acted on what they believed about him, he was impressed. As a Small Group Leader, whether it is through practicing spiritual disciplines, being more intentional about evangelism and missions, or more authentic with your family and small group, we want you raising the stakes of your own faith in some way.