Reading: House to House - Chapter 9 Am I Qualified to Be a Leader?

Chapter 9

Am I Qualified to
Be a Leader?

e are all called to go, teach, and disciple the nations, but how can anyone be sure he is specifically called to lead a small group or house church? If the Lord has put the idea into your heart to lead a group, a good place to start is with this attitude, "Lord, I'm willing to begin by serving a few people, by loving and undergirding them as they fulfill what You have called them to do.” If God desires to give you leadership responsibilities, He'll give you peace, faith, and often anticipation about it in your spirit.

God's basic method of choosing leaders in the Bible was seldom democratic (by popular vote). It was theocratic (by God Himself). When the Lord calls you, you know it in your heart. When God is calling you, the spiritual leadership and the people the Lord has placed around you will also sense the call of God on your life and confirm it. The Book of Proverbs tells us that a man's gift makes room for him. Although the literal translation of this Scripture speaks of a bribe, an important spiritual principle is implied. When God gives us a gift for a particular task, the people around us will acknowledge that gift and make room for it. It takes time, though, for that to happen:

They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons (1 Timothy 3:10).

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be (1 Corinthians 12:18).

The Scriptures teach us that there is both human and divine affirmation. A leader without the respect of the people he leads may be genuinely called of God but is ineffective until recognized by the people. If there is no confirmation by the people, the timing is probably wrong. He needs to wait prayerfully for further instructions from the Lord, trusting God to open and close doors and reveal His will both to him and others.

Pursuing the Call

It is a real privilege to be called by the Lord to serve His people as a small group or house church leader. It's also encouraging to know that the Lord calls average people like you and me. Remember, many of His disciples were common fishermen.

The call to small group and house church ministry is a holy calling and is not to be taken lightly. Paul said, ". . . I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Eph. 4:1). Leading a small group or house church is a vital work in the Body of Christ, and it offers the wonderful reward of seeing lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit!

In Philippians 3:14, Paul responded to new areas God was leading him into by saying, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” This is the attitude we need to have as we sense God calling us to lead.

Qualifications for a Leader

The most important thing a small group or house church leader needs to know is that God has called him to that work. The leader has received authority from the Lord and from the local leadership who have acknowledged and appointed him. In addition to being assured of his call, it is crucial that a small group or house church leader has a heart of humility toward those whom he is serving. A test as to whether he has passed this requirement is very simple. Has this leader been willing to serve under someone else's leadership, especially someone he hasn't always agreed with while at the same time pursuing peace, unity, and agreement? If he has, he will probably have the grace that is needed to lead with humility.

You don't have to be a Bible college or seminary graduate to fulfill the requirements of leading a small group of believers. The best kind of leader is simply one who is willing to be a servant to God's people in the small group or house church and share with them the love of Jesus Christ. Leaders serve the believers in the small group and house church in practical ways and also encourage them to hear from God and trust Him to meet their needs. Our availability is often more useful to God than our ability.

If someone comes to a DOVE church with the schooling and knowledge to lead, it does not mean he or she is immediately qualified to be a small group leader. We believe it is important to give a person time to serve in a small group before he is entrusted with the greater responsibility of leading a small group or house church.

In business, the manager who is most effective in giving leadership to a company is the one who actually has experience in the particular field. That person knows the "ins and outs” of such work, and the problems and challenges that will be faced. The same is true in the church.

This vital truth needs to be balanced with a proper understanding of God's grace and servanthood. If not, it can lead to a performance mentality and selfish ambition. This may be accepted in the business world but is obviously unacceptable in the church.

A true leader has a servant's heart and is willing to take the time needed to be joined and held together with the people in his small group or house church. Ephesians tells us:

From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:16).

If I were to break a bone, it would take several weeks for the bone to heal and be held together. The church is built by relationships, and it takes time for relationships to be joined together.

Leaders Have a Clear Testimony

If you are called to be a leader, you must have a clear testimony about your salvation, water baptism, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Areas of healing and deliverance that you have personally experienced should also be part of your testimony. Paul was clearly convinced about his story, ". . . I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

Tell your own story to your small group or house church with a sense of expectancy that God will use it to build faith in His people. Not only is faith built, but often God's Spirit will move and people will be bound together in a special way after candid testimonies are discussed. After one small group leader shared his testimony, a woman, new to the group, and sensing God's compassion and love in the room, broke down and sobbed as she revealed the pain of giving up her child for adoption as a young pregnant teenager. The small group members were able to put their arms around her as God healed those emotions she had buried deep inside for years. It all started with a small group leader simply sharing freely how God had saved, healed, and delivered him of hurts in the past.

Leaders should also be able to explain regularly how God is continuously working in their lives. They should have a testimony that is current because of the vital relationship they have with Jesus Christ.

Leaders Are Full of Faith

Small group and house church leaders must be people who are full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. Stephen was known as a man with these qualities.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit . . . (Acts 6:5).

As a small group or house church leader, you will need to exercise your faith by using your spiritual gifts as well. How can a leader help someone else experience spiritual gifts if he does not exercise those gifts himself? For example, if the leader is not hospitable, many times the people in the small group or house church will not learn the importance of hospitality. If the leader doesn't discuss his experience about being filled with the Holy Spirit, the believers in the group will not think it is very important to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If the leaders do not prophesy and exercise spiritual gifts, the small group or house church members probably will not prophesy or exercise spiritual gifts either.

We speak what we know, but we impart who we are. If you find yourself lacking in some of these areas, talk to your local pastor or spiritual parent. They can lead you to someone who has a special anointing in the area you are lacking. An "anointing” is the overflowing life of Jesus that imparts supernatural strength to a person in a particular area.

I've heard it said, "Anointing comes by association.” Associate yourself with individuals that God uses. Samuel received his anointing with the association of Eli the priest. The 12 disciples received their anointing from their association with our Lord Jesus Christ. Spend time with a person who has the particular anointing you desire to grow in, and expect the Lord to use you in the same way. That's what faith is all about.

As a young Christian, I had an intense desire to see the Lord move supernaturally. I saw so many people in bondage that needed to be set free, yet I often felt helpless to do anything about it. I knew the Bible said that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but I seldom saw the Lord manifest His power in a supernatural way. I then met some friends who were experiencing the Lord's power at work. People were delivered from demons and set free from the oppression of the enemy. I began to spend time with these friends. I watched and prayed as they ministered to others. Before long I was experiencing in my own life the same power that comes through the name of Jesus. Young men and women who came to me for help were being set free.

Leaders Support the Vision of the Local Church

All families do things differently, and we need to be convinced that the vision of our church is one we can embrace as our own so we can enthusiastically carry out our part in its fulfillment. This is why we encourage all our leaders to be well acquainted with DOVE's Biblical Foundation Series, so they clearly understand the mandate the Lord has given to us.

There are probably no two believers on the face of the earth who agree about everything. If there is any aspect of the ministry of a local church or house church network that a small group leader or house church leader cannot consent to or support, he should "share his heart” with his leadership. We need to appeal to those over us in the Lord when we are having difficulty with an area in our lives or in the life of the church. Many times the Lord will use our appeal to authority to bring change in an area of the church that needs modification.

If a leader is rebellious or divisive, he cannot display the kind of loyalty toward his local church or house church network that the people need to see exhibited.

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought (1 Corinthians 1:10).

A lack of loyalty to the Word of God and to the local church will cause great harm to the sheep. Some will be confused and others may even scatter to seek other leaders because of their confusion. Sometimes new believers may get involved in cults and deception because of the influence of Christians who appeared to be more mature and sowed seeds of doubt about their local church or its leadership.

If you are serving as a small group or house church leader and find yourself having a wrong spirit toward those in spiritual leadership over you, ask the Lord for grace to correct your attitude, or if you cannot seem to find freedom, then sit down with your leaders and discuss your struggle. When we confess our faults one to another and pray for one another, we can receive healing in these areas (see James 5:16).

The Scripture tells us that whatever we sow, we shall also reap (see Gal. 6:7). We will find people under our spiritual care responding to us in the same way we have responded to those who are over us in the Lord. If we are loyal, others will be loyal to us. If we have a wrong attitude, people under our spiritual care will have the same type of attitude.

Just because our opinion differs with another person in leadership over a certain situation does not mean we are rebellious or that we cannot remain loyal. God wants us to pray about the difference of understanding we have and then talk about it with the appropriate leadership He has placed in our lives.

I've been thankful for the many times believers in the church have shared areas in which they thought we should change as a church. Some of these ideas were implemented and brought great blessing to our family of churches. It is much easier for a person in authority to receive input from one who has prayed and has a teachable spirit. It is spiritually healthy for us to appeal to the authorities God has placed in our lives.

A Leader Is Personable and Easy to Approach

Small group and house church leaders must learn to be "people oriented.” A leader's attitude should be, "I will lay down my life to see the believers in our group become men and women of God.” Matthew Henry, in his famous commentary on the Bible, says, "Those whose business it is to instruct people in the affairs of their souls should be humble, mild, and easy of access.”¹ A good leader cannot think, "I'll lead the meeting and teach the Bible, but I don't want to be bothered all week with everyone's problems.” That group is destined to die. Leaders must always be of the attitude, "I'm here to help!” They must be accessible.

Of course, as a leader, you are not called to do everything. Learn to delegate. People learn best by doing. The goal of every small group or house church leader should be to work himself out of a job, as others' talents and gifts are multiplied.

The leader should primarily be a facilitator, rather than the person who is doing everything. Perhaps you could write down the different roles and responsibilities needed for the group to function effectively. Then ask each member to pray about how their gifts might be used in carrying out these various areas of responsibility.

Ask people in your small group or house church questions in order to gain insights into how they feel about your group and about your leadership. Some questions you may ask are, "If you were me, what would you do differently?” "How can I better serve you?” "What areas in your life can I pray with you about?”

Leaders Are Enthusiastic

It is vitally important that you genuinely care for the people in your small group or house church and are enthusiastic about serving them. Your enthusiasm to serve Jesus and others will rub off on those in your group.

Pastor Cho says that the first qualification of a leader is to be enthusiastic about the things of God. Enthusiasm is contagious. People want to follow someone who leads energetically. They will sense that God's work is important to you when they see you putting your whole heart into it. The Bible says:

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:23).

We are commanded by the Lord to do everything with enthusiasm! An enthusiastic leader will produce enthusiastic Christians in his group.

Leaders Have a Gift to Lead People and Recognize Others With That Gift

Where do hurting sheep go? They go to a shepherd. Just as sheep follow shepherds, people are naturally drawn to those in the church who have a genuine gift of leadership. As a leader, God will supply you with the grace you will need to carry out what He has called you to do or insight into the proper resources.

Small group and house church leaders need to be constantly on the lookout for others in their group with a gift of leadership. If you notice that people are attracted to Sarah because she genuinely cares about them and serves them faithfully, encourage those leadership qualities in Sarah. Ask the Lord if He may be instructing you to ask Sarah if she would pray about being an assistant leader of your group in the future. God may eventually call her to lead a small group or house church after she receives on-the-job training.

A Leader Should Not Be a Novice

A new Christian should not be a small group or house church leader, in the same way a 3-year-old child cannot be a baby-sitter. Before a new convert to Christianity can be a leader he needs time and experience before being entrusted with taking care of others. The Bible confirms this in First Timothy 3:6, "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.”

Elisha was trained by Elijah. Timothy was trained by Paul. In each case, the training took a reasonable amount of time. In the business world, workers and executives alike receive training before assuming responsibility. In the church, local leadership is responsible to discern when someone is trained and ready to lead. Each case will be different.

One possibility for new Christians who want to serve in leadership is to have them start as an assistant leader. In this role they are essentially "leaders in training.” Within the small group or house church they can get the practical, hands-on training they'll need to help them grow.

When an assistant leader is learning during this apprenticeship period, he or she must be allowed to fail. Small group and house church leaders must remember that they, too, made mistakes as they progressed through the learning process. If they don't forget what they went through as they matured, they will not be tempted to adopt unreasonable expectations for the leaders who come after them. A small group and house church leader's goal should be to support his assistant leaders in success and failure alike and to continue to train them in love.

Married Leaders Are in Unity With Their Spouses About Their Decision to Lead

It's important that leading a small group or house church does not cause disunity in a marriage. The spouse should not only confirm his or her partner's call to serve, but if possible, should be actively engaged in serving the small group or house church as well.

The Scriptures affirm that God uses both men and women as small group and house church leaders. Priscilla and Aquila worked together as a team in the New Testament (see Rom. 16:3). It is quite possible that Priscilla was the one giving leadership to the people God placed within her spiritual care, while her husband supported her.

Many times we have seen the Lord use women in a leadership role in the home group and house church setting, while their husbands play a supporting role. Small group leaders Ken and Kim are a married couple having roles like this. Kim, the more verbal of the two, bubbles with enthusiasm and is gifted in teaching and hospitality. She usually leads the meetings, plans activities, teaches, and generally keeps things rolling. Ken is quiet and prefers to work behind the scenes. A compassionate man, he opens his heart and house to those in the group and is always available to lend a helping hand or to pray with someone. This husband-and-wife team complements each other and flows together in unity.

In a situation where a potential small group or house church leader has a spouse who has not made a decision to follow Christ, it is wise to gain the spouse's agreement before serving in leadership. If a couple is newly married, please note that leading a small group or house church is an added responsibility. Some newlyweds may or may not be ready for this challenge.

Leaders Tithe to the Local Church

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10).

The storehouse is the place where God's people bring their tithes and offerings. A tithe is 10 percent of our income. This is a part of God's plan to supply the needs of the spiritual leadership and paid workers of the local church, the house church network and missionaries that are sent throughout the world.²

Wherever we invest our money is where our true interests lie. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). Our hearts should be in our local church, including our own small group. We need to support it with our money and our time.

Whether or not we give our tithe to our local church is a clear barometer of our commitment to the church where we are placed. It is easy to say we are committed to the church, but if we are not willing to tithe to the "storehouse,” we probably need to reconsider the depth of this commitment.

Some people believe tithing is an Old Testament practice that is not observed in the New Testament; however, Jesus speaks of tithing clearly in Matthew:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former (Matthew 23:23).

If small group and house church leaders are not tithing to their own local church or house church network, they find it very difficult to teach this biblical principle with conviction to those in their group, since they are not applying it to their own lives. Of course, we do not tithe out of obligation or because of the law, but out of the desire of our hearts to be obedient to the Lord, and in order to see His Church advance.

Leaders Are Accountable

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you (Hebrews 13:17).

What is accountability? The word accountability literally means "to give an account.” In our own individual lives, we are accountable to the Lord regarding how we live out our commitment to Christ. Our lives need to "line up” with the Word of God. Personal accountability is not having others tell us what to do. Personal accountability is finding out from God what He wants us to do and then requesting those who are willing to "hold us accountable” to those things.

Many times I have asked others to approach me about "giving an account” to them regarding a goal I believe the Lord set for me. Years ago, I asked one of the men in our small group to hold me accountable with my personal time in prayer and in meditating on God's Word each day. Every morning at 7:00 a.m. I received a phone call as my friend checked up on me. Accountability enabled me to be victorious.

Sometimes we are held accountable for responsibilities that have been delegated to us by others whom the Lord has placed over us. For instance, employees are held accountable by their employers. In the New Testament, Paul the Apostle held those churches whose foundations he had labored to establish accountable to continue to build on Jesus Christ. Paul expected the leaders of these churches to "give an account” to himself and to the Lord for the way they were living their lives. Since the small group leader in a cell-based church is an extension of the leadership of the local church, the small group leader is accountable to the leadership the Lord has placed in His Church. House church leaders are accountable to leaders of the house church network to which the Lord has called them to serve.

One way for us to discern whether or not we are placed properly in the Body of Christ is to ask ourselves this question: Is it a joy to be accountable to the Lord and to our spiritual leaders for our Christian walk and for the way we serve in the Body of Christ? If being accountable to our spiritual leaders is burdensome, we may be improperly placed in the Body of Christ.

True accountability consists in someone loving us enough to check up on us, to see how we are doing in our personal lives and how those in our group are doing spiritually and relationally. I am grateful when those the Lord has placed in my life ask me about my relationship with my wife and children, or hold me accountable for my prayer life--it helps to keep me on track.

In a cell-based church, the leadership team of the local church is ultimately responsible before the Lord for those in the small groups. The small group leader, then, is an extension of the leadership team of the local church. The elders in the local church "give an account” to the Lord for those under their spiritual oversight. Small group leaders serve and assist the elders by ministering to God's people within the small group over which they have charge. In a house church, however, the leaders of the house church are responsible before the Lord for those in the house church in which they serve.

It is important for both small group leaders and house church leaders to converse regularly and to pray with those giving them spiritual oversight. In this way, they are being accountable for their particular area of service and the well-being of those in their group. Accountability is one of the greatest protections God has given us individually and as a church. Each one who is called into leadership in the Body of Christ should be accountable to the Lord and to the servant leaders He has established in His Church. The senior leader of each local church or house church network and the leadership team he represents need to be accountable for their actions, not only to the Lord, but also to others in the Body of Christ. This accountability may be to other leaders in the denomination or "apostolic fellowship” to which the church he represents is connected. Or he may be accountable to other church leaders in his community. Better yet, he may be accountable to both.

The Kind of People God Calls to Leadership

Let's take a look at the kind of people God calls into leadership. This may surprise you! Let's start with Moses:

"So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

And God said, "I will be with you . . .” (Exodus 3:10-12).

Moses was basically saying, "Who am I?” Most leaders feel this way when the Lord calls them to any type of leadership. The first time I was ever asked to pray publicly, I read my prayer off a piece of scratch paper. I was scared! The first small group I led seemed like a monumental task. But I took a step of faith. Joshua did too.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

The Lord had to encourage Joshua continually in his new role as a leader. We do not depend on our ability but upon His ability in us! Gideon also struggled with the Lord's call to leadership in His life:

"But sir,” Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?”

"But Lord,” Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together” (Judges 6:13-16).

Jeremiah felt the same way many small group youth leaders feel when they begin to lead a small group:

"Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 1:6-8).

Each of these men felt a profound sense of inadequacy when the Lord called them to leadership. That is the type of person the Lord seeks to use--those who are completely dependent on Him! According to the Bible, God delights in manifesting His strength through the weak. In Second Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV), the Lord tells us, ". . . for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

If you feel like you may be called to small group leadership, house church leadership, or to church leadership within any sphere, but you don't think you have all the natural gifts you need or feel you have made too many mistakes, be encouraged--you are in good company!

Remember, man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. When our heart is in the right place, in complete submission to Him, it is amazing what the Lord can do to prepare and equip us for the responsibilities that lie ahead. Leaders who walk in a healthy sense of inadequacy know they serve a God who is more than adequate.

Questions for Practical Application

1.Comment on the statement: "Our availability is often more useful to God than our ability.”

2.If you are a small group or house church leader, to whom are you accountable?

3.What was the characteristic response of the men God called to leadership in the Bible (Moses, Gideon, and Jeremiah)?

Chapter 9

1. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database, Comments on John 1:37-42, Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.

2. For more on tithing, read The Tithe: A Test in Trust, by Larry Kreider (Lititz, PA: House to House Publications, 2003).