Corrective Conversations

As a kid the worst conversations to have were when I was getting corrected by an adult. It happened a lot. If you never have any of these conversations then chances are you have a lot to learn. Small Group leaders must too have these conversations. As an alongsider it is important to know the role you play as one who has to have and lead corrective conversations. These are not always fun conversations, but they are necessary. Jesus had to have them with his disciples. As an alongsider you help in the discipleship process. Sometimes that means correcting people that need it. In our house we have corrective conversations frequently. Because as we are in the disciple raising stage of parenthood, we are having to have these conversations with our kids. They revolve around respect, honesty, response, manners, attitude, and even proper understanding of what the Bible means and says. For small group life sometimes these corrective conversations may mean conflict, but I have learned that the best way to have these corrective conversations is to use scripture to be your source.

2 Tim. 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Discipleship Discussions

If you hung out with Jesus for any period of time when He walked this earth, you would know that He had some important one-on-one discussions. If you walk with Him now, you will also know that it doesn't take very long before He has these same conversations through prayer, the Word, or an encounter with someone He has crossed in front of your journey. “COME & SEE” was the invitation he offered to the disciples when He asked them to follow Him. He used parables, visual aides, questions, and homework to draw those who followed in discussions of discipleship. If we don’t become explorers and stay with our boat of small groupers tied to the same routine, we will get bored with the scenery of discipleship making, frustrated with our leaders, and people will look for a new adventure in a new boat. People want to learn, and learners want to explore. They are thirsty, they want an adventure filled with faith risks, they want to learn from the scriptures, they want challenge from questions, they want new and fresh ideas to make the discipleship process interesting. What they don’t want is a boat tied to a shoreline, that does not move and the scenery looks the same every time you meet. Jesus was creative with His discipleship, and as a follower of Him, we must be also. Jesus asked questions, offered adventure, and peaked curiosity...as leaders we should do the same thing. After all, Jesus gave us some great examples of how to do it.