By Chet Gladkowski
Everyone, and I mean everyone, is using the word transformational. If you Google the word, you’ll get over 56,000,000 hits. It is the latest in a series of “hot button” topics that inspires a few. But mostly, it just frustrates people to the point of rolling their eyes, taking a deep sigh, and doing nothing.
But, just suppose that you’re becoming less and less comfortable with the current status-quo. You’re feeling more and more caged in. Not connecting and providing direction with your Small Group leadership team like you once did. Not engaging with more and more people, who become vibrant participants in your Small Groups.
Well, you’re not alone. Part of leadership is always going before God and asking for more, new ways to reach people for His glory and the good of people. So, in order to be transformational, you’re going to also have to become comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable.
While there’s no way around it, there is a way through it. Here are 3 steps to
Step 1 – Where are you going?
You have to know your next step. There is no getting around it. If you don’t move your foot, then how can you move at all? How can you move forward without the next step? Both Enoch and Moses walked with God. How’s your walking going?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Step 2 – The Next Step.
You can have all the plans in the world, but God does not bless our plans. He blesses and establishes our steps. Have you laid your plans on the alter and asked God to show you your next step? How clear are you with your next step? Is it measurable?
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
Step 3 – Hopelessly Devoted.
One definition says that hopelessly devoted means that your “love is total, comprehensive, uncompromising, inflexible, unconditional, unaffected by the conditions of reality”(1). How lost are we with who God is and His love for us? Does it push us beyond what we can see?
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
Substance vs. Size
Now, I’m all for measuring. You can’t tell where you’ve come from and where you are without some kind of measurement. But God’s view of measurement is usually different from ours. It may take a while.
Take Melchizedek. His entire ministry, the sum total of his recorded life, is just three verses tucked away in Genesis 14(2). Not a lot to show for a lifetime of worship and service. Or is it?
But these 56 words shout a story of faithfulness to God and its impact on people. He wasn’t afraid to do the unusual. He was willing to reach out to strangers, welcoming them with food and drink after a battle and long journey.
But it didn’t stop there. In addition to their physical needs, Melchizedek also met their spiritual needs. He prayed for Abram and his people. Melchizedek was transformational for sure. And it started with where he was, followed by that next step that led to Abraham. He was willing to do the unusual. I’m convinced that he was empowered by being hopelessly devoted to the Most High God.
Take these steps and be in the continuous process of transforming your Small Groups. And let your being hopelessly devoted to the God who loves you empower and direct your Small Groups.
(1) PsychologyToday.com
(2) Genesis 14:18-20
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Chet Gladkowski is the Founder of GLAD Associates, Inc. (a). He has also launched National Day of Hope (b). His latest books, Hope is Like Steamed Crabs and Hope is Like Barbeque Ribs are available through Amazon (c).
(a) https://chetglad.org/
(b) https://www.nationaldayofhope.net/
(c) https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3AChet+Gladkowski
