Pastoring group leaders to rest

Pastoring Group Leaders To Rest God designed us to rest.

Have you wondered why God made humans on the 6th day rather on the 2nd, 3rd, or 5th day? He created us on that day so that Adam’s first sight wasn’t God working, but rather Him resting because He was finished. In the same manner, Connect group leaders need to demonstrate rest to their group which shows God’s character. He is not a “Frantic God.” Do you know some "frantic" leaders? That is not a representation of God's work. He is peaceful, comforting, and a patient God. Surprisingly, it is difficult to get leaders to rest. Here are some tools you can use in your Connect groups ministry to encourage your Connect group leaders to rest.

Choose Your Words Words matter. We've seen a big difference when we started asking Connect group leaders to "rest" as opposed to take a "break". The word "rest" has a more accurate meaning of what our heart is when it comes to leaders being healthy. Look at the differences: To BREAK = to stop, cease, discontinue, terminate, desist, end, withdraw, forbid To REST = breather, composure, downtime, dreaminess, ease, holiday, leisure, refreshment, relief, stillness, tranquility, remain As you can see, there is a potential gap in the meaning behind these two words. Let’s make a conscious effort when pastoring our group leaders to use words wisely, and operate from a position of rest - even with the language we encourage them with.

A Change In Mindset Even when proposed with a time of "rest", we often hear excuses from group leaders on why they do not need to rest. Here are some of those excuses and how to approach them.

Excuse #1: "But, I'm fine. I really don’t need to take a break!"

It is our pastor's heart that none of our staff or volunteers experience ministry burnout. Pastor Richard models this for us by taking time off in the summer. Also, it provides an opportunity to empower other leaders to step up and take the pulpit.

Similarly, Connect group leaders have an opportunity to empower others to step up

Pastoring Group Leaders To Rest and lead Connect groups. A group leader's need to lead should not be greater than an opportunity to empower. Consider this: Once fatigue settles in, we become less effective both physically and spiritually.

Normally, when we get tired we rest. But what would happen if you rest before you get tired? We want group leaders to minister from a position of rest. A common fear is that group leaders need the security of their group or community. But Jesus shows us that resting is done in community, not in isolation.

Excuse #2: "My group needs me, they won’t meet without me."

The source of authentic community in a Connect group is not based off the leader’s performance or personality, but from Jesus Christ himself. The group should not rely on you for community. Your role as a leader is to lead people to Jesus Christ as the source, not to yourself as a source. If your group dies without you, then clearly you were the center of the group, not Jesus.

Does your group need you? Yes. But they need a rested you. You are a healthier leader when you're rested from fatigue, not arrested by fatigue.

Mark 6:31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

Clearly, the need to serve people was there. But Jesus knew the priority was to rest.

"Going away to hear the voice of God is more important than hearing the cry of humanity."

- James Robinson Excuse #3: "The enemy doesn’t take a break, why should I?" Gently challenge your group leader with this thought: Genesis 2:2 “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

Bottom line is this: When God finished, He rested.

Pastoring Group Leaders To Rest

Now, look at this passage from Jesus' final moments on the cross: John 19:30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!� Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

When a group leader says "the enemy doesn't rest, why should I?" Share those scriptures, and respond with this: God rested because He was finished. We can rest because of what Jesus finished on the cross.

You see, resting doesn't mean letting our guard down, it's trusting that Jesus did the finish work on the cross, that no weapon formed against me shall proposer. Challenge your Connect group leader to trust the finished work Jesus did on the cross!

And finally, how do we find rest?

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, and I will give you rest.