As we continue launching new Gospel Communities in Burlington neighborhoods, God continues to teach us a lot about the competencies a leader needs before launching a new group.  Leader need to able to…

• Cultivate personal intimacy with God– a consistent devotional life that involves time in scriptures and prayer.  Lasting fruit is the overflow of what Jesus is doing in and through them. Leaders must believe that apart from Jesus they can do nothing.  John 15:1-5

• Teach the scriptures– leading others to process through the Bible and understand meaning, implication, and application.  This is not about delivering a well polished sermon but consistently instructing others from the scriptures as individuals and a spiritual family. 1 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses– knowing their spiritual gifts, strengths, and talents as well as their weaknesses and blind-spots brings maximum effectiveness and also allows them to better equip others. 1 Timothy 4:12-14, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Ephesians 4:11-13

• Develop a core-team of servant leaders– recruiting and equipping a small team with a sense of shared calling and commitment that also balances out the leader’s strengths and weaknesses.  Jesus served with a team and Paul always started churches with a committed team.  Acts 13:1-5, Acts 18, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

• Engage others with the message and mission of Jesus– leading themselves and others to seek the lost, serve the least, and make disciples in their neighborhood or network.  This must involve verbally sharing the gospel.  Luke 4:18-19, Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 2:1-4

• Open to continued coaching, learning, and accountability- an ongoing process of being coached by experienced leaders and taking the posture of a learner with other leaders on the same journey.  1 Timothy 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:14, Acts 15:1-2