When a Small Group Leader Should Shut Up

Small group leaders, even small group hosts, must be wise leaders. If they jump into every conversation they may, …1) diminish their influence, …2) keep group members from talking through differences of opinion and conflicting ideas, …3) hinder someone from speaking who has something important to say or …4) begin to be perceived not as a leader but as a dictator.

No matter how we cut it, there are times when a small group leader should remain silent. Five of them are listed below.

1. When the issue is none of your business.

2. When your speaking will only give an argumentative person ideological ammunition to shoot back at you.

3. When you have information that is to be kept confidential.

4. When someone else in the meeting will most likely say what you’re thinking.

5. When your emotions may take over and you’ll say something you’ll later regret having said or you’ll say it in a tone that keeps the message from being heard.

Small group leader, you might want to read James 3:1 ÔÇô 10 below.

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.… We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.… In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.…And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.…People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.…Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!