The Truth about Authenticity – Part 2 of 2

Arguably, the greatest influence on the dynamic of a small group is how real the group leader is with the participants. In fact, the health of a group is directly linked to how free people feel they can be with one another. Authenticity is the key to success as a small group leader. Here are some truths and tips on how to build it in your group-life.

1. Most people can only be themselves when they feel safe and a safe environment is born out of authentic leadership – truth and trust go hand-in-hand
   
2. God is more easily found in a community that tells the truth about themselves
   
3. Rarely do masks fit the people who make them – they disguise a person’s true self and prevent genuine relationship
   
4. Removing your own mask helps others to recognize their own dependency on Christ
   
5. Change is effected by authenticity
   
6. God wants you to be real…after-all, He made you
   
7. Since truth is an attribute of God, authenticity is an expression of Christ-likeness
   
8. People smell authenticity…and its counterpart – they will react accordingly
   
9. The effect of the small group leader's authenticity is not unlike that which a mother duck has on her ducklings – demonstrated transparency from leadership has tremendous “imprinting power”
   
10. The sharing of personal need is worshipful when it’s couched in your own continuous need of grace
    
11. Transparency allows others to see Christ in you
    
12. The opposite of everything above can be caused by inauthenticity