How To's of Small Groups

As we launch a new season of Groups this week, it might be good to have a few reminders. Some of you have seen these or heard these before.  You can find this and other helps in the Leaders Playbook.

How To’s of Small Groups

Eight qualities or skills of a good Group Leader:

1. Think Backwards

• Know what you want the group to walk away with
• Helps you keep on track

2. Keep working on the basics

• Arrive prepared
• Good eye contact
• Be able to say “I don’t know”
• Allow group members to pass on a questions

3. Establish Boundaries

• Boundaries let the group know what’s appropriate from the beginning
• What’s the purpose of this group? (Relational Vs Study)
• Other possible boundaries:
• Allow others to finish before someone else speaks
• Time Boundary (Start and End Times)
• Prayer requests – Ourselves & 1 for outside world (Helps stay away from gossip)

4. Ask Good Questions

• Avoid “Yes” or “No” questions
• 7 C’s of good questions
• Concise
• Complete
• Clear
• Connected
• Conversational
• Contestable – Open ended
• Challenging
• “Feeling” questions discover convictions

5. Talk Less

• Don’t fear silence
• Not time for lecture
• Members remember more about what they discuss than what they’re taught

6. Leave your group thinking

• Don’t have to provide answers for every question
• Can lead into next week

7. Flexible

• Know when it’s time to ditch the lesson
• Pray that God will help you be discerning of the problems of your group members

8. Show tangible signs of care

• Small groups counteract the bigness of the ministry
• You are the shepherd of a group of sheep
• Cards, emails, visits, phone calls

Small Group Leaders Are The Back Bone Of Our Ministry