Leaders’ Notes

Thank you for leading your group. You are key to this group’s spiritual growth and personal enjoyment during this series.

Here are some important reminders as you prepare to lead.

1. You are the discussion leader, not the teacher. The dynamic of a small group is interaction. The sermon on Sunday is the primary lesson. Your role is not to re-teach the lesson but to get everyone to interact over the topic.

2. Use the study guide. The best way to get people to talk is to ask questions. The study guide is a resource for you to get good questions into the group for discussion. You do not have to answer every question. Use the ones that are most helpful and create your own.

3. There are three basic activities for leading an effective small group. Spend around 20-30 minutes in each of these activities.

• Connect: Talk to each other about life. Encourage the members to share what is happening in their personal lives.

• Discuss: Talk about the Word. Go as deep as you want as you open the Bible.

• Pray: Talk to God. Take time to pray for each other and for our church to stay on mission.

4. Manage the conversation. The one thing that can destroy a successful small group experience is someone who monopolizes the time with talking … even if it is the leader. Your primary responsibility is to make sure that no one “over-talks” and everyone has an opportunity to join in the discussion.

Thank you for your shepherding leadership over your group.

Resources

Books

• Real Relationships. Les and Leslie Parrot, Zondervan, 2011

• Faithful Generations. John R. Mabry, Morehouse Publishing, 2013

• He Gets Us. Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, 2023

• How to Really Love Your Kids. Ross Campbell, David C. Cook, 2015

• Honest, Direct, Respectful. Dennis D. Adams, VMI Publishers, 2007

RightNow Media

• Real Relationships. Les and Leslie Parrot, 7 sessions

• The Art of Neighboring. Dave Runyon, 4 sessions

• So the Next Generation Will Know. J. Warner Wallace, 8 sessions

• Experiencing Your Best Relationship with God and Others. JP Jones, 5 sessions

• Parenting: Navigating Everything. Brett Ullman. 6 sessions

• God at Work. Ken Costa, 12 sessions