Affirm that things shared within the group are not to be discussed with anyone else. Share expectations – People want to know their small group is safe. Your group may choose to gather from 9:30 to 11am, for example, but participants can come early for coffee at 9am if they want to visit and chat. Consider adding 30 minutes before or after the meeting as an optional social time. Participants will quickly learn that you honor their other commitments and will respond by honoring yours. Begin on time even if only one person is there. Start and end on time – Being prompt shows respect. When someone knows you’re expecting them to show up, they often do! Tell them you’re looking forward to seeing them and hearing about what they’ve learned. People love to know you’re thinking of them. Keep in touch – Communicate with your group throughout the week. While things come up and grace prevails, preparation shows participants that you’re committed to doing the hard work and learning alongside them. I’ve found that a leader’s effectiveness is largely related to his or her integrity. Participants will know if you’ve cut corners. Review the discussion questions to see which ones best apply to whatever you studied that week. Commit to praying for all of the people in your group on a regular basis.īe prepared – Do your homework in advance and have a thorough grasp of the content. Submit to God and seek Him daily as you prepare and study. Pray – The most effective Bible study leader prays for guidance and asks the Holy Spirit to bring understanding. Your ability to facilitate a small group will only get better once you start! Tips for Leading a Meaningful Small Group Bible Study Remember, there is a lot of grace as you model life-long learning, but skill and competency require practice. Prayerfully read through the following suggestions and give it a try. They may just need someone willing to guide, facilitate, be a humble example, and learn alongside them. People are longing to learn and be part of a community. Do you wonder if you have what it takes to start or lead a small group Bible study? Are you willing to try? With a few vital but simple commitments, you can play an instrumental role in leading others through the Word of God.
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