Small Group Leader
Training Essentials
Essential Training and Resources
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- Use the Provided Curriculum. Christ Church is creating weekly content for your study. We recommend that this be the curriculum your small group uses. If your group would like to select another study, please coordinate with your Small Groups Associate for suggestions.
- Be Prepared. Watch the weekly video and read the leader guide several days in advance of the meeting. Give the Holy Spirit time to help you consider ways to lead your group through the study.
- Speak from Your Experience. It is more interesting to hear about experiences than opinions—what difference something has made in your life, and how that has changed over time. Use “I” statements as often as possible. We are only experts on ourselves and not on what anyone else should think or do.
- Respect Others and Listen to the Holy Spirit. Affirm others in their comments. Be brief in your own sharing, remaining mindful that there are time limitations and others may want to share. At times the Spirit may lead you to speak when you would rather be quiet and to be quiet when you’d rather speak.
- Turn to Wonder. If you feel judgmental or defensive when someone else is sharing, ask yourself: I wonder what brought him/her to this belief? I wonder what he/she is feeling right now? I wonder what my reaction teaches me about myself?
- No Fixing or Saving, No Setting Other People Straight. Trust that God is at work in each person. Feel free to share your own experience and perspective if it is different, but do not correct or give guidance to others during discussion. If you feel that someone needs correction, reach out to a member of the clergy.
- Share the Conversation. Encourage quiet members to interact by asking them non-threatening questions. Encourage overactive members to listen by politely redirecting the conversation to others.
- Trust and Learn from Silence. Allow silence between responses as the group shares, giving members the opportunity to reflect. Remember, there is no pressure to share.
- Always Begin and End with Prayer. Sometimes meetings run long when discussion is going well. However, never end a meeting without a time of prayer requests and group prayer.
For most leader questions and counsel, please contact your Small Groups Associate.
The Rev. Marci Dittmer
214-291-5050
[email protected]
Jose Lopez
214-291-5067
[email protected]
For new group members or campus meetings, please contact our Small Groups Coordinator.
CJ Johnson
214-291-5034
[email protected]
When a group member needs pastoral care, please contact our dedicated Pastoral Care team.
The Rev. Matt Purmort
214-291-5066
[email protected]
I don’t think I want to be a leader anymore. What do I do?
We understand that personal obligations can sometimes require a leader to step down before a study is complete. We have other leaders who are able to take on a discussion group. Please contact your Small Groups Associate if you need to make this change.
1. Fellowship First
Spend time visiting with each other at the beginning of your meeting. If you are sharing a meal, use that time to fellowship and connect before starting the study portion of your meeting.
2. Begin Your Study with a Short Prayer
You can pray with your own words or use one of the following:
Gracious and holy Father, please give us intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant us a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.
2019 Book of Common Prayer, p. 672
Collect from the Second Sunday in Advent
Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2019 Book of Common Prayer, p. 598
3. Read Aloud the Lesson Summary and Scripture
The Discussion Guide includes a summary of the lesson. The Leader should read this summary to remind the group of the content of the video teaching. Then read (or have a member read) the appointed scripture. Many sessions will have a scripture listed in the video and podcast notes. Invite a group member to read the scripture and then ask if others want to summarize in their own words.
4. Discuss Slowly
Invite all members to offer thoughts as you work through the discussion questions. Each teaching will include discussion questions specifically crafted for the topic.
5. Pray
Conclude your discussion by sharing prayer requests as people are willing and invite the group to pray for one another in the coming week.
6. Share the Homework
If a recommendation for weekly reading or application is included in the Discussion Guide, share this with your group.
Instructions go here.
About Zoom
Christ Church has selected Zoom as our video conferencing solution. All small groups who wish to meet online will have access to the Church’s Zoom account at no cost.
Leaders can use the Zoom calling platform to host calls. If you do not have a Zoom account, one will be created for you by the church. If you are unfamiliar with the Zoom platform, the following online tutorials will provide basic training on how to schedule and lead a meeting.
Members of Christ Church staff are available to help you through all of the steps below. Please contact CJ Johnson at [email protected] if you need support.
Downloading Zoom
Watch the video here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362033-Getting-Started-on-Windows-and-Mac
This guide will help you download the application to your computer. Please note that you will need a camera on your computer in order to connect with video. You can also use your phone or tablet for hosting.
Scheduling a Zoom Meeting
Watch the video here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362413-How-Do-I-Schedule-Meetings
Remember that you will need to make your meeting reoccurring and invite all of your participants. Invitations are ideally sent through the meeting scheduler, but you can also send invitations through email.
Hosting a Zoom Meeting
Watch the video here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362603-What-Are-the-Host-Controls
The Zoom application is very user-friendly and has several host controls. These include mute, screen sharing, and chat. This video will walk you through these features.
About Service
And whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:44-45)
As disciples, each of us is called to serve others, just as Jesus served others. This is part of our Christian responsibility and identity. It is the way that others will know who we are and what we believe. Jesus tells us that people will know we are his disciples “if we have love for one another” (John 13:35).
As a small group leader, you should work to foster a sense of service in your group. Encourage all of your members to find a place that they can serve both inside and outside the church. In some cases, your small group may choose to serve together in the same ministry and see this as part of your group’s identity, such as “Our group’s call is to support Children’s Ministry” or “Our group volunteers monthly at Bonton.”
Opportunities for Regular Service
- Worship Ministry. Liturgical worship is a “work of the people” with 250+ opportunities to serve each month, including greeters, ushers, hosts, and Eucharistic support.
- Family Ministry. Invest in our youngest disciples by sharing your love of God with a child or student. We desire to provide a safe community for our youth to grow in their relationship with God and each other.
- Local Missions and Outreach. Participate in the work that God has given us to do here in our local neighborhoods. We mobilize the resources of our church annually through drives and donations, volunteers, and outside organizations that serve the needs of our community.
How to Select a Ministry
Reach out to a member of the Small Group Team or look on our Mission & Outreach page for more information on where your group can serve.
