Want to become a better leader?
Below you will find a variety of great resources to help you succeed and grow as a Small Group Leader. From FAQs to tutorial videos to great curriculum suggestions, we want you to have the resources you need to help your group GROW closer to the Real Jesus.
Being a Small Group Leader isn’t complicated. We don’t ask you to be a bible scholar, a Christian counselor, or a perfect host. We believe the pathway to effectiveness as a Small Group Leader is discovered through one very simple, biblical concept: Pursue God with all of YOUR heart and then invite others to join you.
Jesus’ very first invitation to the people who would re- shape the world with His gospel was, “Follow me.” Life- change must first be evident in our lives before we can help others discover the life-changing power of Jesus. We cannot lead people where we are not going. Great Small Group Leaders are fully committed to following Jesus first.
God changes people’s hearts, heals their past, sets them free. Not us. So ask Him to do what ONLY He can do.
God uses people to GROW people. Invest the time to truly know your group. This is how Jesus’ love is felt and known.
God deeply desires to GROW us. And He almost always does it through simple steps. Small Group Leaders help their members identify and take their Next Step with Jesus.
Find something that will facilitate good discussion, but for the purpose of growing together as a group and growing closer to Jesus. We have created a spring semester Staff Picks list of a hand full of this semester’s most popular resources.
Welcome to your Real Jesus Small Group experience. Over the course of the next several weeks, we’re going to walk through 10 sessions together, discovering what happens when a person meets the real Jesus.
Each of these sessions is centered around encounters with Jesus. We also engage with words of Jesus and their implications for our lives here and now. We have arranged each session into three major headings:
Of these three, the only essential content for a great group experience is Group Time— you will grow if you engage with your group each week. That said, your personal investment in Pre-Group (about 45 minutes) will make each session come alive, not only for you, but for everyone else in your group. Lastly, consider Next Steps as a resource to help you find practical ways to put your faith into action.
We estimate 45 minutes needed for your Pre-Group work, depending on the individual. With each session we provide a Reading Assignment — a chosen passage of scripture to meditate on in preparation for that week’s Group Time. With each Reading Assignment will be an opportunity for you to journal your Personal Reflections. And the last portion of Pre-Group will be a couple of questions to consider.
Pray honest prayers and expect God to speak to you through your Pre-Group reflections and He will!
Group Time is the heart of this real Jesus experience—you will grow as you engage.
Here’s Group Time how group time breaks down:
Your group leader (or someone assigned from your group) will read the Opening Thoughts section aloud and introduce the topic for that session. After that everyone will have an opportunity to briefly share their own perspectives on the topic at hand, lead by the questions given in the Growing Together section.
You’ll watch a 10-12 minute video teaching from Pastor Whit George. Finally, the Group Discussion that follows may be the most meaningful part of your time together.
What’s most personal is what’s most universal. Your willingness to share may be a catalyst to someone else’s freedom as well as your own.
James 1:22 challenges us to “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself.” That’s the heart of this last section. After prayerful consideration and healthy, candid discussion, we want to help you take your next step. This section is intended to help lead you to what those steps might be.
Here are the resources available in each Next Steps section:
When we take a step to do what only we can do, God does do what only He can do in us.
Here are some ideas to consider in order to make the most of your Group Time.
Come prepared to each group session. It not only makes the content come alive for you, but it sharpens everyone around you. At best, preparation means working through the Pre-Group section before you arrive and coming ready to engage. At a minimum, preparation means praying for your group and bringing your Real Jesus book with you.
During Group Discussion everyone benefits from your honesty and vulnerability. Make it personal with “I” statements. You’re an expert on yourself more than anyone (including your spouse). E.g. “I know I struggle with _____” is better than “Everyone has an issue with ______” or “You seem to have an issue with _________”.
Some people are uncomfortable with silence. “This is Group Discussion time, shouldn’t we be discussing?” It’s okay to allow for silence between responses or to give someone time express what they’re feeling without interruption. Also remember — there is no pressure to share.
One of the best ways to honor your group is simply by showing up on time. Make every effort to be punctual and your group will appreciate it!
What someone shares in this group inside the privacy of your group is not to be shared outside the group. Group Time is a “brave space”. Protect that by staying committed to not repeat what you hear.
Prayer is the foundation of our church, and it is important for your Small Group.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your hearts. Proverbs 27:23
People in your group will be at different places in their spiritual lives and each person will have different next steps to take. Here is a guide of some next steps you can help people take:
If you only do what you feel comfortable doing, you don’t need God. God’s best is often found outside your comfort zone.
When you serve God and people by leading a Small Group, He will equip you and give you the strength and wisdom to lead well.
When you feel uncertain about leading a group, use Scripture to overcome the lies of the enemy:
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB
It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NLT
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
On the night of the meeting, your job is to create an environment in which people can begin to connect. If your group members have already met and are comfortable with one another, you may not have to do much more than provide coffee and snacks. If your group is meeting for the first time, you may want to use some icebreakers to help people ease into the conversation.
Using icebreakers is an essential Small Group skill. Begin with light and informational questions and then move to deeper and more personal levels as the group progresses together. Since this is your first group meeting, you probably want to stick mostly with Level 1 questions, maybe adding in a few Level 2 questions near the end of the evening.
Church online groups connect weekly during or right after the weekend service to discuss talking points, encourage accountability, send and receive prayer requests and pray for one another!
Social virtual groups are interest-based groups that meet up online! These groups generally meet weekly for 20-45 minutes on platforms such as: FaceTime, Zoom video calls, Facebook Messenger Video Calls, and even conference calls. As long as people are staying connected, smiling, laughing, and having fun – it’s a win!
Leading a Small Group is a six to twelve-week commitment. After each semester ends, it’s up to you and your group to decide whether you will continue meeting at the start of the next semester.
We use a free-market approach to small groups. This means we want people to gather together based on the things they enjoy and are important to them. Essentially, the things you are already doing in your life are the things that can make up your Small Group!
Free market leaders form their groups around their gifts and interests.
From sports groups to lunch groups, bible study groups to creative arts groups, our groups are as varied as we are. All groups fall within one of our Hubs.
This allows group leaders and participants to have built- in breaks throughout the year. We believe there is value in cyclical beginnings and endings to Small Group experiences.
The Small Group Finder should be used as a secondary tool for adding people to your group. Inviting people youknow and people that you meet is the number one way toadd people to your group. Don’t wait for them to come to you, go to them!
Whether you continue leading your group or not, you should always have someone in your group that you are raising up to be a future leader. You can either hand your leadership role to the person you have raised up, or if no one steps up to lead the group, your group members can sign up for different groups at the beginning of the next semester.
Having snacks and drinks available during a Small Group meeting can change the wholemood of the group and help put people at ease. If you don’t want to provide snacks anddrinks for every meeting, delegate some of the responsibility to other people in the groupand let people take turns.
It’s okay to not have all the answers. Thankfully, we can find guidance through prayer, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit. Encourage them to spend time reading the Bible and praying. Also, let them know that you will do your best to get some information and get back with them at your next Small Group meeting. Do some personal research and call your coach to get advice.
If you encounter a difficult situation within your SmallGroup, please know that you are not alone. If a member isgoing through a crisis, you can rally the group aroundthem to provide prayer, encouragement, and support.Use wisdom and be sensitive to the situation. If you areunsure of what to do, don’t hesitate to ask your coach. If you need immediate attention, call 911. To get ahold of a pastor after hours due to a crisis, call 918-234-5656.
We love hearing about lives that are changed through Small Groups. You can share your stories with your coach, or email us at groups@churchonthemove.com.
We don’t want childcare expenses to be a deterrent that prevents people from joining a Small Group. We will no longer be doing childcare reimbursements for small groups. However, you can go to your campus Small Group Pastor and go through the benevolence process if you need financial assistance. Please ask your coach, Small Groups pastor, or you can email groups@churchonthemove.com for more information.
We believe that the best atmosphere for a Small Group is in a home, however, we understand that sometimes that is not an option. Other options for meeting places couldinclude coffee shops, cafés, outdoor locations, etc.
In addition to the Staff Picks for this semester, each Small Group leader is able to choose a curriculum of their liking. We simply ask that you discuss your choice with your coach for final approval.
We love hearing about lives that are changed throughSmall Groups. You can share your stories with your coach.
You can also share your own personal stories throughsocial media and tag #cotmsmallgroups
Connect regularly with your coach as other questions arise throughout the semester.
We offer Married Couples Groups, Men’s Groups, Women’s Groups, Outreach Groups, and Young Adult Groups. Within each of those, the groups are further broken down by location, meeting day and time, curriculum or interest-based (i.e. running, sewing, etc). Additionally, we offer Small Groups in all of our kids’ and student environments. This enables our kids and students the opportunity to benefit from a small group when they’re already at church.
We believe a healthy Small Group has five essential ingredients. No matter what type of Small Group (Bible study, weekend services, interest based, etc.) these five ingredients must be present:
Vulnerability
Encouragement
Scripture
Prayer
Accountability
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
GALATIANS 6:1-3
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
JAMES 5:16
“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.”
2 CORINTHIANS 6:11-13
Growth requires vulnerability. As leaders, it is our responsibility to create environments that encourage people to be open and real. Two key principles for creating this kind of environment:
People are more likely to open up when they feel comfortable. As leaders we want to promote an environment of hospitality.
“So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his Word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big day approaching.”
HEBREWS 10:22-25
“So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.”
I THESSALONIANS 5:11
Everyone needs encouragement. Jesus warned us that this life would be difficult (John 16:33). And we know it is. Small Groups should be one place where we leave encouraged, refreshed, and renewed to engage our lives with confidence and peace.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
ROMANS 10:17
“There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”
II TIMOTHY 3:16
No matter the type of Small Group you choose to lead, sharing Scripture will always be an essential ingredient. Our purpose for Small Groups at Church on the Move is to help people GROW in their relationship with Christ. Scripture is the foundational ingredient for spiritual growth.
“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”
JAMES 5:13-18
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.”
I TIMOTHY 2:1A
“Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
EPHESIANS 6:18
Set aside time during every group meeting to pray together. This can be a time at the beginning of each group to set the tone or at end of each meeting when you ask group members for prayer requests. Prayer invites the presence of God into our groups and God’s presence is the ONLY thing that can radically transform our lives and relationships.
“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there’s no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”
ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” PROVERBS 27:17 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…”
HEBREWS 10:24
Growing in our faith always requires taking steps and making decisions. Some of which aren’t easy. Small Groups offer us a support system and a loving nudge to stay the course even when it’s hard. Accountability is an act of love if we truly want to see people’s lives transformed by the power of Jesus.
A key to helping people feel comfortable in your group is to let them know what to expect. Take time to share how the group will flow from week to week. This can include things like explaining the times you will begin and end the group, how discussion or group activities will happen, and how the group will rally as a family to care for and support one another.
Give the members of your group room to speak up instead of doing all the talking yourself. About 70% of talking should come from members and 30% from the leader.
If conversation takes a negative or destructive turn, guide it back to a healthy place. If someone needs to talk about a sensitive or complex issue, you can follow up with them after the group or call your coach to help you respond well.
Remember, everyone in your group will be at different places in their spiritual journey. Be thoughtful when you talk about spiritual concepts or church terms that might be unfamiliar to new Christians or new church-goers.
Men should minister to men and women should minister to women. A couple may minister to a single person. We want to maintain integrity and purity in our Small Groups. These boundaries will help protect the leaders and group members from entering into an uncomfortable or inappropriate situation.
Your first meeting as a Small Group is more of a social gathering. You may be eager to jump into the study, but beginning the process of cultivating relationships is essential to the group experience. The depth of your relationships will drive the quality of your discussions. Before the meeting, send your group members an email, text, or call confirming the date and time of the meeting and providing them with directions to your meeting place. Let them know the start and end time to your group meeting. Letting them know this information helps to create a predictable environment.
This first meeting is also the best time to set some expectations for your group. Talk about VESPA.
Have a conversation about caring for your group. The primary way care happens at Church on the Move is through Small Groups. Rally everyone around the idea that for the next several weeks this is our family. When one of the group is going through a circumstance that requires care (hospital visits, prayer, or some other type of support), the group rallies around them and takes care of them.
Before you end the meeting, ask your group members this question: What do you hope to get out of this group experience? Let them know what you hope to get out of the experience of leading them.
On the night of the meeting, your job is to create an environment in which people can begin to connect. If your group members have already met and are comfortable with one another, you may not have to do much more than provide coffee and snacks. If your group is meeting for the first time, you may want to use some icebreakers to help people ease into the conversation.
Using icebreakers is an essential Small Group skill. Begin with light and informational questions and then move to deeper and more personal levels as the group progresses together. Since this is your first group meeting, you probably want to stick mostly with Level 1 questions, maybe adding in a few Level 2 questions near the end of the evening.
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