Leading a Small Group

The first four lessons were about the church and about relationships. From this lesson on, we turn to concrete service, beginning with leading a small group.

Every lesson on the learning map has a one-page group leader’s guide. Many people look at one and think: could I lead? I can’t preach. The book’s Question 42—what to keep in mind when sharing the gospel—gives a reassuring answer: “My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4)

Leading a group does not depend on eloquence. Paul said: “I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9) The leader’s job is planting and watering: be prepared, arrive on time, make a good start, and give everyone a chance to speak. Making people grow is God’s work. Once this order is clear, you don’t have to pretend to know everything.

“For we are God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)—leading a group is working together with God. So the first principle of the group leader’s guides is: the leader is not a teacher but someone walking alongside everyone. When you can’t answer a question, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together.’

The best way to start is to co-lead once with someone who has led a group before: you take the opening or the reading together, and they lead the discussion. Next time, you lead.