1. Make this a discussion, not a lecture.

Resist the temptation to do all the talking, and to answer your own questions. Don’t be afraid of a few moments of silence while people formulate their answers. And don’t feel like you need to have all the answers. There is nothing wrong with simply responding “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll see if I can find an answer this week”.

2. Encourage everyone to participate.

Don’t let one person dominate, but also don’t pressure quieter members to speak during the first couple of sessions. After one person answers, don’t immediately move on; ask what other people think, or say, “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?”

3. Affirm people’s participation and input.

If an answer is clearly wrong, ask “What led you to that conclusion?” or ask what the rest of the group thinks. If a disagreement arises, don’t be too quick to shut it down! The discussion can draw out important perspectives, and if you can’t resolve it there, offer to research it further and return to the issue next week. (However, if someone goes on the offensive and engages in personal attack of another person, you will need to step in as the leader. In the midst of spirited discussion, we must also remember that people are fragile and there is no place for disrespect.)

4. Detour when necessary.

If an important question is raised that is not in the study guide, take time to discuss it. Also, if someone shares something personal and emotional, take time for them. Stop and pray for them right then. Allow the Holy Spirit room to maneuver, and follow his prompting when the discussion changes direction.

5. Subgroup.

If you have a really large group, sometimes you may want to split up into groups of 3-5 for the discussion time. This is a great way to give everyone, even the quieter members, a chance to say something. Choose someone in the group to guide each of the smaller groups through the discussion. This involves others in the leadership of the group, and provides an opportunity for training new leaders.

6. Prayer.

Be sensitive to the fact that some people in your group may be uncomfortable praying out loud. As a general rule, don’t call on people to pray unless you have asked them ahead of time or have heard them pray in public. But this can also be a time to help people build their confidence to pray in a group. Consider having prayer times that ask people to just say a word or sentence of thanks to God.

7. End on Time.

Whether your group decides to meet for 90 minutes or 2 hours, make sure to end on time!