5 Tips For Your First Night Of Life Group

The first night of a Life Group is exciting and fun, but it can also feel daunting.  All of those emotions are normal on your first night!  Most leaders find that by the end of the night, they’re excited for the people who came and all God wants to do in their lives through the group.

Here are 5 tips that can help you lead the first night of your Story Life Group.

1.    Prepare
You’ll feel most comfortable leading if you take some time to prepare for the group.  Read the first chapter of The Story and have some of your own thoughts ready to share from the reading.  Take a few minutes to read through the Leader Guide provided in your Story Leader’s Handbook and familiarize yourself with the questions and prayer exercise.  If you don’t like some of the questions, feel free to edit or add your own questions.

2.    Start and end on time
Group members will really appreciate if you are respectful of their time.  If group starts at 7pm, don’t wait til 8pm to begin.  Spend 5-15 minutes at the start of group socializing and getting to know people, but be sure to start the group discussion by 7:15pm.  A typical group lasts about 90 minutes, so pick your ending time and be aware of the clock as you lead group.  Even if you have to forego a few of the discussion questions, group members will appreciate that you are honoring their time.

3.    Put out snacks
There’s something about food that brings people together – it’s probably why we often go to coffee with friends or share a meal with people we love.  Grab or make some snacks for the first night of group.  Have them ready when people arrive.  Put out some water or coffee and tea.  After a few weeks, consider starting a snack sign-up sheet so that people in your group can take turns bringing something to share.

4.    Use directive leadership
On the first night of group – and for the first few months – use directive leadership.  What this means is that you are the one guiding your group and telling them where to go.  Cast the vision for group, tell them what the group is going to be about, and then keep pressing them in that direction.  In the first few months of leading a group, leaders often want to lead by consensus – meaning, they want the group to speak into leadership decisions about how the group will look.  There will be a time for that, but it’s not now.  In the first few months of your group, the best thing you can do is to remain committed to the mission of your Story Life Group, keep reading and studying The Story, and invite your group to follow you in that direction.

5.    Pray
Pray for your group and for the life transformation you want to see happen.  At the end of the day, you can do all of the best planning and preparation, but true life change happens when the people in your group encounter God’s Spirit.  Pray that God would move.  Pray that he would guide you as a leader and speak through you.  Pray that the people in your group would be changed by God and his Word.  Pray that community would be built.  And pray for any fears or concerns you have as a leader.  Spend at least 5 minutes praying before people show up on the first night!