Things to Do at the First LIFEgroup

The first couple of meetings with your new group are extremely important. A good start is essential in any race, and a good start in your new LIFEgroup is essential for insuring success.

The first and second meetings should focus on allowing the group to get acquainted with one another in a casual, non-threatening environment. These initial meetings are important also for casting the vision of LIFEgroups with the entire group. In order for the group to catch the vision for LIFEgroups, it must be cast before them from the outset and on a regular ongoing basis.

1. Prepare in Advance

Hand out invitations in your neighborhood. God may be working in a neighbor's life, and your group will be the most convenient way for them to begin growing spiritually. So be sure to plant some seeds by spreading the word to your neighbors. Assure them that this first introductory meeting is for informational purposes, and there is no commitment to attend this meeting.

Some groups have hosted an introductory BBQ in the front yard to encourage neighbors to come by, have some food, and discover what the group is all about.

Be ready to greet people at the door as they arrive. Have name tags filled out in large letters for those you know are coming, and be ready to make new ones for newcomers. Write with large letters so that it is easy to read, enabling people to learn one another's names.

Make sure the room is comfortable, and arrange chairs and couches so that everyone can be seen and see one another. If you don't have enough chairs, it's better to have everyone on the floor. That way people aren't on different levels. Find yourself a seat where you can make eye contact with everyone. Have refreshments ready as people arrive, as this will help people to mill around and get to know others before the meeting begins. It is always helpful to have some extra Bibles on hand.

Turn on the telephone answering machine, and put any animals outside. Ask a friend to come by and check your house for the smell of animals. This might be a good motivaton for baking some cookies or investing in some air freshiner.

2. Begin with an icebreaker.

Many people are on edge coming into a stranger's home for the first time. They fear that they will be embarrassed with their lack of Bible knowledge, or that the group is a close knit family where they will feel like an outsider. Icebreaker questions are designed for people from all backgrounds in a non-threatening fashion. It is a way to help people forget the tough day they had at work, laugh a little and settle in before putting in some healthy spiritual growth effort in the group.

One application of this principle would be to start the group by asking people to take as many m & m's as they need. If someone has the most red m & m's, they talk about a favorite movie. Green: a proud moment. Yellow: a family member, and so on. Watch that this doesn't take too long. You might need to break into groups of three to do this in order to save time.

Enjoy a Potluck Dinner.

Sharing a meal together is a fabulous way of opening a group up. Fellowship times around meals help relationships to develop. Besides that, everyone likes to eat!

Get Acquainted

Share names, work, birthplace, etc.

3. Enthusiastically share the dream

Review your goals and dreams for the group. Explain why you are motivated to lead a group like this.

Tell the group what will happen at this first meeting, that the group will last for 10-12 weeks, and that the meeting itself will last no longer than 1 and 1/2 hour.

What type of group/stage in life is the group? Young marrieds? Singles? Parenting? All welcome? Men? Women?

Discuss how you plan to introduce prayer, building community and Bible discussion in a manner where no one feels uncomfortable. Be sure to emphasize that this is a safe community, where we are helping one another to grow in the faith!

Let them know that there is group ownership by those who commit to coming. This way everyone benefits more as everyone comes prepared and ready to contribute to the discussion.

4. Review Ground Rules for Bible Discussion.

Review the LIFEgroup Covenant:

Will the group be doing the homework from the previous weekend's message? Will you be doing a book study? Is there work to do outside of the group?

5. First Announcements.

Agree on a group social. Sooner is best. Take a field trip, have a game night, take a short hike with a picnic lunch.

Decide together the time and place of the next meeting and invite people to attend worship services with you.

Does the group desire to be a "Family Group" where the children come and the adults share the role of teaching the children's Bible study time in another room while the other adults have their Bible study.  Does the group want to share the cost of a baby sitter? Is there another LIFEgroup that meets on another night that would reciprocate the baby sitting duties at no cost to each other?

6. What to bring:

Bible, pen, notebook, homework

7. Prayer

Close in prayer asking that the group would be pleasing to the Lord, and a safe place where people can sense a family connection of love and care.

8. Assignment

Hand everyone a Spiritual Growth Map (PDF Doc) booklet and ask each one to complete it by next week. Assure them that there are no right or wrong answers, and that this only a tool to get to know one another better and to help you as a leader to know the condition of your little flock.