LIFEGroup Tools The LIFEHouse Church Rocklin

Three times a year we will formally launch LIFEgroups (September, January, April). At that time we ask each LIFEgroup to provide people to serve at the LIFEgroup table to answer questions and help people sign up for a LIFEgroup. We need a smiling face who will be able to answer questions, and assist people in connecting with your group as well as referring them to a group that might be a better fit. We will make sure that you have a sign-up sheet on the patio, and we will group the lists according to geographical areas. We ask every LIFEgroup leader to attend every worship service on those three LIFEgroup Launch weekends, as we ask every leader to come to the platform for prayer, for commissioning and so everyone in the church will know who is leading a LIFEgroup.

Every LIFEgroup will have an "open house" as a first meeting for the new 10-12 week season.

An Open House is a specially designed first meeting for the leader and potential small group members.

People who live near you or are in your neighborhood or zip code. Those who sign up for your group will come, but also, be sure to invite your neighbors, family or friends who might be interested.

Preparing your heart is the first step to a successful open house. Pray specifically for the Lord to bless your leadership. Trust in the Lord. He will give you the skills to lead your group.

Time spent in prayer for the people who will receive the invitation is invaluable. Pray that God will bless the group with the right blend of personalities.

Have a goal for your group before your group ever meets. Define the goal for your group by thinking about these points:

With the help of God I will value relationships as much as curriculum.
With the help of God I will develop people who love God and love one another.
With the help of God my group will learn to pray for and with one another, supporting one another any way we can.
With the help of God we will become the church of Jesus Christ in it's smallest form.

Remember, partnering with a co-leader to help carry the load of leadership, makes the group a joy and never a burden. Identify a co-leader as soon as possible. Having a co-leader creates opportunities for you to share your ministry with another potential leader. It will allow you to build group stability quickly. Shared leadership is essential for the future growth of your group so plan for the future by having a co-leader.

Please be at the door welcoming your guests.
Have a roster sheet for everyone to fill out with their name address and other information.
Some people may not have a Bible so have a few extra bibles available as needed.
Nametags and markers should be provided as well as a "sign-in sheet".
Remove all "airwave" distractions: phones, televisions, pagers, etc.
Pets should be confined to another part of the house or yard away from the meeting room. Simple refreshments, coffee, tea, cookies add a welcoming touch.
Seating, lighting and room temperature should also be considered.

An Open House meeting offers specific opportunities for new people to get to know one another. It is also an opportunity for the leader to share what a small group is all about. The open house should last no more than 2 hours. The following is a suggested timeline and agenda for your open house:

Fifteen minutes: Meet and Greet
Guests are greeted, given a nametag to fill out and welcomed into the home. If you have a pot luck, this might extend until everyone has finished eating.

Thirty minutes: Icebreaker
Simple fun icebreaker questions can be asked with everyone given the chance to answer. Active icebreakers that get everyone involved and laughing will lighten the tension for those who are apprehensive about being there. Consider pairing people up to answer the questions. If you ask the questions with the entire group, and everyone answers, it can eat up a great deal of time. Pairing people up accomplishes the same purpose of warming people up to the topic of the evening without sacrificing meeting time.

Thirty minutes: Vision
Start with a short prayer.
Share your own story of how you have benefited from being in a LIFEgroup, and how Jesus has made a difference in your life.

(This is not the time to put anyone on the spot, but just ask for opinions. there are no right or wrong answers here)

Discuss what kind of a Bible Study you desire to lead. review the LIFEgroup Covenant.

Final five minutes: Close
Pass around the sign-in sheet as you invite them to the next meeting, and enjoy hanging around and enjoying desert.

Pursue your group members after the first meeting. Often people need personal communication from the leader to realize they are wanted and valued. Your follow up phone call is incredibly vital to building a successful group. Don't underestimate the value of your communication! Make sure you call members before the next meeting to remind them to be there.

I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in the coming months as we gather on the weekends to hear God's preached word, and then scatter to our LIFEgroups to become salt and light in the world.