Group Leader Resources

Getting Started

As a group leader, you’ll have an opportunity to foster purposeful conversations, call out your group members’ gifts, and see lives changed. After looking over the checklist below, take some time to explore our list of ideas for your first group meeting, group dos and don’ts, and our ingredients for a successful small group.

Connect with Your Section Leader

Every group leader has an oversight called a section leader. They provide you with covering, encouragement, and coaching when needed. Please respond to your section leader when they reach out to contact you.

Your Section Leader is also the one who will train you on using Planning Center, the main resource used for organizing and maintaining your group’s roster and events.

Pick a Meeting Place

Determine an appropriate location for your group. Keep in mind privacy, noise level, and cleanliness. Don’t assume this has to be in your home! Local restaurants and coffee shops are often excellent neutral locations.

Set the Meeting Schedule

Determine when your group will meet and establish the length of your meetings. Be sure to update your list of upcoming group meetings in Rock so your group members will be aware of upcoming or canceled meetings.

Determine Your Group Focus

Some groups focus on activities or common interests while others choose to read through a book of the Bible together or review the weekly Sermon Notes. Many groups use published materials to learn and grow. You can visit the Gateway Bookstore or connect with your campus' Groups pastor to select Gateway-approved materials for your group! There is a wide selection to choose from.

Be Responsive

Please respond to people interested in your group within 72 hours. This communicates value and excellence as you are a representative of Gateway Church.

Check out more details on responding to group inquiries under “Group Inquiries and Responses.”

Make it Easy for People

Think about who you are hoping to reach through your group and identify ways you can show hospitality. Also think about possible barriers for that particular group of people. For example, if you think your group might benefit from children’s ministry being available, check with your campus Groups pastor or Kids pastor about options for childcare reimbursement or mid-week children’s ministry.

Plan for Fun!

Don’t forget to plan for fun in your group to help enhance relationships. You could plan an activity at a new location, host a holiday party, celebrate each other’s birthdays, or host a game night!

Track Attendance

Use Planning Center to report group attendance each time you meet.

Share Care Requests

If you or any of your group members are hurting, struggling to make ends meet, or experiencing major life events like a birth, an adoption, hospitalization, a life-altering illness, death, or bereavement, we’d like to be there for you. Please visit our care page, and contact us.

Have you thought about what you’ll do for your first group meeting? This is a great place to start!

First Group Meeting Ideas

Use your first group gathering as a social time to allow members to get to know each other. Here are some ideas.

• Set a time to pray over your first meeting. You could even plan to do this with your section leader!
• Put out sticker name tags to help people learn each other’s names.
• As people arrive, let them know how glad you are to see them and introduce them to others in the group.
• Put an encouraging note or Bible verse on each chair.
• Provide snacks or order pizza.
• Invite members to bring a favorite snack to share.
• Put conversation-starting questions out on tables.
• Play a game that allows everyone to share a little about themselves.
• Make the first night a game night and invite members to bring their favorite games.
• Put together a list of songs to play in the background at the meeting.
• Give each person a postcard and ask them to write down one thing they’re hoping for with the group.
• No matter how many people show up to the first meeting, have fun!

Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind to help everyone in your group have a great time.

Group Dos and Don'ts

As you lead your group, ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom. If you are debating on doing something with your group, you can always reach out to your section leader for a second opinion. Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Do plan and communicate with your group in advance.
• Do look for ways to make it easy for people to engage.
• Do submit attendance each time your group meets.
• Do update Rock with the latest details on your group.
• Do use your group time to facilitate discussion.
• Do encourage group members to pray for each other.
• Don’t use group time for lecture-style teaching.
• Don’t cancel a meeting without letting everyone know.
• Don't worry if you don't have all the answers. It's okay to say, "I don't know, but let me find out."

Find out the key ingredients to help your group thrive.

Ingredients for a Successful Small Group

Pray

• Pray for those you invited. Pray for their health, marriage, children—everything!
• Pray for upcoming group meetings.
• Pray during group meetings.
• Pray for group members whether they are present or not.

Invite New People

• Appoint greeters for your group.
• Introduce new group members to everyone.

Start and End on Time

• Honor people’s schedule and time.
• Before your group starts, think through how you would like to use the meeting time.
• You can choose to have a time of connection after your scheduled group time for those who want to stay a bit longer.

Welcome People Warmly 

• Keep a watchful eye for people who wander to the corners of the room and stand alone.
• Make sure you have funny or interesting icebreakers. It’s not easy to recover from a bad start.

Create an Atmosphere for God to Move 

• Be prepared and expectant. God always shows up to a prepared and expectant atmosphere.
• Believe for God to move during your group meetings.

Minister to Your Group 

• Be sensitive to the fact that first-time visitors often come to a meeting with a ministry need.
• Don’t let your schedule inhibit you from the most important part of the meeting: ministering to the people!
• Minister in an orderly way.
• Train the members of your group to minister to others.

Have a Clear Purpose 

• Cast vision for the meeting.
• Cast vision for group growth.
• Invite group members to embrace the group vision.

Learn how to build a healthy foundation for group members to grow.

Cultivating Growth

Healthy things grow! Cast vision early for the growth of your group members and leaders. Whether your group is a social, study, or serve group, create an atmosphere where people can grow in community and their relationship with God. Just remember ESP: encouragement, scripture, and prayer.

Encouragement

Everyone needs encouragement. Some people need to hear they’re doing a great job while others need to hear things are going to be okay.

Empower group members by calling out the potential you see in them. For example, if someone is a great gatherer, encourage them to invite people to the group or even lead a group of their own.

You could also ask group members to share the responsibility of providing snacks, welcoming guests, and leading the discussion time.

Scripture

The Word is life-giving and needed to experience spiritual growth. You can have a Scripture of the day or share a verse the Lord has put on your heart. It doesn’t require preaching; it’s simply encouraging people with the Word.

Prayer

Make prayer a priority. Prayer is instrumental in building genuine community within your group and making group members feel cared for, connected, and encouraged. Prayer creates a way for each group member to hear from God, believe what He says, and obey Him.

Explore answers to some frequently asked questions about leading a group.

Group Inquiries and Responses

The information you submit for your group will be posted on the Gateway Groups webpage, along with a link to “Ask to join.”

Once they “Ask to join,” you’ll receive an email letting you know someone is interested in joining your group! Please respond to inquiries about your group within 72 hours. Here is an example of what your response could look like:

Hi_______,

My name is [insert your name], and I’m the Group Leader for [name of your group]. Thank you for your interest in our group! We would love to have you join our community.

We meet [weekly/bi-weekly/monthly], on [day of the week] at [time]. Our next meeting will be [date]. We hope you can make it!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email or phone #].

Blessings,

[insert your name]

Feel free to add any additional details you think are important for new group members.

We recommend checking your group’s page regularly to ensure that none of the inquiry emails were sent to your spam folder by mistake.

If you have any questions about accessing your group's page, please reach out to your Section Leader for further training.

FAQ

How do I invite people to my group?

A personal invitation is the best way to bring people into your group. Social media is another great way to spread the word.

Who should I invite to my group? 

Don’t be afraid to invite the people already around you. Group members don’t have to attend Gateway Church.

• Invite your friends and people you meet at weekend services.
• Invite people you work with or your workout buddies.
• Invite parents of children on your child’s sports team.
• Invite people you volunteer with at church or in the community.

Why do I need to report attendance?

Reporting isn’t numbers; it’s stewardship. It helps us track the engagement level of each person in your group. If someone misses a few group meetings, a need may have arisen in their life. Gateway’s Care ministry team takes note of that. Community is the first step toward healing and growth, and we want everyone to feel connected and supported.

How do I choose a curriculum?

Some groups focus on activities or common interests while others choose to read through a book of the Bible together or review the weekly sermons. Many groups use published materials to learn and grow. You can connect with your campus' Groups pastor to select Gateway-approved materials for your group! There is a wide selection to choose from.