Group Leader Resources

THIS WEEK'S UPDATE RESOURCES CALENDAR TRAINING ARCHIVE PODCAST

Updates & Leader Information

Week of October 19

THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE GUIDE

Here are a few updates and reminders for leaders this week!

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

  • Partnership Class – the next class is November 3 at the Jefferson Campus. Need a resource to talk with your group about it? Scroll down for the “Why Partnership?” video with Pastor Keith. Click here to register.
  • Baptism Weekend – the next baptism opportunity is the weekend of October 30 across all campuses. Group members can get more info here – click for more info
  • Thanksgiving – no Thursday services Thursday, November 27.

TIPS TO LEAD YOUR GROUP WELL AFTER YOUR FIRST MEETING  

From the 60 SMALL GROUP TIPS By Vince Antonucci (adapted for our Grace Fellowship context) This resource is found in it’s entirety below.

Don’t try to be perfect. When you meet someone who acts like they’re perfect, does that impress you? No! At best, it makes you feel like you can’t relate. At worst, it makes you suspicious. People aren’t looking for perfect; they’re looking for real. Be real. Show some vulnerability. That will endear you to your people.  

You don’t need to have all the answers. You may feel like, since you’re the leader, that you need to have an answer for every question. You don’t. People will understand if you say, “I don’t know. Let me try to find out the answer to that question this week.” Not only will they understand they will admire your humility. It also may inspire them to think they too could lead a small group.  

Don’t be too formal. Don’t run your group like a business meeting. You are creating a spiritual family, and your meetings should have a fun, comfortable feeling.  

Allow a little messiness. People are messy, right? In group we don’t want to put on a veneer of spiritual perfection that makes everyone feel like they can’t be real and admit their weaknesses and fears. Messiness can be intimidating, but it’s a breeding ground for grace.  

View the people in your group as friends and family – not just group members. Affirm everyone who shares—even if they’re a little theologically off. It takes courage to share in a group.  

Do things outside of group time. When you take the group outside of your meeting night and outside of your living room relationships will grow deeper, faster. People probably want to meet outside of group time but need you as the leader to initiate it. So, have everyone go out for ice cream, or meet at the park for a cookout on Saturday, or … you name it.  Or, maybe once or twice a semester you meet at a homeless shelter where you serve dinner together.

In addition to social events outside of group time, you will want to have your group serve together. One possibility is to mention your desire for your group to serve together after a couple of meetings and solicit ideas for where you might serve. Or you can look for serving options in your community and then bring your suggestions to the group. The Local Impact Dept. at the church can provide opportunities.  

One issue with doing things outside of group night, in our fast-paced overly busy society, is that people may say they want to but don’t have the time. One way of overcoming that issue is to do your non-meeting get-togethers on your group night.

SAVE THE DATES

Don’t forget to checkout the Events Page for more details!

2025 Calendar

Below are some important dates and timelines specific to groups we want to be sure are on your calendar. We'll continue to update this information throughout the season!

2025

Don’t forget to checkout the Events Page for more details!

November 27 | Thanksgiving (no Thursday night services)

Week of December 14 | Last week of groups before Christmas break

Why Partnership?

Pastor Keith explains "Why Partnership?" at Grace. Feel free to send this resource to group members who are exploring Partnership with Grace.

Leader Reference Materials & Resources

Follow Group Devotional – click here

Gospel Conversation Starters – click here

Growth Resources

  • Gospel Coach, Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God – 4/4/23 – click here
  • The Shepherd Leader – 4/17/23 – click here
  • Teaching Like a Shepherd – 5/2/23 – click here
  • Shepherding God’s People: A Guide to Faithful & Fruitful Pastoral Ministry – 5/16/23 – click here
  • Making Small Groups Work – 6/6/23 – click here
  • Shepherds Protect the Sheep – 6/29/23 – click here
  • A Gospel Coach Conversation – 7/12/23 – click here
  • Gospel Coach, Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God – 7/26/23 – click here
  • Group Leader Journal – 8/8/23 – click here
  • Shepherding God’s People – 8/22/23 – click here
  • Shepherding God’s People – 9/6/23 – click here
  • Creating Community – 5 Keys to Building a Small Group Culture – 9/20/23 – click here
  • Small Groups with Purpose – 10/4/23 – click here
  • Creating Community – 5 Keys to Building a Small Group CultureI – 11/12/23 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Plays to Win – 12/10/23 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Plays to Win – 12/18/23 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Plays to Win – 1/7/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Makes the Team Better – 1/21/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Makes the Team Better – 2/11/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Team Player – 3/3/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Follows the Coach – 3/10/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Follows the Coach – 3/24/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Prioritizes Health – 4/7/24 – click here
  • Volunteer Code – Prioritizes Health – 4/21/24 – click here

Reference Materials

YourGraceChurch Tutorials

LEAD – Small Group Leader App

Download LEAD, the Small Group Leader app from CCB. This app allows you to take or edit attendance, send messages to your group, access a group list at all times, and also access a list of group members’ birthdays and anniversaries. *When installing, use CCB Church Prefix “YourGraceChurch” to set up the app on your device.

RightNowMedia

Everything done at RightNowMedia is rooted in Jesus’ promise that God will use His people to change the world. They’re also here to serve the church. They provide Christians across the globe with resources that will inspire them to champion the mission Jesus gave to His people – making disciples of all nations. God calls us to focus our lives on Him rather than on ourselves. Whether in church, in the workplace, or at home, RightNowMedia wants to see disciples of Jesus loving God and loving others.

Community/Outreach Projects

Looking for Local Impact projects? Check out the Local Impact page where you’ll find a list of project ideas and Grace’s Local Impact Partners.

LEARN MORE

In addition to local impact, Grace also partners with families in our local communities through Neighbor Care. Volunteers have the opportunity to offer physical assistance in projects like minor home repairs, lawn/yard work, moving, etc. You can sign up here:

SIGN UP

Care & Resources

Grace offers resources for those facing a variety of challenges. And if Grace doesn’t offer them, we partner with someone who does. Click the button below for more information including a list of recommended counselors.

RESOURCES

Leader Trainings

To access a variety of trainings on RightNow Media, login or contact your Groups Pastor/Staff contact to sign up for a FREE account.

RIGHTNOW MEDIA

Access the Archive

Click the button below to access past studies, materials, and much more.

PAST STUDIES

This Season's Past Message Guides

All Message Guides from the 2025-2026 Group Season

2025 Message Guides

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 10/12

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 10/5

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/28

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/21

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/14

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/7

Group Leader Resource Podcast