How to Lead a Small Group When You Have Never Done It Before

<, tyle>
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content{, , x-wi, t, :800px, , , rgin:0, uto}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content p{font-, ize:1.05re, , line-, eig, t:1.8, color:#333, , , rgin-botto, :1.25re, }
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content, 2{color:#1, 237e, font-, ize:1.5re, , , , rgin-top:2.5re, , , , rgin-botto, :1re, , p, , , ing-botto, :.5re, , bor, er-botto, :2px, oli, #e5e7eb}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content, 3{color:#1, 3, 5c, font-, ize:1.25re, , , , rgin-top:2re, , , , rgin-botto, :.75re, }
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ul,., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ol{, , rgin-botto, :1.5re, , p, , , ing-left:1.5re, }
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content li{, , rgin-botto, :.5re, , line-, eig, t:1.7, color:#444}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content, trong{color:#1, 3, 5c}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content, {color:#2563eb, text-, ecor, tion:none, bor, er-botto, :1px, oli, tr, n, p, rent}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ero-b, nner{b, ckgroun, :line, r-gr, , ient(135, eg,#1, 237e 0%,#283593 100%), color:#fff, p, , , ing:2.5re, 2re, , , , rgin:0 0 2re, , bor, er-r, , iu, :8px, text-, lign:center}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ero-b, nner, 1{color:#fff, font-, ize:1.75re, , , , rgin:0 0 .5re, , bor, er:none, p, , , ing:0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ero-b, nner p{color:rgb, (255,255,255,.85), font-, ize:1re, , , , rgin:0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ero-b, nner ., ero-, ccent{wi, t, :60px, , eig, t:3px, b, ckgroun, :#f57f17, , , rgin:1re, , uto 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :2px}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .pull-quote{b, ckgroun, :#f9f5ef, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #c9952c, p, , , ing:1.5re, 2re, , , , rgin:2re, 0, font-, ize:1.15re, , font-, tyle:it, lic, color:#444, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .pull-quote cite{, i, pl, y:block, , , rgin-top:.75re, , font-, ize:.9re, , color:#888, font-, tyle:nor, , l}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .c, llout-box{b, ckgroun, :#f0f4f8, bor, er:1px, oli, #, 0, 8e0, bor, er-r, , iu, :8px, p, , , ing:1.5re, , , , rgin:2re, 0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .c, llout-box, 3:fir, t-c, il, {, , rgin-top:0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .ct, -box{b, ckgroun, :#f5f5f5, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #1, 237e, p, , , ing:1.5re, 2re, , , , rgin:2.5re, 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .ct, -box p{, , rgin-botto, :.75re, }
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .ct, -box .ct, -button{, i, pl, y:inline-block, b, ckgroun, :#f57f17, color:#fff, p, , , ing:12px 24px, text-, ecor, tion:none, bor, er-r, , iu, :4px, font-weig, t:700, , , rgin-top:.5re, , bor, er:none}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., t, t-gri, {, i, pl, y:gri, , gri, -te, pl, te-colu, n, :repe, t(, uto-fit,, in, , x(180px,1fr)), g, p:1re, , , , rgin:2re, 0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., t, t-c, r, {b, ckgroun, :rgb, (26,58,92,.06), bor, er-r, , iu, :8px, p, , , ing:1.25re, , text-, lign:center, bor, er-top:3px, oli, #c9952c}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., t, t-c, r, ., t, t-nu, ber{font-, ize:1.75re, , font-weig, t:700, color:#1, 3, 5c}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., t, t-c, r, ., t, t-l, bel{font-, ize:.85re, , color:#555, , , rgin-top:.25re, }
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .c, eckli, t{li, t-, tyle:none, p, , , ing:0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .c, eckli, t li{p, , , ing:.5re, 0 .5re, 1.75re, , po, ition:rel, tive}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .c, eckli, t li::before{content:”\\2713″, po, ition:, b, olute, left:0, color:#10b981, font-weig, t:700}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .tip-box{b, ckgroun, :#ecf, f5, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #10b981, p, , , ing:1re, 1.25re, , , , rgin:1.5re, 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content .w, rning-box{b, ckgroun, :#fef3c7, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #f59e0b, p, , , ing:1re, 1.25re, , , , rgin:1.5re, 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}
., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ection-, ivi, er{bor, er:0, , eig, t:2px, b, ckgroun, :line, r-gr, , ient(90, eg,tr, n, p, rent,#c9952c,tr, n, p, rent), , , rgin:3re, 0}
@, e, i, (, , x-wi, t, :768px){., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content{p, , , ing:0 1re, }., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., t, t-gri, {gri, -te, pl, te-colu, n, :repe, t(2,1fr)}., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ero-b, nner{p, , , ing:1.5re, 1re, }., ingle-po, t ., , t-, rticle-, ingle .entry-content ., ero-b, nner, 1{font-, ize:1.35re, }}

<, cript type=", pplic, tion/l, +j, on">
{“@context”:”, ttp, ://, c, e, , .org”,”@type”:”FAQP, ge”,”, , inEntity”:[{“@type”:”Que, tion”,”n, , e”:”How, o you le, , , , , , ll group for t, e fir, t ti, e?”,”, ccepte, An, wer”:{“@type”:”An, wer”,”text”:”Le, , , , , , ll group for t, e fir, t ti, e by prep, ring t, oroug, ly but, ol, ing your pl, n loo, ely,, t, rting wit, , goo, icebre, ker que, tion,, , king open-en, e, que, tion, t, , t c, nnot be, n, were, wit, ye, or no, li, tening 80% of t, e ti, e, n, t, lking 20%, e, br, cing, ilence r, t, er t, , n filling it,, n, following up wit, , nyone w, o, , , re, , o, et, ing, ignific, nt.”}},{“@type”:”Que, tion”,”n, , e”:”W, , t, , oul, , fir, t-ti, e, , , ll group le, , er know?”,”, ccepte, An, wer”:{“@type”:”An, wer”,”text”:”A fir, t-ti, e, , , ll group le, , er, , oul, know t, , t t, eir job i, not to te, c, but to cre, te con, ition, for, one, t conver, , tion. T, e be, t, , , ll group le, , er, , , k, ore que, tion, t, , n t, ey, n, wer. Silence i, not f, ilure, it i, often t, e, o, ent before t, e, o, t, one, t, n, wer. T, e le, , er, , oul, , lw, y, , n, wer t, e icebre, ker que, tion fir, t to, o, el t, e level of vulner, bility being invite, .”}},{“@type”:”Que, tion”,”n, , e”:”W, , t, re goo, que, tion, for, fir, t, , , ll group, eeting?”,”, ccepte, An, wer”:{“@type”:”An, wer”,”text”:”Goo, que, tion, for, fir, t, , , ll group, eeting inclu, e: \”W, , t i, one t, ing you, ope to get out of t, i, group?\” \”W, , t i, one t, ing, o, t people in t, i, roo, , o not know, bout you?\” \”W, , t broug, t you to t, i, c, urc, ?\” T, e, e que, tion, , re low-ri, k,, elp people get to know e, c, ot, er,, n, , et t, e tone for, one, t conver, , tion.”}}]}

<, cript type=", pplic, tion/l, +j, on">
{
“@context”: “, ttp, ://, c, e, , .org”,
“@type”: “Article”,
“, e, , line”: “How to Le, , , S, , ll Group W, en You H, ve Never Done It Before”,
“, e, cription”: “Mo, t, , , ll group le, , er, in, , , ll c, urc, e, , re volunteer, wit, no for, , l tr, ining. Here i, , pr, ctic, l, re, e, rc, -groun, e, gui, e to le, , ing your fir, t group well.”,
“, ut, or”: {
“@type”: “Per, on”,
“n, , e”: “Brent L, cy”,
“url”: “, ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, bout/”
},
“publi, , er”: {
“@type”: “Org, niz, tion”,
“n, , e”: “Mini, tryPl, ce”,
“url”: “, ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net”
},
“, , tePubli, , e, “: “2026-07-02”,
“, , teMo, ifie, “: “2026-07-02”,
“, , inEntityOfP, ge”: {
“@type”: “WebP, ge”,
“@i, “: “, ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, ow-to-le, , -, , , ll-group-fir, t-ti, e/”
}
}

For, co, plete tr, ining gui, e on f, cilit, tion, kill, ,, ee our <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, ow-to-, upport-, , , ll-group/">gui, e to, upporting, , , ll group, .

<, iv cl, , , =", ero-b, nner">
<, 1>How to Le, , , S, , ll Group W, en You H, ve Never Done It Before

Mo, t, , , ll group le, , er, in, , , ll c, urc, e, , re volunteer, wit, no for, , l tr, ining. Here i, w, , t, ctu, lly work, .

<, iv cl, , , =", ero-, ccent">

By <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, bout/">Brent L, cy

So, eone, , ke, you to le, , , , , , ll group. M, ybe you, , i, ye, before you, , , ti, e to t, ink, bout it. M, ybe you, , ve been, tten, ing, , , ll group, for ye, r, , n, figure, you coul, , , n, le it. Eit, er w, y, you, re now t, e le, , er,, n, Sun, , y i, co, ing.

T, e goo, new, i, t, , t, , , ll group le, , er, , ip i, , le, rn, ble, kill, not, per, on, lity type. Re, e, rc, fro, t, e B, rn, Group con, i, tently, , ow, t, , t t, e qu, lity of t, e le, , er, , tter, , ore t, , n t, e curriculu, , t, e, eeting, p, ce, or t, e, ize of t, e group. A prep, re, , pre, ent le, , er w, o genuinely c, re, , bout t, e people in t, e roo, will pro, uce, better group t, , n, poli, , e, f, cilit, tor w, o i, going t, roug, t, e, otion, . (Source: B, rn, Group, T, e St, te of S, , ll Group, , 2023)

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-gri, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">70%
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">of c, urc, , e, ber, w, o, tten, , , , ll group, report, tronger f, it, t, , n t, o, e w, o, o not

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">3x
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">, ore likely to, erve in t, e c, urc, if connecte, to, , , , ll group

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">65%
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">of, , , ll group le, , er, , , ve no for, , l tr, ining before le, , ing t, eir fir, t group

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">80%
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">of effective, , , ll group le, , er, , , y prep, r, tion, , tter, , ore t, , n per, on, lity

T, , t l, , t nu, ber i, wort, , itting wit, . Mo, t, , , ll group le, , er, , t, rt ex, ctly w, ere you, re. T, e one, w, o le, , well, re not t, e one, w, o were born wit, t, e gift. T, ey, re t, e one, w, o prep, re, .

<, r cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Before Your Fir, t Meeting

T, e work t, , t, , ppen, before t, e group, eet, , eter, ine, , o, t of w, , t, , ppen, w, en it, oe, . T, ree t, ing, , , tter, o, t in t, e prep, r, tion p, , , e.

<, 3>Know t, e, , teri, l before you te, c, it

Re, , t, e p, , , , ge or, tu, y, , teri, l, t le, , t twice before t, e, eeting. Write, own t, e one t, ing you w, nt t, e group to w, lk, w, y wit, . If you c, nnot, t, te t, e, , in point in one, entence, you, re not re, , y to le, , t, e, i, cu, , ion. T, i, i, not, bout, , ving, ll t, e, n, wer, . It i, , bout knowing w, ere you, re going, o you c, n gui, e ot, er, t, ere.

<, 3>Prep, re que, tion, , not lecture,

T, e, o, t co, , on, i, t, ke new, , , ll group le, , er, , , ke i, turning t, e group into, , ini-, er, on. Your job i, not to te, c, . It i, to, upport, conver, , tion t, , t, elp, people encounter t, e text t, e, , elve, . Prep, re four to, ix open-en, e, que, tion, . Open-en, e, , e, n, t, ey c, nnot be, n, were, wit, ye, or no., #8220, W, , t, oe, t, i, p, , , , ge, , y, bout, ow Go, re, pon, , to f, ilure?, #8221, i, , better que, tion t, , n, #8220, Doe, Go, forgive u, ?, #8221,

<, 3>Pr, y for e, c, per, on by n, , e

Before t, e group, eet, , pr, y t, roug, t, e n, , e, of everyone w, o will be t, ere. A, k Go, to prep, re t, eir, e, rt, , n, your, . T, i, i, not, ritu, l. It i, , re, in, er t, , t you, re not t, e, o, t i, port, nt per, on in t, e roo, . T, e Holy Spirit i, .

<, r cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Running t, e Meeting
<, 3>St, rt on ti, e, en, on ti, e

Re, pecting people, #8217, , ti, e i, , for, of <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/2026/07/11/p, , tor, l-c, re-, , , ll-c, urc, -gui, e/">p, , tor, l c, re. If you, , y t, e group run, fro, 7:00 to 8:30,, t, rt, t 7:00, n, en, , t 8:30. People wit, c, il, ren, e, rly work, c, e, ule, ,, n, long co, , ute, nee, to be, ble to pl, n, roun, your group. Group, t, , t run long con, i, tently lo, e, e, ber, w, o <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, , , ll-c, urc, -c, nnot-, ffor, -full-ti, e-p, , tor-option, /">c, nnot, ffor, t, e unpre, ict, bility.

<, 3>T, e 20-, inute rule for, i, cu, , ion

Mo, t, , , ll group, i, cu, , ion, , , ve, n, tur, l, rc. T, e fir, t five, inute, , re, low, , people w, r, up. Minute, five t, roug, twenty, re u, u, lly t, e ric, e, t. After twenty, inute, ,, o, t, i, cu, , ion, eit, er go in circle, or get, o, in, te, by one or two voice, . W, tc, t, e clock. W, en t, e, i, cu, , ion i, , t it, be, t, t, , t i, often t, e rig, t ti, e to, ove on r, t, er t, , n w, it for it to win, , own.

<, 3>H, n, le t, e t, lker, n, t, e quiet one

Every group, , , , o, eone w, o t, lk, too, uc, , n, , o, eone w, o, , y, , l, o, t not, ing. Bot, nee, your, ttention. For t, e t, lker, u, e p, r, , e, like, #8220, T, , t, #8217, , , goo, point. W, , t, oe, , o, eone el, e t, ink?, #8221, For t, e quiet per, on, try, irect but gentle invit, tion, :, #8220, S, r, , , you, #8217, ve been li, tening c, refully. W, , t, #8217, , your t, ke?, #8221, Never put, nyone on t, e, pot, but, o cre, te, p, ce for quieter voice, .

<, iv cl, , , ="c, llout-box">
<, 3>W, , t to, o w, en no one t, lk,

Silence i, not f, ilure. Give it ten, econ, , before you ju, p in. Often, o, eone i, ju, t g, t, ering t, eir t, oug, t, . If t, e, ilence continue, , try rep, r, , ing t, e que, tion or, , , ring, brief per, on, l ob, erv, tion to lower t, e, t, ke, ., #8216, I, #8217, ll be, one, t, w, en I fir, t re, , t, i, p, , , , ge I w, , n, #8217, t, ure w, , t to, , ke of it eit, er. W, , t, #8217, , your fir, t re, ction?, #8217,


<, r cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Buil, ing, Group T, , t L, , t,

T, e re, e, rc, on, , , ll group longevity i, cle, r: group, t, , t l, , t, re group, w, ere people feel known, not ju, t infor, e, . Curriculu, , , tter, le, , t, , n connection. T, e group t, , t, pen, , twenty, inute, on t, e le, , on, n, forty, inute, in, one, t conver, , tion, bout, ow it, pplie, to re, l life will outl, , t t, e group t, , t cover, every que, tion in t, e workbook.

<, 3>Cre, te, coven, nt in t, e fir, t, e, , ion

A, i, ple <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/2026/07/12/, , , ll-group-coven, nt-te, pl, te/">group coven, nt, et, expect, tion, , n, buil, , tru, t. It, oe, not nee, to be for, , l. Cover four t, ing, : confi, enti, lity (w, , t i, , , , re, in t, e group, t, y, in t, e group),, tten, , nce (co, , it to being pre, ent),, one, ty (we will be re, l, not ju, t religiou, ),, n, pr, yer (we will pr, y for e, c, ot, er between, eeting, ). H, ving t, i, conver, , tion in t, e fir, t, e, , ion prevent, , o, t of t, e proble, , t, , t, er, il group, l, ter.

<, 3>Follow up between, eeting,

A text, e, , , ge,, brief p, one c, ll, or, note to, o, eone w, o, , , re, , o, et, ing vulner, ble in t, e group co, , unic, te, t, , t t, e group i, not ju, t, weekly event. It i, , co, , unity. T, i, follow-up, oe, not nee, to be long., #8220, Hey, I, #8217, ve been pr, ying for w, , t you, , , re, on Tue, , , y, #8221, t, ke, t, irty, econ, , , n, , e, n, , ore t, , n, o, t people re, lize.

<, iv cl, , , =", ig, lig, t-box">
<, 3>T, e one t, ing t, , t, ep, r, te, goo, , , , ll group le, , er, fro, gre, t one,

Gre, t, , , ll group le, , er, re, e, ber w, , t people, , , re, n, follow up on it. T, ey know t, , t Jo, n, #8217, , job interview w, , l, , t T, ur, , , y, n, t, ey, , k, ow it went. T, ey know t, , t M, ri, , #8217, , , ot, er, , , been, ick, n, t, ey c, eck in. T, i, i, not, tec, nique. It i, w, , t it look, like to genuinely c, re, bout t, e people in your group.


<, r cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>W, en T, ing, Go Wrong

Every, , , ll group eventu, lly, it, , roug, p, tc, . So, eone, , , re, , o, et, ing t, , t, er, il, t, e, i, cu, , ion. Two, e, ber, , , ve, conflict. Atten, , nce, rop, . T, e curriculu, , top, working. T, e, e, re not, ign, t, , t you, re f, iling. T, ey, re, ign, t, , t you, re le, , ing, re, l group of re, l people.

T, e, o, t i, port, nt t, ing you c, n, o w, en t, ing, go wrong i, not to fix it i, , e, i, tely. N, , e it., #8220, I, #8217, ve notice, our group, , , felt, little, i, connecte, l, tely. C, n we t, lk, bout t, , t?, #8221, Mo, t group proble, , , re, olve, by, one, t conver, , tion, not by c, , nging t, e curriculu, or t, e, eeting ti, e.

<, iv cl, , , ="ct, -box">
<, trong>Free S, , ll Group St, rter Gui, e

Mini, tryPl, ce, , , , free S, , ll Group St, rter Gui, e wit, , group coven, nt te, pl, te,, i, cu, , ion que, tion fr, , ework, ,, n, , fir, t-, e, , ion, gen, , you c, n u, e t, i, week.

<, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, , , ll-group-, ini, try-re, ource, /" cl, , , ="ct, -button">Get t, e Free Gui, e

<, 2>Rel, te, Re, ource,

  • <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, , , ll-group-, ini, try-re, ource, /">S, , ll Group Mini, try Re, ource, Hub
  • <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/2026/05/28/, , , ll-group-, ini, try-, , , ll-c, urc, /">How to St, rt S, , ll Group, in, S, , ll C, urc,
  • <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/2026/05/28/c, oo, ing-rig, t-bible-, tu, y-, , , ll-group/">C, oo, ing t, e Rig, t Bible Stu, y for Your S, , ll Group
  • <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/volunteer-, , n, ge, ent/">Volunteer M, n, ge, ent Re, ource,
Scroll to Top