Welcome Home Group Leader

Building Community and Making Discipleship

Thank you for leading or hosting a home group. We offer home groups for community and discipleship. People want to belong and grow. People want to know they’re wanted, and they want to be equipped to live the Christian life. Our home groups should highly value both relationship and the application of the Word of God.

Home group leadership comes with a few responsibilities. You should seek to make your groups welcoming, encouraging, and supportive. You are free to facilitate your groups how you like, but we do suggest a specific structure (see the home group leaders blog for a suggested schedule for your group).

The home group is not a formal pastoral role, but you provide spiritual guidance and opportunities for discipleship as a home group leader. This is mostly done through your group’s discussion, guiding people back to the Word as their hope, and asking questions that stir faith and inspire hope.

You will have times when people will unburden their hearts in your group, you will have to determine the boundaries you are comfortable with in terms of ministering to people, but you can always bring those needs to the pastors of Forward to help you minister to the people in your group.

Please take some time to read through the Home Group Leaders Blog, where you’ll find articles and resources to grow as a leader. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance in any area.

Thank you for opening your life and home to help others belong and grow!!

Expectations of a Home Group Leader

  • Help people know they’re welcome and wanted.

  • Facilitate your groups in a way that focuses on community and discipleship. Discipleship is when people seek to apply the Word of God in their daily lives.

  • Ask questions that help people understand themselves and God better. Let people walk out their own process, but always stirring faith and inspiring hope.

  • Notice when members of your group are absent from church and follow up with them.

  • Discuss how to apply the sermons 

  • Offer prayer in your groups

  • Point people to The Journey

Discussion Guidelines

Facilitating a productive discussion is a vital part of a successful Home Group. Here are a few guidelines for facilitating a discussion.

Discussion Guidelines 

  • Tell your own story, don’t discuss someone who isn’t present to give their side 

  • What’s said here, stays here

  • Ask questions, don’t make statements

  • Don’t dominate the floor

  • Everyone should contribute at least once each group

  • No sidebar conversations

Facilitating Conversations

  • Implementing discussion guidelines

  • Ask questions that lead people to discover what’s in their own hearts

  • Valuing silence

  • Stop for prayer