#1 Powerful Purpose
fellowship, worship, spiritual growth-empowerment, serving one another, mission, prayer. Since praying for your small group family is one of the most important and powerful things you can do as the leader, make sure that you don’t pray! Instead, just hope that all of the issues and challenges your friends & church family are facing will fix themselves. It’s easier to just say “I’m praying for you,” then to actually take the time to do so!
#2 Clear Communication
Effective small group leaders communicate in advance with their group members through email, phone and social media to answer the following questions: Where are we meeting? What time are we meeting? Is childcare available? What do we bring for food? Therefore, communicate poorly by not giving any clear direction or information. Just assume that everyone will figure it out!
#3 Awesome Atmosphere
Because vibrant small groups grow in clean, warm and inviting atmospheres, make sure that yours is the opposite! For example, do not vacuum, clean or de-clutter your house! Don’t dim the lights or have worship music playing in the background to set the mood! And to make things really uninviting, allow for distractions like the TV blaring, the phone ringing and the animals running!
#4 Savory Snacks
From Jesus breaking bread with his small group of twelve disciples, to the early church in Acts sharing meals together in their homes, food has been a staple of successful small groups for as long as they’ve been around! So make sure to prepare or purchase savory snacks or ask everyone to bring something to share. Go a step further by giving your small group members “refrigerator rights” t o access all of your delightful delicacies.
#5 Predetermined Plan
Since time is limited, wise small group leaders come with a plan to answer the following questions: When do we eat? When do we start the Bible study? What is the Bible study? What specific questions will generate discussion? What is our prayer focus? When do we end? Therefore, don’t have a plan! Instead, let the clock tick away and let everyone feel the awkwardness of wondering what’s going to happen next!
#6 Lavish Love
Because passion is contagious, because attitude is everything and because your faith and expectation as the leader will set the bar for everyone else, don’t show any passion whatsoever! Instead, do your best to become distracted, act bored, speak in a monotone voice and treat the gathering like it’s just one more thing that you have to do!
#7 Dynamic Discussion
Since great small group leaders know how to facilitate discussion and create an interactive environment where everyone has a chance to share, make sure this does not happen! Instead, try to talk the entire time and don’t let anyone get a word in edgewise! If someone should dare try to say something, talk right over them!
#8 Fun Fellowship
