Five Steps to a Faith that Works Lenten Series
Leader’s Guide

Suggestions for Your Group Gathering:

* Maintain a setting for honest and open discussion rather than an instructional setting. When you reach a “Talking Point” offer to answer some of these first, thereby giving your small group participants time to think about their answers for a time before joining in the conversation.  As your group gets more familiar, you may find a natural tendency for others to speak up first.   

* Suggested group rules may include, and are not limited to:
> Confidentiality: what is shared in the group stays in the group
> Recognizing everyone’s view as sacred and worthy of respect
> Begin and end on time 
> Take turns sharing so that everyone is listening respectfully
> Recognize that silence is an acceptable way to participate - no one will be required to share
Choose your group rules carefully.  They should offer safety and security to your group without excluding or becoming invasive.

* Set a time for these gatherings.  It is suggested that one and a half to two hours be allotted for each study.  You may wish to adjust this time to best meet the needs of your group.  Because the lessons vary in length, be sure to give plenty of time for the longest of the lessons when you advertise your start/end times.  Try not to go over.

* Establish a setting that is conducive to discussion.  Since you will ask people to bring their study completed each week, an informal circle or “U” shape might work well.  You want to avoid people having to turn around to look at whoever is talking.

* Refreshments: Some groups will enjoy a time of refreshments following the session.  The leader may ask if anyone would like to volunteer to bring treats for the next week.

* You may wish to begin and end with prayer.  After the first week, ask for a volunteer to lead in a two to five minute opening meditation before each session.  If you choose to do this, it is best to ask for volunteers the week before, in order to give participants time to prepare.  It may be best for you to consistently close the group with the “Sharing Faith” notes at the end of each study.

* Share reading responsibilities.  The studies are lengthy and require extensive reading out loud.  After your first session together, ask who might be willing to share in the reading responsibilities.  Your group may wish to just move around the room, or there may be a select few who enjoy reading and will take the bulk of the load.  You are needed to facilitate discussion…don’t lose your voice reading the study aloud every week by yourself!

* Each week: read through the lesson before your small group arrives.  Take some notes about what comes up for you so you don’t have to think too much about your perspective/answers during the “Talking Points.”  (Additional ideas/perspectives are likely to come up for you when you read the lesson with the group as well…)  This will allow you to offer more attention to the participants and help you facilitate discussion among the group as a whole.

* Have a Bible close by.  The lessons reference sayings of Jesus and ideas about who Jesus is, what Jesus did, and how we are to be like Jesus in the world today.  It’s possible that participants may wish to look something up in scripture (or that you will).  Having a Bible close at hand will be helpful.  You may also want to look up specific scripture references as they are mentioned in the lessons for further understanding.

* Enjoy yourself!  Engage in the conversation as it happens!  This study is for you, too!  Thank you for offering your gift of leadership!





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Copyright © 2005 UFMCC
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Author