Guidelines for Group Leaders:
People join small groups for all sorts of reasons - to know a few people well, to be cared for, to learn, to grow spiritually, to become true parents, to put truth into practice and to multiply our community.  Experiencing community through a small group can lay a foundation of solid relationships for your life.  By the end of these sessions, you will have developed a sense of community and a sense of self according to your original nature.  And you will be ready to apply what you have learned in your day to day life. 

Each session consists of Icebreakers, Reading and Discussion Questions.  You can complete the session in 60 to 90 minutes. 

Icebreakers:  These simple, even lightweight questions are meant to do just what the name implies:  break the ice for the meeting. 

     We come to group meetings with various types of difficulties, preocupations and self-centered inclinations that keep us from opening up in a group to the readings or to the other members.  Use the icebreakers to get everyone a little warmed up before getting in to the central part of the meeting.

Reading: This portion of each session includes words from the Bible and the teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon on the same Biblical themes.  Here are four different ways you can read the Readings:

  1. As the group leader, read the Reading out loud for the whole group and then move to the Questions.  This method is often preferred by groups that are somewhat new to each other.
  2. Go around the circle and ask each person to read one section of the reading.  This method is often preferred by groups who know each other well.
  3. Ask a group member to volunteer to read the Reading for the group.  It is best to ask someone in advance to give them time to read over the Reading before the group starts.  After someone has read it out loud, move to the Questions.
  4. Allow time at the beginning of the session for each person to read the Reading silently.  If you use this option, be sure to give everyone enough time to finish the Reading.
Questions: The first questions are designed to help group members begin discussing the topic in easily and with honesty and openness.  Most of the discussion questions are to help group members to relate the words of the readings to their daily lives.  The last question at the end of each session is very practical and action-oriented.  Through this question, please review the action goals and challenge group members to work on one or more of them in the coming week.

Preparing to Lead Your Group

  1. As you study each session ahead of time, ask God to help you understand and apply it in your own life.  Unless this happens, you will not be prepared to lead others.
  2. Carefully work through each question in the session.  Spend time in meditation and reflection on both the reading and the questions as you formulate your answers.
  3. Pray for the various members of your group.
  4. Consider what the session means for your life, what changes you may need to make in your lifestyle and/or what actions you can take in the church or with people you know.
Leading the Group Meeting
  1. Begin the session on time.
  2. Make sure the group members understand the Readings clearly before moving to the Questions.
  3. Don’t be afraid of silence after you read a question.  People are simply thinking about the question!
  4. Avoid answering the question yourself until others have responded and the group gets its own “flow” on that question.
  5. Encourage more than one answer to each question.
  6. Never reject an answer.
  7. Avoid letting the group go off track.
  8. If, at one point, things get particularly deep or insightful, don’t worry so much if you get through to the next questions.  “Let the Spirit flow.”
  9. Conclude your time together with prayer.
  10. End on time.
  11. Encourage fellowship time together after the session is over.  You might want a host to prepare some simple snacks.
Basic Plan For the Meetings:
  • The First and Third Tuesday of every month - Public Group Meetings – (fulfills the condition of the First and Fifteenth)
  • The Second and Fourth Tuesday of every month - Group Leaders Group Meetings or Central Meetings with Rev. Lee