Talk It Out
Quick tips that you can use every week in your Life Group to generate conversation and build community.
Fellowship
Include fellowship time on the front and tail end of your meeting time and when possible have food. Start and end on time. All these elements encourage conversation and build relationships.
Prayer
Open your time in a brief word of prayer and help participants become aware of Jesus’ presence in your midst (Matthew 18:20). Turn people’s attention beyond your immediate circle by praying for the lost and encouraging them to invite friends to join you.
Discuss
Share a brief insight of your own to jump-start the conversation. Relate what you’re discussing to Jesus by asking two questions:
- What does this teach us about Christ?
- How does God want me to respond to what I’ve just learned?
Ask “open-ended” questions that will stimulate reflection and help move people toward action. These are questions that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" and often start with the words "what" or "how."
For example:
- What do the rest of you think? How do others feel?
- What was new for you, reaffirming, confusing or challenging about the topic?
- How can we apply this to our lives today?
- How could this be shared with people who do not yet know Christ?
Be real. Be yourself. Authenticity is the key to helping others open up. Develop a dynamic where people feel safe to share and free to be themselves. Try to involve every person – acknowledge and affirm each person who speaks.
