For Leaders

Not at all. You don’t need to have all the answers—your role is simply to facilitate conversation and create space for people to connect with God’s Word and with each other. The weekly questions and video lectures are designed to guide your group through the study.

All materials—including weekly scripture readings, discussion questions, and video lectures—are posted weekly on the Current Study page. If you're doing an archived study, simply visit the Archive and select the completed study you’d like to use.

Most groups meet once a week for 1–2 hours. Meetings usually begin with discussion based on the week's questions, followed by watching the video lecture together. Some groups also include a brief time for prayer, lunch, or coffee.

We encourage you to watch it together, as it prompts better discussion and understanding. The lecture is such a vital part of the lesson; and you will lose valuable teaching if you miss it.

It is better to watch the lecture after answering the questions on your own and attending the discussion. God speaks to each of us individually; you don’t want to miss what He has to say to you personally!

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it! Having two leaders can help share responsibilities, provide flexibility when one person is unavailable, and create a more balanced group dynamic.

Groups can meet anytime that works best for the members. If you’d like to follow the traditional Thursday format, plan to meet weekly from 11am–1pm CST. But many groups meet on weekends or during the evening after work.

No problem. Since materials are digital, members can catch up anytime. Encourage your group to extend grace and focus on consistency over perfection—this is about relationship, not pressure or performance.

Yes. While many groups follow the current study, you’re welcome to choose any archived study that fits your group’s needs. All past studies are designed to be evergreen and easy to use.

No! You can start any study at any time. You and your group decide what works best for you. Just pick a date and start with the Introduction video for the study you choose, and proceed through the lessons. (The only exception is the current study — weekly lessons will be released according to the @HOME calendar.)

No, you can choose which questions you and your group want to focus on. The questions are designed to help cultivate a broader understanding of scripture from varied perspectives.  Members should focus on the questions that peak their interest. Leaders can choose to  summarize the questions to help move the discussion along. We highly recommend that you and your group decide how much time you allocate for the discussion period and stick to it.

If there is a question that is confusing, feel free to contact us. Remember there will be differences of opinion within a group discussion, which should be welcomed! Additionally, there are some questions that cannot be definitively answered, but are fun to talk through. The one non-compromising truth is that salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

No! Your role is to be a facilitator not a teacher. In fact, the more you teach, the less opportunity there is for discussion. Try asking questions in a different way to promote conversation, rather than giving the answer.

Try opening the discussion time by reminding members that this is a conversation and we learn best by hearing from everyone. If the issue persists, speak to the member privately and encourage them by affirming their enthusiasm, but ask if they can help you with supporting those in the group that are less confident.

We recommend never calling on someone who is shy or hesitant. Keep reminding the group that there are no stupid questions and encourage everyone to share when something is confusing or doesn’t make sense. Sometimes someone who is quiet just needs assurance that everyone feels that way at times.

Make this guideline a priority on your first day, or with individuals who may join the group later. This can really damage a group dynamic. Speak with the individual privately but with the assumption that the breach was inadvertent or misguided. Be respectful but firm that confidentiality is a core principle.

Prayer is key! We highly recommend that you incorporate a prayer component with your group. As a group, you decide how you want to do this. Some groups draw prayer partners, others take a few minutes to share requests and pray together or individually. As with the discussion, it is up to you as a leader to keep members on track and watch your time!  While prayer is vital, the primary purpose of this gathering is to study the Word.

Here is a video that explains how to connect the video to your TV. We recommend “screen mirroring” or connecting with a HDMI cable. If you are still having issues, contact your local IT friend or neighbor 🙂