Activity · Communion
Share Our Stories
The night your group stops being people who meet on Tuesdays and starts being people who know each other
Leader Context
This week your group gets to share their stories with each other. It is the night community actually starts.
Nights like this are worth doing at least once a month, so your group shares in common activities that encourage each other in faith, not just conversation about Sunday.
Two things make or break it. Be real, and be curious. Both of those start with you.
You go first. You get to model what real looks like and how long a story should run. Whatever you do, they will do. If you give the sanitized version, you will get nine sanitized versions back.
Read to your group
Tonight we are going to tell each other our stories.
There is no format you have to hit. Just tell us where you came from, what shaped you, and where God fits into that, or where he does not yet. Take as long as you want.
While someone is talking, our only job is to listen and be curious. No advice, no fixing. If you want to say something, make it a question.
Questions
If someone gets stuck
Not everyone knows where to start. Give them a door.
Where did you grow up, and what was faith like in your house?
What is a moment that changed the direction of your life?
Where are you with God right now, as plainly as you can say it?
Next Steps for Leaders
- Share first. Every time.
- Practice curiosity. Actively listen. Do not offer feedback or advice. Ask a follow up question instead.
- If everyone does not get to share tonight, that is fine. Pick it up at the start of next week.
- If you finish early, fall back on the weekly discussion questions.
- Write down what you heard. You just learned more about your group in two hours than you will in the next two months.
Sarah and Pastor Anthony on being real and sharing your story.