1. Always remember, you are there as a facilitator, not a teacher. You are there to guide the conversation, help people with any specific problems, if necessary, and draw everyone, as much as possible, into the conversation.
2. Maintain your own private life with Christ; set high standards for yourself; not too high so you will not attain, nor too low so there is nothing for which to reach.
3. Have each particular section read through and the questions studied. This will enable you to be more alert to the people in the group.
4. Always maintain an objective in your particular group:
a). Have they learned basic scriptural principles today?
b). Has the scriptural section been kept in the context?
c). Has each-individual person been able to personally apply the principle to their life?
5. Always maintain an evaluative study of the group. Are certain people more involved than others? Is everyone entering in? You can usually judge what a person gets out of a session by what they put into it.
6. Additional info:
a). Are you aware of any clash of personalities” within the group?
b). If so, deal with the individuals separately and outside of the framework of the group.
c) Keep a watch on people’s mannerisms, eye contact, gestures, etc. They may be telling you that they do not understand (i.e. perplexed look, or that they are angry (i.e. sneer). You can ask someone very nicely, ‘Frank, you look like you do not understand something that was just said. Did I not explain it well?
d). Leaders, do not dominate the conversation. Draw people out. Ask them their opinions, and commend them for their input, no matter how little it may be.
e). If you feel like there is interpersonal problems within the group that you cannot handle, talk to me.
f). Try, as much as possible, not to give your own opinion until last, if even then. Our objective is to get the people to think for themselves; not to let us think for them.
g). Pray for your people weekly. Encourage them as much as possible. N- You can be creative also. Perhaps you would rather act out some scriptural truth. This would have to be unanimous with your particular group.