Group Leader Resources

THIS WEEK'S UPDATE RESOURCES CALENDAR TRAINING ARCHIVE PODCAST

Adopt a Family for Christmas

Updates & Leader Information

Week of December 8

Hello Grace Group Leaders! Here’s what you need to know as we get ready to launch groups:

Christmas at Grace
All service times across our campuses have been posted. CLICK HERE to get more info and begin RSVPing to a service!

**Please note that there are NO regularly scheduled services December 19/22.**

Short-Term Global Trip Opportunities
We’re continuing to mobilize multiple short-term mission trips throughout 2025. Many application deadlines are fast approaching, so check out available opportunities HERE.

Christmas Ideas for Your Group

CELEBRATE

Light a fire in the fireplace during your meetings for a cozy atmosphere.
Invite group members’ kids to your small group and make gingerbread houses together. Have prizes for the most classic and the most creative houses.
Play Christmas music while people are arriving.
Hold a Christmas trivia competition. Divide into groups and see who knows the most about the holiday. Don’t forget to have a prize for the winning team!
Exchange small gifts. For a fun twist, have everyone bring an “as-seen-on-TV” gift or do a white elephant exchange.
Sing Christmas songs for your worship time.
Bring plates of your favorite Christmas cookies one night. Then swap recipes.
Offer peppermint mocha or gingerbread flavored creamer for coffee.
Make a big pot of hot chocolate and stir in a few peppermints to serve for a festive drink.
For a fun snack, dip pretzel rods in melted white chocolate and then roll them in crushed peppermints or red and green sprinkles. Set on parchment paper to harden before serving.
Set aside one meeting to have a meal together and simply pray for one another to invite group members to slow down in the midst of a busy season.

MINISTER

Ask someone on staff at your church for a list of elderly people who have a hard time getting to church every week. Choose a few of the people on the list and surprise them with caroling. Bring along a treat to share.
Use this same list of elderly members to figure out who might need someone to shovel snow for them this winter. Divide up the needs within your group.
Assemble several jars of Christmas cookie mix. Attach a tag to the jar with an encouraging Bible verse. Divide into groups of three or four and deliver the jars to people who are new to your church or who don’t have family nearby. Make sure to let any new people know about your church’s small-group opportunities or invite them to your group. After, meet back at your host home to pray for each person you visited.
As a group, choose a holiday ministry to support. Spend time praying for this ministry and the people who will benefit from your involvement.
Host a Christmas appreciation dinner for the staff at your church to thank them for their ministry.
Hold a Christmas dinner and invite people who don’t have anywhere to go for the holiday.

(adapted from an article on smallgroup.com)

SAVE THE DATES

Christmas Eve Services – December 23 + 24 – Times and RSVP opportunities are LIVE! CLICK HERE

*Due to services on December 23 + 24, there will be NO REGULAR services on December 22. However, some campuses are holding a special Advent service. You can get more information on your campus Engage Page.

Don’t forget to checkout the Events Page for more details!

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 12/1

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 11/24

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 11/17

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 11/10

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 11/3

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 10/27

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 10/20

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 10/13

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 10/6

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/29

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/22

*CLICK HERE for that Message Guide from 9/15

*CLICK HERE for the Message Guide from 9/8

2025 Calendar

Below are some important dates and timelines we want to be sure are on your calendar. We'll continue to update this information throughout the season!

2024

Week of Sept 8 | Groups Start

Oct 8 & 9 | Engaging Our Post-Christian Culture Seminar

Oct 31 / Nov 1 | Baptisms

Nov 3 | Partnership Class @ Lithopolis

Nov 7 / 10 | Big Weekend

Week of Dec 8 | Last Week of Groups for 2024

Dec 25 – Jan 1 | Week of Rest

2025

Week of Jan 12 | Groups Start Back Up

Week of May 11 | Groups End for the Season

Why Partnership?

Pastor Keith explains "Why Partnership?" at Grace. Feel free to send this resource to group members who are exploring Partnership with Grace.

Leader Reference Materials & Resources

Follow Group Devotional – click here

Gospel Conversation Starters – click here

Growth Resources

Gospel Coach, Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God – 4/4/23 – click here
The Shepherd Leader – 4/17/23 – click here
Teaching Like a Shepherd – 5/2/23 – click here
Shepherding God’s People: A Guide to Faithful & Fruitful Pastoral Ministry – 5/16/23 – click here
Making Small Groups Work – 6/6/23 – click here
Shepherds Protect the Sheep – 6/29/23 – click here
A Gospel Coach Conversation – 7/12/23 – click here
Gospel Coach, Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God – 7/26/23 – click here
Group Leader Journal – 8/8/23 – click here
Shepherding God’s People – 8/22/23 – click here
Shepherding God’s People – 9/6/23 – click here
Creating Community – 5 Keys to Building a Small Group Culture – 9/20/23 – click here
Small Groups with Purpose – 10/4/23 – click here
Creating Community – 5 Keys to Building a Small Group CultureI – 11/12/23 – click here
Volunteer Code – Plays to Win – 12/10/23 – click here
Volunteer Code – Plays to Win – 12/18/23 – click here
Volunteer Code – Plays to Win – 1/7/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Makes the Team Better – 1/21/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Makes the Team Better – 2/11/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Team Player – 3/3/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Follows the Coach – 3/10/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Follows the Coach – 3/24/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Prioritizes Health – 4/7/24 – click here
Volunteer Code – Prioritizes Health – 4/21/24 – click here

Reference Materials

YourGraceChurch Tutorials

LEAD – Small Group Leader App

Download LEAD, the Small Group Leader app from CCB. This app allows you to take or edit attendance, send messages to your group, access a group list at all times, and also access a list of group members’ birthdays and anniversaries. *When installing, use CCB Church Prefix “YourGraceChurch” to set up the app on your device.

RightNowMedia

Everything done at RightNowMedia is rooted in Jesus’ promise that God will use His people to change the world. They’re also here to serve the church. They provide Christians across the globe with resources that will inspire them to champion the mission Jesus gave to His people – making disciples of all nations. God calls us to focus our lives on Him rather than on ourselves. Whether in church, in the workplace, or at home, RightNowMedia wants to see disciples of Jesus loving God and loving others.

Community/Outreach Projects

Looking for Local Impact projects? Check out the Local Impact page where you’ll find a list of project ideas and Grace’s Local Impact Partners.

LEARN MORE

In addition to local impact, Grace also partners with families in our local communities through Neighbor Care. Volunteers have the opportunity to offer physical assistance in projects like minor home repairs, lawn/yard work, moving, etc. You can sign up here:

Care & Resources

Grace offers resources for those facing a variety of challenges. And if Grace doesn’t offer them, we partner with someone who does. Click the button below for more information including a list of recommended counselors.

RESOURCES