Connect Group
Leader Guide
Leading a Connect Group at Foundations Church is an incredible opportunity to help people grow in faith and build authentic community. With that privilege comes a responsibility to lead with integrity, stay rooted in God’s Word, and model the heart of Christ in every conversation and gathering. These guidelines outline the expectations we hold for all our leaders—not as rules to limit you, but as guardrails to help you lead well, create safe and life-giving environments, and stay unified as we point people to Jesus together.
1. Representing Foundations Church
As a Connect Group leader, you represent Foundations Church (FC).
- Biblical Alignment: Please read and support our FC Beliefs – foundationschurch.tv/about.
- Teaching Foundation: All teaching, study, and discussion should adhere to these Biblical beliefs. We lead from God’s Word, not personal opinions.
- Avoiding Personal Opinions: Refrain from sharing personal views on religion, politics, or other divisive topics.
- Redirecting Discussions: If someone in your group over-shares inappropriate opinions, kindly redirect them back to Scripture.
- Handling Ongoing Issues: If problems continue, speak privately with the person or reach out to Casey Graves for support.
When choosing study content, ensure it is Biblically sound and aligns with FC’s beliefs.
2. Committing to the Process
Starting a group can take time to grow.
- Timeframe: Commit to leading for at least 6 months to establish your group.
- Attendance: It’s normal to have just 1–2 attendees or inconsistent attendance early on. Stay faithful—it grows over time.
- Promotion: We can help promote your group, but the best growth strategy is personal invitation.
- Responsiveness: Always respond promptly to people requesting information about your group.
3. Respecting People’s Time
Consistency builds trust and commitment.
- Start and End on Time: Honor people’s schedules by beginning and finishing when planned.
- Avoid Cancellations: Only reschedule or cancel for sickness or emergencies.
- Stay Consistent: Regular meeting times and consistent studies help your group remain strong and committed.
4. Creating a Healthy Group Environment
Our goal is to build community and help people grow closer to Christ.
- Atmosphere: Groups should be encouraging, uplifting, and Christ-centered.
- Prohibited Behaviors: No alcohol/drug use, gossip, or anything that may harm someone’s spiritual walk.
- Conflict Handling: Address issues privately with the individual or ask us for help.
- Caring for One Another:
- Pray for each other regularly.
- Reach out when someone is in need.
- Celebrate life events (e.g., baby showers, hospital visits).
- Provide meals during times of sickness or new babies.
Let’s grow together and demonstrate Christ’s love by caring deeply for each other.
Have you ever made a quick decision based on emotion, pressure, exhaustion, or desire that later led to regret? What did you learn from it?
Esau traded something valuable for something immediate. What are some ways people today are tempted to sacrifice long-term purpose for short-term satisfaction?Are there any areas in your life where you’ve been saying, “It’s not that big of a deal,” even though the Holy Spirit has been convicting you otherwise?
Galatians 5 talks about the tension between the sinful nature and the Spirit. Where do you most need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and strength right now?
Practice:
This week, identify one recurring temptation, habit, or unhealthy pattern that tends to pull you away from God’s best. Create one intentional barrier or spiritual habit to help you walk by the Spirit instead of impulse. That could mean deleting an app, changing a routine, setting a boundary, fasting from something distracting, texting an accountability partner, or starting each morning with Scripture and prayer before touching your phone.