You agreed to Host a small group at your home. Who's going to come? And how do you get them interested? How do you get them to come back?
Plan on finding the people for your group, meaning don't count on getting people sent to your group from the church. This is the most important thing you can learn, and you can do it.
Let's tick through a bunch of ideas on how to get people for your group:
Who do you know? Make a list of your friends, another list of your local family members, another list of your co-workers, and a list of your neighbors. These are your potential group members.
Invite them personally.
Don't send an email, or drop a flyer on their doorstep.
Do take a few minutes per person to talk to them. Tell them you're planning to have a group of friends and neighbors meet at your home at ______ (day of the week) for a six week study examing the question, "What On Earth Am I Here For." Invite them to come. Tell them a little about how you think the study will help you. Then make sure they have your phone number and directions to your home.
Here's a tip: if you sit in the same area at church at the same service every weekend, invite the people around you. Just ask them, "are you in a small group?" If they so "no," invite them to come to your group. Some groups have filled their groups with people just this way.
Follow up
Call or visit a few days before your first meeting. Take time to see how they're doing. Be interested in their life and not just in whether or not they'll come to your group. Mention that the study is based on the best-selling book by Pastor Rick Warren that has sold 32 million copies worldwide. Then ask if they'll be able to come.
The first meeting
Help everyone feel comfortable, and help each person get time to talk. If you have talkers and quiet people, ask questions of the quiet people to encourage them to share.
After the first meeting
Send an email to each person, thanking them for being at the first meeting and for being a great part of the group.