Top 5 Ideas for Hosting a Women's Group
Dictionary.com defines hosting in just eleven words - “a person who receives or entertains guests at home or elsewhere.” Funny, how we’ve attached so many other requirements (elaborate centerpieces, five-course menus, spotless homes) to the concept that many of us become overwhelmed at the mere thought of hosting. Hosting a women’s group, whether at church, in your home, or the local coffee shop, doesn’t have to be as complicated as we’ve made it out to be! When we get the basics right the rest of the details will fall into place and your group is certain to be a success.
As you make plans to gather a group of women to study God’s Word keep these top 5 ideas in mind:
- Location, location, location - Choose a warm, friendly location with comfortable chairs. Tables can be great for holding snacks, Bibles, and study books, but chairs work just fine too! Check the thermostat and make any necessary adjustments if the room it too hot or too cold. Women shouldn’t need to bring a blanket in their Bible study bag (true story!).
- Issue invitations. - Women love to be invited! Hand-written invitations on a cute notecard are such a rarity, they’ll view your invite as extra special. Email and Facebook invites will work too. No matter what method you chose, make certain you include all the pertinent details – location, time (start and end), date, and what they’ll need to bring. Don’t’ forget to include your contact information so they can RSVP and ask questions.
- Put on a pot of coffee. - There’s something about women, coffee, and Bible study. You can’t have one without the other! Whether or not you choose to serve snacks or a light breakfast, coffee and a carafe of water will be greatly appreciated by all those in attendance. Keep things simple. Save the fancy dessert plates for a celebration at the end of your study.
- Communicate clearly and communicate often. - Gather everyone’s addresses, email, and cell phone numbers at your first meeting and put them to use! Distribute your reading and homework schedule to keep women on task. Send out an encouraging note and homework reminder in between meetings. Mail out a handwritten note to each women over the course of your study. Email the prayer requests from the group out each week. Remind your women that God loves them and they are welcome even if they didn’t get the homework finished.
- Incorporate opportunities for fellowship. - As your group gets to know one another, your discussions will become richer. You can help fan the flames of friendship by including intentional opportunities for fellowship. Open each week with a fun icebreaker question. What your favorite restaurant to grab lunch with a friend? What household chore do you dread? Pass around the Conversation Starter Jar from DaySpring. Plan optional lunches or ladies nights out. As women connect over shared experiences they’ll be more forthcoming in their answers to the Bible study questions.
When we focus on making the women in our group comfortable, all of the other details will fall into place.
As you make plans to host your next small group, consider these two fantastic studies from DaySpring – Just Open the Door and We Saved You a Seat. Just Open the Door will inspire your women to be more intentional in offering hospitality to those God places in their path We Saved You a Seat focuses on friendship – what it means to be a friend and how we can be a better friend.
For more ideas on hosting your own small group, be sure to check out these articles.
10 Ways to Share God's Love with Your Group
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