Welcome

We are so glad you’ve said yes to becoming a small group leader at Mechanicsville Christian Center (MCC)! As a small group leader, you will partner with the pastors and staff of MCC to help care for our people and to encourage those in your group to move one step closer in their walk with God.

Here are your next steps:

1. Complete Small Group Leader Application. 
2. Complete a one-on-one interview/phone call with Terra Lawrence.
3. Set up your account on RightNow Media.
4. Complete the online training for new group leaders on Right Now Media (about 1 hour).
5. Sign the SGL Commitment, Honor Code, and Abuse Acknowledgement forms.
6. Set up your small group with Planning Center Groups using these instructions.
   • Get outside and snap a photo of yourself (and additional leaders if applicable) to add to your group profile.
     • Pick a green backdrop outside (e.g. a tree)
     • Make sure the sun is in front of you, so that you aren’t backlit, and we can see your pretty/handsome face
     • Avoid odd background objects (e.g. doghouses, cars, your child’s tricycle)
     • Take a horizontal picture
     • Take the picture from the chest up
7. Reserve space at the church for your group meeting if you plan to meet at MCC. Please contact Karen Mitchell (kmitchell@mccag.org) to reserve your room. If you need internet access to stream a video, please use the guest Wifi (password: welcome2mcc).
8. Grow your group! Pray and ask God who in your world (neighborhood, workplace, friend circle, recreational activities, etc.) you should invite to join your group. Don’t say someone’s “no” for them – Ask! We all like to be invited.
9. Plan for your first group meeting
   1. Choose your curriculum (see list below)
   2. Icebreaker Questions for Small Groups
   3. Sample Agenda
   4. Ministry Details and Contacts – As a leader at MCC, your group members will naturally see you as a source of information about the church. This sheet will help you know who to contact for different needs. Additionally, if your small group wishes to serve together, there are dozens of opportunities marked with “**” to indicate potential areas where volunteers are needed.
   5. Next Steps – Understand your primary role as a small group leader is to help your group members identify and take the next step in their spiritual walk. This document provides verbiage and ideas for how to incorporate this naturally into group discussions
   6. Return to Group Leader Resources. 

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Recommended Curriculum

To check out any materials listed below, contact Terra Lawrence.

Brand New Groups
40 Days of Community – Rick Warren (DVD; Small Group Library)
Blueprint for Life – Michael Kendrick, Ben Ortlip (DVD; Small Group Library)
Community – (Starting Well in Your Small Group) – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)
Discovering God’s Will – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)
Guard Rails – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)
“Talk About It” Sunday Sermon Discussion Questions (sent via email each Sunday)

Apologetics/New Believers
Jesus Among Other Gods – Zacharias (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Seven Big Questions – Explore God (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Passion (DVD; Small Group Library)
What’s So Amazing About Grace? – Philip Yancey (DVD; Small Group Library)
Alpha – video-based study

Studying the Bible
How to Study the Bible Overview (Navigators)
How to Study the Bible Overview (Jen Wilkin)
Truth Search Method
SOAP Study Method
Blue Letter Bible (commentaries, cross-references, word studies)
Bible Project – How to Read the Bible
Bible Project – Word Studies

Anyone
AHA – Kyle Idleman (DVD; Small Group Library)
All In – Mark Batterson (DVD; Small Group Library)
Fearless – Max Lucado (DVD; Small Group Library)
Follow – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)
In the Meantime – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)
Life Rules – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)
Simon Peter – Flawed but Faithful Disciple- Adam Hamilton (DVD; Small Group Library)
Soul Keeping – Ortberg (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Daniel Plan – Rick Warren (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Life You’ve Always Wanted – John Ortberg (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Me I Want to Be – John Ortberg (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Power of Your Words – Robert Morris (DVD; Small Group Library)
Relentless – John Bevere (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Brave Love – Brian and Christy Brent (Book; Women’s Ministry)
RightNow Media Studies Other MCC Groups Have Used

Prayer, the Holy Spirit, and God’s Presence
Experiencing God – Henry Blackaby (DVD; Small Group Library)
Experiencing God – Henry Blackaby (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Experiencing God for Teens – Mike & Daniel Blackaby (Digital Format; Small Group Library)
Forgotten God – Francis Chan (DVD; Small Group Library)
The God I Never Knew – Robert Morris (DVD; Small Group Library)
Intercessory Prayer – Dutch Sheets (DVD; Small Group Library)
Prayer – Does It Make Any Difference? – Philip Yancey (DVD; Small Group Library)
Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Circle Maker – Mark Batterson (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Helper – Depending on the Spirit in All Of Life – Randy Hurst (DVD; Small Group Library)
When God’s People Pray – Jim Cymbala (DVD; Small Group Library)

Marriage
Keep Your Love On – Danny Silk (DVD; Small Group Library)
Five Love Languages – Gary Chapman (book)
The Art of Marriage – FamilyLife (DVD)
Love and Respect – Emmerson Eggerichs (book)
Sacred Marriage – Gary Thomas (book and RightNowMedia video study)
The Marriage Course – Alpha
Grace-Filled Marriage and Grace-Filled Marriage 2 – Tim Kimmel (Books and RightNow Media video studies)

Family & Parenting
Growing Kids God’s Way – Ezzos (DVD; Small Group Library)
Parenting on Purpose – Digital files (Terra, terra@mccag.org)
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World – Kristen Welch (book)
The Smart Stepfamily – Ron L. Deal (RightNow Media)

Financial
Financial Peace University – Dave Ramsey (offered annually at MCC)
The Legacy Journey – Dave Ramsey (book)

Men
Defined – Stephen and Alex Kendrick (DVD; Small Group Library)
Fathered by God – John Eldredge (DVD; Small Group Library)
Wild at Heart – John Eldredge (DVD; Small Group Library)
33 The Series – Robert Lewis (RightNow Media)
Play The Man – Mark Batterson (RightNow Media)

Women
1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ – Jen Wilkin (Digital Format; Small Group Library)
Believing God – Beth Moore (Digital Format; Small Group Library)
Daniel – Beth Moore (DVD; Small Group Library)
A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Beloved Disciple – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Children of the Day (Thessalonians) – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
David: Seeking a Heart Like His – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Entrusted – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Esther – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Fully Alive – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Here and Now, There and Then – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Living Beyond Yourself – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
The Patriarchs – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Psalms of the Ascent – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Quest – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
When Godly People Do Ungodly Things – Beth Moore (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
The Inheritance – Beth Moore (DVD; Small Group Library)
Fierce – Jennifer Cowart (DVD; Small Group Library)
Jonah – Pricilla Shirer (DVD; Small Group Library)
Breathe – Priscilla Shirer (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Discerning the Voice of God – Priscilla Shirer (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Gideon: Your Weaknesses, God’s Strength – Priscilla Shirer (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Jonah: Navigating Life Interrupted – Priscilla Shirer (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
The Best Yes – Lysa TerKeurst (DVD; Small Group Library)
Unglued – Lysa TerKeurst (DVD; Small Group Library)
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way – Lysa TerKeurst (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Trustworthy – Lysa TerKeurst (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Captivating – Stasi Eldredge (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Battlefield of the Mind – Joyce Meyer (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Simple Prayer, Simple Life – Joyce Meyer (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
The Power of a Praying Woman – Stormie Omartian (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
A Mile in Her Shoes – Sheron Patterson (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Finding Balance – Becca Stevens (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Brave – Angela Thomas (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Living Your Life as a Beautiful Offering – Angela Thomas (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Strong – Angela Thomas (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Women of Faith: Forgotten Truths (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Women of Faith: Reinventing Your Life (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Covenant – Kay Arthur (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
Fight Like a Girl – Lisa Bevere (DVD; Women’s Ministry)
2020 – Christine Caine (DVD; Women’s Ministry)

Unity
Oneness Embraced – Tony Evans (RightNow Media)

Missions/Outreach
The Call – Adam Hamilton (DVD; Small Group Library)
The Cause Within You – Matthew Barnett (book)
When Helping Hurts – Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (book)
Letters to the Church – Francis Chan (DVD; Small Group Library)
Go Fish – Andy Stanley (DVD; Small Group Library)