Group leadership isn’t just about guiding a great Bible study. It’s about cultivating a culture of care, where people feel seen, known, and valued. Whether someone’s been attending for years or just walked in for the first time, your group’s ability to care well is what turns a gathering into a spiritual home.

Here are three practical ways to lead your group toward deeper care—for each other and for the guests God sends your way.

1. Set the Tone with Intentional Hospitality

Care begins before the first question is asked. It starts with how people are greeted, where they sit, and whether they feel like they belong. As the leader, you’re the thermostat—not just reading the room, but setting the temperature.

Start by modeling warmth and attentiveness. Learn names quickly. Introduce guests with a smile and a short story (“This is Sarah—she’s new to town and loves hiking!”). Invite members to sit near newcomers and ask open-ended questions that spark connection.

Consider assigning a “hospitality champion”—someone in your group who naturally notices others and can help welcome guests. And don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed chair, a handout with names, or a follow-up text that says, “We’re so glad you came.”

Hospitality isn’t just niceness—it’s discipleship in action. When people feel safe and included, they’re more likely to open up, grow spiritually, and return.

2. Build Rhythms of Care into the Group’s DNA

Caring for people isn’t a one-time event—it’s a rhythm. And rhythms need structure. That’s where your leadership comes in.

Create simple systems that help your group care consistently. For example:

• A prayer list that gets updated weekly and revisited intentionally
• A rotating care team that checks in on absentees or delivers meals when needed
• A birthday calendar or celebration moment that honors each person

Encourage members to take ownership of care—not just rely on you. When someone shares a struggle, ask, “Who feels led to follow up this week?” That kind of shared responsibility builds spiritual maturity and relational depth.

And don’t forget the guests. A quick check-in after their first visit (“Any questions? Want to grab coffee?”) can turn a one-time drop-in into a long-term connection. Care is the bridge between attendance and belonging.

3. Teach the Why Behind the What

If you want your group to care well, they need to understand why it matters. Don’t just assign tasks—cast vision.

Take time during a session to say, “Let’s talk about why we care for each other.” Use Scripture to anchor the conversation—John 13:34–35, Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:10. Share stories of how care has impacted your life or someone else’s. Invite members to reflect on moments when they felt truly seen.

When people grasp that caring is part of their calling—not just a nice extra—they begin to lean in. They start noticing who’s missing, who’s hurting, who’s new. And they respond not because they have to, but because they want to.

You’re not just leading a group—you’re shaping a culture. And when care becomes the heartbeat of your group, it transforms everything. Guests become friends. Members become ministers. And your group becomes a living picture of the gospel.

4. Pay Attention to What you Call Your Group Members

My friend and former colleague, group ministry expert David Francis, said the following in his book Connect3:  

“Perhaps the first step a group must take to signal that it wants to move from class to community is to change what it calls the roster of people who are members of the group. In a class the people who have enrolled are put on a class roll. In a community they are added to a ministry list. What’s the difference? A class roll connotes that the primary commitment is from member to class. That is, the member has made a commitment to attend the class. A ministry list, on the other hand, connotes that the primary commitment is from class or community to member. That is, the group has made a commitment to minister to and with the member” (p.20).

So go ahead—set the tone, build the rhythm, teach the why, and place your members on a ministry list, not a roster. Your group doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to be present. And when you lead with heart, you’ll find that care isn’t just a strategy—it’s sacred.