Overview
In this guide, we'll walk you through creating a small group leader discussion guide on Church.Tech based on your sermon. This is a fantastic way to equip your small group leaders with relevant questions, sermon summaries, and other resources for meaningful discussions. Follow the steps below to get started:
🎥 Watch this 4 min video or dive right in with step-by-step instructions below
Step 1: Upload Your Sermon
Before you create your small group leader guide, ensure that your sermon is uploaded to the platform. You can upload your sermon as a video, audio file, or even a transcript. Church.Tech supports multiple formats, including:
Video: .mp4, .mov
Audio: .mp3, .m4a, .wav
External links from YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
Once your sermon is uploaded, Church.Tech will process it, extract audio, and transcribe the content for further use.
Step 2: Generate Clips (Optional for Pro Users)
If you want to use specific sermon highlights in your discussion guide, you can create clips. Navigate to the Clips section, where Church.Tech will automatically generate 10-25 social media-friendly clips from your sermon. This can be helpful if you'd like to share impactful moments with your small group.
Step 3: Start Creating the Discussion Guide
To begin creating your group leader guide:
Go to the Pages section.
Either click on "Create Page" at the top of the screen or use the big green "Create Page" button.
In the template options, select Group Leader Guide. You’ll see other options such as a five-day devotional or parent guide, but for this guide, choose Group Leader Guide.
Step 4: Customize Your Guide
Once you've chosen the group leader guide template, the platform will automatically generate key elements, including:
A summary of the sermon
Discussion questions
An icebreaker
A prayer section
You can customize the page in the following ways:
Edit the Title: Update the guide’s name based on the date or sermon series (e.g., "October 26 Group Leader Guide").
Edit the Sermon Series: Add the current series title, e.g., "Jesus Kingdom."
Step 5: Customize Discussion Questions
Church.Tech automatically generates five thoughtful discussion questions based on the sermon content. These questions are split into three parts:
Scripture-focused question: Grounded in the sermon text.
Context: Additional details to help leaders facilitate the discussion.
Application question: Encourages group members to apply biblical principles to their lives.
If you’re not satisfied with a question, you can regenerate it. Click "Regenerate" on the "Details" tab, and provide feedback on what you'd like changed, and the platform will create a new set of questions.
Step 6: Review and Edit the Page
Once the guide is generated, you’ll see all the pre-filled elements:
Sermon Summary: A brief overview of the sermon, ready for you to review and modify.
Icebreaker: The system generates an icebreaker, but you can edit or add more using the AI tools.
Multimedia Integration: If your sermon was uploaded as a YouTube video, it will automatically appear in the guide.
You can also edit any part of the content directly within the page using familiar text editing tools or AI-powered tools like Style Copilot, which helps format images and text for a polished look.
Step 7: Share the Guide
After finalizing your group leader guide, sharing it with your small group leaders is easy:
Copy the page URL.
Paste it into a new browser tab to ensure everything looks good.
Share the link via email, text, or any communication platform with your group leaders.
Group leaders can view the guide on any device, including phones, tablets, or laptops. They can also print it if needed.
Bonus Features
Language Translation: Use the platform’s AI tools to translate your discussion guide into other languages.
Prayer Section: Encourage deeper engagement with a pre-written prayer experience tailored to your sermon.
Analytics: Track engagement with the guide, including who has viewed the page and how long they spent on it.
Conclusion
With Church.Tech, creating a group leader discussion guide is simple. In just a few clicks, you’ll have a comprehensive resource that’s customizable, easy to share, and designed to engage your small groups in meaningful discussions. Let us know if you need further assistance!