If your heart feels pulled in a hundred directions, here are five simple, biblical, and practical ways to recenter your life around Christ today – and walk in deeper faith and devotion to Him.
If you’ve said “yes” to leading a group of women, let me tell you something right up front: you are stepping into holy ground.
The moment a group gathers in Jesus’ name, the atmosphere shifts. Hearts soften. Walls come down. Lives open up. But the culture your group experiences won’t happen by accident.
Every group, whether it’s a Bible study, table group, or any other group type, it develops a culture. The question is simply: Will it be intentional or accidental?
You, as the leader, get the privilege of setting the tone. And the culture you cultivate in those very first moments will shape everything that happens in the weeks and months that follow.
So today, I want to walk with you through three simple but powerful things that will help you build a Christ-centered, spiritually healthy culture from day one. These aren’t complicated. They don’t require you to be a seasoned leader or a Bible expert. They simply require willingness, consistency, and the heart of a woman who loves Jesus and leads from His strength.
Let’s dive in.
Culture is simply the unwritten rules you decide to follow together. But here’s the thing, those rules must be spoken before they can be honored. People need to know what’s expected, before they can uphold those expectations.
Take a few minutes in your first meeting (and again whenever you add new members) to say something like:
“Ladies, here’s the heart of our group: this is a safe space. We commit to confidentiality, to encouraging one another, to grace over judgment, to kindness over criticism, and to growth – not perfection. We don’t have to come polished. We just come honest. The Bible is our standard and final authority for every aspect of our life, and we will base everything on the Bible. We will speak the truth in love even when it is hard because we love each other.”
This does something powerful: it gives women permission to exhale.
You’ll be amazed how many women sit in Christian gatherings for years but have never been told they are allowed to be human, struggle, ask questions, or grow at their own pace.
You’d be amazed how many women have been told by Christian leaders that they were being mean or judgmental for quoting Scripture in response to someone’s sin.
Stated expectations help you:
These aren’t “rules.” They’re guiderails for a spiritually safe space where women can meet Jesus together, and grow. Growth involves friction, not comfort.
In your group, whatever you model will reproduce. If you want vulnerability, go first. If you want prayerfulness, YOU pray boldly. If you want Scripture-centered discussion, let them see you anchored in the Word.
Your group will mirror your posture.
This doesn’t mean you need to be perfect. In fact, the more you lead with humility and honesty, the easier it becomes for your women to follow suit.
Try things like:
Sharing your personal reflections on a passage
Admitting when you don’t know the answer
Offering a story from your life that connects to the topic
Speaking encouragement generously
Being patient with awkward silence
Showing compassion when someone opens up
Women learn just as much, if not more, from what you model than from what you teach.
The goal is not to be impressive. The goal is to be imitable. You want to be a woman worth imitating, so they can imitate you and ultimately be imitating Christ.
This is the secret ingredient in creating Christ-centered culture: you cultivate the spiritual soil before anyone walks through the door.
When you pray over your women individually, three things happen:
Your heart softens toward them.
You’ll lead from compassion instead of pressure.
The Holy Spirit prepares the room.
He readies their hearts in ways you cannot.
Your leadership becomes Spirit-led, not self-led.
You rely on His strength instead of your own.
Ask the Lord simple but powerful things:
“Prepare her heart.”
“Give her clarity.”
“Speak to her tonight.”
“Show me how to love her well.”
“Give me the words to respond.”
Leading begins long before gathering.
Here’s what you’ll notice over time if you intentionally build culture from day one:
Women will open up more quickly
Discussion will go deeper
Prayer will feel natural, not forced
Confession will become safe
Spiritual growth will accelerate
Unity will strengthen
Your burden will lighten
You won’t just see women attending.
You’ll see women growing.
And sister… that’s the heartbeat of discipleship.
You’re not building a meeting. You’re cultivating a greenhouse for spiritual transformation. A place where women can encounter Jesus, link arms with one another, and walk out their faith with courage and joy.
Do it intentionally, and you will see God do abundantly more than you could ask or imagine.
If you’re ready to take your first step, here’s what I recommend:
Pray.
Ask God to confirm your desire to lead and to open a door for you.
REMEMBER:
Leading ia group of women isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing and humble. Willing to show up, to share your faith, and to point other women to Jesus. And if God is nudging your heart in this area, don’t ignore it - He has good work for you to do.
I help Christian women grow in their faith, intentionally live it out, and pass it on to others.
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