Weekly Compass Leader Guide
How to use the Weekly Compass for Family or Small Group Discussions
What Is the Weekly Compass? đ§
The Weekly Compass (WC) is a mini lesson plan that focuses on a single value and explores how it can guide our everyday decisions and actions. Each edition includes a brief reflection, group discussion prompts, and a practical âtake actionâ stepâperfect for families, small groups, or even personal reflection.
Since itâs designed for interactive discussion, itâs helpful to choose a group leader for each session. This can rotate each week or remain consistent, but we suggest having just one leader per discussion to help keep things focused and flowing smoothly.
This Leader Guide provides step-by-step instructions to help you facilitate a meaningful, engaging Weekly Compass conversation. đ
đ Step 1: Review the Content
Before your group meets, spend at least 10 minutes reading through the Weekly Compass. Get familiar with the topic, and take a moment to reflect on how it relates to your own experiences.
Pro tip: Glance at the discussion questions ahead of time and jot down your own brief responses, just so youâre ready to help things along if needed.
đŻ Step 2: Review the Key Objectives
The Key Objectives help clarify what the group should take away from the session. You can:
Read them aloud as written,
Put them in your own words, or
Simply keep them in mind as you move into the reflection.
If you choose to rephrase, take a minute to say it out loud first. (We all know how whatâs in our heads doesnât always come out quite right on the first try. đ ) Until you feel confident, reading them verbatim works just fine.
đ Step 3: Read the Opening Reflection
The Opening Reflection is designed for all ages. Hereâs how to use it:
Read the first paragraph to everyoneâitâs for all ages.
For the second paragraph, pick Option 1 if younger kids are present or Option 2 for teens/adults.
We recommend the discussion leader read the reflection out loud. If someone else reads, make sure theyâre comfortable with pacing and tone. A little practice goes a long way in making the message feel authentic and impactful.
đŹ Step 4: Facilitate the Discussion
Start by reading the short intro before the discussion questions. Then choose the most age-appropriate set of questions and walk through them, one at a time, giving people plenty of space to share.
Tips for Great Discussion đŁď¸
Go last. Let others answer before sharing your thoughts. It invites more honesty and variety.
Invite the quiet voices. Gently ask quiet members if theyâd like to share. Sometimes all they need is a nudge.
Go deeper. If answers are short or vague, try follow-ups like: âWhat makes you feel that way?â or âCan you say more?â
Avoid steering. Donât turn it into a quiz. Ask questions to learn what they think and feel, not to lead them to âcorrectâ answers.
No wrong answers. Remind everyone the goal is exploration, not perfection.
đŞ Step 5: Take Action!
Read the short intro to the Weekly Challenge. Then, either read the action step as written or summarize it in your own words. Make sure everyone understands the task.
Encourage everyone to commit to the challengeâbig or small. Ask if anyone wants to briefly share how last weekâs challenge went, too. Accountability helps build habits.
đ§ Step 6: Closing Thoughts
Read the final quote and wrap-up reflection. Or, if it feels more natural, paraphrase the key points, especially if you want to highlight something meaningful from your groupâs discussion.
If youâre talking with children or teens, try weaving in their ideas so they feel heard and valued. It shows you're listening and encourages deeper participation next time.
Bonus Tip: Mark the end of your session with intention. A formal wrap-up (âThanks for sharing todayâgreat thoughts, everyone!â) helps frame the time as something meaningful. But donât be afraid to let the conversation continue afterward in a more casual way. After all, living our values doesnât stop when the meeting ends! đą