In youth ministry, authenticity is crucial for connecting with young people and being able to effectively teach biblical principles to them. In this podcast episode, I will share some insights on leading small groups in youth ministry.
[0:00] Intro
[2:00] A better youth program?
[10:15] How to facilitate a small group
[14:05] Don’t burnout
[17:09] Final thoughts
Bible Verses:
1 Corinthians 11:1
Psalm 23:5-6
In youth ministry, it is important to balance engaging content with biblical teaching, and to spend time with God personally so that you overflow with God's love to others. It’s about facilitating the group meeting, asking thought-provoking questions, and creating space for discussion and growth. Get to know your students and challenge them with truth from Scripture, rather than simply entertaining them with games and fun activities.
Unlike community centers, local churches have a unique role in making disciples of Jesus Christ. No community program for youth can do that except the church.
Additionally, youth don’t need more friends. They need men and women of God to be themselves, love God, and help them become believers in Jesus Christ, rather than try to be cool or relate to them in a superficial way.
We can teach youth the Word of God while also making it engaging. I want to share resources for youth ministry leaders, including training and small group facilitation tips.
When leading small groups of students, ask thought-provoking questions and give space for discussion. Our series called How to Facilitate a Small Group can walk you through how to lead small groups.
https://proclaimministries.com/students?sapurl=lytyewr0l2xil21zlys2yzl5ngpmp2jyyw5kaw5npxrydwumzw1izwq9dhj1zszyzwnlbnrsb3v0zt1hchaud2vilwfwcc5sawjyyxj5lmxpc3qmcmvjzw50um91dgvtbhvnpsuyqjyzdmhoetk=
Leading small groups is important, but I can’t emphasize enough the importance of self-care for youth ministry leaders. You want to avoid burnout by refueling and staying connected to the source - God. There is a danger for leaders in overgiving and under-receiving.
“If my output exceeds my input, my upkeep will be my downfall.”
https://proclaimministries.com/students?sapurl=lytyewr0l2xil21zlytnnxcyewjwp2jyyw5kaw5npxrydwumzw1izwq9dhj1zszyzwnlbnrsb3v0zt1hchaud2vilwfwcc5sawjyyxj5lmxpc3qmcmvjzw50um91dgvtbhvnpsuyqjyzdmhoetk=
Spend time with God so your ministry to youth is an overflow from your relationship with the Lord. Consider the unique context and ministry of the church you are serving. Bring your genuine love for God and His Word to your service in youth ministry.
God Does Not Give From His Riches
Mister Brown • Philippians 4:19–20
God does not give ‘From’ His riches, He gives ‘According to’ His riches. The difference is that God’s riches are never and will never be depleted.
Philippians 4:19-20
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Avoiding Burnout In Youth Ministry | Stay Connected To The Source
Mister Brown • John 15:1–5
“If your output exceeds your input, your upkeep will be your downfall.”
Working in student ministries can be exhausting and spiritually draining. To combat this, you have to stay connected to the Source! God is the ultimate source, everything else is simply a resource. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Give Them Space To Grow
Mister Brown • John 20:24–29
Working with teenagers can be hard! They do and say stuff that leaves us stumped. But the truth is, we did that too sometimes. It is so important as youth ministry leaders to give students the space to grow!
Just like “Doubting Thomas” in the Bible, people change and grow; but we have to give them the space to do so.
Student Ministry Leaders Need To Be FAT
Mister Brown
Hello, Student Ministry Leaders! When I was growing up we used the acronym FAT in student ministry.
[0:36] F - Be Faithful
If you have been called into student ministry, it will be daunting and it will be discouraging at times. You might find it difficult to connect with students. You might even be tempted to be like someone else. But be faithful.
Be faithful to who you are; don’t try to be someone else. God has not called you to be anyone else, but yourself.
Be faithful in your presence. Keep showing up for the students. God has called you to be present.
[1:50] A - Be Available
Be available for conversations with students. That means being available to talk to students and to listen to them. Sometimes, students don’t want to talk at all. Don’t be afraid of silence. Eventually, most students will open up.
Everyone needs affirmation, acceptance, and approval. Students want to be heard and they will open up when they are ready.
[3:20] T - Be True
Be true to who you are and who you are becoming. Students don’t need more friends. They need more caring adults.
Students need S.O.A.P. That’s a funny acronym for Significant Other Adult Person. Students need significant other adult people in their lives and you are one of them.
The deepest need that students have is to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior. They will look to you to guide them in their lives with their real problems and real struggles. You have the privilege of leading them to Christ and helping them learn how to live out their faith.
[5:00] Thank You!
Thank you for being involved in student ministries and for being FAT! God will use you in ways you may not expect.
How To Lead A Small Group
Mister Brown
This video will show you how to lead a small group discussion for Junior High, High School, and College age groups. This is not about teaching a lesson, but leading a conversation about a book, a Bible study, a sermon, or some other topic.
[1:40] LEAD, don’t re-teach
It’s not your job to re-teach, but to lead the small group in a discussion about the book or topic you are meeting about.
[2:18] Listen
Listen for the purpose of discussing. Listen to everyone in the group to discover more together, expand on thoughts, and ask more questions. This will also help the group to learn organically and not necessarily just follow a set of questions.
Also, don’t be afraid of silence. This could be people being insecure, but it can also be how people in the group process what they are learning. Allow time for people to process.
[4:44] Everyone
Make space for everyone to engage in their own way. Some people will talk, some will nod, and some may take notes.
[5:45] Ask
Ask open-ended, thought-provoking questions. This will get people to think. Not every question needs to have a right or wrong answer. The questions are more about creating discussion. You can ask “why” or “what do you think about” questions.
[7:05] Discussion
Your job is to lead the discussion, not the instruction. It’s not about you. Other people in the group should not lean on you to share all of your ideas. The point of leading the small group is to get everyone to discuss.
This also means allowing for different points of view and allowing people to be wrong. Hearing different points of view will get everyone in the group talking. Be patient. It’s important to protect the Word of God, but trust the process of getting to the right answers as a group.
Get more details about leading a small group with our video series, https://proclaimministries.com/training?sapurl=lytyewr0l2xil21zlys2yzl5ngpmp2vtymvkpxrydwumcmvjzw50um91dgu9yxbwlndlyi1hchaubglicmfyes5saxn0jnjly2vudfjvdxrlu2x1zz0lmkj6ynznews0
https://proclaimministries.com/app
