Investing in Students

When I was a small group leader in Kentucky I was given a lot of resources that dealt with small group dynamics (the following is not my direct idea). This article talks about how leaders can intentionally connect with and invest in the lives of students for the sake of eternity. Take a moment to think about what you have done this semester and what you have not done. Email me what you have to get better at (and what steps you are going to take to accomplish the task).

Here are some helpful tips for connecting and investing with your small group:

Review the Lesson, Even if You are not Teaching:

“My Small Group doesn’t want to talk.” A good working knowledge of the lesson will allow you to talk through the points covered and will help guide students to interact with material not specifically talked about during the lesson. Each Trek lesson has a Scripture it bases its lesson on (2.4 = Proverbs 3:1-8; 2.5 = Proverbs 4:10-27). Take time during the week to read through and study that Scripture (do it like you were going to teach the lesson).

Spend Time With Your Students Outside of Small Group Time:

To connect inside the walls of the church building, you have to connect outside. This is when your relationships with them will be strengthened. They will have the opportunity to see that you are a real person. This could be as simple as grabbing coffee together, having a sleep over, showing up at their sporting events, or going on a student ministry event. Specifically, here are suggested steps:

· At least once a month, call and encourage each member of your small group. Writing a card of encouragement is also a great way to connect.

· At least once a semester, plan a get-together for you and your students (A monthly get-together can be as easy as going out to lunch after Bible Fellowship, having students in your home for games and desert, or meeting them at a fun center. Also, most students have money. Don’t feel the need to float the bill).

· At least once a semester make it a point to connect with your small group member’s parents. Ask them how you can better serve as an ally in the lives of their teen.

Let Students Do the Talking:

You should guide the small group time, but your students should be doing the talking. The temptation for many small group leaders is to hijack the small group and teach another lesson. However, students should be doing the talking. This ensures that they are paying attention and actually grasping what is being taught.

Back Up Your Words With Actions:

Model the lessons you teach. You are not perfect and students can benefit from lessons you learn in life. One of the best things you can do for your students is to let them see you strive to walk closer with Christ.

Simple Do’s and Dont’s

Do

· Call students by name

· Be prepared and study your lesson

· Be flexible to the needs of the group

· Start and finish on time [emphasis added]

· Be prepared to learn from the students

Don’t

· Ask for a show of hands for attendance of upcoming events

· Talk too much or teach another lesson

· Be afraid of silence – the uncomfortableness of silence can encourage participation

· Be satisfied with the first response [ask them to explain what they mean]

· Be insecure about challenging discussions

· Be afraid to discipline students [send them to the youth pastor]

These are great ideas and tips for how to connect with students to impact their lives for eternity. But one thing that this article left out was prayer. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SPEND TIME ON YOUR KNEES IN PRAYER FOR THE STUDENTS IN YOUR SMALL GROUP. We can do nothing without the power of God coursing through our lives. This power is accessed through prayer! Also, as you spend time with students make sure you are intentionally encouraging them to live for Christ.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS OR THOUGHTS? HAVE YOU NOTICED THINGS THAT WORK AND THINGS THAT DON’T WORK WITH THE STUDENTS IN YOUR SMALL GROUP? LET ME KNOW…..

Accountability Matters

Hey leaders! A good friend of mine in ministry gave me a booklet with 52 core truths for youth ministry (1 for each week) a year or so ago and I wanted to share with you some of these great truths. This week is Why God Believes in Accountability:

One thing is true YOU CANNOT LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BY YOURSELF!! We need God's strength (Philippians 4:13) and other believers to help us (Hebrews 10:24) in our trek (or journey).

· On the most basis level we should all have a spiritual mentor (or leader) in our lives who challenges us to daily surrender to God's will in our lives. We should summit to that leader when they call us out (because of sin in our lives) or encourage us to surrender to God's will in our lives. Hebrews 13:17 says "Obey them that have rule over you , and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable to you." One commentator has this to say about this verse:

"Obey them that have the rule over you - Obey your leaders. He is not fit to rule who is not capable of guiding. (See on Heb. 13:7) In the former verse the apostle exhorts them to remember those who had been their leaders, and to imitate their faith; in this he exhorts them to obey the leaders they now had, and to submit to their authority in all matters of doctrine and discipline, on the ground that they watched for their souls, and should have to give an account of their conduct to God. If this conduct were improper, they must give in their report before the great tribunal with grief; but in it must be given: if holy and pure, they would give it in with joy. It is an awful consideration that many pastors, who had loved their flocks as their own souls, shall be obliged to accuse them before God for either having rejected or neglected the great salvation."

Transforming Truth:

1. It is profitable to serve under God given authority

2. God given authority is itself accountable to God (meaning that if God is the one that put the authority in your life then at the heart of the matter you are under the authority of God)

· Not only should we have a spiritual mentor in our lives but we should also realize that we are stewards over all that God has given us (spiritual gifts, time, creation, etc.). It is a humbling reality that God has chosen to use us to carry out His work (Matthew 28:18-20) here on earth. First Corinthians 4:1-2 says this, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” We are to be found trustworthy because all of us will one day give a personal account of our lives to God. Romans 14:12 says, "So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God." Will you go before God with joy knowing you were a good steward of His varied grace or will you go in shame knowing that you squandered opportunities that were put before you?

Transforming Truth:

1. Stewards are accountable to their lords

2. All of us will one day give a personal account of our lives to God

· Finally, we should understand that even Jesus was accountable to God the Father. Jesus had one mission here on this earth and it was to die for the sins of the world. He showed the ultimate surrender at the garden of Gethsemane when He said “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” In John 17:4 Jesus says this, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” We need to follow that ultimate example of Jesus and understand that our accountability to God is a serious matter.

Transforming Truth:

1. Even Jesus made Himself accountable to God, His Father.

All in all accountability is vital in the life of a Christian. Each one of us should have a Paul (a spiritual mentor to guide us) and a Timothy (someone who we spiritually mentor). If you do not have a Paul in your life then let me know so I can help assist you in finding one. And all of you have Timothy’s (the students in your small groups). I encourage you to focus in on one or two students to really spend time encouraging this semester.

What are some ways you could encourage and mentor a student in your small group? Email me your thoughts this week!

Small Group Personalitites

When I was a middle school small group leader in Kentucky I was given a ton of resources that dealt with small group dynamics. This one talks about different personalities that show up to your small group every week. Take a moment to match the students in your group with the personalities listed below (then send me your thoughts via email).

"Students are all different. A little knowledge of teenage personalities will go a long way in connecting and investing in the lives of students. Below are some concepts to keep in mind when interacting with distinct personalities.

Talker

This student always has a comment for everything. It is effective to sit this person next to you, which reduces eye contact with them when you ask a question. When this person interrupts a gentle touch is a silent and effective cue. If you have a whole group of these students, you may want to have an object that a student must possess before speaking (pass the towel, pen, etc). One of the keys to a talker is not to stifle their leadership potential. Rather, use it to your advantage.

Thinker

This student is usually the quiet one. Every group has one. They just won't talk. Because they are more shy or timid, they have a tendency to be drowned out by the louder personalities. Position this person across from you to increase eye contact. Occasionally direct a specific question to this person.

Visitor

This student is new to the group. They are unsure of their surroundings and are petrified at the thought of speaking in the group. Or, they dominate your conversation with comments that are foreign to the groups normal conversation process. A wise small group leader will recognize the visitor as a great blessing to the group. If the student is more quiet, the leader can use the time to not draw attention to them and help them feel comfortable. If the student is more vocal, the leader can use the challenging comments as discussion points for the group.

Church Kid

This student may have spent more hours in church than you have. Consequently, they tend to know more about the Bible than the others. Remember that their knowledge does not indicate spiritual health. These kids may be hard to reach since they have heard it all. A discerning leader will humbly challenge their opinions and pry beyond the typical "Sunday School" answers.

The Distractor

This student cannot sit still and ends up distracting everyone in the small group - including you. Rather than stifling this student, direct their energy toward productive ends. You will better understand this student if you meet with them outside of your small group.

The Debator

This student enjoys challenging every point that is made in the small group. They bring some creativity to the small group but they can intimidate other students as well. It is best to set some specific rules with this student to direct their comments toward a productive end.

Crisis Producer

This student is constantly in a bad situation and lets your small group know about it every week. They are often self-absorbed and therefore unable to participate in the discussion, except when it is focused on them. Get together with this student before the small group to talk through their problems with just you. Another possibility is to assure everyone that they will have a time to share problems or prayer requests at the end of the group.

The goal for all of these personalities is to make them beneficial to the group as a whole."

Again let me know what you think about these personalities. Can you think of any others? Match the students in your group with these personalities and send me an email with your thoughts!