Big 5 ideas to lead small
Be Present
Connect Their Faith To Community
- Show Up Predictably
- Show Up Mentally
- Show Up Randomly
Create A Safe Place
Clarify Their Faith As They Grow
- Lead the Group
- Respect the Process
- Guard the Heart
Partner With Parents
Nurture An Everyday Faith
- Cue the Parent
- Honor the Parent
- Reinforce the Family
Make It Personal
Inspire Their Faith by Your Example
- Live in Community
- Set Priorities
- Be Real
Move Them Out
Engage Their Faith in a Bigger Story
- Move Them to Someone Else
- Move Them to be the Church
- Move Them to What’s Next
Student Ministries Values
1.) Authentic relationships Lead to Jesus
Students crave to be loved by others, and we build authentic, vulnerable, and honest relationships over long periods of time with them to show them the love of Christ in and through us. We accomplish this primarily through small groups, which exists at the heart of everything we do.
2.) Small group leaders are the pastors of their group
As small group leaders seek to build authentic relationships, their role is to shepherd the students in their group in growing closer to Jesus. Our small group leaders understand and adapt to the needs of their group. We encourage all our leaders to shape a unique experience for their group throughout the school year.
3. Every week matters
Life moves quickly, and every week that passes is one less week we have left with our students. That is why we put intentional, creative effort into every week of our ministry. Big events can be catalytic, but improving the week to week is our biggest priority.
4. One experience with Jesus changes a life forever
Just one encounter with God can alter someone’s life completely. We share the gospel consistently and boldly, offering students frequent chances to give their lives over to Christ. We also encourage our students to take the gospel wherever they go to be a light to those around them.
5. Students who serve own their faith
The research is clear. One of the distinctive characteristics of students who graduate from high school with a faith that lasts is service. We strive to provide opportunities for our students to use their gifts to serve others, both inside the church and out in our community.
6. We develop and launch student leaders
God uses young people with willing hearts, and we don’t want to miss out on him transforming others through the lives of our students. We give students ownership of our ministries by equipping them to lead their peers at ministry events and throughout the week. We seek to unleash our students as the leaders not of tomorrow, but of today.
7. Distinct Teams, One Ministry
Our Student Ministry consists of JH (6th-8th Grade) and Summit (9th-12th grade). Both ministries exists to meet the specific needs of their age group, and we believe that students benefit from having their own distinctive group identities. However, while our leadership teams serve in specific functions within one of these ministries, every leader is part of the same Student Ministry team, striving for the best for all of our students across 6th-12th grade.
Small Group Ideas
Creative Best Practices
Ask students how they would apply the discussion topic in their lives (at school, on their teams, at home).
Ice Breakers
Would you rather never have air conditioning or never be able to wear deodorant?
Off Topic Discussions
- Have your students make a covenant document together
- Ask the group what they want to talk about – as long as it’s beneficial dialogue, go with it!
- Turn to asking questions about the weird things in the Bible passage/topic of the night (something that may lead to different discussion than the small group questions, but still related to the message)
- Interview a different member of your group with the same set of questions – don’t do this to a new student!!!
- Create a survey for your students to get to know them a little better (definitely include favorite snack)
Small Group Event Night
- Have your students make a covenant document together
- Ask the group what they want to talk about – as long as it’s beneficial dialogue, go with it!
- Turn to asking questions about the weird things in the Bible passage/topic of the night (something that may lead to different discussion than the small group questions, but still related to the message)
- Interview a different member of your group with the same set of questions – don’t do this to a new student!!!
- Create a survey for your students to get to know them a little better (definitely include favorite snack)