There is nothing more rewarding than sitting back during small group and listening to your teens dialogue. A few months ago I got to enjoy that for the first time when one question asked by my co-leader sparked an entire conversation facilitated by the teens. It’s a far cry from the first few meetings we had. I would ask a question and then there would be silence. My co-leader would try to add something and there still would be silence. Over time they began to open up and the group began to grow.
Time, commitment and consistency are all a major part of a small group’s growth. Without those aspects a group would fizzle out. On top of great dynamics groups need a conversation that will facilitate that growth. This is where well thought out questions and curriculum come in. Unfortunately, your questions might stump growth. They might kill the conversation before it begins. If you want questions that promote faith deepening conversation make sure they:
It’s easy to play it safe with questions that ask teens how they are doing. What you need to do as a youth minister and a small group leader is peel back the layers that surround their life. While it takes time to build up trust, the more you can challenge them with well crafted questions, the deeper you will go.
What are the essential characteristics of small group questions?