What It Takes To Build A Solid Small Group Structure For Teens

It was five minutes before my small group would meet and the room I thought we had reserved was a mess. I went to our church calendar and was able to find space right as teens were showing up. We sat down, opened up our books and that’s when I realized that I had no idea what we were going to discuss. I fumbled through the content, trying to find a flow for our discussion. The teens were disengaging, I was stressing out, and that’s when I realized my small groups needed some intentional strategy.

Small groups have the power to change your ministry because they impact so many people. You can influence the teens, their parents, and the adults who lead them. But, starting small groups isn’t just throwing teens together to talk about Jesus. It’s not as simple as cracking open a book and rolling through the content. If you want healthy small groups you need:

CLARITY AROUND THEIR PURPOSE

Why are you looking to do small groups? Is it because other churches are doing it? Why do you need the change? Small groups serve several purposes, from:

• Creating a community within your ministry
• Eliminating the feel of a classroom
• Facilitating intergenerational relationships

All these purposes matter, and parents, teens, and volunteers must understand this. The main reason small groups don’t work is that people think they are as simple as breaking a large group of teens up. There is more to it, as you’ll see below; however, it starts with having a vision.

LEADERS WHO LISTEN AND ASK QUESTIONS

While you want leaders who understand and embrace their faith, all of that can go to waste if they don’t know how to have an authentic conversation. Your leaders need to realize that the essential part of their small group is trust. Without trust, their teens won’t open up or share what’s going on in their lives. The big questions won’t be asked or answered if all they do is talk down to teens.

To help your leaders give them questions that can break the ice and generate a rapport. Tell them to embrace the silence even if it’s a little awkward. When you hold a meeting for your leaders, allow them to try active listening with one another. The more they practice, the more comfortable they’ll be at listening and allowing the Holy Spirit to take control.

CONTENT THAT CREATES ENGAGEMENT

There is a lot of excellent curriculum out there, but to find the right one for your ministry is a challenge. To pick the right content, you need to know your audience and have a vision for the disciples you are trying to cultivate. You should also reach out to youth ministers in your area (or a parish that works with a similar demographic) and ask them what works and what doesn’t.

In addition to finding content and questions that impact your audience, you need opportunities. Playing games or incorporating team building activities will strengthen the community by teaching them different forms of communication and collaboration.

ENVIRONMENTS FREE FROM DISTRACTION

It’s hard having life-changing conversations with teens who aren’t sure about being vulnerable. To help them breakdown their walls, you need settings that are free from distraction, especially if you share space or meet in homes. In our parish, we use the school building. That means communicating with teachers about what they leave out over the weekend. If you are in homes, make sure that toys are away and that the room is ready to go.

The other big distraction is phones. Don’t be afraid to collect phones before the group meets and ask your leaders to silence their own devices. Remind them of the importance of silence and teach them how to focus in on a conversation. That might be tough, but over time they’ll see the value of putting the person in front of them first.

Small groups bring about a significant change in the lives of teens and adults. They take intentionality and work, but the fruit that comes from them will create a stronger community in the parish if you need assistance with small groups to check out MYM University. We offer a Small Groups From Scratch Course to help you recruit the right leaders and build a structure that lasts. To get started click below.

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