Episode 117: Hacks On Keeping Your Small Groups Engaged
Dec 11, 2023
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This podcast episode explores practical ways to keep students engaged in small group settings, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and belonging. It discusses how leaders can cultivate compassion for absent students and highlights the significance of engaging students in meaningful discussions. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of identifying and investing in influential individuals within the group.
Students are truly known when they are missed and leaders should have compassion for those who are not present.
Creating a culture of trust and knowing students personally helps in building small groups that are worth attending and inviting others to join.
Deep dives
Importance of Equipping Leaders to Better Serve Ministry
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of equipping leaders with practical tools to enhance their ministry. The host shares his experience of providing training to his youth staff and emphasizes the goal of helping leaders better serve in the current season of ministry. The focus is not to duplicate his training but to inspire and spark ideas for others. Giving credit to Justin's previous training, the importance of small groups is highlighted, emphasizing the need for students to grow, be known, and process the unknown. The challenge faced is the inconsistency of student engagement, prompting the concept that students are truly known when they are missed. The host then quotes from Matthew 9:35-36, encouraging leaders to have compassion for those who are not present and to know where their students are physically and spiritually.
Creating a Culture of Being Known in Small Groups
The episode dives into the practical tips and questions that can help leaders create a culture of being known in small groups. The importance of trust is highlighted, as students need to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. Leaders are encouraged to erode the fear of sharing with trust, building connections and trust with students. The host emphasizes the need for leaders to know their students personally, their home life, friendships, and faith journey. The importance of creating an environment where students can freely express themselves is stressed, providing opportunities for meaningful conversations and teaching experiences. Tips are provided for leaders who struggle with students not sharing or sharing excessively, guiding leaders to balance group dynamics and engage students in authentic conversations.
Building Groups That Are Worth Going to and Inviting Others
The final segment of the episode focuses on creating small groups that are worth attending and inviting others to join. The concept of students being known and missed is reinforced, urging leaders to create a culture where the absence of a student is noticed and valued. The importance of compassion for those who are not present is emphasized, aligning with the idea of going after the one and ensuring that all students feel known and missed. The host poses questions for leaders to evaluate their small groups, asking if their groups are worth attending and inviting others to. The need for fostering an environment of being known, knowing students personally, and allowing students to express themselves is highlighted. Practical suggestions are given to address the challenges of trust-building, engaging students in conversation, and valuing students' everyday experiences.
In this episode Sean Lord is solo going through what he walked through his all small group leaders through in their latest training. They walk through how to keep students engaged in groups and how they are to been seen and experienced.
