4 Steps For Effective Small Groups

According to Lifeway Research, following community, the second most important desire among young adults is participation in a small-group meeting to discuss life application of Scripture in a deep way. They don’t want pat answers when the Bible is communicated, yet they want to explore the complexities of scripture regarding foundational Christian truths. Christianity used to be a set of facts that were meant to be proven, but young adults have an increased desire to examine the mysteries of faith by pondering a lot of difficult questions. They understand that faith isn’t about having a pat answer, but rather about a journey with many challenges and struggles.

For tips on preparing a deep Bible study, click here. More than just presenting a Bible study, however, is creating a culture of intensity and wonder that points people to the truth of Scripture. The good news is that you don’t have to be a seminarian to create this atmosphere in your small group. You just have to be willing to take your young adults through a journey of discovering the depth and simplicity of the Bible. Here are four important things to consider when creating a culture of small group depth…

1. Teach theology, not topics

Help young adults understand who God is (his nature and character). This helps them discover how to see things through the lens of who God is. We can’t underestimate the importance of knowing God and looking at the world from a God-centered perspective. The challenge with teaching topics, is that not everyone is dealing with the exact same issues. For example, if you discuss the proper way to handle finances to 18-25 year-olds, only about 25% of your group will benefit immediately from that subject. The reason is because stats indicate that almost 75% of college age students receive financial aid from their parents. Everyone, however, deals with issues that require them to place God at the center of their circumstance.

2. Point people toward Scripture

It amazes me how many young adults don’t know how to read their Bible. They may know some snappy Bible verses that they can take out of context, but they don’t understand how to study it, or why they should. We must communicate that the Bible is our authority on truth and our guide in life. Have people read their Bible’s out loud, have them underline passages of Scripture, and facilitate group discussions. If you can get them to publically read and discuss the Bible, chances are they will start those same practices privately.

3. Challenge thinking, not behavior

The method of telling people what they cannot or should not do, doesn’t seem to be working very well. No one is transformed by their behavior, but the Bible clearly states, in Romans 12:2, that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. When we don’t challenge thinking, we are enabling bored, unmotivated Christians. The rich young ruler came to Jesus because he assumed that there had to be more to it than just doing the right things. Our approach of boiling everything down to “here’s 3 things to do” creates an expectation that being a Christian is just doing things. They want and need to know why we do what we do. They want to know why their friends who’ve done everything right, still have things go very badly for them. When young adults begin understanding the why, they figure out the how.

4. Give permission to ask questions

Young adults love to ask questions. They are, by nature, opinionated and argumentative. They are also extremely curious and hungry for truth. They are asking…”How do I know this is true?” “What if Jesus was just a man?” “If God is love, why does He allow people go to Hell?” “Is homosexuality really a sin?” Their whole life, they’ve either been told to not ask questions, or they’ve been given pat answers. We must be willing to engage them in deep theological discussions because that’s what they’re asking. You don’t even need to have all the answers, just be willing to help people find the answers.