The 3 P’s of preparing an effective small group time
Knowing your people, passage and prayer will help you have an effective small group
In my last article, I underlined that preparation is KEY to making sure your small group reaches its full potential.
But what does effective preparation look like in practise?
The process of preparation will look different for every leader depending on things like the level of experience the leader has, where the members of the group are at in their journey with Christ, and the time restraints facing the group. But regardless of any of these factors, there are 3 “P’s” that any small group leader must consider in their preparation each week.
1. Know your PEOPLE
When preparing for small group, it is so important to know who the people are that will be in your group on any given week. If you don’t know this, then even the best preparation is going to be very general. But when you know who your people are, you’ll be able to be more intentional in teaching and connecting with the members of your group.
This is not just about knowing who will be present for your group, although that would be a step in the right direction! It’s about knowing your people on a personal level. Doing the relational hard yards to know your people better will mean they’re more likely to trust you to lead and challenge them, because they know you’re actually committed.
You’ll be better positioned to help them through real-life issues such as relational difficulties at school or in the small group itself; issues at home with family; addiction to substances, technology or porn; romantic relationships; self-doubt; and a myriad of other issues faced by adolescents. It will enable you to apply the gospel to their lives and help them keep their hearts set on Christ as they navigate these hardships.
This kind of knowledge is built over time (which is why it’s ideal to have a dedicated leader who sticks with the cohort through the years), but it can be fast-tracked somewhat with intentional preparation each week. So, as you’re preparing for small group, ask yourself:
How am I going to get to know my people a little better this week? (some of this may take place outside of the group)
Are there any particular relational dynamics I’ll have to manage this week? How will I try and manage them?
How am I going to facilitate relational growth within the group?
2. Know the PASSAGE
The primary aim of small group time is to invest in relational, word-based discipleship with young people. We must therefore have sufficiently prepared the Bible passage for the week before we meet. Doing this well pay dividends in your ability to help the young people engage with God through His Word.
Here’s how you can get the most out of your passage preparation:
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Read and re-read the passage. The first time you read it, just read it with no agenda but to start familiarising yourself with the passage as a whole. Then re-read the passage to start digging deeper. This will happen several times at various points in your preparation as you seek to and understand the specifics of passage.
Work out the context of the passage. This is a critical part of understanding a passage. You need to know 1) where does it fit in relation to the book of the bible it’s found it (i.e. what comes before and after this passage? How does it contribute to the argument the author is making?); and 2) where does it fit in the grand scheme of the Bible (i.e. what point in salvation history does it refer to? Is it before or after the Cross? How does this help us understand the passage?). ‘God’s Big Picture’ by Vaughan Roberts is a very useful book to have on your shelf to help with this.
Identify what you want the youth to understand. If we’re not clear on what we want the young people to have understood from the passage, then it’s likely they will be left confused. But when we have a solid grasp on what it is we’re aiming to teach, and we gear our time towards the young people learning this lesson, then they will leave with a better understanding of God’s truth and it’s implication for life as a disciple. If you can articulate the big idea of the passage in ten or so words, then you’re well on your way to clarity.
Identify issues to work through. Every small group will have particular issues that will impact how they will engage with a particular passage. When you know your people, you will have an idea of where they might get tripped up in a passage. Ask yourself, “are there any key words that will need explaining?”, “does this passage address any of the life issues I know people in my group are facing?”, “are any topics raised that my people will struggle with?”. There may not be something significant every week, but it’s better to go into the group prepared when there is a real issue to work through.
Decide which questions are best to ask. Pre-written studies are a great help. But as the leader you need to discern which questions will work best for your group. Choose (or write) questions based on your knowledge of your people, and the big idea you’re trying to teach. Always remember to work towards grounding the teaching in real life through application questions. It’s helpful to think of application in relation to
o HEAD — how it impacts what we UNDERSTAND about God or ourselves
o HEART— how it impacts our ATTITUDE, AFFECTIONS, BELIEFS and DESIRES.
o HANDS— how it impacts our ACTIONS
3. Remember PRAYER
The final “P” for effective preparation is to “be pre-prayered!” It’s one of those dorky-dad clichés that ministers often use, but that’s because it’s very good advice— especially for leading small groups. Devoting time to praying for the group, the people in it, and for yourself as you lead it, is the most effective preparation you can do. As we pray according to His will, God our father works in us and through us for his glory (1 John 5:14-15), and He equips us with wisdom and insight for the task (Js 1:5, Phil 1:9-11).
If nothing else, prayer puts us in the appropriate mindset for Christian leadership, i.e. dependence on God to work by his Spirit, despite either our strengths or our shortcomings. So, in your preparation, always make sure you spend time in praying before, during and after your small group time.