How to Lead (and not lead) a Small Group, part 1

My new blog series will focus on how to lead a youth ministry small group, though the same principles can be applied to leading just about any kind of small group - youth, adult, or otherwise. Plus...there's videos! (thanks to YouTube!)

Part 1: The Unprepared Leader



I'm not sure if I was quite this bad when I started, but I certainly remember early on in youth ministry my first youth group experienced sermons I hastily jotted on the back of napkins and church bulletins. Eventually, I learned that to be effective at all, I had to take the time to prepare.

1. Prepare Yourself
Spend time in prayer and be sure that you're in a place to be spiritually in tune to your group. As I say when I teach this stuff, if I could turn back the clock and do one thing different for the last 13 years, I'd pray more. I've never once thought, "Man, I spent way too much time praying!" Be sure your own heart and walk with God is right, and that you're in a place where you can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

2. Prepare Your Lesson
As a youth pastor in Indiana, I prepared handy hand-outs a week ahead for my leaders to use in their small group times, usually that went with my sermon for the coming week. (Yes, that takes planning! That's another blog series, though.) But whether you are using already prepared materials from your youth pastor or a book, or you're creating your own materials, you need to take time to make sure you're using the Scripture correctly and communicating to your particular group in an interesting and relevant way. You need to know your stuff and be excited about it in order to communicate it in a way that has life-transforming power.

3. Prepare Your Environment
Be there early! You should be the first person to arrive, ideally. Make sure the room isn't too hot or too cold, and try to minimize any distractions (some distractions I've experienced include extra noise, televisions, and puppies). Make sure the chairs are arranged, snacks (if any) are ready to go, and everything is in order. Greet the students by name as they come in, and chat with them...chatting is discipleship, remember!

Next time will be part 2, The Inflexible Leader.