Matt: In a couple of weeks we will have the official start of student ministry small groups. This will be my third group that I’ve led, but it will be my first group of high school freshmen. I’ve spent some time over the summer getting to know most of them and I’ve already grown close to a few of them. I’m excited to begin the school year with them and start leading them on their path to a closer relationship with God.
I’m excited to see what God has in store for this group. Most of them have been together for the past two years as a small group and I can tell there are some strong bonds between them. I want to help them grow those bonds even stronger so that they become life-long friends and accountability partners.
This year I want to find the right balance of Bible teaching and life-application lessons. I want them to form some strong Christian identities that will stay the same no matter what situations they find themselves in. I’ve spent a lot of my daily prayer time praying for the guys I know will be in my group and also the ones I don’t know yet. I know God will put the right guys in this group and I’m excited to see where God takes us this year. Stay tuned, I’m betting God is going to put some awesome blogs in front of Steven and me!
Steven: In a few weeks, I’ll be starting my third junior high small group of 7th graders. I’m more excited for this group than either of my 2 groups before. Not because I hated my last 2 groups (at least not that I would admit since some of my old students read this blog), but because of how much I’ve learned in the past 4 years of youth ministry. I’m definitely not an expert, but those years have given me some great insight into how to make the most of a group of junior high students.
Side note: Last Tuesday I posted a list of notes full of things I want to keep in mind during this year. Today’s post is more about getting started in the year.
Here’s what I’m keeping in mind as we get close to kicking off small groups for the new year:
