This year in our high school small groups at Saddleback Church we’re using new curriculum. Last night was my first opportunity with my small group guys to use the new lessons and they are really good. One of the main reasons I like the new lessons is that they are full of discussion questions and this is why I love that:
- It keeps the conversation going without you doing all the talking. You should only be doing about 25% of the talking, your students should be doing the rest or you at least have a goal of getting your small group meetings to that point.
- Throwing a discussion question out there gives you a chance for that moment of awkward silence. Don’t rush it, let the question just hang in the air for a moment and keep them thinking. Awkward silence is good!
- It lets you see where students are in their faith and in their walk with God and you can then base your future lessons on that.
- In a new group, the wall flowers will quickly stand out to you, those are the ones I target for some one-on-one time to see whats going on in their lives and those are the ones I work to get involved.
- It shows students that sometimes and in some situations there in not just one right answer to a question or situation. Last night I gave them a hypothetical question and I got two very different, very good and very right answers.
- It gets them involved! It makes them part of the group, it keeps their attention because they are not just sitting there listening to you drone on and on about a subject.
Are you including a lot of discussion time in your small group? If not your missing out on a great opportunity to grow your students!
