I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING
POV: Your youth pastor has just offered you an opportunity to lead a small group session. You’ve searched your heart, prayed, and have made the decision to say yes. Congratulations, this is a great place to be and a big step of faith in your walk with the Lord!
The problem? You have no idea what you’re doing.
There is a first time for everything, and when you visit a small group or attend a great Bible study, it’s highly unlikely that it was the leader’s “first rodeo.” To be able to lead anything is a skill that can and needs to be learned and developed over time. So don’t be discouraged if you are just starting out, you will be able to become more effective as you continue to practice.
You might be feeling insecure or doubt your ability, but there is a reason your youth pastor or leader has asked you to step up. They’ve witnessed the work that God is doing in your life and want to give you an opportunity to share what the Lord has been teaching you. Keep in mind that in the Bible, God uses even a donkey to speak (Numbers 22:21-39) and even the rocks could have the ability “to cry out” (Luke 19:40). Don’t be overwhelmed, but rather get into the Word and reflect and allow it to speak to you.
HOW DO I START?
Getting prepared for a study for the first time can be a stressful task and can take a lot of energy. You might be flipping through your Bible and reading random passages, none of which seem to apply, and all your great ideas are somehow non-existent. No matter what the parameters are for the group that you are preparing to lead, here are a few basic tools to help you get ready:
1. Pray and ask for God’s wisdom. Then ask yourself a few questions:Jot down your answers to these questions to keep your ideas clear.
2. Let Scripture impact you first, before reading commentaries or alternative sources. Once you have your brainstorming ideas down, find a passage that you can dig into deeper. Read over it and meditate on it.
I like to use the S.O.A.P. Method.
Scripture: Pick a passage of Scripture.
Observation: Write down 3-5 main observations or points that stood out to you.
Application: In what ways does this passage apply to our lives? What principles can we draw from it?
Prayer: Devote intentional time to pray over the passage, your observations, and applications.
It’s also important that you teach what Scripture is stating, and not just your own ideas.
You can use the personal content you’ve developed from the S.O.A.P. Method to expand it for your small group. Walk through the same passage with your group, and ask them for their observations and application. Add in additional reflection questions.
3. Make it personal. If there are principles or concepts in the passage, think about analogies or stories that would help everyone understand them better. Add in your personal experiences, failures, successes, and lessons learned. Ask your group to contribute their own. Don’t be afraid to try different activities, games, or formats of teaching because they can be a great way to help people engage with Scripture on a deeper level.
WHAT IF I’M REALLY NERVOUS?
Try to shift your perspective from how you feel, and toward the purpose you’re trying to accomplish, which is serving others.
I have often been nervous before any opportunity to speak or lead. This is a completely normal reaction for anyone who is taking up public speaking. Here are a few things that I have found helpful:
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND
When leading a group, here are a few things to keep in mind:
So go for it! Take a leap of faith, and you will learn along the way. Don’t “despise the day of small things,” (Zechariah 4:10) as Scripture says. Jesus changed the world by pouring into twelve people. That’s a small youth group by today's standards, but yet it did amazing things. So be encouraged to be faithful with the few the Lord has put in your life, and let Him do remarkable works through your group!
Challenge: Roulette Preaching
What you will need is a Bible, a timer and some friends. This is a great challenge to do with some friends. With your eyes closed, take a Bible and open it to a random spot and place your finger on the page. When you open your eyes you have set a 1 minute timer to read the few verses that you pointed to on the page and prepare a short message in your head. After the minute is up, set a 2 minute timer and preach what you prepared to your friends. After you're done, let your friends give you feedback and pass it onto the next person to give it a try. This is a great challenge to practice talking in front of a group and developing an argument on the fly.