“Let’s Talk”: Utilizing Discussion Groups In Your Youth Group
Many youth groups set aside time each week for discussion in groups following the message. This time gives the student the opportunity to talk about the topic in a small group setting. They can ask questions, dialog, and discuss the content of the message for deeper application.
At Crossroads, discussion groups are part of the fabric of who we are. Discussion groups were part of the ministry prior to my arrival, and chances are, they will be part of the ministry long after I’m gone. Whether you choose to have a time of discussion or not is, of course, up to you. But what I want to do is share with you a simple structure we recently adopted that helps us shape our weekly discussion time.
We refer to our discussion time as dGroup. Why? Glad you asked . . .
discoverGroups
d is for discover! Discover what you don’t know about your students. Start each week’s dGroup with simple discovery. What’s going on in their world? What’s coming up in the week ahead? What’s happening at home? What do they like to do for fun? Simple questions that help you unlock the world of your students. As a dGroup leader, you need to know your students, share in their lives, and help them grow.
discussionGroups
d is for discussion! Each week, group leaders ask a series of questions designed to get the students talking about the topic of the night. Discuss the questions, listen to the students as they share their thoughts, ideas, and life with you. Sometime we list two or three questions, and other times we list as many as ten shorter questions. But the amount is as important as the question itself. No “yes” or “no” type questions. You want open ended questions that create dialog between the students in the group.
discipleGroups
d is for disciple! Jesus discipled the 12 men that He called to be part of His earthly ministry. dGroup group leaders are to disciple the students in your group. Now this isn’t deep spiritual training. But dGroups help to reinforce the truths of Scripture, challenge them to grow in their faith, and encourage to live boldly for God’s glory. For more intentional discipleship, small groups or mentoring is more effective and practical. However, I think we should take advantage of times like dGroups to go one step further with students.
delightGroups
d is for delight! Have fun with your group! Set aside some time each week for some fun. Laugh with your group. Grab some ice cream or coffee following youth group. Have dinner before coming to youth group. Plan to meet and do something fun together outside of the scheduled weekly gathering.
Discussion groups or not, these four simple building blocks can help you be more intentional when you have time with your students. Discover, discuss, disciple, and delight with your students.
Jay Higham is the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Somerset, PA. He loves his office Mac, his video camera, and editing and producing stupid videos for his blog, church, and youth! You can visit Jay’s personal blog at www.jayhigham.com.
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[...] Let’s Talk: Utilizing Discussion Groups in Your Youth Group. [...]
Great stuff. Quick question: How do you prepare your leaders (student or adult) to facilitate discussions? Do you give them stuff ahead of time?
We’ve started setting our room with round tables for the very reasons you mention. At least every other week, we have discussions as a part of our Sunday morning large group gathering. It’s a huge help in making things “stick” and applying what we’re talking about. Thanks for the insight!
Hey Benjer,
When it comes to prepping leaders, it depends on the topic. When we are in a series, I try to have as much material prepared in advance. If I can give it to them early, I do. But I realize that my leaders are also busy with family, careers, and other commitments, so them having the material early doesn’t always mean they will read up and come prepared. At best, I email the dGroup materials the week of.
When not in a series, the materials are either emailed early that week or given that night. When given that night, I keep everything as simple as possible.
But even with prepared materials, I want my leaders to have the freedom to take the discussion where the students are leading it. Because we want our time to impact the students, it’s often the students discussion and/or questions that drive the time in groups.
Thanks for the question and for reading!
Jay, great article it’s always good to read about other people’s small group strategies. For us we take a model from North Point where they pray together, share life (discuss their weeks and the message they just heard) and then pray for one another. It’s all about building habits and the way you all have it set up encourages those habits. I think the tough thing is getting our leaders to plug into their own adult small groups because if they haven’t had that experience then it’s going to be hard for them to share it with the teens. Do you all encourage that? If so what methods have you used?
Thanks for the comment, Chris.
Actually, my leaders are participating in small groups of their own. At St. Paul’s, we have a growing small group ministry. As new members join our church, or when visitors become regular attenders, they are encouraged to join a small group to help build deeper relationships, grow in their faith, and share in the community of the church. All of my current leaders, including myself, are active in a small group at our church. It is truly a blessing. Since small groups are part of the life at the church, I don’t have to push hard for leaders to participate in one. But I guess if a potential leader wasn’t already in a small group, I would strongly urge that they find one and join.
Our dGroups at youth group are open groups, meaning that students go tot he group of their school grade. So the dynamics are always changing. But we are working to form true small groups. Since our group is young, and I have only been at St. Paul’s for a couple of years, this is a slow and careful process. dGroups have been part of the youth group culture long before I arrived. My hope and prayer is to move to small groups that foster deeper, richer relationships, while keeping the youth group discussion groups without messing up the ministry we have now.
- jay