The Purpose of Small Groups

Meeting regularly with your church family and with a small group of fellow Christians (Christ-followers) you get to know well is a vital part of the Christian walk. It is in this small group setting that we get comfortable enough to share personal prayer requests and encourage one another to grow.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV)

It is with this purpose in mind that we have designed our Small-Group Guides. (Click here for FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about what we teach and believe.)

Small-Group Guide

For our purposes, a small group is simply defined as two or more families that meet together.  It could be a group of friends meeting regularly: breakfast groups, Bible study groups, Sunday school, Wednesday nights, a weekend family retreat, a discipleship group, an accountability group, a homeschool co-op, or any number of other groups.

This study is designed to partner with the Devotional for Busy Families, but it may also stand alone.

How It Works

The Small-Group Guide has two parts broken down to allow leaders to choose what works best within time constraints.

Part 1:  Guide for Multi-Generational and Children’s Small-Groups

Leaders are encouraged to be sure to choose at least one Application Activity, Wrap It Up, and Pray.  The rest is optional, depending on your time and format.

If not partnering with the Devotional for Busy Families, be sure to include the Bible Focus.

• Opening Activities:  Bible skills, Introductory activity, and/or Music
• Bible Focus:  A short Bible Lesson
• Application Activities:  Family Challenge Review, Craft, and/or Game
• Wrap It Up:  Review that week’s Main Point
• Prayer Time:  Take prayer requests and close with a Prayer Focus

Here’s a sample of the children’s/multi-generational lesson for Unit 4. (Note that not all of the lesson options are shown.)

Part 2:  Guide for Adult Small-Groups

Leaders are encouraged to begin with prayer, then choose one or more of the following two options along with the Prayer Focus.  The last is optional.

If not partnering with the Devotional for Busy Families, the On the Road Challenge (a family challenge putting into practice what you are learning) may be given to do the following week.

• Prayer Focus: Take prayer requests and close with a Prayer Focus
• Review and Application:  Applies the week’s Main Idea to today, mixing Bible study and discussion
• Digging Deeper:  Asks a Study Focus question and digs into God’s Word to find the answer
• On the Road Challenge Debrief:  Discuss the weekly challenge (optional); Be sure to use with an option above

Here’s a sample of the adult On the Road Challenge Debrief from Unit 3. Note that it includes the lesson from The Answer Book: A Devotional for Busy Families that sets up the challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Do I have to be an experienced teacher to use the Small-Group Guide?
• Would the small-group materials work for a multi-generational group?
• Peek Inside The Small-Group Guide

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