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Starting a Small Group
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Why Start a Small Group?

Think about the best small group of which you have been a part. What was so great about it? What was it about that group that helped you grow?

Small groups can be a great incubator for a student’s growth. Students’ lives are often transformed as they study God’s word and do life with friends who are also striving to grow closer to God. A small group can be a lifeline to a student who feels disconnected or who is not thriving in his faith. Starting a small group where your students can thrive in a supportive environment and know they are loved and respected is well worth the effort.

As a leader, you get to invest in the next generation and see lives transformed. Your relationship with each student is critical. They will glean much from watching how you integrate Christ’s life into your daily life. They will notice how you win people to Christ, build them in their faith, and send them out to do the same. Discipleship is helping students discover for themselves the same truths you have come to trust.

Small groups are amazing. Where else can your students pray, study the Bible, catch a vision for reaching the campus and the world with a group of friends?

3 Steps to Starting a Small Group

1. Pray

The foundation is always prayer. Here are just a few things to keep in prayer.

  • Pray about whom to invite.
    You want students who show an eagerness to learn. Pray about which students would be best to bring together. Pray about the content of your study, the meeting time, and the location.
  • Pray for a heart change.
    We do not simply want a behavior change, we want God to do something much deeper. Pray for genuine life change to occur in each student’s life.

The purpose of your small group is to build student leaders and multiplying disciples. Movements happen when students influence and reach other students.

As you start your small group, you will want to build it on the following five distinctives:

  • God’s Word
  • Christ as the Center of our lives
  • The Holy Spirit leading and empowering us
  • Authentic relationships and community
  • Prayer for each other

This will help your students see that following Jesus in the context of relationships brings a life of encouragement and growth.

Some goals for small groups are for students to study God’s word, seek Christ, trust the Spirit, and build relationships with each other in a safe and loving atmosphere. As this happens, you may begin to see some of your students deepening their walk with Christ, experiencing progressive life change, forming a caring community together, and having an outward impact.

 

2. Prepare

Before you gather students, spend some time thinking about what you want the group to look like. Here are five questions to answer before your first small group…

  • How many people?
    Think through how many should be in a group. You want every student to participate and engage in dialogue. We found 3 to 10 students is a sweet spot that helps facilitate participation.
  • How long?
    Decide how long the group should meet. Four to six weeks is a good length for a focused study. Consider meeting for at least one hour, but not more than two each week. be committed to ending on time as this is especially important for parents.
  • Where will we meet?
    Think through where to meet. Your job as a leader is to cultivate a safe, positive environment where relationships will grow between you, the group members, and God. If there is a place where students in the group gather naturally, that could be an excellent place to meet. A designated room away from a lot of activity is best. Your home might be a possibility if that is convenient or conducive. Of course, light refreshments are always welcome.
  • How will I start?
    Be sure to prepare a good icebreaker for the first meeting, as the focus is primarily on building relationships. Students want to feel welcome, meaningful, and comfortable with you and with one another.
  • What will we study?
    Regarding content, you can find some great small group studies at www.thrivestudies.com. The selection of content matters because what you teach is what they will teach.

Keep in mind that the students in your small group might be the next leaders in your movement. Build into them like you would want your leaders to be built into. You want to pray, study the Bible, give vision for reaching the campus and the world, and learn how to do that together.

 

3. Invite

As you meet with students, get to know what is important to them. You may want to ask them about their spiritual background if you do not know. Let them know a little about what to expect from the small group time. Ask about their schedules and exchange phone numbers if you haven’t already. The night before your small group begins, remember to send out a text reminding students where and what time to meet.

As you take a step of faith to start a small group, the article on Leading a Small Group is a great resource to help you have a learner-focused group and facilitate an interactive group where students discover truths for themselves.

Call to Action
Write down the names of 3 to 10 students that you know then start taking the steps to start a small group with those students. Pray. Prepare. Invite.
Next Step
Who are some students you work with that might make good leaders? Make a list of 5 students and begin praying that God would show you opportunities to help them step into leadership.

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As you learn to reach your school, there are some key ministry skills that will make a big difference. These are things every Christian student can grow in and you don’t have to be perfect to get started. We also have some great tools to help you take your next step. With a little courage and the right resources, you’ll be amazed how God can use you in your school.

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  • Solarium: A deck of picture cards to help you start conversations about life and God.

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Your story matters. Sharing what God has done in your life can open hearts and help others realize that faith is personal and real.

Sharing Your Faith

The gospel is powerful and your friends need to hear it. Learning how to clearly explain the message of Jesus is a huge step in making your faith your own and helping others follow Him. 

  • How to Share the Gospel (article): a step-by-step guide to help you share the gospel with a friend.
  • Connecting with God Booklet: A short, simple booklet you can read through with a friend to explain how they can know Christ.
  • The Four Wristband: A wearable tool with four simple symbols to help you talk about God’s love and how to receive Christ.
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“You don’t have to be perfect to start reaching your school.”

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When someone accepts Christ, they need help knowing what to do next. Helping a new believer grow in their faith is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

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  • Campus Training Videos – Short, practical videos to help you learn how to reach students on your high school campus. These eight trainings cover key topics like meeting students, starting conversations, sharing your faith, and taking simple steps to build a movement.

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Next Step
Pick one tool and take a step this week to start a conversation or gather a few friends.
Ask a Coach – Tips from an Expert

Starting a ministry on your campus is an exciting step, but it can also raise a lot of questions. What should you do first? How do you find students who are interested? What if your group is small or things do not go the way you expected?

This is where a coach can help. A campus ministry coach is someone who has experience helping students and leaders start and grow ministries on high school campuses. They listen to what you are facing, help you think through wise next steps, and connect you with helpful tools and resources along the way.

Throughout the Reach Your School Playbook, you will see short insights from coaches who have spent years helping students reach their campuses. This page gathers more of those tips in one place so you can learn from their experience and keep moving forward.

Below are practical coaching tips from leaders who have walked this road before. As you read, look for what applies to your situation right now and take your next step. You can get your own coach by emailing us at coachingcenter@cru.org. We’d love to help.

Starting a ministry on your campus can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to figure it out alone.

Coaching Tips

  • Ask a few non-Christian friends how they would respond to your ideas, then process those same questions with Christian friends to sharpen your thinking.

 

  • Evangelism is the engine of your ministry, and helping students influence others is how you build future leaders.

 

  • You don’t have to figure this out alone, there are people with experience who would love to help you gather students and get the word out.

 

  • You have rights on campus, learn them, then live them out with confidence.

 

  • Many people are looking for something bigger than themselves, so give them a vision worth joining.

 

  • You may be walking past someone God is preparing, start a conversation and see what He does.

 

  • Pray Scripture, if God says it, you can pray it, and keep prayers short so more people can participate.

 

  • Invite a coach to join your team early, it will help you move faster and avoid common mistakes.

 

  • Use the tools available to you, there are helpful resources for sponsors, leaders, and teams if you ask.

 

  • When meeting with school leaders, bring others with you so it’s clear you’re building something together.

 

  • Be curious, kind, helpful, and bold, those four traits open doors.

 

  • Work with your school, not against it, staff can often help you more than you expect.

 

  • Teams help you reach more people, save time, and build momentum.

 

  • If your school allows non-curricular clubs, they must allow a Christian club too.

 

  • Use tools and visuals that help people remember and apply what they learn.

 

  • Create environments people actually want to be part of, whether on campus or off.

 

  • Use social media, simple graphics, and personal invites, everyone plays a role in getting the word out.

 

  • Have a clear process for identifying and developing student leaders.

 

  • Work within school expectations for roles, but organize your team in a way that actually helps you function.

 

  • Start outreach where you already have relationships, teams, clubs, and shared interests.

 

  • Use response cards or forms to follow up, gather feedback, and invite people into next steps.

 

  • If God is nudging you to take a step, go for it, but bring others with you.

 

  • Parents can be powerful allies, don’t be afraid to involve them.

 

  • Always have a next step ready so you can invite people while they’re still engaged.

Next Step

Do you have any questions for our coaches? If so, ask your question here, or request a coach for your ministry by emailing us at coachingcenter@cru.org!

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