Preparing for Your Small Group

If you are checking out this article, you probably have a small group that you need to prepare a Bible lesson for or you are serious about starting a small group to study the Bible. But before we jump into some practical steps, we want to encourage you with three reasons to commit the time and energy it will take to prepare for a Bible study.

Three Reasons to Prepare for Your Small Group Bible Study

1. Teaching others well is important to Jesus

Jesus’ final words on earth to us were a call to teach others about God and His ways (Matthew 28:18-20). Many times, the final words someone speaks are some of the most important things they have to say to us. Jesus cares deeply about his people being taught well. We need to care about that too and prepare well rather than just wing it each week.

2. Preparing well will help you point your group to Jesus

You are not simply helping people learn more Bible facts. It takes effort to understand your group and prepare a study that focuses on their next step toward Jesus. Sometimes people can study the Bible and miss Jesus!

In John 5:39 there was a group of religious people who had LOTS of Bible studies, but they missed the main thing! Jesus told them “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” Preparing a Bible study can help you point your group to Jesus.

3. Preparing will give you time to see the beauty in the Bible

The Bible is filled with amazing things! Look at this prayer in Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” Preparing a Bible study begins with this prayer and a deep dependence on God to open our eyes. You will be blessed personally when you invest the time and attention to study the Bible as the Lord opens your eyes and prepares you to teach God’s wonderful truths!

Make Your Study Learner-Centered

The Apostle Paul used two different words to describe knowledge:

One referred to intellectual knowledge (head knowledge). The other is referred to as experiential knowledge (heart knowledge).

A learner-centered approach to teaching will help you focus on both of these types of knowledge. Not only do we want our students to know the truth, but we also want to make sure they are experiencing the truth in their lives. That often will involve a variety of teaching methods. Experiential knowledge is best gained when we use all parts of our mind and senses to take it in. Research shows that we remember:

10% of what we read (e.g. a book).
20% of what we hear (e.g. a speaker).
30% of what we see (e.g. a poster ad).
40% of what we hear and see (e.g. a T.V. program).
70% of what we say (when we give a talk or are talking).
90% of what we say and do (where we are actively involved in the process).

Learner-centered teaching is where the learner is actively involved and discovers truths they can apply to their lives today and in the future. Now, let’s take a look at how to prepare for your study.

We often plateau at the level of our preparation.

Prepare Your Learner-Centered Study

1. Make a List of Your Student’s Challenges and Questions

What do you think is the next step for your students? Are your students getting the answers to the questions they have?

Our students are not here for us, we are here for them. So, before you plan all the lessons you think your students need to learn, ask them what questions they have or what challenges they are facing. Helping your students learn about these things will motivate them to show up, get involved, and stay engaged.

For example, you may have your heart set on a Bible study that focuses on the life of David but what if they really have questions about LGBTQ and what God thinks? Look for ways to engage your small group in the things your students care about.

Thrive Studies is a great resource that allows you to pick a lesson that might apply to the current needs of your small group. With over 75 topics from which to choose, there will likely be something there that will help answer your student’s questions.

If you are not sure what kind of questions your students have, take some time to get to know them. Ask questions like…

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
What are some things you would like to learn about from the Bible?
What are the greatest issues facing teens today?
If you had five minutes to tell an adult audience anything, what would you say?
What comes to mind for the average teenager when they think about God?

These questions will open doors to your students’ hearts and inform what lessons you should lead. Let your students’ needs be your guide to what you study.

2. Go Through the Lesson Yourself

A few days before your study, go through the whole lesson yourself. Read the passages, answer the questions, and do the assignments. This preparation work will allow you to think about it, learn it yourself, and help you make it more learner-centered. You will need time to collect any materials or resources for your Bible lesson. If you have selected a lesson from Thrive Studies, you can look in the section called the “Idea Box,” where other leaders have shared creative ideas to help with this.

3. Look at the Big Idea and How It Relates to Your Group

Ask yourself, “What is the main point I want the group to learn from this study?” This will help you stay focused and ensure that you do not get too far off track. Find studies with big ideas that match what your students want to learn.

Each of the Thrive Studies lists the big idea in the leader’s guide. Glance through the studies and match your student’s needs to the Thrive big ideas. This will not take long, but it will help you deliver meaningful and relevant conversations to your students every week.

4. Decide What You Want Your Students to Get Out of the Lesson

As a leader, you can suggest a goal for the lesson. Here are some questions that might help:

What do you want your students to KNOW as a result of this Bible lesson?
What do you want your students to EXPERIENCE as a result of this Bible lesson?
What do you want your students to DO as a result of this Bible lesson?

If you can share any personal steps of faith you took during your own study, it may help encourage them in their faith steps. As you prepare to share a goal or application keep in mind the next step for one student may be different than that of another. Lead with grace and support as they each take their own steps of faith.

5. Begin With a Short Learning Activity or Question

You want to get them thinking about the central truth. You might do this through a skit, drawing, or game. Just be creative. This usually takes about 5-10 minutes. For example, you might want them to think about how God searches for lost people. Hide a small action figure somewhere and set it off, seeing who can find it first.

Thrive Studies has a starter question or activity for each study and an Idea Box that gives you other creative ideas to spice up your study.

6. Find the Best Time and Place to Meet

Another critical part of your preparation relates to where and when your group will meet. If your group is already meeting, you may want to ask if there is a better time and place. However, this is an area where you can follow the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” motto. If your group is just starting, then you will want to plan ahead to decide when and where your group will meet. In this case, we suggest picking a spot in which your students would feel comfortable and gives you the ability to have a discussion that might be personal to your group.

7. Take the Lead in Communication

A lack of communication is often the first breakdown of a small group and often the reason students do not show up. About a million distractions will come at your students before the small group meets and you can take the lead to remind them. You might be discouraged at how easy it is for a student to forget about your small group, but remember the enemy of our Savior loves to distract us. Make sure everyone knows when and where you will meet and remember you may have to share this little detail several times.

8. Plan Out the Time Ahead of Time

You want to do your very best to start on time and end on time and guide everything that happens in between. Four out of five times you will run out of time. That is ok. You will still want to end on time. Some students will have other work and responsibilities, and when you do your best to end on time, it tells them you respect and value their time. So how do you organize your time?

Here’s a suggested flow for your 1 to 1.5-hour Bible study:

Refreshments (20 min) – This is a time for unhindered talking, sharing, and settling.
Bring the group together (5 min) – Think of a statement or learning activity to get their attention and introduce the theme.
Bible study (30 min) – Discover the central truth and apply it.
Prayer (10 min) – Pray conversationally if the students are willing.
Conclusion – Make announcements for upcoming meetings and plan any other activities. Give rides home to kids who need them.

This simple plan is an important part of your preparation, but it is only a suggestion. A good guideline for how to organize your time is to answer the question, “What does my group need?” If you spend too much time eating and socializing, you will not have enough time to dig into God’s Word. On the other hand, if you just study and do not allow the students to interact with each other, they may only see the study as an intellectual exercise and not something that applies to their lives right now.

God will be with you every step of the way as you prepare for your Bible study, and God wants you and your students to discover the wonderful things in His word. He wants us to experience a life with Jesus as we take the next steps in our faith. We hope your preparation for Bible study becomes something on which you never want to miss out.

Next Step

Use the steps above when you prepare your next Bible Study. For more training in creating a learning environment Tips for Leading a Better Small Group will provide additional help.

tips for leading a better small group

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.