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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.

RECENT POSTS

How Do I Start a Cru Movement at My School?

If you’ve got a vision to reach your school for Christ, you’re asking exactly the right question. Whoever you are, a student, teacher, youth pastor, college student, or concerned adult, here’s how to get started. There are two ways to go about it.

1. Do Your Own Thing

If you’d like to gather some friends, share your faith, and build something without any formal ties, just start with the playbook. The Reach Your School Playbook gives you everything you need to get started today.

2. Call Yourself Cru

If you’d like to use the Cru name and logos, and be part of a wider movement beyond just your campus, here’s what that looks like:

 

 

Doing Your
Own Thing

Being Called
Cru

Use the Cru name and logosNoYes
Need a coach to get startedNoYes
Part of the wider Cru movementNoYes
Get ongoing support from Cru staffNoYes
Can start today, no waitingYesStill fast — just a call first

"Whichever path you choose, you don’t have to figure it out alone."

How to Get Started

If you want to call yourself Cru, the way to get started is to connect with a coach, that’s how you register your movement. This is separate from anything your own school requires; if your campus has its own club registration process, you’ll still want to check with your school on that too.

A coach is a Cru staff member whose job is to walk alongside you as you get started. Here’s what working with a coach actually looks like from there:

  • It’s free. No cost involved, no catch.
  • No pressure. You reach out, someone gets back to you with information and answers your questions, and there’s no commitment required just to ask.
  • Go at your own pace. You and your coach agree on a rhythm together, whether that’s weekly, every other week, or monthly, usually in calls of about 20 to 30 minutes.
  • The calls are practical. Your coach checks in on how things are going, helps you work through whatever challenges you’re facing, brainstorms ideas with you, and prays for you.
  • Real experience backs it up. Coaches have spent years working directly with students, teachers, and other volunteers on campuses like yours.
  • You get resources. Training and tools to help you lead with confidence, even if this is your first time.
  • It fits around your life. Coaches build their availability around your schedule.

Through it all, you’re helping students hear about Jesus, grow in their faith, and go on to reach others too. And whether you’re the student or the adult in this story, you stay the one leading it. Your coach walks alongside you; the coach doesn’t take it over.

Check Out the Playbook

Whichever path you choose, the Reach Your School Playbook is worth having in hand. It walks you through four simple steps — DREAM, PRAY, GO, GROW — for building something that reaches your school.

Download the Reach Your School Playbook

Whichever path you choose, don’t wait until everything feels figured out. Gather a few friends, open the Playbook, or send that first email to a coach. The important thing is that you start. Somewhere out there, a student at your school is waiting for someone to notice them, and that someone could be you.

Next Step
Ready to call yourself Cru? Reach out to the Coaching Center today: Email coachingcenter@cru.org and say, “I’d like to have a coach please!” Or call 1-877-GO-CAMPUS
Campus Ministry Toolkit: Skills and Tools to Reach your School

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.

Starting Spiritual Conversations

Bringing up spiritual topics can be hard, but it’s one of the most important steps in reaching your friends. If no one starts the conversation, most students will never talk about their faith.

Sharing Your Testimony

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.
  • GodTools App: A free app with interactive ways to share your faith in different languages and styles.

“Your story could be the reason someone takes a step toward Jesus.”

Following Up a New Believer

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.

Leading a Small Group

Small groups are a powerful way to build community and help students grow. If you can lead a good conversation, you can lead a small group.

  • Thrive Studies App: Includes dozens of studies on real-life topics and built-in leader training.

Campus Ministry Training

Reaching students on your campus is one of the most strategic ways to share your faith. Learning a few simple principles can help you start conversations, gather students, and take steps toward building a movement at your school.

  • 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.

Other Helpful Tools

Some Great Websites You Don't Want To Miss

Next Step
Pick one tool and take a step this week to start a conversation or gather a few friends.
The Reach Your School Playbook

You can reach your school. We can help.

You’ve probably looked around your campus and thought, someone should do something. What if that someone is you?

The Reach Your School Playbook is a simple, practical guide that helps you make the first move. It’s short, clear, and built to move you forward, not a long manual you’ll never finish. Whether you’re a student ready to lead or an adult wanting to come alongside one, this is your starting point.

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 4.41.07 PM
Buy the playbook

Download the Playbook PDF for free
Playbook Appendix Content (our toolkit)

You can actually do this

Most people never start, not because they don’t care, but because they feel stuck. Where do I even begin? What if no one shows up?

The Playbook clears that away. It gives you a path so you can stop overthinking and start doing. You don’t need a perfect plan or all the answers. You don’t have to be the popular kid or have it all together. You just need a first step, and a little courage.

And the friends you’re thinking about right now matter. You might be the one who helps them find Jesus.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Take the first step.

A simple path to follow

The Playbook walks you through four clear steps, each one designed to help you take action:

  • Dream — Start with a vision for your school and what God could do there.
  • Pray — Learn to pray for your campus in real, meaningful ways.
  • Go — Take action, gather a team, and begin reaching people.
  • Grow — Build a group that develops leaders and multiplies.

It might start with a single conversation at lunch, or a few friends praying before class. You don’t have to guess what comes next. It’s right there in front of you.

Made for students, helpful for adults

The Playbook is written first for students, because we believe teenagers can lead and make a real impact at their school. But if you’re a parent, teacher, youth leader, or volunteer, you’re not on the sidelines. There’s a whole section just for you, whether you’re supporting a student who’s leading or stepping out to start something yourself.

Students lead. Adults support. Everyone moves forward together.

"Students lead. Adults support. Everyone moves forward together."

You’re not on your own

Starting something can feel intimidating. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. The Playbook connects you to tools, coaching, and a bigger movement of people doing the same thing. Take one step, and you’ll find support along the way.

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 4.43.21 PM

Get the Playbook

So don’t wait until it all makes sense. Grab a copy below — get one for yourself, and consider extra copies for your key leaders.

Buy the Playbook

Download the Playbook PDF for free
Playbook Appendix Content (our toolkit)

Next Step
Download the Playbook, then invite a few friends to walk through the first section with you this week.

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