Small Group Resources

Big Idea:
Prayer is more than just words.
Scripture:
Matthew 6:5-13, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that you tried to learn that was really difficult at first?

2. What stood out to you about Derek Rabelo’s story? What can Derek’s story teach us about trusting God?

3. Have you ever struggled with prayer? What makes it difficult for you?

4. Why do you think Jesus warned against praying just for attention?

5. Jesus gave a model prayer; why do you think each of its four elements (worship, surrender, dependence, and forgiveness) are important?

6. What do you think "never stop praying" actually looks like in everyday life for someone your age?

7. How can keeping a prayer journal or having a prayer partner help us grow in our faith and prayer life?

8. What’s one change you want to make to your prayer life starting this week?

9.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
Scripture is more than just a book

Scripture:
Psalms 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12

Discussion Questions:
1.What was the last thing you saved up to purchase? Was it worth it in the end?


2.Why do you think Mary Jones was so passionate about owning a Bible?


3.Do you think people your age are more like Mary Jones or Thomas Jefferson when it comes to how they treat the Bible? Why?


4.What do you think it means for the Bible to be “alive and powerful,” like it says in Hebrews 4:12?


5.Be honest: What makes reading the Bible difficult or easy for you right now?


6.Have you ever felt like the Bible spoke directly to something you were going through? Share if you’re willing.


7.What are some of the biggest obstacles that make it hard for people your age to read the Bible? What’s one thing that might help overcome those obstacles?


8.How do you think your life would look different if you made Bible reading a bigger part of your daily routine?


9.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea...
Worship is more than just music.
📖 John 4:23-24, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Discussion Questions:


1.What’s one weird or random fact that totally blew your mind when you first heard it?


2.What’s something you do regularly that people might not realize takes a lot of effort?


3.Zach Hunter’s story showed that worship is bigger than just singing. What stood out to you about his story?  


4.Have you ever had a moment where you realized you made a difference, even in a small way?


5.Romans 12 talks about being a “living sacrifice.” What do you think that means in real life for someone your age?


6.Why do you think it’s so tempting to blend in or “copy the behaviors” of the world around us?


7.In what areas of your life do you think God is asking you to worship Him more intentionally?


8.What are some “ordinary” things you do every day that could actually become acts of worship if you changed your mindset?


9.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
Community is more than just conversation.

Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:24-25

Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something unique or “different” about you that you're proud of?


2.What’s one thing that makes you feel like you belong—maybe on a team, in a group of friends, or at church?


3.Who’s someone in your life that always makes you feel included or valued?


4.What do you think makes a community feel real and not just like a group of people hanging out?


5.Have you ever had a time when being part of a group helped you grow or get through something difficult?


6.Hebrews 10 says we should “motivate” each other toward love and good works. Can you think of a time someone pushed you to grow in your faith? What did that look like?


7.The believers in Acts 2 lived in a way that reflected Jesus. What’s one thing from that passage that you’d love to see more of in our group?


8.If someone looked at our group, would they see Jesus in how we treat each other? What’s one way we could reflect Him more clearly this week, and what’s your part in that?


9.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
Your value isn't determined by your physical relationships.

Scripture:
Genesis 1:27, Psalms 139:13-14, John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

[Leader note: This topic can feel vulnerable, so don't be surprised if students want to steer the conversation themselves. That's actually a good sign. It means they're engaged. If you are comfortable doing so, give them that freedom, as long as the discussion remains healthy and honors the people in the room. Try to see your role as a facilitator. Listen for places where you can affirm their insights or gently connect their thoughts back to what God says about their value.]


Discussion Questions:
1.If your life were turned into a reality TV show, what would it be called and why?


2.What’s the best (or worst!) advice you’ve ever gotten about relationships?


3.How do you usually treat things that are valuable to you (like a phone, sneakers, or a favorite jersey)? Does expensive always equal valuable? Why or why not?


4.What’s a lie you think someone your age might often believe about their value?


5.Why do you think our culture ties so much of someone’s worth to dating or physical relationships?


6.Why do you think it’s so easy to connect our value to things like dating, popularity, or achievements instead of to God’s truth?


7.What might be some signs that a relationship (either friendship or dating) isn’t honoring your value? How would you encourage someone to respond it they were in this situation?


8.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big idea:
Freedom means choosing what’s best, not just what’s allowed.

Scripture:
John 8:36, 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, Ephesians 5:15-17

Discussion Questions:
1.If you got a $1,000 gift card that you could use in any store, but you had to spend it in 10 minutes, what would you buy?


2.What’s the most ridiculous or random thing you’ve ever actually spent your own money on? How’d you feel after you bought it?


3.What are some reasons someone your age might choose to use substances like alcohol or vaping, even though they know the risks?


4.What are some decisions someone your age might face today where “I can” doesn’t always mean “I should”?


5.Have you ever had a moment where you knew something wasn’t technically “wrong,” but you also knew it wasn’t the wisest choice? What happened?


6.Do you think asking, “Is this beneficial?” might be a better question than “Is this allowed?” Why or why not?


7.How could someone tell if a choice honors God and can help them grow in their faith? How could they know if it’s the opposite?


8.Who are “your people,” the ones who help you make better decisions?


9.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
You choose what shapes you.

Scripture:
Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Timothy 4:12

Discussion Questions:
1.Have you ever met someone whose passion for something was so contagious that it made you care about it too? What was it, and why did their excitement matter?


2.Steve Irwin didn't just decide to love wildlife one day—he was shaped by it his whole life. What's something that's shaped who you are today?


3.Jesus said we're salt and light—but He also warned that salt can lose its flavor. What do you think causes someone to slowly lose what makes them distinctive?


4.What's one influence (positive or negative) that someone your age might not realize is so influential in their life? Why do you think it's easy to overlook?


5.Paul told Timothy to be an example in what he says, how he lives, his love, his faith, and his purity. Which of those areas do you think might be most affected by what we let influence us? Why?


6.Which do you think is more difficult: identifying negative influences in your life or stepping back from those negative influences? What makes this so difficult?


7.What's one thing in your life that is currently shaping you in a positive direction, something that helps you look more like Jesus?


8.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
God created you with a purpose.

Scripture:
Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something you generally take for granted (like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) that you think might actually have a really interesting origin story?


2.What’s a talent or skill you have that most people don’t know about?


3.Have you ever tried something new and surprised yourself by how good you were at it?


4.How does it feel to hear that everyone has been given a gift by God (including you)? What does that tell us about how God views us?


[Leader note: Depending on the size of your group, you could either answer this next question for each student as a group, or you could divide your group into groups of 3 or 4. The goal is for this to be a positive experience; however, please keep in mind that some students may not enjoy being in the spotlight. We suggest encouraging everyone to participate, but asking each student before it’s their turn whether or not they are comfortable.]


5.What strengths can we call out in each other? Let’s use this as an opportunity to share the unique ways we’ve noticed that God has wired each of us.


6.How can you use the strengths we’ve identified this week to serve someone around you?


7.What would it look like to use the strengths we’ve identified in a way that points others to Jesus?


8.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
Don't try to be someone else... Be you!

Scripture:
Psalms 139:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Discussion Questions:
1. What result did you get when you took the Spiritual Gifts Quiz? Do you agree with the results, or do you think they might have missed the mark?


[Leader note: Feel free to use this time as an opportunity for your students to encourage and affirm each other. If a student feels like their quiz results missed the mark, use this time as an opportunity for your group to call out the strengths and gifts that they see in that student. Please be prepared for this part of your discussion to take longer than usual.]


2.What, if anything, about your quiz results did you find surprising?


3.Did anyone else in the group get the same result as you? If so, what other similarities do you think you might share with them?


4.Based on the results from your quiz, how do you think you might see your gifts used in the life of our group (either your small group or your youth group as a whole)?


5.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?

Big Idea:
We’re always better together.

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Discussion Questions:
1. If you could be on any superhero team (real or made up), which one would you choose and why? What unique super-power would you have?


2.Have you ever experienced a time when your friend group worked really well together—what made it work?


3.Who’s someone in your life that always seems to make you better when you team up with them? What is it about that specific person (or those specific people) that makes them good to work with?


4.How do you react when you feel like you have to handle everything by yourself? Do you tend to be more of a team player or more of a solo-sport kind of person?


5.What might make it difficult to depend on others for someone your age, even if you know you need them?


6.Based on your Spiritual Gifts Quiz results, what characteristics might you be looking for in someone else to be on your team?


7.If our entire group were a team, what do you think we could accomplish based on our gifts?


8.How can we, as a group, pray for each other this week?