Every time you have a new person in your group, this needs to be done.

Introduction (5-10min)

• Introduce yourself (leaders) and welcome everyone to their small group. Explain the purpose of this first meeting: to start to get to know one another and explain the commitment.

Ground Rules

• This is a safe and sacred place
• One person speaks at a time
• Listen when others are speaking. Listen with your whole being
• Monitor yourself – if you are speaking too much, take a break and listen. If you haven’t been sharing, challenge yourself to share
• All small group discussion is confidential: unless it is a matter of personal safety/health (“I want to kill myself”), if will be shared with the youth director and we will walk with you to find comfort and joy
• We are here to build each other up – no cut-downs
• We are here to listen, not to give advice

Housekeeping

• Make sure everyone is happy with what their small group space is like

The Actual Small Group

Opening Prayer (2 min)

• Short, sweet and to the point

High/Low (5 minutes)

• Introduce ‘High/Low’
  • Invite everyone to share…quickly

Content (rest of time)

• During the talk, you should be filling in questions

Small Group Tips

• Small groups are not about having all the right answers; they’re about asking the right questions.
• Be willing to play! (Teen boys story)
• Pray – after comfortable, have a teen pray
• Sometimes Suck
• Inter-active
• Sit on same level
• Whip it question (one word)
• General questions
• Get good at asking questions (prepare/practice)
• Be ready with follow up
• ETA – Embrace the awkward
• Be Honest (transparent)
• Contact your teens weekly!
• Prepare witness of teens (if applicable) 
• Have pen/paper for journal
• “Be thinking about…”
• Cut out the gossip (ex: “no names”)
• Don’t preach – don’t dominate
• “I” versus “People” rules