The following Small Group guidelines will help set the commitment level and expectations for each person in your Small Group. Please take time during Week One to discuss the guidelines as a group and commit to following them.

GROUP ATTENDANCE
I will prioritize my Small Group by attending each week and notifying if I will be absent or late.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT
We commit to listen to each other and to support one another without judgment.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH
I will allow the members of my Small Group to speak into my life, to confront me on unhealthy behavior or thinking, and to encourage me to live according to God’s principles.

CONFIDENTIALITY
We commit to keep confidential anything shared within the context of our Small Group.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION
We commit to immediately resolve conflict within the group by following the principles of Matthew 18:15–17. We will not gossip to each other or about each other.

LIMITING FREEDOM
We commit to limit our freedom by not serving or consuming alcohol during Small Group meetings or events in order to avoid causing anyone to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:1–13; Romans 14:19–21).

WELCOME NEWCOMERS
We commit to invite others to join our Small Group, and we will warmly welcome anyone who is new.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
We commit to spend time together as a Small Group and get to know each other. We will pray for each other regularly and support each other through life’s ups and downs.

1. PREPARING FOR YOUR GROUP

Use the leader notes found on this resource page each week to help you prepare for your Small Group.

This section includes points on what to communicate with your group, what to pray, and what to expect at your Small Group meeting. Review this section early each week.

2. SMALL GROUP SESSION

Use the second section each week while leading your Small Group. It is good to read through this section in advance of the group to make notes and select the

questions and prayer points you like the most. This section includes:

WARM-UP & INTRODUCTION:
Begin each week by discussing an easy “warm-up” question and then reading a short introduction to help focus everyone’s attention on the topic of the lesson.

PLAY VIDEO:
Play Pastor Matt’s weekly video. Encourage your group to use the blank space in their Beyond Kids Guide to take notes if they would like. Be sure to watch this video ahead of time each week to familiarize yourself with the content. This will also allow you to troubleshoot any potential technical issues ahead of time.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
This section provides questions for your Small Group to discuss every week. Don’t feel pressured to discuss every question. Select the ones that seem most appropriate for your group, and give everyone plenty of time to share their thoughts. If you don’t get through all the questions, that’s okay.

APPLICATION QUESTION:
Each week ends with an application question to help everyone apply the discussion to their lives. This question is a great tool for you to know how to pray for the people in your group.

PRAYER:
Praying together is one of the greatest privileges of a Small Group. This section will give you prayer points to help focus your group prayer time. Also, use this time to take prayer requests and to pray for each other’s needs.

NEXT STEPS:
In this section, you will find helpful reminders to focus the group towards the next meeting.

The next six weeks in your Beyond Kids Small Group is going to be incredible! Here are a few principles to lead a great Small Group:

1. PRAY
It may sound obvious, but praying for your group is the best thing you can do! This is why your Leader Guide provides prayer points each week to help you pray and prepare for each Small Group meeting. Remember, your prayers do not have to be long. Just try to be consistent in prayer, and watch what God does!

2. PREPARE
Preparation is key to a successful group. Consider the following: Always communicate with your group before and after you meet. Use the tips provided each week in this guide to know what to communicate. Make sure your meeting location is clean and tidy. In the home, soft worship music in the background is great while people arrive. Also, providing snacks is a home run! If you have pets, be sure they are out of the way. Review the Small Group session each week before your meeting. Also, preview the video. This will help you familiarize yourself with the content and will allow you to address any technical difficulties before your group meets.

3. FOLLOW A SCHEDULE
Following a consistent schedule each week is important. Try not to let the group run long. Here is a simple 75-minute schedule you may follow:

MEET, GREET, MINGLE (10 minutes)

SHARE “THE BIG IDEA” (5 minutes)

PLAY VIDEO (15 minutes)

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (30 minutes)

PRAYER (10 minutes)

DISCUSS “NEXT STEPS” (5 minutes)

4. FACILITATE, DON’T TEACH
Each week, the video delivers great teaching content. Your responsibility is to facilitate a discussion in which everyone is participating. A successful group is one where everyone is able to share. As a facilitator, follow the 80/20 guide—where 80% of the talking is done by group members and only 20% by you.