A safe place. Somewhere to talk about the tough issues—the real issues. To test and see if it’s okay to ask the questions, to tell someone what’s been going on inside . . . maybe for the first time.
Today I spoke to a twenty-something-year-old reflecting on her teen years. She recalled what a difference it made when a youth leader finally began talking honestly about topics that hit her and others where it mattered. Other leaders and teachers were nice, helped her feel accepted and welcomed, but none went deep. And that’s what she craved.
Small group tips:
Avoid fill-in-the-blank studies. Look for a study designed to engage group members and encourage them to interact with the material, with the issues, with each other, and—most of all—with God.
Focus less on telling and more on asking great questions to encourage thinking, discussion, and deep sharing. Be purposeful about moving questions and discussion toward personal action and real hope that works in life.
Allow time for deepening personal awareness of what God is doing in their lives and who he is inviting them to become.
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Live Free Journey : Small Group Study helps create that kind of a safe place where leaders, teens, and young adults can gather for life-changing discussion and personal discovery of what Jesus meant for us when he said, “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36 NLT, italics mine).
New release–September, 2009. Plan now for a fall small group.
Jan,
Thanks for this information. I myself just talked to a 24 year old young man last night and he said similar things about wanting to be in a group where they were sharing life together and encouraging each other in their walks with God instead of just getting together for an academic type meeting where you study the Bible. I am interested in materials for the Live Free Small Groups.
Pam
Yes! They want to know the realness of the God of the scriptures they study and that what is happening right now in their life matters to him. And it does! Thanks for your comment, Pam.
Teens today don’t understand that adults understand what they are going through. I am one teen who knows that they do. Thanks to my mom!
Thanks for sharing that, Britany. I’m glad you have a mom who understands. It’s clear you appreciate that in her!
I know many adults who even if they don’t initially get what a teen is going through, they really do desire to be there with them and be available. We all can do that a little more for the teens in our lives!