Preteen Porch Growth Group Questions
1. Check in: (700:-7:10)
2. Game: (7:10-7:25)
Random Object Hockey!
In this game, teams of 2 will use hockey sticks and attempt to • score goals with random objects determined by a spinning wheel. The team who scores 3 goals first wins!
3. Welcome & Memory Verses: (7:25-7:30)
Icebreaker: Who is one person you would follow around for an autograph and why?
Icebreaker 2: How often do you wash your hands?
Psalm 46:10 (Jan), Prov 22:7 (Feb), 2 Tim 2:2 (Mar)
(Try to quote first, then look up and read)
The books of the Bible up to Song of Solomon (see video @ theporch.info/bible)
4. Video Lesson: (7:30-7:45)
The Chase - Part 2
5. Small Groups: (7:45-8:00)
(Create meaningful conversation. Adjust the questions as needed, and don’t feel like you need to answer all of them.)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are some of the “firsts” you remember celebrating as a little kid? (first day of school, losing your first tooth, first sports accomplishment, first sleepover, first roller coaster etc.)
- Why do you think the adults in our life tend to celebrate those first moments when we are kids, but they become less of a big deal as we get older?
- What’s one accomplishment that might have looked small on the outside but was actually a huge deal to you?
- How can celebrating small steps actually lead to more success down the road?
- What are some of the small steps you’ve taken in your faith or in your relationship with God?
- Levi (aka Matthew) got up from his tax collector table as his next step to following Jesus. What might be “at your table” that you need to walk away from in order to take a step toward Jesus?
- Think of one big step you want to take in your faith. What are some of the smaller steps you can take to make the bigger one a reality?
- How can we as a small group start celebrating the small steps we’re all making in our faith and in our relationships with God?
6. Bible Reading & Discussion: (8:00-8:10)
John 4:1-30
What did Jesus offer to give the woman at the well?
What uncomfortable sin did Jesus point out to the woman? How did she respond?
When Jesus told her that he is the Messiah, what did she do?
How do you (or others) respond when your sin is pointed out?
What is your attitude knowing that Jesus is the Messiah and came to wipe your sin slate clean?
Who do you need to run and tell this week?
7. Sermon Summary Video: (8:00-8:15)
(Not Now!)
8. Sermon Discussion: (8:15-8:20)
What’s one thing that stood out to you from the sermon?
True or False: Most people don’t mind interruptions. Why?
Why is it so hard to talk on the phone and listen to someone else at the same time?!
What an example of a “bad” interruption?
What’s the #1 way you are interrupted in your daily life?
Teaser: How do you typically respond when someone interrupts you?
How is the flow of water similar to the flow our your life?
Have you ever considered that an interruption could be God? Why or why not?
What’s one way that you have been too busy to help other people?
What’s one way that you have let God use you to make a difference during an interruption?
(Ask this multiple times to let multiple people answer)
Jesus made time for all kinds of people! Which group do you think you can make more time for and how so: The contagious, the cowardly, the children, the crippled, the crashers, or the crowds?
9. Life Change - Application: 8:20-8:25)
What is one thing that you can do this week? (TRY TO HOLD OUT ON GIVING OPTIONS!!!!!
Anything from the video lesson or Bible discussion?
H- Look for a moment! I- Wait for a minute! J- Be used for a ministry!
10. Prayer: (8:25-8:30)
(Take a few minutes to ask for prayer request and/or praises and pray for each other.)
BOTTOM LINE
Chasing Jesus starts with a step.
SCRIPTURE
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him (Luke 5:27-28 NIV).
GOAL OF SMALL GROUP
To help students determine one small step they can take toward Jesus this week.
THINK ABOUT THIS
Leaders—it can be tempting for us to emphasize and lead our students toward certain destinations. Maybe that’s making a decision to follow Jesus, reading their Bible every day, or going on a mission trip. These are obviously good things to do, but as leaders, we need to remember that every student in our group is in a unique place spiritually, and the steps we encourage our students to take should be unique as well. For one student, a mission trip might be a good next step. For another student, dropping a cheating habit might be a good next step. And whatever the next steps looks like for your students— however “spiritual” it may or may not be— make sure they feel celebrated when they take it.
TRY THIS
Leaders—this is a great week to text your students and affirm the small steps and growth you’ve seen them make in their faith over the past few months. Remember leaders: Even noticing the smallest things can be a huge encouragement to your students (e.g. something they said in group, a change in behavior, something kind they did for someone else, etc.). For each of your students, think of at least one thing you’ve seen them do to take steps in their faith, and shoot them a text to celebrate with them.