Youth Growth Group Questions
1. Check in & Hang out: (700:-7:10)
2. Game: (7:10-7:25)
Use Your Nose
OVERVIEW
In this game, a race to grab as many paper bags off the ground as possible becomes a bit more complicated when players can only use their mouths while balancing on one leg.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• Twin or full sized bed-sheet
• 2 flashlights or different colored laser pointers
• Music
• 2 chairs
PREP
• Prepare/gather bed-sheets and flashlights
• Set chairs on stage the width of the bed-sheet apart
• 3 small group leaders or volunteers: have two volunteers stand on the chairs to hold the bed-sheet up and one person stand with two flashlights/lasers behind the bed-sheet
PLAY
For this game, two students will compete by following beams from flashlights/lasers being shown on a bed-sheet using their nose. The students will follow the beams as music plays and whenever the music stops, they and the light must freeze, the person closest to where the light stops wins. As the music starts, have the lights start moving slowly and gradually speed up to the point where the students must really move to follow where the light goes. For an extra challenge, you can have the students try to follow a specific light or laser beam color around to the point where they must really chase it around and potentially cross one another.
3 . Welcome and Memory Verse: (7:25-7:30)
Did anyone experience any cool life change this week? (application)
H- Ask yourself how it looks! I- Ask God how it looks! J- Ask someone how it looks!
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 once a month at most)
Icebreaker: Name an athlete or team that you’ve always been a fan of!
4. Video Lesson: (7:30-7:45)
I Have Questions - Week 2 (Divorce)
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
1. What emoji best describes the current state of your family right now? (Examples: Thumbs up, thumbs down, shrug emoji, poop emoji, heart emoji, tornado emoji, etc.)
2. If you’re comfortable sharing, why did you pick that emoji?
3. What or who came to mind when you heard that we were talking about divorce today (without getting too specific)?
4. What can make it feel like peace is impossible when a family is going through something tough like divorce?
5. What does it look like to trust God for peace on the inside when there’s no peace on the outside?
6. Every family has brokenness. What do you think your family could do to handle your brokenness better? How do you handle it well?
7. Don’t miss this: How can knowing God is with you in your family’s brokenness help you deal with it better?
8. What can you do to fight for peace in your family, even if peace between other members of your family isn’t possible?
9. For upperclassmen: How can knowing the difference between God’s job and your job, help you find peace?
TRY THIS Leaders, this week, be sure to follow up with students who may be experiencing tension. Challenge them to read and/or memorize Romans 12:17-18.
6. Bible Reading & Discussion: (8:00-8:10)
Revelation 18:11
Why will the merchants of the world mourn the fall of Babylon?
What is the difference in who Babylon used to be and what it is to become?
How quickly will all of our luxurious things be gone?
Is there anything or anyone you love more than God?
What things do you find yourself holding on to?
What can you let go of this week and put that focus on God instead?
7. Sermon Summary Video: (8:00-8:15)
(Atta boy!!)
Teaser: How do you feel about how the Chiefs celebrated during the parade?
8. Sermon Discussion: (8:15-8:20)
(See how discussion goes in a full group setting by the TV's)
What’s one thing that stood out to you from the sermon?
(BIG IDEA - ***You should never applaud what angers God!*** )
How shocked would you be if Pastor Curtis’ story of Friday night was true? Why?
Why do you think some Christians are afraid to stand up for Christian morals?
True or false: America is tolerant of Christian views?
What does it look like for a Christian to be silenced?
How have you seen people encourage sin?
Have you ever heard people present God as a “fluffy rainbow” God? How so?
What surprised you the most and why: God is angry at our doubt, our devotion, our desires, our disobedience? (let multiple people answer)
What’s the difference between encouraging Christian liberty vs. encouraging sin? (think drinking, modesty, cussing)
Have you ever taken a stand for what the Bible says when it goes against the culture? How so?
How would your friends react if you decided to not go to a party because you didn't think God wanted you to?
How do you know when God wants you to speak up?
Which tip was more helpful for you and why: Share sensitively, share scriptures, share solutions? (let multiple people answer)
What is more loving and why: To not tell people they are sinning in order to not offend them or to tell people they are sinning in order to warn them?
If you are ok with sinning or encouraging sin, what does that say about your faith?
What was your favorite sermon from this series and why: Contrary convictions cause contrary conduct, Does your life display decency?, or You should never applaud what angers god?
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- Share sensitively! I- Share Scriptures! J- Share solutions!
10. Prayer: (8:25-8:30)
(Take a few minutes to ask for prayer request and/or praises and pray for each other.)
11. Show Teaser Video for next series (If applicable)
***Leader TIPS***
BOTTOM LINE
You don’t have to be fixed to be found.
SCRIPTURE
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).
GOAL OF SMALL GROUP
To help students see that they can have a relationship
with God regardless of their mistakes or their past.
THINK ABOUT THIS
Leaders, at this phase, students are developing the ability to see other people from a different perspective. You can help your students realize that neither character was all right or all wrong.
TRY THIS
Leaders, people are always more complex than we think—even when at first, we think it’s just good versus bad. By the end of the story, everyone had their successes and failures. This story is also not just a story of two brothers, this story is about a father who loved two sons more than they thought. Pay attention to the students in your group who may need a reminder that they are wanted and worthy of being in your small group. Reach out to them this week and remind them how thankful you are to have them in group.