Have you ever been asked to lead a small group?

I have been asking a few people recently what they would think about becoming a small-group leaders to students.  I usually either get met with genuine appreciation or a stiff-arm with all to familiar excuses.  Often we believe that to be effective small-group leaders, we have to be excellent teachers.  We need to have a thick understanding of God’s word and have the ability to answer any tough questions that students raise.  It can be intimidating and unnerving.  Before we know it, we have given up before we have ever started.  We have been accustomed to prolific speakers and eye-popping media that make us feel ill equipped to be a good communicator.  The sad reality is that we become okay with allowing “others” to mentor students or think “that’s why we pay the student minister” Our Christian life, however, should center around mentorship, discipleship, and community.  If you are not discipling anyone or being discipled in the faith you are missing out on the great adventure in faith.  The truth is that Jesus commands us to ‘make disciples.’  Are you being obedient in that command?

            If you are feeling slightly convicted at the moment…good.  Still feeling ill-equipped? Probably.  Let me help.  I read an article recently about how all over South America churches are starting in homes as small-groups.  They do it by giving a follower of Christ a Bible and a list of 5 simple questions.  Next this person is asked to invite friends and family over to read the Bible together and discuss the 5 questions.  Literally hundreds of churches are being started all over the continent every year, and thousands (if not millions) of people are coming to Christ in homes reading the Bible and talking about 5 questions.  I think you will be able to see how it could be so effective.  Here are the questions:

After reading a passage of Scripture together ask:
1.  What did you like about the passage?
2.  What did you NOT like about the passage?
3.  What did you not understand in the passage?
4.  What did you learn about God in the passage?
5.  What are you going to do with what you learned?

In this format, no one has to be an expert on the Bible and no one has to be a prolific speaker.  We just need to be willing to roll up our sleeves and explore together.  Would you be willing to walk alongside a group of students in a mentorship capacity?  All it takes is selflessness and 5 questions.