Articles: Small Groups

Adult Resource Consultant, Tom Bougher, discusses 10 questions to ask about your small group ministry.

Assistant General Superintendent Alton Garrison begins discussing effective communication from chapter five of his book The 360 Degree Disciple.

An archive of a webinar event with Dan Stanley that occured on December 4, 2010. This is the third webinar in a series discussing the Acts 2 process and how it incoporates into Sunday School and Small Groups.

View the archive of Tom Bougher's webinar, Connect More!

Having great classes doesn't have to be hard. Here are five tips to get your class off to a great start this fall.

A Manual for Growing Small Groups

Wes Bartel sits down with 2010 Teacher of the Year, Peggy Southerland, and her husband Jurl.

The Executive Leadership Team discusses the Holy Spirit and Spirit Baptism.

Watch the recording of a Small Group Webinar featuring small group experts Greg Bowman, Randall Neighbour, and Dave Treat.

The Bible stands at the center of Christian education. It is our main textbook, our training manual and the primary source of God's revelation to us. Without the Bible you can't have Christian education.

Teachers: Can you dialogue with your students about these tough Bible questions?

Article By Randall Neighbours - Author of The Naked Truth about Small Group Ministry

The following is a study of the G12 Movement, including its history, context, and possible guidelines regarding how these emphases could be used within a local Assemblies of God church context. This study took place in 2006.

by Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson

Five practical ways to support and honor teachers.

As Christians, we are all called to be disciples. But a select few are chosen, as Christ chose His intimate followers, to be core instructors.

A beginning to end assessment checklist for your church's small group program.

Discipleship.ag.org - Small Groups - Training and Resource Ministries

5 practices that take small groups beyond polite "sharing" to the disciplines that change lives.

Here's how to introduce the truths of Christianity in a relaxed, non-threatening setting that can even be fun!

by Pcom Pete

Developing relationships among a group of strangers can be incredibly difficult. But here's the good news! As they spend more and more time together, your group members will feel more comfortable sharing their lives with one another.

(PDF) by Teresa Quinn

This small group training lesson discusses the role of the leader and host, how to plan and prepare for group time, how to encourage people to serve God with their lives, how to build a healthy small group, and how to take group members deeper in their connection with each other.

Silence. The only sound you hear is the ticking of the clock. You glance around and see people shifting uncomfortably in their seats. No one will look you in the eye. It's every leader's worst nightmare...

by Thom and Joani Schultz

What do friends do? They like to eat together. "Let's do lunch." "Let's go out for dinner." "Let's meet for breakfast." "Let's have coffee."

Eating together is a natural and effective avenue for building friendships.

by Rick Warren

When it comes to fellowship, size matters: Smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but you can’t fellowship with one. Once a group becomes larger than about 10 people, one or two will dominate the group, and someone -- usually the quietest person -- will stop participating altogether.

by Rick Warren

By Dan Williams

It's a touchy situation. As a small-group leader, the last thing you want is a roomful of people who are afraid to open their mouths. On the other hand, you can't afford to let just one person continually jump in. So what do you do when one of your small-group members monopolizes the group discussion?

By Lance Witt

Here's a question for you, pastor: What is a disciple? How would we really know one if we even made one? What are the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus Christ?

by Lance Witt

Pastor, you're probably already committed to seeing all five purposes – fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, worship, and ministry – lived out in your congregation. That's good. But chances are that you haven't brought that balance to your small groups...

Enthusiastic proponents of Christian education share a desire with the Psalmist when he said, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11, NIV).

The late Elton Trueblood, advocate for Christian learning and discipleship, once compared the state of the church to that of Rome in the moments when its empire began to wane...

The Classroom of the Twenty-First Century

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. "I can’t go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Although methods in themselves are not sacred, as we address spiritual issues, we must base our methods of evangelism, discipleship and church growth on the revealed principles and directives of God’s word...

The scene was strangely reminiscent of race day at Churchill Downs. Fifteen bodies strained forward, intent on the ringing of the bell. When it sounded, they burst from the room, as though released from a lifetime of captivity...

"What you believe by the time you are thirteen is what you will die believing."

What an amazing and frightening statement! It is a statement taken from a recent study published by the Barna Research Group. This study in reality challenges us to rethink the whole issue of our priorities within the church and within the home.

It seems strange that a community could come to dread a day of the week but that happened in Gloucester, England in the eighteenth century. Instead of inspiration and rest, Sunday became a day of dread for much of the population.

That question has birthed a publishing phenomenon. Ministers' libraries are filled with books that portend to give advice on "How to grow a church in five easy steps" or "How to grow from 70 to 7,000 in 7 months."

In Sunday School, we want to teach God’s Word in such a way that God’s Spirit can activate faith in the everyday lives of students. We are not trying to turn young children into "Sunday Christians" who know how to look and act in a church building. We want them to become seven-day-a-week disciples. When Bible lessons include active learning methods that match everyday activities, children find it easier to apply God’s ideas to everyday events.

Baudeville, a company that specializes in affirmation resources, has created a line of T.E.A.M. The letters stand for "Together Everyone Accomplishes More." Has that been your experience? Maybe we could adapt their acronym for Sunday School to, "T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves Ministry."

Which is more important in your Sunday School–the curriculum or you?

All of the positive learning elements teacher s want to provide for young children will be very difficult if not impossible, unless some basic guidelines are followed when organizing groups of children. Just because it is possible to cram a large number of youngsters into one room does not mean it is desirable. A church that truly cares about providing loving, quality nurture for little ones will put a high priority on organizing its ministries for this age group so that effective learning experiences really can be provided.

"I don’t want to play with you." "Don’t sit by me. I want to sit by Jeremy." Young children unintentionally hurt one another, because they are naturally self-centered. They see all their relationships and experiences from one perspective—their own.

Thoughts to ponder at the beginning of a new year

"Without training, we tend to teach the way we were taught."

"By giving up good, it’s possible to become great!"

Children frequently memorize Romans 12:1, but how do they put the concept of sacrifice into practice? They need living examples to help them learn about sacrificial living. In the months since September 11, 2001, children have seen up-to-date examples of sacrificial living. Firemen, policemen, steelworkers, and even rescue dogs worked sacrificially at Ground Zero. The nation applauded their efforts, praised their courage, and admired their sacrifice.

Play dough - children love it, and you can use it to teach many lessons in Sunday School. Even after using play dough to teach for a month of Sundays, children will return to your class eager to use it again.

Tips for teaching and working with toddler age children

The Thinking Chair as a tool for discipline

Tips for teaching preschoolers

Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (NIV). Many Christians interpret this to mean if you train a child in spiritual things, that child will grow into a God-fearing adult, too. But how can you tell if the child is truly embracing the greater truths of the Bible as Jesus taught? How can you help strengthen children spiritually so when they are grown, they will live for the Lord?

Managing your time in the elementary classroom.

Music should be a vital part of your Sunday School class time! You should use music to welcome the early birds to class and to start every event. Students love to march, walk, and hop to the next part of class. Those wiggly kids need the time to get up and move! Plan time for that to happen as they rotate to the next learning center.

Ask children's pastors what are their greatest needs in children's ministry, and most will say getting enough qualified workers is among their top three concerns. Our hectic society puts time at a premium, and most people feel they are already stretched to the limit. Yet, despite busy schedules, many concerned Christians want to contribute time and resources to expand the kingdom of God. How can we help them be involved in Christian education? One answer is team teaching.

Is humor appropriate in the Sunday School class or children’s church? Yes. Humor helps break down walls of fear or distrust. It can heal a child’s hurts and anger. It helps all of us forget about our troubles or see them in a different light.

Sunday School teachers play a vital role in the lives of Christian families. They provide an important link between the church and the home and are in a key position to encourage young families in regular Sunday School attendance.

Children who have had a genuine conversion experience want to share their faith with others but sometimes lack the understanding of where to begin. We can help by giving them practical experiences and training in the church setting. Here are some ideas to consider...

We have made several moves during our married life. Each time we looked for a good church in the area before we made our move. We realized the important influence the church would have on our family. We knew that if our children were strong spiritually, they could handle the challenges of life and would choose the right path in whatever situation they found themselves.

Jesus was a storyteller.He taught deep spiritual truths through parables, referred to historic epics, and discussed the future in story form. Jesus realized the effectiveness of storytelling in teaching and set an example for us to follow.

The youth teacher can find success in instructing teens by recognizing the unique ways they learn. Consider the following 10 habits of a youth teacher who successfully instructs teens.

Great teachers use class time well by being effective teachers. And they know that time outside of class — not as teachers but as students — is just as important.

Regardless of our position in ministry, our purpose is to bring people to Jesus. In everything, we must be effective at communicating the good news of forgiveness and new life in Christ.

The circumstances are not unusual. Attitudes change during the teen years. Expectations become unreasonably high as to what merits attention. Some feel as if they have seen and done it all. They’ve put in their youth group time, and it’s no longer relevant. Perhaps they are just busier and more discriminating with their time. Church involvement takes the brunt of many schedules.

Youth classes, especially Sunday School classes, have traditionally followed one of two grouping patterns: Plan "V" or Plan "G."

Seldom will your students be involved in a more intense spiritual experience than summer youth camp. I’ve seen students practically dragged to the departure by their parents, sleeping bag in tow, only to return at week’s end ready to take their city for God.

The sound of an electronic droplet announced the arrival of yet another E-mail message. Like the hundreds before, this E-mail shared new information to be added to my already overflowing mental reservoir. I found myself wanting to shout, "No more messages," only to hear the droplet as another message plopped into my crowded in box.

A number of years ago, moviegoers filled theaters to watch the comedy Back to the Future. The film’s basic premise was if a person could go back in time and change a single event, the ripple effect of the change would have lifelong consequences. People who viewed the film were challenged, consciously or unconsciously, to think about the impact each action they make has on their future and the future of the ones they love.

Love is the essence of making disciples. Instructing people in the faith requires quality material, skilled presentations, and leadership gifts. However, all these characteristics are readily available in the world, but what is not available there is a caring heart, motivated by the Holy Spirit, that places the highest priority on people. Christian disciple making is set apart by love for God and for each other that draws both leader and learner into the journey of spiritual growth.

The last promise in the Bible is still in effect: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). This applies to the mentally and emotionally disadvantaged as much as it does to those who have been spared the challenges of disabilities. We need to include them in all the Christian education activities of the church.

The question is: How effectively do we present gospel truth to the mentally and emotionally disadvantaged adults in our Sunday Schools and churches?

By Pamela Honan Peterson

The difference between a good class and a great one often is determined by one feature: discussion. We know students learn most effectively when they are actively involved. We know quality interaction draws students together, making their class a home rather than just a house.

Admiral Perry planted the American flag at the North Pole. To accomplish this feat, he employed a dog sled, three Eskimos, and an African-American named Matthew Henson. Years later Congress awarded Henson a medal for being part of the expedition. The medal’s inscription expressed Admiral Perry’s reason for selecting Henson to be part of the team: "I can’t get along without him."

The church and the Sunday school are vital to reaching and keeping people. The pastor’s class for newcomers is one strategy we cannot get along without if we want to reach and keep people.

by Billie Davis

A sad dark face seemed to accuse me as I opened my morning paper. "Tears rolled from the eyes of the African-American teen," the front-page story began. She had found ugly racial words scrawled on her art-class project. The article called black/white relations in the school a "racial divide," and asked, "What can we do to bridge it?"

Do you remember a happy event that made you feel you were leaving childhood—that you were growing up? My event was the day I became a teacher. Well, not a real teacher at first. I was only 13.

The rags-to-riches story of a man who found his passion

Joy is one of the outstanding identification marks of the true believer in Christ. More than 500 times Scripture records such words as joy,joyfulness, rejoice, and gladness. The apostle Paul lists joy second in cataloging the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

First in a series of devotionals based on the fruit of the Spirit

By Steve Mills

Often we are unaware of what it is that has caused the spirit of another to react but we can sense the distance or tension in the relationship. As leaders and team members, who are serving together as part of the church and God’s Kingdom, it is essential that our relationship not be torn apart.

The following quiz is designed to help you evaluate how well you are investing yourself in ministry. Answer each question yes or no.

Responding to the calling God has placed on your life.

By Wes Haystead

Methods for teaching and how different people learn

By Wes Haystead

Methods for teaching adults

Methods for teaching young children

By Wes Haystead

Methods for teaching youth

From Angela Yee, "Organizing for Ministry"

By Stefanie Reubell

a quick guide to becoming a good storyteller

What are learning centers and how do they work?

From Sunday School Administrator's Manual

By Stefanie Reubell

By Stefanie Reubell

by Esther M. Bailey

Every person involved in the church’s teaching ministries will want to build a library to enhance his or her own Bible study and enrich the learning experiences of the student. The following is a list of books that can be considered the core of a good library. Begin here and then branch out.

Hands-on Bible learning can occur at one table or at interest centers positioned throughout a room. Teachers who want to use hands-on learning in interest centers can refer to the checklist below for possible ways to equip different centers. Resourceful teachers can equip Sunday school rooms for enjoyable hands-on Bible learning on almost any budget. The items with asterisks (*) can be brought from home or made inexpensively.

PDF for Lesson classroom preparation

PDF for Class Preparation

By Zenas J. Bicket

Bible Translations and Teaching

By Billie Davis

(PDF, 492 KB)

by Lori O’Dea, D.Min.
Program Coordinator, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

by LeRoy Bartel

Training must be educationally sound, comprehensive, ongoing, and practical with an emphasis on spiritual dynamics.