Leading a small group may seem like a relatively easy task, but it’s far from that. Leading adult small groups can be a challenge, but leading youth small groups may be even more so. Small group leadership is like a balancing act, constantly trying to find equilibrium between two opposites.

 

Friendships – Holy huddle

You want the teens or students in your small group to become close, preferably friends. But you don’t want them to become a holy huddle, a closed off group only focused on themselves where no one new can break into. How do you find the balance?

Community – Content

Community is a key goal of small groups. Being there for ach other, taking care of each other, it takes time. But you only have so much time and you also want to spend time on content, delving into God’s Word and teaching. How do you find the balance?

Individuals – Group

There are always two or three students in the group that need extra attention. Maybe because of their background, their situation at home or something they are going through. How do you give them time and attention without losing sight of the needs of the entire group, the others? How do you find the balance?

Availability – A life

You want to be there for your teens, you know you need to be. You’re their small group leader, you want to spend time with them and invest in a relationship. So you give them your phone numbers, you watch their games and you take them to the movies. But you also have a life. A spouse who needs you, kids who want to see their parent, a job that needs to be done and a household that doesn’t magically run by itself. How do you find the balance?

Small group leadership isn’t easy, it’s a constant balancing act. I’m curious: how do you find the balance on the issues I’ve mentioned? Any other balancing acts in small group leadership I didn’t think of?