What’s The “Win” for a Small Group Leader?

There are many things small group leaders can try to do well, but we need to know what the ultimate “win,” or "mark of success," is so we can continue to strive toward that.

For small group leaders, the “win” is changed lives. Small group leaders are the people who get to be on the front lines of ministry, helping kids understand how Biblical principles relate to their lives, helping them internalize Scripture, and teaching them spiritual disciplines like how to pray.

You know you are making headway in your ministry when…

• kids become more comfortable praying aloud and do it more frequently
• kids tell you about prayers they pray when they aren’t in church
  
  
• kids memorize verses and understand how to apply them to their lives
• kids make practical applications of the Biblical principles you are discussing
• kids tell you how they applied the previous week’s lesson or how they have made a wise choice during the week
  
  
• kids begin to treat others with more respect
  
  
• kids demonstrate an increased level of faith in Christ as they discuss difficult situations they (or others in your group) face. When their response to these situations is to pray, they are demonstrating faith.
  

Some ways to promote life change (apart from prayer)

• Tell kids how God is answering your prayers so they can see that God really does hear and respond to us.
• Ask kids how God is answering their prayers. Be sure to have kids thank God for His answers.
• Encourage kids to pray when they face difficult situations.
  
  
• As kids learn the monthly verse, make sure they understand what it means and how it applies to their lives. Learning Bible verses isn’t enough. The need to understand how God's Word can change their lives.
  
• Make sure each kid leaves small group with one concrete way to apply the lesson.
• Use prayer time to have each child ask for God’s help to apply the lesson.
• Ask kids from week to week how they applied last week’s lesson.
• Share your experiences of applying Scripture to your life.
  
  
• Encourage kids to treat others with respect (listen when others are talking, use kind words, offer to help others, etc.)

Each week keep an eye out for any evidence that God is at work in the lives of your kids and celebrate that!

Have a great small group this week!