Author: Pastor Steve Duffy
This past week I've had a front row seat to another student stepping out in faith to lead his fellow peers during our Sunday night high school Bible study. I have been continually encouraged by the willingness of high school students to learn and grow in leading their peers. What is behind this and how do we get behind them?
First, it is not “open mic night” for leading on Sunday nights. So what is behind students stepping into leading? The students leading reflect Christ-like character along with humility and a teachable spirit. The previous characteristics are necessary for those who take a step of faith to lead. Whether a student takes the initiative to lead or if they are invited into it, they are compelled by Christ and are genuinely interested in growing in Christ. Also, when students see their peers lead, it has let them know that the opportunity is there for them too. With that, the culture we aspire to with the Sunday night group is of participation by all and encouragement towards the one leading. So this helps to make it a helpful place to try leading and grow in it.
So how do we get behind students to help more of them take their next steps in these kinds of ways? The following are a few thoughts that could generally apply wherever students gather:
- Ensure there are on-going opportunities to give leading a try - keep inviting students to try it.
- Ensure there is some starting point for equipping - this gives some basic set of information needed to prepare and to execute in the specific leading assignment, a reference point to build and grow from. We’ve used the COMA method and associated questions from the book “One to One Bible Reading” (David Helm) as starting point tool.
- Occasionally have an adult leader rotate through to show how a “seasoned” leader leads. This type of observation serves the students well by providing an example outside of their peers.
- Provide feedback to the student who leads, feedback from the group of peers who have lead as well as the adults presence. I encourage this sub-group to share at least 1 thing the student did well and 1 opportunity for improvement.
- In general, ensure the students have ownership in the group; so not just leading, but also choice of what to study, our time of prayer, and which days we meet or don’t meet
The previous is not an exhaustive list of ways to get behind students in leading, but they are the key things that we have done with our Sunday night group that have served us all well. For the young people in your life, how might you encourage them in a next step of leading or serving? By doing so, possibly even journeying with them somehow, you help them move increasingly into the activity of a disciplemaker!
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Timothy 2:1-2
Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash
