student ministry - PowerSource

2014
THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
STUDENT MINISTRY
Contents
Staff............................................................................................................................................................... 2
Welcome....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Mission and Values of TRBC........................................................................................................................ 4
Big Challenge. Small Solution...................................................................................................................... 5
Ministry Environments................................................................................................................................. 6
What Is the Role of a Life Group Leader?...................................................................................................... 7
Life Group Leadership: Quick Hits............................................................................................................... 9
Cultural Trends........................................................................................................................................... 10
Making History........................................................................................................................................... 12
Life Group Ground Rules............................................................................................................................ 13
Life Group Session Elements....................................................................................................................... 14
Group Dynamics: Inside the Group........................................................................................................... 15
Curriculum................................................................................................................................................. 16
Spending Time/ Interacting with Students.................................................................................................. 17
Student Ministries Leader Conduct Agreement........................................................................................... 19
Key Dates.................................................................................................................................................... 20
Staff
JEREMY RADER | MIDDLE SCHOOL PASTOR
[email protected]
434.592.4794
JAY REBSAMEN | HIGH SCHOOL PASTOR
[email protected]
434.592.4670
PAUL MAYNARD | WORSHIP PASTOR
[email protected]
434.592.4786
MIKE ALDRIDGE | OUTREACH PASTOR
[email protected]
434.592.3588
JENNY MAYNARD | ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
[email protected]
434.592.4670
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Welcome
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HEART FOR SERVING STUDENTS!
WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED
AND HELP US DEVELOP STUDENTS WHO LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE!
If you are new to serving in our Family Ministries at Thomas Road, we will need you to do a few things before we can
release you to work with students…
1. We need you to visit our website, family.trbc.org as soon as possible. There you will find our Online Family
Ministry Application. Please take a few minutes to fill out the application and submit it online.
2. On this website, you will also find our FM Training 101 series. This training is approximately 1 hour long, split
into 4 sessions. You can take your time, or complete it all at once, whatever is best for you. We require all of our
leaders to complete this training before plugging in to serve with us because we believe that it is important that
our leaders understand the big picture of how we minister to children and students at TRBC and our safety and
security policies.
3. The family.trbc.org website also includes our Family Ministry 101 Manual. This manual captures the first steps
in serving as a volunteer leader. Please download it and review it so that you are familiar with our policies,
procedures and goals.
4. You will need to meet with one of our youth pastors for a brief interview. This will give us an opportunity to
clarify in more detail the role of a leader in our ministry and allow us to get to know you better.
Thank you so much for your willingness to serve our God by serving students! Our prayer is that you feel both
equipped and informed as you begin serving with us.
The Student Ministry Staff
INTEGRITY
As a spiritual leader, it is essential that you commit to being a person who lives above reproach and
serves with the utmost integrity. We expect you to pursue personal holiness in not only your interaction
and communication with students, but also in all aspects of your daily life.
Before you even begin to dig into the important information that is to follow, please take a moment to
pray and ask the Lord to search your heart and then dedicate yourself to Him so that you will live your
life as a person of integrity. If you can make such a commitment part of your daily life, you will not only
have a great impact as a leader, but you will also help us to make a great impact as a church.
With that being said, we also want to ask that if now, in the past, or at any point in the future while you
are still serving with us, you have a personal struggle that will hinder your impact as a spiritual leader
or will hinder our reputation as a ministry or church, please communicate that to a staff member. We
want to be proactive in helping you deal with your struggle and in protecting our students, their families
and our mission as a church.
Mission & Values
of TRBC
"The TRBC mission is
to change our world
by developing Christ followers
who love God and love people"
1. MYTIME devotional
2. Worship Service
me
LOVE GOD
scripture / prayer / worship
community / serve / share
LOVE PEOPLE
CHRIST
3. Life Group
4. Serve Team
We love God and love people through six activities and marks of a Christ-follower:
We begin loving God through Scripture, Prayer, Worship.
TRBC offers 1.MYTIME DEVOTIONAL and 2. WORSHIP SERVICES for this.
We continue by loving people through Community, Serving, Sharing.
TRBC offers 3.LIFE GROUPS and 4.SERVE TEAMS for this.
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Big Challenge.
Small Solution.
We have a challenge. A BIG challenge. Most studies today indicate that more than half of students who
grow up in church walk away from their faith after they graduate from high school. Why? Is it because
they go to college classes and hear from professors that don’t believe the Bible? Is it because their busy
schedules slowly push God out of their lives?
Not exactly. The real culprit starts long before they graduate from high school. It’s not something they encounter in
college. It’s something they take with them – a faith that is borrowed, fragile, immature and incomplete.
So that’s the challenge. What’s the solution? You. You’re the solution. You have the incredible opportunity to help
students develop an authentic faith – a faith that becomes their own in middle school and high school and continues
to grow after they leave home.
If you’re wondering what that looks like, it’s probably something like what Paul described when he wrote to
Timothy…
“Okay son, listen up because you are out on your own now – ready to do what God called you to do. You will need to hold
onto the commands I’m giving you so that you can fight a good fight. Hold on to faith. Have a good conscience. Don’t reject
them and suffer like others have done.” (I Timothy 1:18-19, paraphrased)
That is what we are after! We want a generation to grow up holding on to a faith that is rooted in Scripture. We want
students who place their trust in God, not only in a moment, at a VBS or at a retreat, but every day.
We want them to have a really BIG faith – an authentic faith. And the only way you can cultivate authentic faith is
through leading SMALL. Leading SMALL is about making the choice to intentionally and strategically invest in the
lives of a few. It is only when you lead SMALL that you can make a BIG difference. We lead SMALL to build an
authentic faith that is both personal and passionate. We lead SMALL to overcome the BIG challenge in front of us.
So, with that being said, are you ready? Are you ready to lead, invest, encourage and change lives? Are you ready to
do more for a FEW than you ever could for MANY?
Ministry
Environments
AT THOMAS ROAD WE OFFER OUR STUDENTS THE
FOLLOWING MINISTRY ENVIRONMENTS…
Large Group
We offer both middle school & high school students mirrored Large Group environments on Sunday mornings at 9:15 & 11:00.
Life Groups
We offer on-campus Life Groups for middle school students on Wednesday nights at 6:15. High school students can meet in either an on-campus LifeGroup on Wednesday nights at 6:15 or an off-campus group that meets during the week.
Serving
Students are encouraged to serve in their youth group, in various departments around TRBC and through various events and service projects that we offer throughout the year.
While we work hard to make each of those areas as impactful as possible, we believe that the most effective way to
reach and grow students is by training and leading dynamic volunteers to build impactful relationships with students
that go beyond normal church programming.
This is where YOU come in. This is why we position you to lead SMALL.
• True life change happens in the context of meaningful relationships.
• When students are placed in groups with leaders they trust, those leaders earn the right to be heard.
• Earning the trust of students takes more time than we can foster through normal church programming.
• As a student ministry staff, we can create programming that is fun, exciting, and engaging. But if it doesn’t support
and allow for growing relationships between leaders and students beyond the walls of the church, our influence on
the next generation is lost.
As leaders, we expect you to connect with your students not just on Wednesdays and Sundays, but throughout the
week. That is why…
• We plan to structure small groups in a way that allows for a 1:5 student to leader ratio.
• We give every small group a budget of $200 each semester to use for activities.
• Plan outings that are fun and provide time for meaningful conversations.
• When you meet up, look back on the previous week’s lesson and life group discussion and ask your students how
they are doing at living those principles out.
• Be an active listener – which involves hearing what is going on in your students’ lives and staying in touch with
your team leader and the staff to make sure that you are able to minister to their individual needs.
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*
What is the role of
a lifegroup leader?
BY NOW, YOU HAVE PROBABLY REALIZED WE ARE ASKING A LOT OF YOU.
Serving as a Life Group leader is a BIG deal. It involves a BIG commitment. Hopefully, by now you have seen
that and understand what is at stake. The next question you probably have is, “So, what does a life group leader
do?” Before we get into specifics, let’s look at five big ideas that we want you to know and understand about
LifeGroup leadership.
1. BE PRESENT - When you choose to be present, you…
• Show up predictably—The very first, basic, fundamental task of a Life Group leader is to show up on Sundays
and Wednesdays. That is the bare minimum of your job description. But don’t let that fool you. It is the most
important thing you do. That is because the first step to gaining the trust of the few students you lead is making
sure they know you will show up. Everyone needs someone who is predictable in their life. Everyone needs
someone who knows their name, and what’s happening in their life.
• Show up mentally—Now we take it to the next level. This is more than just enduring a message, reading off
questions or closing in prayer. This means that you are showing up energetic, fully attentive and eager to listen.
When you show up mentally, you resist all urges to reply to the text messages coming in. Instead, you engage.
You ask about your students’ lives. You listen to what they have to say. You come prepared to walk them through
the lesson.
• Show up randomly—The most impactful way to be present is to show up at a time or place they aren’t expecting
it. Send a birthday card. Attend their game or performance with your leadership team. These small connections
may seem insignificant, but when you choose as a leadership team to be present in an unexpected way, you deepen
relationships in a powerful way.
2. CREATE A SAFE PLACE – When you create a safe place, you…
• Lead the group—In order to effectively lead your students, you have to earn their trust. To earn their trust, you
have to accept them and value them for who they are. You have to value confidentiality. Make sure that whatever
is said in the group stays in the group. Encourage your students to be honest. Let them be themselves, share their
doubts, ask questions and admit struggles.
• Respect the process—Developing an authentic faith is a lifelong process. It does not happen overnight. And it
is not the same for everyone. So, let your students wrestle through issues they don’t understand. Talk through
things. Go on a journey of discovery with them.
• Guard the heart—Part of creating a safe place is protecting your students. This means that there may be times
that you need to breach confidentiality and talk to a staff person. If students reveal to you that they are being
hurt, hurting others or hurting themselves, don’t try to handle it on your own. Talk to a staff person who will help
you figure out the appropriate next steps.
What is the role of
a lifegroup leader?
3. PARTNER WITH PARENTS – When you partner with parents, you…
• Cue the parent—When you cue the parent, you give them information so they can do more than they would
otherwise do. This starts by you letting them know who you are and that you want to show up in their student’s
life predictably and randomly so that you can help them grow in their faith. You can also cue them by filling them
in on what you are talking about at church and what you are observing in their student.
• Honor the parent—You may not always agree with your students’ parents, but never “throw them under the
bus.” Honor them by encouraging your students to respect their parents, even when it is hard. If your students
complain about their parents, the chances are good that they are not giving you the whole story. The best thing
you can do is to reinforce the parents’ position on issues.
• Reinforce the family—Spend time with your student, but not so much that it takes away from the time they need
with their parents. Be sensitive about special days. And make sure that you include parents in big decisions –
especially spiritual decisions like salvation or baptism.
4. MAKE IT PERSONAL – When you make it personal, you…
• Live in community—The students you are leading cannot fuel you in the way a group of peers can. So make sure
that you are making time to connect with other Christ followers. Model for your students what it looks like to
lean on others for encouragement and support. When you do, they will make your group time more of a priority.
• Set priorities—One of the best things you can do for your students is make your priorities clear. Let them see what
you value. Make sure that you invest in your own spiritual growth. Prioritize relational connections with family and
friends. When you set these kind of priorities, it will inspire a healthy lifestyle for your students. Make sure that you
are a living example of what you want your few to follow.
• Be real—Our students don’t need a friend. They need a leader and a role model. That means it’s ok if you are not
into everything they are into. Find a way to relate to them without compromising who you really are because it is
more important for them to see a real, live person that is still learning, growing and trying to live out a faith that is
authentic than it is for them to have another friend.
5. MOVE THEM OUT – When you move them out, you…
• Move them to be the church­—This is about connecting and engaging your students with a bigger story. Don’t let
them just attend church. Show them how to be the church. Encourage them to be involved. Help them develop
a personal mission in your group, in our church, in our community and in our world. If our students do not learn
how to be the church while they are with us, the odds are small that they will find a way to be the church when
they are not.
• Move them to what is next—Whatever is next in their lives – whether it is college, a driver’s license or learning to
practice proper hygiene – it is your responsibility to set them up for that transition. Be intentional about helping
ease their anxiety and making them feel more comfortable about whatever is next for them.
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Leadership Quick Hits
Life Group Leaders who make an impact are not remembered for their Bible studies, but for the personal relationships
they build with their students. Following are some short, but helpful tips on building relationships with students and
leading your group.
1. Learn names. Find a way that works for you and do it! This doesn’t sound like much but when you know their
names, students feel you are interested in them.
2. Study your group’s information sheets! At the beginning of the small group, have your students fill out personal
information sheets. The questions really can help in helping you get to know them.
3. Be yourself. The curriculum, as written, is great but allow it to take on your personality and teach it the way that
is best suited to you.
4. Love students but lead them. You will have times that you will want them to think you are the coolest, but make
sure that you lead them. Being a life group leader is not a popularity contest.
5. Do not compare yourself or your group to others. Anytime we compare, we will always come out the loser. Focus
on your students and your calling.
6. Don’t focus on negatives, but believe you have a great group, because you do. God has hand picked the members
of your group and He does have something awesome in store! Trust Him!
7. Don’t give up when you have a tough group or they don’t meet your expectations. They can and will be a great
group if you lead them the way they need to be led. Study your group and meet them where they are. For
example, if they are quiet, ask questions by calling on specific kids. If they’re rowdy, have fun with them and don’t
be a control freak until you need to be.
8. Pray, pray, and pray some more for your kids. Pray over the seats before life group each week. Nothing of
significance happens outside of the power of prayer, so PRAY!
9. Don’t just hang out with the “fun kids”, “popular kids” or “pretty kids” in your group. Try to build relationships
with all of them. Some may not be responsive at first, but you may just be surprised if you try.
10. When you need help, ask for it. Other leaders and our staff will be ready to help.
11. Your life group may flop one night. Do your best to fix it, but don’t beat yourself up. Do better next time!
12. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak and teach through you. Pray for this each week.
13. See Bible study as a time of worship and lead that way.
14. Don’t procrastinate until it is too late each week. Lack of preparation will eventually affect you in your Life group.
15. Keep personal time with the Lord a priority throughout the week.
16. If you have many active kids, allow them to be active through lively activities. Try to plan activities that will
encompass all the interest of all of your kids.
17. Be forgiving. They are kids.
18. Look for kids that need encouragement and encourage them.
19. Challenge students to minister to one another.
20. Make the time in God’s Word the highlight of the night. Focus most of your energy on this part of the night.
God’s Word will never return void. It is the only thing that will change lives.
Cultural Trends
Below are a few trends in culture that are changing the way we do youth ministry. These trends are not necessarily
good or bad. They are just reality. Churches and ministries that ignore them will become stagnant and irrelevant,
while those that recognize them will make the adjustments needed to be effective in reaching the next generation.
1. Communities have shifted from a “Sunday’s are for church” mindset. We may wake up on Sunday and think,
“Time to get ready for church,” but most people in the world around us – and even here in Lynchburg – don’t. They
go to work, take a nap, go golfing, read a book, watch TV, download Apps, and watch football. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics say that only one in four attend religious services on Sunday. Robert Putnam claims that 30-40% of Americans claim to have no religious affiliation whatsoever. That number was 5-10% only a generation ago. With 70% or
more of Christian high school students walking away from church, what will those statistics look like 5-10 years from
now?
Here’s the point: instead of focusing our energy only on the 25% who are coming to church, we have to start focusing
some energy on the 75% who don’t. If Jesus said leave the 99 to go find the one, shouldn’t we think about the 75%?
What can you do in your neighborhood, at your workplace, at your gym and among your family to reach the 75%?
An invitation to church may not work because they are not thinking about church on Sunday. Maybe we need some
new methods to engage the culture?
How can you lead your students to begin thinking about the 75% at their school, in their neighborhoods and in their
groups? How can you lead them to be missionaries in their own world? What can they do to communicate the gospel
to the 75% who aren’t into our version of church?
2. Families today come in all shapes, sizes and forms. Most homes today reflect non-traditional families who struggle
to connect with the Christian community. Sure, we have many traditional families that comprise our youth group,
but we also have students that come from all kinds of other backgrounds. Some have parents who are remarried,
never married, divorced or single. Some are adopted. Some live in foster homes. Some have been abused by a close
family member. Some have parents who seem too young to have teenagers. Others have parents who seem too old to
have teenagers.
Here’s the point. Many of our students will decide what they think about the church when they see how the church
treats their parents. So, as you interact with families, don’t be surprised when you learn something is complicated. It
is ok. God has always been in the business of redeeming and using broken people. And the reality is that every family
is broken anyway. Our job is simply to love unconditionally and show every family– no matter how complicated it
may be – God’s story.
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Cultural Trends
3. Social Media is increasing the need to connect virtually – Think for a second about this year’s seniors, the graduating class of 2015. They entered middle school in 2008. By then Facebook had exploded, iPods had touch screens
and smart phones were becoming increasingly popular. That means that even the oldest of our students only know a
digital world that allows them to be connected to everyone, everywhere, all of the time. 88% of teens 14-17 are on a
social network. They expect us to speak their language.
Here’s the point: effective leaders, regardless of their age, will have to make understanding social media a priority. You
don’t have to know everything, but you have to know something if you want to earn respect from a generation that
lives in this virtual world. You have to recognize that a phone call is intrusive or that you don’t ask, “What did you do
today?” if they already tweeted what they did today. Granted there are some challenges with social media and some
boundaries we need to respect, but the benefit is this: You don’t have to be physically present to make a meaningful
connection. The potential we have for impact is so much greater than youth leaders of a generation ago because we are
not limited by time or space. So find ways to leverage social media in appropriate and effective ways!
4. Social media is increasing the value of being physically present. In a world of online, virtual connections, this
generation desperately needs adults who will show up and be present in their lives. Being present physically is inconvenient and requires sacrifice, so it has a way of communicating value, significance and love. It can create authentic
community that builds an authentic faith. It gives kids a sense of belonging, allows them to experience God’s grace
and ultimately makes them feel significant to God’s story in a way that the virtual world alone cannot.
Here’s the point: we need you to show up physically in the lives of our students. When you are there, be fully engaged. Help them to personalize their faith. A quick Google search will give them the information we cover, but it
won’t show them how to actually live it out. It can’t model for them how to live it out. That is where you come in.
You provide a living, breathing, source of truth. You help them experience Jesus Christ in ways that allows them to
connect the dots and form an every day kind of faith.
5. The power of story is being rediscovered in a culture that is over-saturated with information. As a culture, we are
constantly inundated with data, but we are increasingly captivated by stories. We watch Reality TV and YouTube. We
read the same book series over and over again. We will pay crazy amounts of money to watch a movie in the middle
of the night when we should be sleeping. Why? Because stories stir our imagination. They have the ability to help us
see. They give us a deeper understanding. They motivate us to care and endure through life’s trials.
As leaders, we need to learn to tell the story of Scripture in a way that captivates our students. We have to walk them
through stories and truth like they are hearing it for the very first time. We have to show them how Scripture connects with the narrative of their lives and the bigger narrative that God is continuing to write. We need to leverage the
power of story to help our students see, understand, care and endure.
Making History
If we are not careful, serving students will come ordinary and routine. We will come on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s
and go on trips just because that’s our role and it’s what’s expected of us. We will forget that what we are really doing
is making history. We will forget that everything we do is about making a permanent imprint on the life of a student.
So here are some ideas to help you maintain your focus and make the most of every opportunity you have to touch the
lives of students:
1. Visualize time – The Bible says “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Every week, we get one week closer to that moment when our students will leave our ministry. When we remember
that, we stand a much better chance of making the weeks we have left count the most.
2. Show them you care – Students gravitate to the places where they feel loved and accepted. If we want students to
develop a healthy sense of self-worth, believe in a Creator who loves them unconditionally and discover the value of
using their lives to love others, then we need to be very intentional about showing them that they are loved, valued,
cared for and accepted. They need adults who can show them that they have a value that is far greater than what can
be measured by performance.
3. Weigh what you say – What you say matters. Words have the potential to do as much damage as they do good.
They can love or scorn, encourage or tear down, illuminate or shut out. Words can impact someone’s direction, so be
very intentional about using words that will shape how students see the world, see themselves and think about God.
Use words that set them up to feel significant, valued and unique.
4. Amplify the story – Story telling was the primary way that Jesus explained truth. He taught in parables because he
understood the power of a story. Today’s students are saturated with information, but it is stories that help them best
understand the ancient truths we find in Scripture. Stories help them connect the dots when it comes to who God is
and how their story connects to a bigger story. So spend time thinking about how you can use a real life or fictional
story to spark imagination and help students understand core truths.
5. Create community – We all need community. We were created to belong. From the beginning, God has used
community to reveal himself and to spread his message of love. That is why we do life groups. We want students to
know that they have a place where they are welcome, a place where they can be known, a place where they belong. Be
intentional about leading your group in a way that helps students see that everyone is valued, fits in and is celebrated.
6. Have fun – One of the most effective ways to help your students stay connected is to have fun with them. We
can’t be all business all the time. We have to learn to create space where we can laugh and have fun together. Fun is
often the bridge that builds (and re-builds) trust. It is what helps students relax, feel comfortable, and be themselves.
Granted, what is fun for you may not be fun for them, so get to know them a little. Listen to their stories. Stay in
tune with what makes them laugh and, when appropriate, make just a little time for those things in the rhythm of
your group.
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Ground Rules
PURPOSE: Your role is to build relationships with students that focus on connecting them to God
(I Corinthians 11:1). Today’s students do not connect to programs; they connect with people.
CREATIVITY: Use your own personality and talents in leading your group.
Be creative and have fun. This may require some time, but it’s well worth it.
PARTICIPATION: Avoid lecturing. When a student asks a question, direct the question to the group to get others’
opinions. Remember: this is a discussion. Your role is to direct the conversation and keep it going. Guide the students
by asking questions to lead them to discovery. Encourage every student to participate, but avoid forcing answers or
participation.
RESPECT: Everyone is given the right to their own opinion and should be treated with proper respect. No one should
be made fun of at any time, and if this happens, deal with it immediately.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Create an environment where your students feel safe and gossip-free. If, however, a situation
arises that could cause harm to the student or others, let a staff member know so that the parents can be contacted.
OPENNESS: The group will be open to new members. Be sensitive to any new students that attend your group. Be
sure to make them feel welcome and work to get them involved right away.
Session Elements
IN EVERY LIFE GROUP SESSION, YOU SHOULD MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO…
1. Let the students have fun.
2. Make the students feel accepted and valued.
3. Help the students interact with the lesson.
4. Give them something they can take with them and apply at home.
Those are our four goals for every time your group meets. So, whatever you plan for your group time, make sure you
keep those in mind. Beyond that, here are a few specific elements that should be part of your group sessions...
GROUP BUILDING {6:15-6:35PM}: Begin by reconnecting and sharing refreshments. Next, include some type of
an icebreaker that helps students get to know one another better. Feel free to select an icebreaker that is fun and crazy
or deep and serious. You may want to select one that will set up the night’s lesson. The purpose of these activities is to
build group connectivity and community. Check with the staff for extra resources. We would encourage you to check
out www.egadideas.com, youthgroupgames.com.au, gameshowblog.com, youthleaderstash.com, stuffyoucanuse.org,
marketingjesus.net, pastor2youth.com,thesource4ym.com, youthministry.com and fcaresources.com/game for ideas on
game options you can use to enhance your group time.
DISCUSSION {6:35-7:00PM}: Guide and encourage participation among the group according to the curriculum
provided. Ask appropriate approach, discover and application questions. Remember: it is not just about information,
but about transformation!
PRAYER {7:00-7:10PM}: We want to create a culture of prayer in Student Ministries. Several ways exist to
accomplish this task: corporate prayer time, smaller prayer groups, target prayer for specific requests, or assignment of
a student/leader to pray for another student/leader. Be creative. Allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to guide
your prayer times. Find ways to make this portion of the night fresh and authentic.
PLANNING {7:10-7:15PM}: Take some time to discuss events coming up in Student Ministries and things that your
group would like to do. In addition, take a few minutes at the end of every group session to meet as a leadership team.
Use this time to evaluate the session by asking what was right, wrong, missing and/or confusing. Also, take the time
to set the plan for the next week. The Team Leader is responsible for ensuring that all group-related tasks are delegated
and accomplished. The other leaders should be proactive to volunteer for anything that needs to be done.
14 student ministry
Group Dynamics:
Inside the Group
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: We will provide you with a number of helpful questions for creating meaningful
conversations with students. You do not have to ask and answer all of them, but they can help you avoid lecturing.
REMEMBER: MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION = MAXIMUM LEARNING.
THINK TIME: Give the students time to think about the question and respond before you move on or answer the
question yourself. Be patient. Use questions that are brief and direct. If you use unfamiliar terms and expressions,
take time to explain them in a relatable way. Stay away from simple yes or no and either/or questions. Ask questions
that will spark deep reflection and discussion and move past the standard “Sunday School” answers. Encourage group
members to answer truthfully and authentically. Be real.
DELIVERY: Your tone and manner in leading the discussion should be friendly and encouraging at all times. Pace
yourself. Curriculum should never drive a group. While you want the group to stay focused and keep moving in the
right direction, participation is more important. Your goal is to connect the students to God, not simply to move
through curriculum. At the same time, you should be in control of the conversation. Do not let the students dominate
the discussion, especially if they are creating confusion. If they bring up a topic that you are not prepared to discuss,
just say, “That is a great question. I do not know the answer right now, but I will look into it and get back to you.”
PARTICIPATION: In most groups, one leader will be primarily responsible for the discussion each week. However,
everyone is expected to participate by maintaining group focus (i.e. crowd control), participating in icebreakers, and,
most importantly, contributing positively to the momentum of the discussion. The more leaders are involved, the
more students will be involved.
AFFIRMATION: Look for ways to affirm student participation in the discussion. Respond with a simple, “Thanks” or
“Great answer.” Then ask, “How about somebody else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?”
Work to build off of others’ responses to facilitate a more dynamic discussion.
Curriculum
In Student Ministry this year, we will use a program called “Explore The Bible.” It is a book-by-book Bible study
curriculum that is designed to equip students to study the Bible personally. Each session is uniquely crafted to
help students dwell in the Word and apply it to their daily lives.
We believe that a deep knowledge of the Word helps make the difference between a shallow faith and a life of trust
and obedience. This intimacy with the Word develops as we dedicate our lives to reading and studying it personally, in
community with others, and regularly examining how it should impact us every day.
With Explore the Bible, our students will have the opportunity to engage Scripture in its proper context and be better
prepared to not only study it on their own, but also to live it out in their own context.
In the Fall, we will walk our students through the book of Hebrews according to the outline below:
September 17
Session 1: Who Is Jesus?
Hebrews 1:1-4
September 24
Session 2: Stay Focused
Hebrews 2:1-4
October 1
Session 3: The Only One Able
Hebrews 2:14-18
October 8
Session 4: Don’t Give Up
Hebrews 3:7-15
October 15
Session 5: Secured With Confidence
Hebrews 4:14-5:6
October 22
Session 6: Don’t Walk Away
Hebrews 6:1-8
October 29
Session 7: Only Jesus Saves
Hebrews 7:23-28
November 5
Session 8: A Promise Fulfilled
Hebrews 8:1-13
November 12
Session 9: The Perfect Sacrifice Hebrews 9:11-15
November 19
Session 10: Faith Is?
Hebrews 11:1-6
December 3
Session 11: Strength To Carry On
Hebrews 12:1-2
December 14
Session 12: Headed To The Mountain
Hebrews 12:18-24
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Spending Time/
Interacting with
Students:
While we encourage our leaders to spend time with students, wisdom and safety should always be exercised.
Remember, we are leaders and adults, so while we spend time investing in our students, we must approach our
time with students in a manner that keeps your leadership integrity unquestioned and our students safe. Below
are some guidelines to keep in mind as you interact with students…
• Home visits - Visits to students are acceptable only if the parent is home and the parent welcomes the visit.
Volunteers should never be alone with a student at any time.
• Volunteer Home Visits - Volunteers may have students in their home for a Supervisor-approved group activity
where parents have been communicated with and given confirmed permission, and other volunteers are present.
Again, volunteers should never be alone with a student at any time.
• Emailing/Social Media –
1. Volunteers should use wisdom and limit time in communicating with students via social media, emailing, and
other communication platforms.
2. All communication should follow the Student Ministry code of conduct.
3. Volunteers must keep communication in public for accountability [i.e. wall posts, public twitter posts, etc]
4. Leaders should use wisdom and exercise restraint when posting pictures or video of students online. The goal
is to protect students and be above reproach. Remember, though your picture may be taken and posted in
innocence, those viewing your pictures online may be looking at the pictures with improper intentions.
5. Conversations regarding serious issues should be avoided if possible through social media. Time limits should
be honored, including not conversing after 10:00pm.
6. Volunteers must give open access to their personal social media sites to the TRBC Student staff, and be aware
that these pages will be checked periodically.
7. Any serious ministry conversation or issue should be directed to ministry leadership for guidance and
accountability immediately.
8. Leaders should follow the conversation guidelines provided for texting when using messaging or social media
conversations.
Spending Time/
Interacting with
Students:
• Interacting with Students Through Texting - Because of the changing nature of technology, our policies will also
be constantly changing. But what is constant is a commitment to safety and security in all our interaction with
children and students. Volunteers are expected to use wisdom and limit communicating with students via phone/
text. To protect our students and your integrity, we require our leadership to follow these guidelines.
1. Only small group leaders are permitted to text students.
2. Small group leaders are only permitted to text students in their small group.
3. Under no circumstance should you text a student of the opposite sex.
4. Parent approval must be given to leaders prior to texting students.
5. Sending Text: Text only in group text. No private texts are permitted.
6. Sending Text: Copy the other small group leader in your group to every text to students, or the parent of the
student you are texting.
7. Receiving Text: If a student in your small group private messages you a question that has a short response, then
text them back the answer. Example: Student: “It is Spring Break this week and I cannot remember if we are
having small group tonight”. Leader: “No small group tonight. See you next week.”
8. Receiving Text: If a student in your small group private messages you a question that needs a long response, then
you need to talk on the phone or set up a meeting with them. No serious conversations should happen over text.
Example: Student: “I just feel like my life is going no where and I need help” Leader: “Call me and we can talk.”
Leaders should aim to setup a time to talk at the next group meeting or service.
9. Be smart and be above reproach.
10. Volunteers should forward communication to ministry staff that involve counseling or ministry for a serious issue.
11. As a rule, ALL communication should be motivated by a leader’s desire to connect students with Christ.
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Student Ministries Leader
Conduct Agreement
OUR PURPOSE: TO CHANGE OUR WORLD BY DEVELOPING CHRIST-FOLLOWERS WHO LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE.
Student Ministry Leader,
Our Leader Agreement is intended to complement our mission of seeing all TRBC students become growing followers of Jesus.
As leaders it is important that we understand that our roles are very important and that we can support another person’s growth in
Christ…or we can hinder it.
As a leader, you become a spiritual role model. That means that what you present to our children and students on Sunday or
Wednesday, should be consistent with who you are the rest of the week. We believe influencing others for Jesus is one of the most
fulfilling endeavors a person can experience.
We are thrilled that you would choose to invest yourself into our future generations. To maximize our investment our leaders
must be consistent in their approach to their faith and this includes behavior and conduct. Our students are in a stage pivotal to
their development and shaping as people. We believe what they learn in these important years will influence them the rest of their
days. Because of this we wish to present our students with a leadership team committed to a holy faith and lifestyle.
While we know there are no perfect people, we still wish to strive for holiness and God’s best for our lives in all we do. This
conduct agreement is meant to support you in your leadership and our student ministry, of which you are a valuable part. We ask
that all our leadership strive to create and maintain an atmosphere that glorifies God by committing to:
1. Honoring Christ in all things.
2. Living a Christ-centered life.
3. Loving and valuing others.
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Participate and contribute in a positive way to the program, trip, or ministry activity I attend.
To love, as Jesus commands, the students, leaders, and staff.
Use appropriate language (no cursing, crude language, put-downs or gossip) I will not allow my words to be disrespectful or
demeaning.
Respect the personal property of others and the church. I will observe the rules, policies and safety measures of the facilities
being used.
Model and experience Christ-centered relationships.
Not sexualize any relationship, in any manner, outside of marriage.
Practice personal discipline and holiness in the media I experience.
Not communicate with students in any manner that is inappropriate, unwise, unloving, or unholy.
Actively focus my communication with students so that they are always encouraged in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Inform ministry leadership of any personal struggle that hinders my spiritual leadership and personal growth with the goal of
growing in faith.
Not possess or use controlled substances in an unbiblical manner.
By signing this code of conduct, you commit to do your best to love God and love others through this leadership commitment. Know that
you are not alone in your commitment. Recognize that the TRBC leadership and staff love and support you as a leader and as follower of
Jesus, and are committed to supporting you in your faith. We are incredibly blessed and humbled to have you with us on this mission of
seeing students connected to a growing faith in our Lord.
Name:_________________________________________
Signature:_________________________________________
Date:
_________________________________________
Key Dates
LIFE GROUPS BEGIN FALL SEMESTER:
Week of September 10th
FIFTH QUARTER:
October 11th
LEADER SUMMIT:
November 9th
THANKSGIVING BREAK:
No Life Groups meet the week of November 26th
LAST LIFE GROUP OF FALL SEMESTER:
Week of December 10th
CHRISTMAS PARTIES:
December 17th
LIFE GROUPS BEGIN SPRING SEMESTER:
Week of January 14th
EPISODE ‘15:
February 27th-March 1st
CENTER STAGE:
April 17th & 18th
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