Facilitate Discussion
A key to successful small groups is leading a life-changing discussion—not giving a lecture. Gain the skills needed to facilitate a great discussion including asking good questions, listening well, and empowering group members to dig deeper.
The Essential Guide for Small-Group Leaders
A new tool for your entire team from Bill Search!
How Can I Lead Great Small-Group Discussions?
Four easy things any leader can do to facilitate growth-focused discussions
Bible Study that Sticks
New research in cognitive psychology shows us how to help people remember what they read.
Four Keys to Transformational Discussions
Create an environment for life change with these simple tips.
3 Essentials for Disciple-Making Group Discussions
Expert tips for leading your group members to spiritual growth
Your Bible Study Is Too Small
Understanding the overarching story of Scripture brings context to individual passages.
The Gift of Listening
Attentive listening is hard work, but it's necessary for healthy community.
The Problem of Cultural Relativity in Exegesis
Steps to determine whether a Scripture passage still applies today
Create Safe Places for Questioning
How your small group can become a welcoming place for people on a journey back to God
Theological Discussions for Everyone
Get everyone involved in meaningful, fruitful discussions.
Ask Follow-Up Questions to Facilitate Great Discussion
Quick tips for keeping the discussion moving
Four Opportunities for Multi-Stage Groups
A mixture of spiritual maturity can help small-group members move closer to God and to one another.
What Small-Group Leaders Can Learn from Great Preachers
Preaching and facilitating discussions are different, but there are principles to share.
Practical Ideas for Engaging Multigenerational Groups
From marketing well to engaging everyone
Rich and Poor Find Solidarity in Christ
What the first beatitude means for living in community
One Change that Can Revolutionize Your Small Group
While counterintuitive, meeting weekly works better for busy group members.
The Leader's Role in Building Trust
How well are you modeling trust and authenticity to your group?
How Much Should I Share?
Leaders have difficulty knowing what to share about their struggles with their small groups.
Exegesis and Hermeneutics for Small Groups
Practical information and tips to faithfully interpret Scripture together
Authentic Discipleship
Research shows that authenticity may be the most important factor for men.
How to Be a Great Small-Group Member
Eight tips to help you give and take in a meaningful way
Strengthening Your Small Group Through Confession
Practical advice for this important spiritual discipline
Devotions for Short-Term Missions Teams
Sharpen your spiritual focus with these eight readings.
Meaningful Application in Small Groups
Make sure your people are doing more than discussing God's Word.
Application: The Basics
What keeps most small groups stuck on the surface and unable to break through to experience real life change?
Five Types of Questions
Because the first step toward dynamic discussions is knowing your options.
How to Stimulate Better Discussions
Here are five keys that every group leader should be aware of.
Evaluating Group Discussions
How well do you practice these principles of great small-group discussion?
Leading a Life-Changing Bible Study
Work with the Holy Spirit to help your group members become more like Christ.
Why Small Groups Need to Be On Mission
Because discipleship is more than we've given it credit for.
The Benefits of Transparency
Transparency among members is a pivot on which an effective small group turns.
A Small-Group Leader's Most Important Job
You can benefit from the surprising results of extensive research on small groups.
Teaching in Smaller Groups
Guidance for teaching in a Bible study, small group, or Sunday school class.
The Top 10 Articles of 2009
Now you can benefit from what was most exciting and helpful to our readers last year.
Experiencing Authentic Worship in Small-Group Community
Take your group to new levels of worship and praise.
Writing Questions That Spark Discussion
Eight helpful tips for those who write their own studies
Resource Review: DVD Curriculum for Your Family
Explore the pros and cons of some interesting studies from SmallGroupsMaterials.com.
Small-Group Involvement Sheet
Here’s a practical way to help all of your group members participate.
Your Hidden Curriculum (part 2)
What do people learn from you about the Christian life? Sometimes it's what you never intended to teach.
Your Hidden Curriculum (part 1)
What do people learn from you about the Christian life? Sometimes it's what you never intended to teach.
Top 10 Downloads of 2008
See what group leaders and churches have valued most, and receive 25% off!
How to Revive a Small Group by Involving Members
Here are six keys to group health that your members deserve to know about.
The Nicene and Apostles' Creeds
A closer look at these two creeds helps define what Christians believe.
Discipleship: The New Evangelism
Are these two important elements of the church trending together?
Discussing Doctrine and Theology
Several key tools to help you stay afloat when the conversation goes deep
Meaningful Worship in Small Groups
Includes tips for singing and other methods of connecting with and praising God
Answering Tough Questions
How to handle seven difficult questions that are likely to pop up in your small group
Tips for Facilitating a Group Discussion
Practical advice for working toward life-change, not spectacular meetings
How to Ask Stimulating Discussion Questions
Practical advice for one of a group leader's most important roles
A Community that Reflects Jesus
Consider how Jesus might have behaved as a member of your small group.
Seven Advantages of Sermon-Based Small Groups
The lecture/lab model is great for both small groups and Sunday mornings.
Good Questions Show Good Listening
Learn to understand people and help them understand themselves.
One Anothers vs. Curriculum
Develop an agenda strategy that takes one-anothers into consideration.
Managing Lively Discussions
The "lively discussion" might be the point where life-change begins.
Bruised Camels and Their Money
Small group helps members shape their views about how to handle money.
"But I Wasn't Meant to Be a Mom!"
Joining a small group helped a mother embrace her new role.
Demystifying Misunderstandings
Sometimes the most important part of clearing up misunderstandings is talking about them.
Leadership Honesty Breeds Group Honesty
When a leader shares honestly their group members are likely to follow.
Divide, Connect and Grow
Dividing large groups into smaller ones for discussion and prayer can enliven the entire group.
"Scratching" Where Your Group is Itching
If you're wondering where to lead your group next, find out what they're hungry for.
Saving Conversations: What a Seeker Looks For
Are you ready for a lifesaving conversation? Your friend could be ready, and it could be now or never.
Apostolic Icebreakers
Top 10 icebreakers the disciples would use at their small group meetings.
Icebreakers and Beyond
Jesus used simple, easy questions to lead into his deeper, soul-probing questions.
Give Me a Good Question!
If you plan your meeting using carefully thought-out questions, you’ll be on your way to leading a study that changes lives.
The Best Questions, Ever!
Three small group veterans share their favorite questions and question-asking strategies.
Go Deep with Good Questions
A good question can influence your decisions and your relationship with God and others.
Assessment and Adjustment of the Small Group Ministry
Positive and developmental feedback is necessary in order for any organization to achieve success.
Upward, Inward, Outward, Forward Assessment Tool
A tool to assess your small group's current health and strength.
Don't Chunk the Check-ups!
Four truths about the practice of constant and careful evaluation.
More Adventures in Babysitting
We're the only couple with children, and we can't afford a babysitter every week.
Small Groups, Small Children, Big Concern
Take this quiz to help you decide about child-care options.
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
Ask these questions about your group to determine if it may be time to split-up, bring in new people, or focus on a new purpose.
Back to Basics
The next time you have an underwhelming small group study time, ask yourself these ten questions.
Bible Study or Relationships?
What's the purpose of a small group: Bible study, or relationships?
When Everyone Leads
Sometimes small groups choose to share the role of Bible study leader, with a different person leading each week. This has both advantages and disadvantages.
Arthur Argumentative—The Argumentative Person
How can you deal with someone who steps over the line from discussion to argument?
What is Success For a Home Group?
Five key evaluation questions to ask at the end of a home group meeting.
What is the Value of Group Covenants?
We asked a small group of small group experts; here are their responses.
The Quest for Great Discussion Questions
Why is asking good questions important to a Small-Group Leader?
Questionable Questions Quiz
Take a look at these questions, and see how they could be improved.
