Small Group Questions

To spark discussion and turn your eyes to Jesus

Discussion Questions

*Note- Next week is the last week we will provide SG questions- for your last gathering this year, please use the affirmation guide (see below.) If you need content for this summer, reach out to Jake!


Hook

  • When a friend introduces you to someone new, how do they introduce you?

Book

  • Read: John 3:22–30

  • Put yourself in the shoes of John’s disciples—how would you feel, and what would you do in this situation?

  • How is John able to respond the way he does? What does that communicate about how he understands his relationship with Jesus?

Look

  • John’s disciples were struggling with comparison. From the following list, where in your life are you most tempted toward comparison? Why?

  • Appearance

  • Wealth/possessions

  • Success/achievement

  • Relationships

  • Talents/abilities

  • Social status/popularity

  • What would it look like for you to find your identity in Jesus in this area?

  • Joy asked the question, “Where is Jesus in your car?” How would you honestly answer that question?

Took

  • Are there places where we, as a group, find our identity in things other than Christ? What are they? (Really lean in here—we are people of both personal and group identities!)

  • What is one way we, as a group, could move our culture toward an identity in Christ?

Prayer

  • Pray that your group—both as individuals and as a community—would find their identity in Christ.




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Affirmations


In order to celebrate what God has done in each of your SG members lives, we are going to take a group and spend time affirming one another. The old adage is true- you get what you celebrate- so let’s spend time celebrating all that God has done in and through your group! 

Here is how to lead a time of affirmations. 

  • Instead of a regular discussion, tell your people you’ll be doing a time of affirmation of each other instead! Feel free to vision cast a little bit, and answer questions people may have beforehand. 

  • Pick a person to take a turn being affirmed. Let’s say you start with Johnny- tell the group that we’ll have 2-3 people take turns affirming Johnny (you can go more if people are shorter with their, but if each affirmation takes 2-3 minutes and your group is 12 people you’ll have to move quickly.) The bigger your group, the exponentially longer this will go. 

  • *Note- have someone take notes OR use your phone to record a voice memo if you’d like to have these affirmations to keep

  • After 2-3 people affirm, take a time to pray for the person you just affirmed, and then move on to the next one! 

  • End the time by praying for your whole group together.

Here are some tips you should be aware of. 

  1. Absolutely make sure that you let your people know well ahead of time that you will be doing affirmations. For people who are internal processors or not “on the spot talkers”, this will give them a chance to really think about and process a meaningful thing to say to each other. 

  2. As the leader, come prepared to say an affirmation for each person. Sometimes quieter or newer members of the group don’t get as affirmed as others- you want to make sure everyone feels loved and celebrated. 

  3. Put a limit on the affirmation time per person. If someone gets affirmed for 15 minutes, that means someone else only gets affirmed for 2, and that hurts. Put a limit on how many people can share, and then encourage them to share other affirming words with each other afterwards. 

  4. Honor only what is true and good. The goal is not to flatter people, the goal is to recognize what is true and good in a person's life and give weight to it. 

  5. Pray for people at the end of the affirmation time. 

  6. Lead by example- Lots of people have NEVER done this kind of thing before, and it can be daunting. Be the first one to share an affirmation and make it meaningful so you can set the tone for what affirmations are supposed to look like.