The Why
This time is all about building strong relationships. The win is that students are known, learning, and developing a faith of their own. These questions are to simply serve as conversation starters.
Series Vision
In this series we are going to be talking about one of the guys in the Bible who changed EVERYTHING! The world literally changed because of what this man did and how he followed Jesus. In fact, you and I may have never learned who Jesus is if he didn’t live his life the way that he did. This man lived his life on mission! This series is about Paul!
Your Goal as a Leader
The goal of the questions is to guide the conversation, engage students, have them share about the topics, and create a full environment. It's okay if you don't get to every question, as long as students are interacting and involved in group time.
Week One | October 4th
1. Icebreaker: What is something you’ve done that made you really nervous?
2. When you think about your own faith, what stands out to you about Paul’s example?
3. Paul knew that following Jesus would cost him, but he still chose to follow Him. Why do you think following Jesus can sometimes feel difficult?
4. Have you ever felt like you needed to hide part of your faith around other people? What made you feel that way?
Leader Tip: MIX students may not have experienced this. Even so, help them to understand that there might be a day when their faith is challenged. Help them to know that being bold in their faith is better than being quiet.
5. Paul was brave and bold in sharing about Jesus. Has there been a time when you were bold in your faith? What did you learn from that moment in your life?
Leader Tip: Don’t pressure students to share a personal story. They can talk about situations they’ve seen or explain why someone might feel that way.
6. How can you share your faith in a bold and brave way this week?
Week Two | October 11th
Leader Tip: Ask students if any of them don’t have an impact offering bucket. And provide them with one if they don’t. And celebrate students who gave in groups and ask them to share ways they fundraised.
1. Last week we started this challenge to raise money for impact offering. Tell me some ways you’ve raised money.
2. What are some things you can commit to doing this week to help raise money and bring next week to church?
3. Today's message we talked about how Paul went through a storm, a shipwreck, and a snakebite, but he kept trusting God. Why do you think it can be hard to trust God when things go wrong?
4. Read James 1:2-4 NIV: What do you think the purpose of hardships can be?
Leader Tip: Help students understand that hardships can grow and mature us. We may see them in the moment as something bad but they really are blessings.
5. Paul didn’t always know what was going to happen next, but he kept moving forward. What is one situation where you need to trust God and keep going?
Week Three | October 18th
Leader Tip: Ask students if any of them don’t have an impact offering bucket. And provide them with one if they don’t. And celebrate students who gave in groups and ask them to share ways they fundraised.
1. Last week we started this challenge to raise money for impact offering. Tell me some ways you’ve raised money.
2. What are some things you can commit to doing this week to help raise money and bring next week to church?
3. For us to preach like Paul, we need to know the Word. Why is it so important for us to know the Word?
Leader Tip: Tell students about the first 15! They just have to spend the first 15 minutes of their day in worship, The Word, and Prayer!
4. Paul knew God’s Word because he spent time learning and studying it. How has learning about God changed the way you think about Him?
5. We often don’t know what to say when sharing our faith. How do you think reaching God’s word and knowing it can change that?
Leader Tip: Remind students that sharing the Word doesn’t always mean preaching a sermon. It can be talking about what God is teaching you, sharing a verse, praying for someone, or telling someone what Jesus means to you.
Week Four | October 25th
Leader Tip: Ask students if any of them don’t have an impact offering bucket. And provide them with one if they don’t. And celebrate students who gave in groups and ask them to share ways they fundraised.
1. Last week we started this challenge to raise money for impact offering. Tell me some ways you’ve raised money.
2. What are some things you can commit to doing this week to help raise money and bring next week to church?
Leader tip: Help students understand they can glorify God by giving like Jesus through impact offering, but also by treating others the way Jesus treated them.
3. Jesus welcomed and accepted people that others often rejected. Why do you think it can be easy to leave certain people out?
Leader Tip: Help students think beyond obvious examples of rejection. Talk about cliques, inside jokes, ignoring someone, or choosing who they want around them.
4. Jesus showed His love by serving others and putting their needs before His own. Why do you think putting others first can be difficult?
5. Paul served and accepted others around him. What are some small steps you can do to accept others this week?