My Thoughts on "99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders"

Today I cracked open "99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders" I read the entire book in one sitting. Not because it's a short read, which is is at only 150 pages but because it is the most practical, insightful, equipping book on leading a youth ministry small group I have ever come across. Josh Griffin and Doug Fields have hit a home run with this little book. It's grounded in scripture, and steeped with years of experience. In a real life story Josh explains that he had to go refinish a coffee table in a hosts home because a small group kid carved his name into it with a screwdriver. Only in youth ministry does stuff like that happen.

This book covers the gambit from how to deal with the group when a student drops a bomb unexpectedly on everyone to what are healthy practices you can do on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. For me however the real gold in this book is that throughout it's pages it trumpets the call that you can only lead where you have been led. The small group leaders personal relationship with Christ is paramount to replicating mature healthy Jesus centered Christians.

In my years of youth ministry small groups still remain the foundational place that I see students lives changed by Christ. It was in the context of a loving small group (Thanks Tim) that God saved me, discipled me, and matured me. This book is a great asset to anyone who leads a group of teenagers and loves the God who calls to them.

*If you are one of our many small group leaders at St. Andrews reading this post and thinking that you'd like to pick up a copy of it. Don't. I've already ordered you all one. Thanks for loving teenagers.