find, accept, join….
I’ve doing quite a bit of thinking lately about the Life Groups at our church, especially the ones in our youth program. I’ve been trying to think of ways to help guide the Life Group leaders into meaningful conversation and connection with kids. I’ve come up with this fairly simple layout of ideas. What do you think?
Find their heart. Ask questions and listen. Help them figure out what they feel. Create an environment in your group where that can happen. Help them find words to express what comes to the surface. Most likely it will mean that you have to share your heart as well. Show them that the group is a safe place for feelings by showing your feelings first.
Accept their feelings. Right or wrong, their feelings are their feelings and they are valid feelings. The number one rule of the teacher is to take the student from where they are to where you want them to be. That means you need to accept their feelings. You can do that by nodding, or simply by not disagreeing with their feelings. Let it be okay for them to feel what they feel. Applaud their courage in sharing those feelings.
Join their feelings. Ecc 4 says two can do what one cannot. Let them know that they are not alone. Tell them you care. Look them in the eye and tell them that they are not alone in the one place it truly matters, in their heart. Find a way to help them feel like they have a friend who knows and understands how they feel.
The key is not to have the right answers. The key is for them to feel not alone in the struggle. God will bring the insight. God will help two to do what one cannot.
