Small-Group Leader’s Quick Guide to (Almost) Everything

As a second-year leader who had a bit of a gap year last year (none of my pupils showed up, through no fault of their own, it was the scheduling), this book has been my BIBLE! I feel like this book has helped me so much already in knowing what to ask, how to handle groups, etc. Highly recommend!

This book is what it claims to be. I am a seasoned youth pastor and after reading it quickly bought a stack to give out to my small group leaders. It is short enough that they can read it cover to cover, but if they don't want to they can use it to quickly find answers to questions and pointers for small group leading. HIGHLY recommend.

I'm a youth pastor and I've needed this book for years! It's the perfect resource to go through with my team of youth leaders and also works well as an onboarding book for new small group leaders. Highlights of the book are the practicality and simplicity. Small group leaders will add many new tools to their toolbox through what Syler and Steven have written (and we all know how quickly good ideas dry up!). It's a "quick guide," so you can read it in one sitting if you really want to, or you can go through it slowly and take notes. Syler and Steven fill the book with practical wisdom and entertaining stories, which definitely make it worth your time.

This is a great little read for experienced youth workers to first time volunteers. At the same time the authors use some humor to help break down the walls of intimidation. As a youth pastor, I believe we should read a book like this to get in the minds of volunteers and share with them because most don't think they contribute to ministry when they can. So I will personally be sharing this book with my first time volunteers and parents. I hope this book helps your ministry.

This small group guide, as it claims, touches on almost everything it takes to lead a successful small group. Written from the perspective of youth leaders, this equips small group leaders with the big picture and the smaller picture. This makes it uniquely helpful no matter how much guidance a small group leader has from their youth leader. Whether you just need some tips on getting conversations to go deeper or some ground-up planning help for what's important to cultivate in a small group, this book is a helpful tool!

Full disclosure: I know one of the authors. But that doesn't change the fact that this is an amazing resource for ANYONE beginning to form Jesus-centered relationships with teens. It's super practical, engagingly written, and clearly draws on their years of experience doing exactly what they're talking about. So pick up a copy for yourself and every other person you think could form a small group of teens to go all out in loving and following Jesus. Plus BONUS: there's a pumpkin bread recipe in there!

This is a great guide to getting below the surface, masked relationships that students so often live in. It's a very practical, and humorous, resource from two very knowledgeable and passionate youth ministers. I would have loved to have this resource in my 20 years of youth ministry. I don't wonder at the timing of its release. We are so distanced, divided and disconnected. Perfect timing for a practical book like this for youth ministers who will need to find a new normal and help their students to do the same.

Having been in youth ministry for over twenty years, I recognize a helpful and practical resource to give my volunteer leadership when I see one. I have ordered copies of this quick guide for all my small group leaders and will be talking with them about how we can better serve our youth together.