S M A LL GR OU P

SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE

GOAT / Week 1

BEFORE GROUP
BOTTOM LINE
Do something small to serve others, even when you don’t have to.

SCRIPTURE
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not
looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV).

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature
God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made
himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross
(Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)!

GOAL OF SMALL GROUP

To encourage students to see the value in serving others and to help them find new ways to show up for
those around them.

THINK ABOUT THIS

Showing up for others may come naturally to some of your students. You likely have some who are naturally
wired to see and meet the needs of those around them, in big and small ways. For those students, this
week’s conversation will only reinforce the way they’re serving those around them, and that’s great! With
that, you likely have other students who will struggle with the call to show up for those in their lives. This
likely isn’t because they don’t care! In fact, you probably have many students who do see needs and do
care about helping others, but something has held them back. Maybe it’s their own circumstances,
insecurities, fears, or self-focused nature that keeps them from being able to take that first step. Be sure
not to make those students who struggle with this concept feel less than or like they’re failing. Instead,
challenge them to see their own potential to serve and encourage them to take even the smallest step to
show up for someone else. Let this conversation be their starting place for serving!

This guide is a suggestion, not a formula. Adjust the content as needed, and don’t feel like you need to complete everything listed.

DURING GROUP
DISCUSS THIS
1. How would you describe what it means to show up for someone else?
2. How is serving a part of showing up for others?
3. What’s one thing that might keep you from actually taking a step to serve others?
4. What’s the difference between being “me-focused” and being “others-focused”?
5. How can you tell when someone lives their life with a “me-focused” mindset?
6. Why do you think Jesus challenges us to be more “others-focused” in our faith?
7. How can showing up for someone else change you?
8. This week, how can you…
a. Show up personally?

©2024 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com

If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
 b. Show up locally?

TRY THIS
Model what it means to show up for someone personally by finding a way to show up for your students
individually this week. Send a text, schedule a time to hang out, write a note, leave a little gift—whatever it
is you choose to do, and find a way to show up individually and personally for your group to show them the
impact of this in their own lives.

©2024 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com

If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).