Our Duplicatable Format

The small group starts and finishes within 1 hour. It's important to stay within an hour otherwise people will stop regularly attending if it consistently throws off their schedules when they come. 1 Corinthians 14:40

  1. Pre-Small Group Work: Show up 10 minutes early to meet and greet people before the small group and ensure you're ready to start promptly on time.
  2. Prayer & Testimonies: The first 15 minutes is the opportunity to ask prayer requests and share testimonies during the week.
  3. Bible Study: The next 35 minutes is for facilitating Bible study discussion using the Bible Reading provided from the Army of Youth.
  4. Offer: The last 10 minutes is sharing new opportunities available, ministry updates, an invitation to donate, and/or volunteer options.
  5. Follow-Up Work: Roughly 10 minutes after the small group you want to follow up with missing members, thank those who attended, send friend requests to new attendants, or share resources with people who asked for them during the meeting.
  6. Field Report Form: Within 24 hours of ending your squad fill out your Squad Field Report form while the testimonies and challenges are still fresh in your mind. TheArmyofYouth.com/Field

General Principles

  1. Who is missing from the small group? When is the soonest I can reach out to them and let them know they are missed?
  2. Take a screenshot of the small groups and send a photo on Messenger, text, WhatsApp, etc. to let our missing members know they are missed.
  3. Recognize by name and welcome EVERY time a new person joins the group. Make them feel welcomed, loved, accepted, as though they found their new home. Matthew 11:28
  4. Recognize and thank people each time they contribute, read, share an idea, or contribute to the discussion.
    1. Unless you want to ask questions that no one answers or you enjoy long awkward silences without contribution from other group members then remember, "What gets rewarded gets repeated." When you acknowledge well people who speak in your group they will be more likely and encouraged to speak up again.
  5. Become friends with every new person in your small group and encourage your group members to befriend each other on social media as well. Get to know how your little flock is doing during the week. Proverbs 27:23
  6. As much as possible, use the Mutual Friend Method to introduce two members in your group so they can instantly build rapport and connection that they otherwise wouldn't have if you didn't introduce them. Focus on the common ground they each share together.
  7. Where do the weekly Small Group Bible reading topics come from? The 4-5 teaching points presented on the Direction From God monthly Livecast.
  8. What tools are given us squad leaders to prepare for next week's small group topic? The Livecast Replay, Summary, Slides, Speaker Notes in your DirectionFromGod.com member's area.
  9. If I cannot attend my squad for this week what should I do? As soon as you know you will not be available, reach out to your partner and let them know. It's your responsibility to find a replacement for you in the case of your absence. Preferably choose an enlisted corporal from your squad. If no enlisted corporals are available then find a replacement from the other enlisted Squad Leaders.
  10. What happens if I do not show up for my squad without finding a replacement or communicating with my partner? We understand that life happens at times things out of our control arise. It is in these emergency situations your partner needs to be notified as early as possible. In a secular job, if you don't show up for work without giving advance notice you'll either be fired or given a warning. How much more essential is it in the cause of God to be prompt and reliable in Christ's service. While souls are making eternal decisions in these squads God expects you to communicate if something comes up that you cannot make it. If it happens once you'll be given a warning. If it happens again before your squad splits we will have to find a replacement.
  11. What kind of response time am I expected to give to messages sent to me from my partner or Squad leader? Communication is important in leadership, evangelism, and teamwork in Christ's service. We expect you to respond within 24 hours of receiving a message from your partner. Although the Army of Youth primarily uses Messenger to communicate with our teams. If you need, you can communicate with your partner what messaging platform is the best way to reach you. Reading messages and not responding to them for days or not at all is not communication habits that will help win souls to Christ.