A church small group can unite and transform a group of people, reflecting the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to “stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together” (Hebrews 10:24-25). If you need some small group leader inspiration, look no further than this list. Teen Small Groups Themes (these can be done over several weeks or a semester): Integrity - It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does integrity mean? Dig into Proverbs 11:3 (the opposite of integrity is duplicity), Proverbs 12:22 (the role of honesty) and Hebrews 13:18 (having a clear conscience) with your small group. Discuss what integrity looks like in school, at home, through activities and in relationships with others. Spiritual Warfare - This theme for study doesn’t need to instill fear, but instead can teach teens to outsmart the father of lies (John 8:44) by reminding them that they have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside them (Romans 8:11). This — along with studying the weapons available to leverage against the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-18) — will strengthen your teen small group to fight off temptation and spiritual strongholds. Identity in Christ - Our identity as new creations doesn’t mean we need a special tattoo or bumper sticker! It means even better things like undeserved grace, freedom from condemnation and a home with Christ in heaven as part of God’s family. Parables - It’s never too late to dust off the old flannel graph lessons that illustrate parables that Jesus taught and look at them again in a teen small group. Lessons can include: what is a parable and why does Jesus use them, and unpack a few like the parable of the sower and the seed in Luke 8 and the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25. Relationships - This is a great theme for a series of small group discussions that can include not just dating, but investing in healthy, safe friendships and getting along with parents and siblings. Topics (these can be done in a single week, independent from other topics): Recognizing Temptation - You can’t overcome temptation if you don’t know what it is! A great way to study temptation is by dividing tests of faith (which are from God) from temptations (which are not from God), along with knowing when temptation turns into sin (James 1:13-15) and that God gives us the power to resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Money and God - Most teens don’t relate yet to the concept of a budget, but they do like having stuff! What does God say about money (does he say to never have nice things?) and how do we handle it when we do have it? Great verses for this topic are Proverbs 19:17 and 2 Corinthians 9:6. Doers of the Word - James 1:22-23 has great applications for the modern teen to not just be a hearer of the word but a doer. They can all relate to looking in the mirror (or at their social media profiles), but what does James mean when he says we then forget what we look like? A great topic for discussion. What Does it Mean to Follow Christ? If you look at Jesus’ disciples, their lives were not always an easy path of clear understanding — questions and doubts sometimes came with it, too! A great place to start is a study of Romans 12, which is a practical guide to living like a disciple of Christ. Power Over Your Tongue - The tongue in the Bible is compared to a sharpened razor (Psalm 52:2-9) and not easy to control (James 3:6-8). It can pour out blessings and curses, and controlling it is a sign of spiritual maturity (Proverbs 12:18). Discuss with your teens how the power of words includes not just to what is spoken, but also texted, Snapchatted and shared on social media.