The fall semester began this week for many students all over the nation. This means getting back into regular routines that seem to disappear during the summer months. Parents are waking up their kids in the early morning hours, schoolteachers are preparing lessons, coaches are lining the fields, and you can hear the marching bands once again as they prepare for Friday nights. All these things make the coming days exciting.

In the life of the local church, student ministries nationwide are also gearing up for their fall launches. Student pastors and leaders have the incredible opportunity to partner with parents in developing students to be salt and light on their school campuses. The prayer is they would take what they learned during the summer months through camp, retreats, and mission trips and leverage it for Gospel influence.

As new small groups prepare to launch and existing ones resume their regular routines, they are not just groups, but communities. Whether they meet on-campus or off-campus, these small groups are the lifeblood of a Christ follower. In the grand scheme of student ministries, they are not just important, but essential. They provide a sense of belonging, a place where students, parents, and leaders can come together, learn, and grow. Allow me to share a few reasons why I believe this.

Small groups are not just about engaging with the Word of God, they are about diving deep into it. They provide students with a unique opportunity to explore God’s Word on a personal level, guided by a caring adult. While the preaching of God’s Word in a worship service is important, it is in the small group setting that we can truly digest and understand its content. When we gather with a group of people to read and study Scripture, we can develop a more intimate relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. It is crucial to remember that without the Word of God, small groups are simply social clubs. Discipleship is the key.

Small groups give students a safe place to ask questions and seek Truth. Students have hard questions about life issues and what the Bible communicates. Too often in the local church, we want to avoid complex problems and answer with the typical “Read your Bible and pray more.” While these are definite spiritual disciplines, small groups are an incredible opportunity for students to ask questions and seek Truth on a deeper level. Students should not feel inferior or “lesser” than Christians because they have doubts. We all have doubts, every single human being. Small groups also allow students to see caring adults as they walk through life with their own struggles and victories. Within this, the accountability factor is a huge part of small groups. Relationships are key.

Small groups give students an intentional place to be known. Students thrive on having small group leaders they know they can trust and who are available. Parents love having other trusted adults impact their kids’ lives. It is a win-win situation. “What is God teaching you through His Word right now?” “How are you making Jesus famous in your circle of influence?” “How are you glorifying God in your thoughts, words, and actions?” These are great questions for a caring small group leader to ask students. When the local church loves the next generation and reinforces the truths of God’s Word to them, we see students sent out to make a difference and invest in younger believers with the same passion. Intentionality is key.

May student ministries be purposeful in developing healthy small groups for students to engage in. When leaders and students dive into the mission of God together, incredible Kingdom work takes place.