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By Brent Lacy

Most small group curriculum is designed for groups of 10 to 15 people with a trained facilitator, a dedicated meeting space, and participants who have been in small groups before.

That is not most small church small groups. Your group might be four couples meeting in a living room. Or six people who have never been in a small group before. Or a mixed group of ages and life stages with very different levels of biblical knowledge.

Here is how to choose and use curriculum that actually works for the group you have.

The Curriculum Is Not the Point

Before you choose curriculum, understand what small groups are actually for. They are not primarily for information transfer. They are for community formation.

The best small group curriculum is the one that creates the best conversations, not the one with the most content. A simple study that generates honest discussion is more valuable than a comprehensive curriculum that nobody engages with.

Types of Small Group Curriculum

Bible book studies.

Working through a book of the Bible together is one of the most effective small group formats. It is theologically grounded, naturally sequential, and does not require purchasing new curriculum every series. The leader prepares questions based on the passage. The group discusses what they find.

Topical studies.

Studies organized around a topic, marriage, parenting, finances, prayer, spiritual disciplines, meet people where they are and address real-life needs. They are easier to invite unchurched friends to than a Bible book study.

Video-based curriculum.

Many popular small group curricula include video teaching followed by discussion questions. These are easy to lead because the video does the teaching. The leader facilitates the discussion. The quality of the video teaching varies significantly, preview before you commit.

Sermon-based curriculum.

Some churches create small group curriculum based on the Sunday sermon. This reinforces the preaching, creates continuity between Sunday and the small group, and requires no additional curriculum purchase. The pastor writes the discussion questions. The group discusses the sermon.

How to Choose Curriculum

Ask these questions before you choose a curriculum:

• Is it theologically sound? Read through the content before you use it. Not all popular curriculum is theologically reliable.
• Does it generate discussion or just information? Good curriculum asks open-ended questions that require reflection, not just recall.
• Is it the right length? Six to eight weeks is ideal for most small church groups. Longer studies lose momentum. Shorter ones do not build enough community.
• Is it accessible to your group? A curriculum designed for seminary graduates will not work for a group of new believers. Know your group.
• Can you afford it? Many excellent small group resources are free. Do not spend money you do not have on curriculum when free options exist.

Adapting Curriculum for Your Group

Most curriculum needs to be adapted for your specific group. Here is how.

• Cut what does not fit. If a curriculum has eight discussion questions and your group can only get through three in 90 minutes, cut five. Do not rush through all eight.
• Add personal application. Most curriculum is heavy on information and light on application. Add a question at the end: “What is one thing you will do differently this week based on what we discussed?”
• Adjust the reading level. If your group includes people with limited biblical background, simplify the language and add more context.

Free Small Group Resources

MinistryPlace offers free small group discussion guides, Bible study outlines, and group leader training materials designed for small churches. No subscription required.

MinistryPlace has a full library of free resources for small and rural churches. No email required, no subscription, no catch.

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