Small Group Path
A 6-session structured guide for churches and mature study groups
"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20 KJV
This course does not measure salvation, maturity, or rank. No forced sharing. No public confession. No spiritual scoring. Sensitive topics require facilitator preparation. Every session includes facilitator cautions.
Facilitator Preparation
Read Before Leading
- →Complete each session yourself before leading the group through it.
- →Read the Trust & Safety page and Simulator Facilitator Guide before leading.
- →Never require public confession or public sharing of sensitive personal sin.
- →Create a culture of confidentiality — what is shared in the group stays in the group.
- →For sensitive topics (sessions 3–5), review the relevant simulator's facilitator prompts in advance.
- →If someone discloses abuse, self-harm risk, or crisis — respond privately with pastoral care, not group discussion.
- →This platform does not certify or qualify you. Serve under your local church's pastoral authority.
Session 1
New Birth and the Heart
Establish a common biblical understanding of what the new birth is — and is not.
Opening Scripture
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. — John 3:3 KJV"
Recommended Pages
Recommended Simulators
Group Discussion Questions
- ?What did you believe about being born again before reading today's pages?
- ?What is the difference between religious membership and genuine new birth?
- ?Why does regeneration require the Holy Spirit — not just a decision or a prayer?
Private Reflection (Not for Group Sharing)
Privately ask yourself: Is the new birth a real and active reality in your daily life — or something you believe intellectually but have not fully experienced?
Facilitator Caution
Do not pressure anyone to publicly declare their salvation status. This is a group study tool, not a salvation checkpoint. The Spirit convicts — not the facilitator.
Closing Prayer Prompt
Pray for the group to receive honest understanding from Scripture — not comfort from religious assumption.
Session 2
The Old Man, New Man, and Daily Responses
Help participants identify where the old man's patterns still govern daily responses.
Opening Scripture
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And that ye put on the new man. — Ephesians 4:22–24 KJV"
Recommended Simulators
Group Discussion Questions
- ?In what everyday situations do you most clearly see the old man's response versus the born-again response?
- ?What is the difference between conviction (from the Spirit) and condemnation (from the enemy or self)?
- ?How does pride specifically block the born-again response in everyday situations?
Private Reflection (Not for Group Sharing)
Where has the old man been dressed in religious language — but the heart motive has remained unchanged?
Facilitator Caution
Do not create a public confession environment. Invite honest reflection, not public disclosure. If someone shares vulnerable information, respond with grace and confidentiality.
Closing Prayer Prompt
Ask God to reveal the specific places where the old man still governs — and for the grace to bring each one under the authority of Scripture.
Session 3
Anger, Hurt, and Forgiveness
Address the real dynamics of being hurt, provoked, and the call to forgive — distinguishing biblical forgiveness from forced or unsafe reconciliation.
Opening Scripture
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. — Romans 12:21 KJV"
Recommended Pages
Recommended Simulators
Group Discussion Questions
- ?What is the difference between Spirit-governed self-control and outward compliance with inner bitterness?
- ?Why are forgiveness and trust related but not identical? What does each require?
- ?How do we as a group hold space for someone's real pain without either excusing sin or demanding unsafe reconciliation?
Private Reflection (Not for Group Sharing)
Is there a person or wound I have not brought honestly to God — and instead carried alone?
Facilitator Caution
Do not pressure anyone to publicly share who hurt them. Some group members may be processing abuse or serious harm. Forgiveness does not require naming or confronting the person publicly in a group. If someone discloses danger or abuse, connect them privately with pastoral care.
Closing Prayer Prompt
Pray for each person to receive the grace of genuine forgiveness — not as performance, but as an act of obedience and freedom before God.
Session 4
Temptation, Secret Sin, and Conviction
Help participants understand the spiritual dynamics of temptation, hidden compromise, and the merciful call of conviction.
Opening Scripture
"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. — Proverbs 15:3 KJV"
Recommended Pages
Recommended Simulators
Group Discussion Questions
- ?Why does hidden sin cost something even when no human ever discovers it?
- ?What distinguishes Spirit-led conviction (which leads to repentance) from condemnation (which leads to despair)?
- ?How can we as a group create safe space for honest accountability — without shaming or forcing confession?
Private Reflection (Not for Group Sharing)
Is there hidden compromise I have been maintaining that contradicts my public walk? What does repentance require of me today?
Facilitator Caution
This session addresses sensitive spiritual content. Do NOT create a public confession culture. Never require anyone to share what specific sin they are carrying. Invite private reflection and individual response to God. If someone's disclosure suggests danger, abuse, or crisis, respond with pastoral care — not group discussion.
Closing Prayer Prompt
Ask God to bring honest conviction — not shame, and not condemnation. Pray for each person to find the freedom of walking in the light.
Session 5
Fear, Rejection, Waiting, and Discouragement
Help the group process the emotional and spiritual weight of fear, rejection, waiting seasons, and spiritual dryness — through honest lament and continued trust.
Opening Scripture
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. — 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV"
Recommended Pages
Recommended Simulators
Group Discussion Questions
- ?When fear rises, where does your heart go first — to God in prayer, or to your own control?
- ?What is the difference between honest lament before God (like Psalm 13) and accusation against God's character?
- ?How do we as a community help each other in seasons of waiting — without offering false assurance?
Private Reflection (Not for Group Sharing)
What am I currently afraid of, or waiting for, that I have not brought honestly to God?
Facilitator Caution
Discouragement, spiritual dryness, and feeling forgotten can mask depression, grief, or crisis. Do not minimize these. Do not say 'just have faith.' If someone expresses hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm, respond immediately with pastoral care and appropriate referral — not group discussion.
Closing Prayer Prompt
Pray for each person in the group to find strength to bring their real fear, waiting, and weariness to God — and to receive His peace that passes understanding.
Session 6
Church Life, Relationships, and Walking in the Spirit
Address the practical realities of living the born-again life in the local church, relationships, and ongoing discipleship.
Opening Scripture
"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. — Galatians 5:16 KJV"
Recommended Pages
Recommended Simulators
Group Discussion Questions
- ?What does consistent, faithful discipleship look like in the ordinariness of daily life?
- ?How do we distinguish genuine church offense (requiring Matthew 18 process) from abuse (requiring pastoral intervention)?
- ?As a group, how can we better support each other in walking in the Spirit between sessions?
Private Reflection (Not for Group Sharing)
What is the one specific area of change that God has been requiring of me throughout this course — and have I taken the step?
Facilitator Caution
Church hurt can involve genuine harm. Do not tell group members to 'just forgive' or return to unsafe situations. Distinguish offense from abuse. If someone discloses abuse or serious harm, refer them to qualified pastoral counsel and appropriate authorities.
Closing Prayer Prompt
Thank God for the group's journey together. Ask Him to make the Word studied a living reality — through the power of the Holy Spirit, not human effort. Pray for each person's faithfulness in their local church.