HELP! Group Study Topics?

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mllevaleur

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DH and I help lead the “spiritual” segment of our young adult group, and our most popular events have been the group studies we’ve done. I try to do something other than a simple bible study, because we have several of those at our parish already, I try to do more like topics about the faith, since so many young adults don’t really know much about it. We’re supposed to start up a new 6 week study starting on Jan 13, so we need to think of a new topic FAST.

Our topics before have included grace (that was our first, and it was a hard one to start on, lol!), the mass, and the Eucharist. (Those last two were part of a study guide one of our members actually had, so we just followed along!)

We talked about doing something about the year of St. Paul, but there are several bible studies going on about that already at our parish (for instance I know our deacon is doing a study using Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s St. Paul study guide).

At some point, I thought about using Pope Benedict’s The Apostles, and Amy Welborn’s study guide because it would be easy to split up into study sessions. But I think it would be best if everyone got the book for that, and I haven’t even read it myself yet so it might be kind of short notice for that.

Another idea I had was to just take a look at some of the lives of the saints, maybe focus on one or two saints each week. But…I’m not sure that would foster much discussion?

Whatever it is, it can’t be too deep, as I don’t want to lose people and I’ve gotten the impression in the past that we’ve sometimes gone over their heads a bit.

So anyone have any bright ideas? I need to write her back today with a blurb about what we’re doing!!
 
Does your bible study and faith series include how to live your faith in today’s world? Because of the chief complaints of younger Catholics is that the Church, the bible and the faith are not revelant in today’s world. That is one reason why they don’t come to Church as much or join some other faith. A suggestion is to ask what is happening in their lives. The election is a good topic to discuss and other current events. Remember to keep it centered on Church teaching. When they find out about what the Church actually teaches and what others tell them is false. (Media, society, friends, etc.) They become surprised, shocked, unsure, questioning and also accepting and applying it to their lives.
 
I think you make a great point, I would love to try and bring Church teaching and make it relevant to the young adults…my problem is knowing which topics to use and having a structure!

I’m thinking I might do a kind of Q&A and ask them what they want to talk about or learn about!
 
mllevaleur said:
I think you make a great point, I would love to try and bring Church teaching and make it relevant to the young adults…my problem is knowing which topics to use and having a structure!

I’m thinking I might do a kind of Q&A and ask them what they want to talk about or learn about!
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Hello Stephanie,

First let me say a few things: 1. Welcome to CAF. I hope you will stay, learn and contribute much. 2. I like to see the public profiles to get an idea of whom I’m communicating with. I see you are 26, that is great when a teen or a young adult is active in their faith. Especially doing some service for the parish. It is really great that you devote your time, talent, knowledge, experience and energy to the young adults. That in some parishes is missing. No Young Adult Ministry There is a gap between teenage years and being married. 3. May you and your husband have a beautiful and wonderful life together.

Now on to the subject at hand. Yes, you can do that, that will work. Also look at their clothes for statements about things, particularily t-shirts or sweatshirts on topics. Buy magazines, watch YouTube. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, other internet sources for ideas. Listen to the music. Just try to be observant to what they do or wear. Listen to what their saying or discussing. Of, course cell phones can also be used. Did you hear or know that during 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Austrailia the Holy Father text messaged the young people? (I just thought I’d add that for what it’s worth.)

Oh, if you have a pre-planned topic and it goes off in another direction don’t be afraid. Let the Holy Spirit run with it. There may be something that needed to be said or clarified. Just try to tie it together with the original topic. Ex: This is an easy one. Lets say you want to talk about prayer and somehow people start to talk about texting or relaying a conversation they had with their friend or parents. Mention that prayer is like using a cell phone.How they may try to spend less time w/ it and concertrate on spending more quiet time with God, or maybe to pray for their friends or parents intentions. Anyway that is just a couple of ideas. Also there are resources on the internet. Those sites escape me for now.

PatrickJT914
 
For our Sr. High youth program, asking is exactly what we did.

We made a list:

Scripture

Apologetics

Prayer

Moral Teaching

Social Teachings

History

And asked them to circle what they were interested in, then, we had blank lines for them to go into detail or list other ideas.
 
Remember we have to balance out what they want and what they need.
 
???

I’d suggest treating them as adults and providing the study that they ask for.
 
mllevaleur said:
DH and I help lead the “spiritual” segment of our young adult group, and our most popular events have been the group studies we’ve done. I try to do something other than a simple bible study, because we have several of those at our parish already, I try to do more like topics about the faith, since so many young adults don’t really know much about it. We’re supposed to start up a new 6 week study starting on Jan 13, so we need to think of a new topic FAST.

Our topics before have included grace (that was our first, and it was a hard one to start on, lol!), the mass, and the Eucharist. (Those last two were part of a study guide one of our members actually had, so we just followed along!)

We talked about doing something about the year of St. Paul, but there are several bible studies going on about that already at our parish (for instance I know our deacon is doing a study using Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s St. Paul study guide).

At some point, I thought about using Pope Benedict’s The Apostles, and Amy Welborn’s study guide because it would be easy to split up into study sessions. But I think it would be best if everyone got the book for that, and I haven’t even read it myself yet so it might be kind of short notice for that.

Another idea I had was to just take a look at some of the lives of the saints, maybe focus on one or two saints each week. But…I’m not sure that would foster much discussion?

Whatever it is, it can’t be too deep, as I don’t want to lose people and I’ve gotten the impression in the past that we’ve sometimes gone over their heads a bit.

So anyone have any bright ideas? I need to write her back today with a blurb about what we’re doing!!
Click to expand...
This might be a bit late for now, but Father Benedict Groschel has a small book out called The Virtue Driven Life which explains the cardinal and theological virtues and has questions at the end of the chapters for reflection. It’s not theologically “heavy”, is not difficult to read, and is filled with his warmth, wit, and wisdom. It is a great guide for everyday living, and would be perfect for a small group study as well as individual reading. I am thinking of suggesting this book for my group because it is such a practical guide for spiritual growth. And it is short enough for a six week study.
 
Thanks for all the ideas, everyone! Because of the short notice this time we decided to study some of the lives of the saints. But I’m definitely keeping these ideas in mind for our next study!
 
I would have suggested the lives and/or writings of the saints and the Theology of the Body.

I pray that your group study goes well!

Peace and good!
 
I recommend to study Life in the Spirit.

I committed myself to studying that this past year and it has absolutely changed my life. I’m not sure of resources to use though, I’ve done all my study on my own.

This is the biggest thing I wish I’d gotten this through my fat skull at a younger age.
 
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