For today’s teens, even once you get them to show up to your youth group, it can be even more challenging to keep them engaged and interested in what you have to say.

That’s why Sparkhouse launched T.B.D., a new youth small group that helps teens unpack and take ownership of their faith – diving deep into discussion about topics like prayer and sin.

This new concept provides an experience unlike anything you’ve experienced before – so we know you most likely have questions. Today, we’re excited to answer some of those questions with the lead developer (and fellow youth leader!) on the product, Bryan Bliss.

It looks like each T.B.D. session is centered around what you call provocative statements. What are these?

Provocative statements are the starting point of each lesson in T.B.D. These statements are meant to spark conversation, to kick off an immediate response in the mind of the students participating in the small group.

For example, a provocative statement might be, “There’s a right way to pray.” Some kids might immediately nod their head – of course this is true! Others might give it a serious side-eye, because … there’s no way that holds up with their own experiences.

To every kid who walks into that small group, this acknowledges that their opinions and experiences have value. But it’s important to remember: these are the starting point and not the final “answer” to any lesson. Where you go – what the students engage with – is entirely up to your group!

That seems kind of risky! What if I don’t agree with where my kids land?

T.B.D. is based around the idea that faith is an ongoing process; a road that we’re walking for most of our lives. Unfortunately, many curricula – especially for teenagers – assume that a definitive, one-size-fits-all answer is achievable.

While that may be true for some students, it’s an unsustainable way to approach faith formation. T.B.D. acknowledges this reality and encourages students to live into the questions and thoughts they have at that moment, no matter how messy. As a leader, the risk involved is evident.

What happens if they take this lesson to a place that isn’t “correct”? What if they don’t leave small group knowing everything about grace or prayer or whatever the topic might be? Well … that’s okay!

The truth is, most students aren’t leaving small group with all the answers – that’s an impossible (and unfair) task to put on them. Instead, T.B.D. says, “Take your faith. Investigate it. Articulate what you see. Ask questions. Test it out. And then come back and do it again.” By doing this, we encourage teenagers to take ownership of their faith, a move that we think results in a faith that endures. But if that’s going to work, facilitators have to risk hearing what students actually think – where they actually are in their faith. 

Is T.B.D. only based on my students’ experiences? Or is there more?

T.B.D. starts off with whatever your teenagers bring into the room. How have they experienced prayer? What do they think about salvation? What are their honest questions about sin? These questions, concerns, and thoughts are the engine that will drive the entire T.B.D. lesson.

However, if the lessons were only the thoughts and pre-existing knowledge of the small group participants, it wouldn’t go very well. T.B.D. asks students to balance their current understanding of the topic, their life experiences, against Christian history and theology, the Bible, and how Christians have thought about this topic for the last 2,000 years.

In each lesson, an engaging video challenges students to think deeply about their experiences – even their preconceptions. As they learn more about the week’s topic, they’re asked to consider their original opinions and questions.

Have things become a little clearer? A bit muddier? Have new questions surfaced? As students contend with the new information, they also contend with how they can articulate – and ultimately live – their faith in an authentic way.

What if I have one kid who doesn’t want to go along with the group?

You might be thinking: yeah, okay. But what about Zach? We all know Zach. The kid who sits in the back of the class and intentionally tries to derail the lesson any chance he gets. Listen, we know Zach. We love Zach! And guess what? T.B.D. is a perfect fit for kids like Zach – the sort who will push a lesson (and maybe a leader!) to the extreme.

T.B.D. is designed around the idea that students will engage one another’s opinions and thoughts in an honest and real way. As the lesson ends, they’re asked to write a new provocative statement that reflects where they’re at in that moment. At that point, the group comes up with a “Big Action” or a way to test out their new provocative statement. This, to use a worn cliché, is where the rubber meets the road.

When a student is asked to test out their theology, it requires an investment. It challenges them to be honest about what they're saying – the position they’re advancing.

So, this does double work for a kid like Zach. First it says, “Your opinions (no matter how contrarian) matter.” And second, “Okay, now take that thought into the real world and honestly reflect on what it means to you.”

 What’s with all the sticky notes?

The work in T.B.D. aims to be generative; something that happens in real time, in front of the students in your small group. However, it’s also a process that is on-going throughout the lesson.

Using sticky notes is a way of seeing this process take shape. As the ideas go up on the wall, it tells students a few things. First, these ideas aren’t set in stone. You can move them to a different part of the wall. You can edit them. You can peel one off and toss it in the trash. And as more information becomes available, the sticky notes are an easy way to regroup, rearrange, and rethink the ideas that have been brought up in the group.

Sticky notes are both practical and pedagogical. But are they necessary? No. If you have a whiteboard, use it. Chalk and a sidewalk? Go for it. What’s important is the process. And while we think sticky notes are the most effective, you know your group.

As Bryan mentioned, faith is an ongoing process, a road that we’re walking for most of our lives. T.B.D. serves as a stepping stone in this process; helping your youth vocalize the doubts, concerns, and ongoing questions they inevitably feel as they develop their relationship with God. It gives them a place where they can truly start to unpack and understand their faith – and start to build their road to the future.

Now that you know more about T.B.D., check out our website to get started! PLUS, save 25% on your T.B.D. order between now and August 20, 2018 with code TBD25.