Every group is different, and On The Way is designed to work in lots of settings. Think of the Leader’s Guide and journal as a framework you can shape to suit your people, your space, and your shared life together. Here are some simple ways you can adapt the course so it feels natural in your context:
Keep the shape, but feel free to flex
Each session has a consistent rhythm: story sharing, Bible, big idea, prayer, and mini‑adventures. That structure really helps people settle in. But how you use those elements is up to you.
- You can swap the order of elements within a session.
- You can linger longer on a discussion your group finds helpful.
- You can skip small parts if the time feels tight, or add extra space when the group needs it.
Adapt the mini‑adventures
The suggested mini‑adventures are starting points. Feel free to:
- Change them to suit your community and local context.
- Offer alternatives if your group has accessibility needs or mixed life‑stages.
- Let people create their own if that fits the group’s energy.
Don’t change the order of the twelve sessions
While each week can be shaped around your group, it’s important to keep the twelve sessions in their intended order. They have a theological flow, and later themes build on earlier ones.
Use the journals creatively
Some groups enjoy journalling in the moment; others prefer to take it away. You can:
- Keep journals together (if you think people might lose them!) and set aside time each week to use them.
- Encourage a more scrapbook‑style approach — sticking in notes, photos, tickets, doodles, or anything that captures what God is doing.
- For the celebration ritual, some groups prefer to stamp the back cover rather than punch holes.
Make it feel like your community
Little touches go a long way:
- Choose music that fits your context. You can swap the song suggestions if others resonate more with your group.
- Add time to eat together before or after sessions if that helps people relax and build real community.
- Include silence, creativity, local stories, or outdoor moments; whatever feels natural where you are.
The heart of it
Above all, lead in a way that helps your group feel safe, open, and curious. This course works best when you’re relaxed about the format and attentive to the people in front of you. Let the Spirit shape the journey, and trust that God will meet you in the way your group needs most.