Far too many small groups rely on passive teaching methods that fail to engage group members, and as a result unintentionally limit the potential for real life change. The intellectual approach to Bible study, while popular, is far less productive than we’d like to think. People only remember up to 10% of what they hear, but up to 90% of what they experience.

Jesus used experiential teaching in his ministry, such as putting mud on the blind man’s eyes, washing feet, having a disciple pay taxes with a coin from a fish, and breaking bread and drinking from the cup. These were all tangible, multisensory means of conveying messages. In the emotional safety of your small group, you can easily use similar methods--and should, on a regular basis.

While many pastors might be squeamish about using experiential-learning methods in worship services and sermons, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as a small-group leader. Here are five elements that are representative of experiential, active learning, which you can begin using right away:

1. Active learning requires participation. By its very name, active learning implies a contrast to passive learning. Sitting in a comfortable seat, listening to one person talk, is an easy and often lazy way to obtain information. It requires little from learners in terms of engagement. To ask learners to participate in activities, and to verbalize ideas, means being awake and involved.

2. Interaction means speaking, and speaking stimulates thinking. What most fail to understand in one-on-one or small-group discussion is that the benefit is not what you glean from others. What you gain most happens while you’re putting your thoughts into words--it requires thinking about the content. Then while hearing yourself talk, you think about what you just said. We deceive ourselves in thinking we know something when we haven’t even found our own words to express it.

3. Adventure and unpredictability stimulate emotion. When you engage people to do an activity and/or respond to a physical item, you don’t know what to expect. Perceptions, past knowledge, personalities, and untested experiences can create unpredictable outcomes. When people don’t know what is going to result from an activity, their nervous systems are activated, which can be seen in emotional responses such as laughter, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, and even tears.

4. Emotions are the glue to long-term memory. When you ask people to reflect on times that were most memorable, they almost always refer to times of intense emotion, positive or negative. Content void of emotional response, no matter how spiritual, is more likely to be forgotten. The more we engage our senses and emotions, the more those lessons are likely to stick.

5. Experiences are not just to be experienced, but debriefed. After Jesus sent out the 70, he brought them back for a meaningful discussion of their experiences. Many churches are great at providing mission trips, sending staff to conferences, and conducting board retreats -- but they drop the ball when they fail to follow up and debrief. Even a modest time in reflecting on what participants felt, thought, and experienced deepens the learning. Don’t settle for yes and no answers. Ask open-ended questions, and see where God takes your group.

Is your small group ready to have the experience of a lifetime? Then get started! For examples of inexpensive tangible items that you can use during your small-group teaching time, go to www.group.com and search for Unforgettables. These items also come with experiential lesson suggestions that will help you get the most out of your lesson time. Good luck!

Alan Nelson is executive editor of Rev! magazine.