Why Basecamp
A lot of guys drift from their faith after high school, often slowly and without much noise. Basecamp is four years of small steps to help a guy build a faith that lasts.
The goal is a guy who knows Jesus, owns his faith, reads the Bible on his own and leaves ready to lead.
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Read the full passagePaul wrote this to a young church, urging them to keep growing in the Jesus they had already received.
The four years
- Known Freshman
A group where nobody has to perform, so we can just show up and learn to be brothers - Rooted Sophomore
The year your faith becomes your own through small habits and honest questions - Becoming Junior
The year we work on who we are when nobody’s watching - Sent Senior
The year we turn outward and lead the way Jesus did, by serving
At graduation
A senior who opens his Bible without being told to, knows who he is in Jesus, has brothers who really know him and is already looking for someone to serve.
Your role
Your part is simple: walk with a few guys, ask good questions and keep pointing them to Jesus and the Bible. The stops give the year its shape, so you can focus on the guys.
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
Read the full passageNear the end of his life, Paul tells Timothy to pass on what he learned to people who will pass it on again.
What Basecamp is
Basecamp is a four-year path for high school guys, with one year for each grade: Known for freshmen, Rooted for sophomores, Becoming for juniors and Sent for seniors. Each year has its own theme, a few key verses and a handful of short stops. You help guide it, and the guys own it together.
How a year flows
- Fall: kick off the year together in small group
- In between: the guys take four short stops on their own, about one every couple of months, and check them off on their phone
- Spring: look back on the year together in small group
Running the kickoff and look back
Each one takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Pull up that year’s kickoff or look back page and walk through it together.
- Read the verse out loud, or ask a guy who’s up for it
- Read the short intro and the big idea
- Pick one or two questions and let the guys do most of the talking
- Share the challenge for the week
- Close with the prayer on the page, or invite a guy to pray if he wants to
At the look back, give the questions a little extra time, since that’s where guys name how they grew and what they’ve seen in each other.
Checking in during the year
A quick question keeps the stops going without making it a big deal. Ask in small group, or in your group chat.
- Which stop are you on?
- Did anything from the last stop stick with you?
- Did anyone try the challenge this week?
The ideas to do together
Each kickoff and look back has a short list of ideas for time together outside of small group. They’re optional. Follow your church’s guidelines for anything you do together.
A few tips
- Go first and share your own answer, so the guys know it’s okay to be honest
- Keep it low pressure, since nobody has to finish every stop or pray out loud
- Celebrate finishing, even if it’s just a shout-out in small group
- If a guy shares something that needs more care, bring in a pastor or church staff member