Selected Scripture
Acts 2:42-47, NIVThey devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Small groups thrive when they pursue two goals: relationship and spiritual growth.
Set the stage for relationship:
- Eat together
- Share aspects of your day-to-day lives with each other
- Make space for everyone to participate. Seek to draw one another out.
- Expect personality mismatches in the group. View them as opportunities for learning.
- Agree on the best ways to communicate with one another when you're not meeting. Generate a telephone or email address list, or program contact information into your phones.
Set the stage for spiritual growth:
- Identify someone to lead the discussion (for Sermon Circles) or be a point-person for conversation ideas around the dinner table (for Supper Circles). You might rotate leaders within the group.
- Pray together and for each other
- Use the blog resources as tools. You may have better questions of your own!
- Talk early and often about group members' hopes for the group and expectations of one another (see the Small Group Covenant).
