If you are a follower of Jesus, you need to answer these questions...

• Where do I find a safe place to openly share about the joys and challenges of  my life?
• Where do I regularly connect with a few spiritual companions who will help me look more like Jesus and help connect me more deeply to His great kingdom works?
• Where is there a small community of people through whom I can encounter the  living presence of God Himself? 

If you have no answer to these questions, you might want to consider a small group because God created us to live in such a community!

But who has the time?

We will never have a season in life when it is easy for us to attend a small group.  When we are young we are too busy, when we are old we don’t want to go out at night.  When we have kids we can’t afford a sitter—and the excuses go on and on. 

Why?  Because biblical community will never come naturally for us.  Our sinful nature causes us to want to live independently from God and from one another.  It will take effort to pursue God’s plan for us in the area of community, yet once we taste the fruit, we will never want to live any other way.

Is there a difference between Bible study and a small group?

A Small group studies the Word, but it is more than a Bible Study.  A Small group cares for one another’s joys and sorrows, but it is more than a support group.  A Small group has a lot of fun together, but it is more than a social group. 

Small Groups at BPC are a place where we share life around the living presence of Jesus and watch Him transform us more and more into His likeness.  United around His presence, we are able to love one another as He has loved us and we are empowered to love the world as well. In other words, one of God’s primary ways to change us and change the world around us is through a small group community.  An effective small group will be one of the best tools for cultural change both within and outside the church…that is why we keep at this crazy stuff in a busy, individualistic society.

Does such an effective community develop overnight?  Of course not.  Look at all the ups and downs of Jesus and His small group of 12.  Yet they eventually became a community that turned the world upside down.

So where do I begin?

Communities for Christ:  We are encouraging those interested to form groups within their neighborhoods.  Interested in leading?  Ask some people you know who live on your street!

Sign up for an initial 6 week commitment to a small group and see where God leads you from there.  Sign Up weeks are listed below and registration forms will be available both at the church on Sunday, January 11, 18 and 25 or click here to register online.

If you are interested in leading a small group, click here for the application form and return it to the Welcome Center.

Small Group Schedule: 

LENT SMALL GROUPS

6 week session: February 22 - April 5

• Leader Sign ups:  January 4 - 11
• Leader Orientation:  February 7 or 21
• Participant registration:  January 11 - 25

SPRING SMALL GROUPS
6 week session: May 3 - June 14

• Leader Sign ups:  March 29 - April 5
• Leader Orientation:  May 2
• Participant registration:  April 5 - 19