Home groups
Why have small discipleship groups?
From early church times believers have met together in homes to learn, pray, have fellowship and reach out to others together, and it’s a practice that has been going on ever since. Meeting together is highlighted in the New Testament as something essential for the health and growth of any church fellowship. Here are just two examples:
Hebrews 10:24-25. ‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’
Ephesians 4:15-16. ‘…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’
Coming together as a church on Sunday mornings is very important, but on its own is not enough. In a big city small groups help build community, and allow individual needs to be noticed in a way that is not possible in a large setting. Surviving and thriving in a life of faith and love depend on Christians intentionally building and stirring each other up to love and service.
The importance of fellowship
In his last letter to Timothy, Paul the apostle wrote (2 Timothy 3:7): ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ One of the ways he did this was to surround himself with believers who would pray for him and constantly encourage him. Paul was not a loner, always travelling in a team. We may think Paul’s faith was never in need of reinforcement, but his constant testimony was that he needed the partnership of close friends who could strengthen his faith when fear and discouragement were getting a grip on his life. We need that same partnership and encouragement, which is why we encourage and exhort individuals to be part of a small discipleship group.
The aims of discipleship groups
The aims of each group meeting together will be to:
- Apply God’s word to our lives
- Spur one another on to love and good deeds
- Encourage one another in our shared faith
- Warn against sin
- Provide pastoral and practical support
- Pray for each other and the wider church
- To provide a place for newcomers to be part of the church
By meeting in this way it will help us move towards a healthy, growing and full of love church as described in Ephesians 4:16.
Practically…
When? Groups meet on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. There are also two women’s groups, on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Please use the links on the left to see the details of each home group.
Where? Usually in the homes of group members.
What? The focus will be on a Bible study, the content of which of which will vary across the groups. We will encourage prayer for each other and the wider church, and there may also be times of praise, sharing in meals and other social activities. Sometimes groups may initiate outreach locally and take on areas of service within the church.
How do I join? Talk to one of the group leaders or to the Pastor, Vincent Buchanan, who is the overall coordinator of the small discipleship groups. If you have any general questions, don’t hesitate to ask.