Small Groups at California EC
Small Groups at California EC Church offer a unique opportunity to connect with fellow believers and grow in your faith journey. These gatherings bring together families and individuals in an intimate, Christ-centered environment, where you can share meals, engage in Bible study, and practice living out the Gospel together. By participating in a Small Group, you’ll forge authentic connections, deepen your understanding of Scripture, and experience the transformative power of a supportive and loving community.
A Healthy Small Group
At California EC, we believe that healthy Small Groups focus on 5 things:
Teaching
Teaching in Small Groups should be discussion-based and not lecture-based. All group members are expected to participate in the conversation and should share what they are learning. In-depth theological debates may take place, but teaching should be focused on the basic principles of following Jesus that equip believers with the ability to share their faith with others.
Invitation
Though evangelism is an important part of following Jesus, Small Groups are not focused on large-group outreach initiatives. Instead, each member of a Small Group is expected to personally invite people from their circle of family, friends, and co-workers; or anyone they come into contact with. Because of this, Small Groups should emphasize a welcoming atmosphere where even someone who has never heard the Gospel could come to see and hear about the love of Jesus.
Leadership
Though Small Groups have an assigned facilitator who oversees the group, each member is expected to play a leadership role. This means that members take turns hosting the group and leading the group discussion, under the supervision of the assigned facilitator. Because Small Groups place a heavy emphasis on multiplication, members should be consistently reminded that they may be asked to become a facilitator of a Small Group in the future, as long as they are also a member of the church.
Community
Because followers of Jesus are called to live in community, members of a Small Group are expected to openly share their lives with one another. This means there must be a high level of confidentiality amongst the group. Small Groups celebrate with one another during the good times and bear the burdens of one another during the bad times. Regular time should be allotted for the breaking of bread and fellowship together.
Prayer
Small Groups have an assigned facilitator who oversees the group, but each member is expected to participate in prayer for one another. This means that prayer requests will be taken regularly as a part of each meeting, and members will be asked to pray for another member as part of that time. Prayer also extends beyond the meetings, and members of a Small Group should be sharing prayer requests and praying for one another between meetings.
Interested in joining a Small Group?
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