Hope Community Church believes that a vital small groups ministry is of great importance in properly shepherding the people in its care. Small groups also provide a place for Hope attenders to serve and come alongside one another. In short, small groups create the greatest potential to reach the lives of individuals on a regular basis and honor God by helping as many people as possible become fully devoted followers of Christ.
What do we mean when we talk about small groups at Hope? Why do we do what we do? How is a typical small group supposed to look? What are we asking groups to focus on? This six-week series is designed to help small group participants form answers to those questions by sharing Hope’s vision for small groups and, more importantly, by exploring what God’s Word says about Christian community, accountability, and the Body of Christ as expressed in the local church. The ultimate goal is for small group members to think rightly about their small groups in a well-rounded manner in order to live out the Gospel through God-honoring community with one another. For some, this will mean gaining freedom from misconceptions. For others, this will be encouragement to take responsibility, make necessary changes, and follow-through.
Why This Series?
- Help small group attenders gain vision and perspective about why Hope has small groups and what we hope to accomplish within those groups.
- Break down walls and misconceptions about why and how Hope does small groups.
- Begin a discussion in groups that will allow leaders to address concerns, hopes, and misconceptions about their small group.
- Cast vision regarding wholehearted participation in community that leads to application of God’s Word.
- Cast vision for all Hope attenders to be the church to one another.
How's & Why's of Hope Small Groups Leader Copy
How's & Why's of Hope Small Groups Handout
Series Breakdown
Week 1: The Foundation
This study will lay a foundation of understanding why we gather as Christians in small groups. Just as any solid structure has a solid foundation, so too do we need to understand why we meet together in small groups as followers of Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is why we gather! Because the Gospel is the foundational reason we gather, we’re going to walk through the basics of the Gospel this week.
Week 2: The Body of Christ
In this study your group will discuss the Body of Christ. Group members will read Scripture pertaining to the Body and begin to examine how this can impact their interactions with one another in small group.
Week 3: Pillar 1 – Community
Group members will be given a brief overview of the 3 pillars of Hope small groups. In this study your group will examine the pillar of Community with a focus on how small groups can live out the examples shown in the New Testament.
Week 4: Pillar 2 – The Bible
In this study your group will discuss the value of God’s Word and why we study the Bible in our small groups. Group members will also briefly discuss Hope’s Statement of Faith regarding the Bible.
Week 5: Pillar 3 – Accountability
In this study your group will be talking about the value of Christian accountability and why we place so much emphasis on this in our small groups. Your group will also discuss the common impediments to effective accountability.
Week 6: The Church Being The Church
In this study your group will continue their discussion of the activities of the church and expand group members’ understanding of their role in the church as “the church”. This week includes a teaching video: https://youtu.be/Ev9tyUXwnHs.
