WHY HOME GROUPS?

We are all built for relationship - for community.


This is part of the Imago Dei - the image of God that exists in every one of us. God is a perfect trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Godhead exists in perfect unity and community. He designed us to be in relationship with one another. 


As believers, we have been radically changed at the very center of our being and God, in His ultimate, eternal, perfect wisdom has placed us in community with one another. 


As we “do life together” - we’ll grow in the depth of our relationships with one another. Primarily because of what is plainly spelled out in Ephesians 4:1-6 – I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.


going deeper

The home is the context in which we pursue and develop our closest, relationships. When we invite others into our home, we’re doing much more than allowing them to enter a structure that we control, we’re welcoming them into the context of our lives. There’s something tangible, yet not physical, about this. 


When we gather in someone’s home together as believers, we’re catalyzing deeper relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Gathering with spiritual purpose, can yield significant results. 


This is why, for the duration of the Summer, we’re investing our time and energy in Home Groups rather than our traditional Sunday Evening Worship Gathering. The goal is to not just grow in our understanding of and love for Christ, but to grow in our depth of love and foster the community that God has gathered us in. 


The Plan

We’re launching Home Groups on Sunday, June 14, at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We’ll meet together, talk about the purpose and structure of our groups. Each group will then get together to discuss and determine the details of their group. You’ll then have several weeks to finalize and coordinate everything before your first official meeting.


The next Sunday is Father’s Day - no evening activities, then on Sunday, June 28, our VBS begins. On Sunday, July 5, we’re having an all church fellowship with grilled burgers and hot dogs - bring a side dish or dessert to share with everyone else. 


Sunday evening, July 12 will be our first Home Group meeting - each group will meet together in various homes throughout the Joplin area. 



Joining a group

You’re able to sign up for the group you’d like to be in, but as you choose, go outside of your usual circle of friends. One of the goals of our Home Groups is to build deeper relationships, so be intentional to join a group with those that you don’t already spend time with regularly. 

If you’re not sure what group to join, sign up on the “Pick For Me” signup sheet and leadership will put you in a group with that goal in mind. 


Group Signup will begin as soon as we have all the host homes set up. If you’re interested in hosting a group, get in touch with Rob Signs. We anticipate four to five groups this Summer.


WHat Now?

Make plans now to join a Home Group this Summer and encourage others to join one one as well.


Begin praying for our home groups. 

  • Pray that the Lord would place in you a desire for the deeper community relationships that Home Groups provide.
  • Pray for those that you’ll be in a home group with (even though you don’t know who they are yet).
  • Pray for your Group Leader (even though you don’t know who it will be yet).
  • Pray that God would lead you in the group you join. 
  • Pray for church leadership as they work to pull all of this together this Summer.


INFO FORMS

Below are information sheets specific to different roles in Home Groups.

  • participant guide

    What does it look like to participate in a Home Group? What's the Schedule? What's expected of me? Read this guide to find out.

  • HOST GUIDE

    So I might want to host a group, but what will that look like? What's expected of me? How many people will come? How often? What do I provide?

  • Leader's Guide

    Have you been asked to lead a Home Group? Think you might want to? Check out this guide to know what the role and expectations of our group leaders are.

  • study guide

    Here's the list of passages to read each week and the study questions. Download this, print a copy, and keep it in your Bible as you read ahead and prepare to discuss the passage in your Home Group.