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Small Groups
Small Group Bible studies are an indispensable part of fulfilling our mission as a church. Part of our mission is to love our God, to be in a caring community, and to have our lives changed as we grow together in Christ. These things all come into focus in our small group ministry.
We believe that being involved in close relationships is the key to spiritual growth. Since relationships cannot flourish in a Sunday morning worship service, we are seeking to be a church of small groups, and not merely a church with small groups. Therefore, being a part of a small group is highly encouraged for every attender of Bridgeway.
Small Group Questions
The questions are printed with the message notes and placed inside your bulletin for the Sunday morning service. You can also download the files and bring it to your next Small Group meeting where you'll be discussing the message.
When do Small Groups meet?
Currently, we have active groups that meet on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in the evenings. Although these are our current Small Groups and times, this does not mean that other group times will not become available if many people desire a different time. If you are interested in meeting on a different day, please contact Pastor Matt.
If you would be interested in joining a small group, please contact Pastor Matt Gruel or our church office at 668-9900 or send email to him at thegruels@yahoo.com.
Vision Statement for Small Groups
Small Groups at Bridgeway Community Church exist to glorify God by connecting people relationally in groups for the purpose of building up and equipping disciples of Jesus Christ to reach their world.
What is a Small Group?
A Small Group is made up of 8-14 people who meet weekly to study, to share, and to support one another in their Christian lives. Each group is led by a trained leader and host couple. A typical meeting lasts for an hour and a half and includes light refreshments.
How long does a group last?
Each Small Group session lasts 10-12 weeks. Basically, we've broken the year into 4 quarters or sessions. At the end of the quarter, you have the choice of staying in the same group, trying a new group, or even taking a break. Most groups stay together throughout the entire year.
What is the required commitment?
Joining a Small Group requires a 10- to 12-week commitment to attend the weekly meeting and to do the homework ahead of time. Obviously, allowances are made for sickness, vacation, work conflicts, and other special events … but not much more! We have found that this commitment is the key to strong relationships and healthy groups.
How important are Small Groups?
We consider Small Groups to be the hub of our ministry. They are the place where the real ministry of the church takes place as we encourage, support, and challenge one another. God doesn't want any of us to be left to walk alone—we need each other. We want to be a church, not a crowd!
What are the purposes of Small Groups?
| S | Spiritual Formation—As member of a biblical community, we will annually assess our own development in Christ. |
| E | Evangelism—We desire to see at least one person come to faith in Christ each year. |
| R | Reproduction—We will seek to reproduce another group at least once a year. |
| V | Volunteerism—We will commit ourselves to support the greater body of Christ at Bridgeway Community Church. |
| I | International Missions—The biblical community will support at least one international missions project. |
| C | Care—The foundation of biblical community will be our commitment to care for one another. |
| E | Extending Compassion—Each biblical community will commit to participating as families in at least one on-site compassion project. |
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