Life is meant to be shared and life change happens best in community. When people gather with a shared mission to pursue God, to love one another, or to serve others, transformation happens. God shows up. People grow and heal and become more like Christ. The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews exhorts Christ followers to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” but to continue meeting so they can encourage and “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24–25, NIV).
For more information about joining a Small Group, please contact Elizabeth Vandermolen, Connections Director.
Small Groups are unique blends of people who journey, love, and learn together. Typically 6-12 people. Small groups can walk together in many ways. From studying Scripture, sharing books, discussing current topics, offering support, having fun, and eating together – each is unique to its members. We encourage you to become part of a small group! If you are interested in joining a new group for our next church-wide study in September, CLICK HERE.
…at the Connecting Event on January 10, we started 8 new small groups, as well as, added many new people to existing small groups!
Available Small Group Curriculum
- Apologetics Curriculum
Apologetics is the defense or proof of Christianity. An apologetics study like Charles Colson’s The Faith will help you better understand and explain why you believe what you believe; in other words, you will know how to “defend” your faith.
The Faith, Charles Colson
• 6 sessions, DVD-based
• Workbook required
• Complementary book available
Colson considered his book The Faith to be his legacy book to the Christian world. In this 6-week study Chuck Colson, along with Gabe Lyons, will lead you through six thought-provoking, soul-searching, and powerful sessions on the great, historical central truths of Christianity. Brought to immediacy with vivid, true stories, here is what Christianity is really about and why it is a religion of hope, redemption, and beauty. The Faith is for Christians and non-Christians alike.
To check out this resource for your small group,
please contact Elizabeth Vandermolen.
- Bible Study Curriculum
40 Days in the Word, Rick Warren
• 6 Sessions, DVD-based
• Workbook required
• Extensive online resources available free of charge
How often do we doubt God’s Word, fall prey to others who attack its reliability or not live out its content? Building the habit of daily Bible study into your schedule is key. And that sounds good, but it can be overwhelming to know how and where to begin. Forty Days in the Word offers practical ways to study the Bible, to incorporate that study into your everyday routine, and to translate God’s Word into action.
To check out this resource for your small group,
please contact Elizabeth Vandermolen.
The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller
• 6 Sessions, DVD-based
• Workbook required
• Complementary book available
The Prodigal Son – most of us have heard of this parable. But do we really understand it’s complete meaning? In this study you’ll gain insights from each of the characters Jesus introduces to us: the younger son who squanders his inheritance, the moralistic older brother, and the father who loves them both. As a result you will understand the love of God in a whole new way.
To check out this resource for your small group,
please contact Elizabeth Vandermolen.
Fire on the Mountain, Ray Vander Laan
• 6 Sessions, DVD-based
• Workbook required
This is part of Vander Laan’s That the World May Know Series – other titles available.
When the Israelites left Egypt, they were finally free: free from persecution and oppression, and free to worship their own God. With this freedom, however, comes a new challenge – learning how to live in community the way God intends. In this study you’ll discover how God teaches the Israelites about the importance of community and how these lessons apply today.
To check out this resource for your small group,
please contact Elizabeth Vandermolen.
Life Lessons: The Book of Romans, Max Lucado
• 12 Sessions
This study is part of Lucado’s Life Lessons series – other titles available.
Ever head in the wrong direction or make a wrong choice? Have some of your choices taken you further away from your goals, dreams, and even Jesus? You’re not alone. We all do this – and so did members of the early church. In this study you’ll see the ways in which the church was heading in the wrong direction – and learn about the one solution Who’ll help us all make better choices – Jesus Christ. Because even though we have all sinned (see Romans 3:23), Jesus is waiting to restore us to grace.
That the World May Know, Faith Lessons Series, Ray Vander Laan
• 12 Sessions, DVD-based
• Workbook required
Filmed on location in Israel by Focus on the Family Films, this series consists of 12 individual studies. Teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan masterfully weaves together the Bible’s historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, and offers great insights into Scripture’s significance for everyday life. The Participant’s Guide helps you turn each lesson into real-life application that will impact the way you live your faith. You’ll find space for note-taking, topics for group discussion, and questions for reflection, as well as maps, photos, sidebars, and other study tools. Study whatever topic(s) your group is currently interested in – there is no suggested order.
Listed below are the 12 Faith Lesson Studies. Click HERE for individual course descriptions.
Faith Lesson 1:
The Promised Land, Five Sessions
Session 1: Standing at the Crossroads
Session 2: Wet Feet
Session 3: First Fruits
Session 4: Confronting Evil
Session 5: Iron of Culture
Faith Lesson 2:
Prophets and Kings, Six Sessions
Session 1: Innocent Blood, Part 1
Session 2: Innocent Blood, Part 2
Session 3: Who is God?
Session 4: Wages of Sin
Session 5: The Lord is My Shepherd
Session 6: God with Us
Faith Lesson 3:
Life and Ministry of the Messiah, Eight Sessions
Session 1: In the Shadow of Herod
Session 2: My Rock and My Fortress
Session 3: The Time Had Fully Come
Session 4: No Greater Love
Session 5: The Rabbi
Session 6: Language of Culture
Session 7: Misguided Faith
Session 8: Living Water
Faith Lesson 4:
Death and Resurrection of the Messiah, Eight Sessions
Session 1: When Storms Come
Session 2: Piercing the Darkness
Session 3: Gates of Hades (Hell)
Session 4: City of the Great King – The Temple
Session 5: City of the Great King – Jerusalem
Session 6: The Lamb of God
Session 7: The Weight of the World
Session 8: Roll Away the Stone
Faith Lesson 5:
Early Church, Five Sessions
Session 1: Everything to Lose, Nothing to Gain
Session 2: The Salt of the Earth
Session 3: Where Satan Lives
Session 4: The Mark of the Beast
Session 5: Hot or Cold
Faith Lesson 6:
In the Dust of the Rabbi, Five Sessions
Session 1: When the Rabbi says “Come”
Session 2: When the Rabbi says “Go”
Session 3: The Presence of God – A Countercultural Community
Session 4: Living Stones
Session 5: The Very Words of God
Faith Lesson 7
Walk as Jesus Walked, Five Sessions
Session 1: Run! – The Passion of Elijah
Session 2: Learning to Walk Like Jesus – Paul’s Journey to Rome
Session 3: An Unlikely Disciple
Session 4: Why Christians Suffer – The Weight of Gethsemane
Session 5: Don’t Forget Us
Faith Lesson 8:
God Heard Their Cry, Five Sessions
Session 1: How Big is Our God?
Session 2: Israel in Bondage: God Heard Their Cry
Session 3: Finger of God: The Plagues
Session 4: Watch with Me: Israel Leaves Egypt
Session 5: The Lord Reigns: The Red Sea
Faith Lesson 9:
Fire on the Mountain, Six Sessions
Session 1: The Lord Who Heals You: Marah and Elim
Session 2: Not by Bread Alone: Manna and Water from the Rock
Session 3: Their Blood Cried Out: Israel Becomes a Community
Session 4: The Mountain of God
Session 5: I Led You Like a Bride: A Wedding at Sinai
Session 6: The Whisper of God: Moses and Elijah on the Mountain of God
Faith Lesson 10:
With All Your Heart, Six Sessions
Session 1: Build Me a Sanctuary
Session 2: Making Space for God
Session 3: He Led Them Like a Shepherd
Session 4: By Every Word – Striking the Rock
Session 5: With All Your Might: The Final Test
Session 6: A Well-Watered Garden
Faith Lesson 11:
The Path to the Cross, Five Sessions
Session 1: The Way of the Essenes
Session 2: The Way of John the Baptist
Session 3: Into the Desert to be Tested
Session 4: The Last Passover
Session 5: The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope
Faith Lesson 12:
Walking with God in the Desert, Seven Sessions
Session 1: Join the Journey
Session 2: It’s Hot Here and There’s No Way Out
Session 3: Help is Here
Session 4: When YOur Heart Cries Out
Session 5: They Were Not Wandering
Session 6: Ears to Hear
Session 7: There’s Hope in the Desert
To check out this resource for your small group,
please contact Elizabeth Vandermolen.
