TOGETHER IS BETTER Meet new
people, make friends, grow in faith and have fun
You were made for God’s family!
Small Groups are all about doing life together, meeting new people, having
fun, and growing in your faith. A Small Group is Richland’s way of making a
church personal. To be all of what God designed you to be, you need to be connected with
others in your church family. At Richland we have
Small Groups that meet on Sunday evenings at 6:00 at the church
for a time of praise, prayer, and study with discussion. The small group is the basic
building block of the church. The small groups are the focus of fellowship,
edification, accountability and witness.
Why
small groups?
"As a human body has connected
tissues, muscles,
bones, ligaments, and organs,
the Body of Christ is comprised of members
who are responsible to one another.
No member exists detached from the rest of the Body, any more than lungs can lie
on the floor in the next room
and keep a person breathing. "
John MacArthur, Body Life
God did not design the local church to be a place
where lonely people enter, merely to sit and listen and walk out alone two hours later.
The church is to be a place of fellowship, of divine and human intimacy. The common word
for fellowship in the New Testament is koinonia, which means, "sharing in
common". It includes real communication and communion. Fellowship as presented in the
New Testament cannot be achieved through casual greetings and large group gatherings in
church buildings. Small groups are needed to build
fellowship.
These groups are aimed at meeting four basic human needs:
INCLUSION Small groups meet the needs for a sense of belonging, being
known, and acceptance.
AFFIRMATION People have needs for affirmation, affection, and emotional
intimacy.
ACCOUNTABILITY A group can help people gain control over what controls them.
People need encouragement as they seek spiritual and personal growth.
PROBLEM SOLVING In an accepting, loving, supportive environment that
encourages feedback and decision making, problems can be solved.
What happens at
Small Group gatherings?
Ministry happens. Ministry that is member-to-member
as the Holy Spirit prompts, empowers and guides in ways that transcend our plans and
efforts. Ministry happens as trained leaders encourage each member in discipleship
and coordinates ministries among members.
The groups meet each Sunday evening at the
church for an hour and a half. No one is "put on the spot" in the meetings. Individuals share their lives as they wish during times of Bible study,
fellowship, fun, and prayer.
The best way to find out about Small Groups is
by visiting one on Sunday night. We meet at 6:00 p.m. in various rooms at
the church. The children and teens are with the parents. Sorry, no childcare is
available. We also have one group that meets on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at
the church in room 202 in the Education Building.
God doesn’t want us
to “do life” alone – it’s so much better together! In Small Group, we go
through the ups and downs of life with others. Together, we learn to live as
a Christ-followers with people on the same journey. Small Groups are all
about doing life together, meeting new people, having fun, and growing in
your faith. Check it out!
