What Do Community Groups Look Like?

Giving a Picture of What Community Groups Do

What are Community Groups?

They are small groups that meet on Wednesday evenings to mutually enhance our relationship with God through prayer, sharing, and discussion of the Sunday morning message.

Where do they meet?

Community groups meet in various homes in the Simpsonville and Greenville areas.

When do they meet?

Community Groups meet on Wednesday nights. Groups decide their own start and end time, but Community Groups generally meet between 6:00 and 8:00 pm. 

How big is each group?

Each group begins with approximately 8-12 adults (plus children) and may grow no larger than 18 adults. This gives the group diverse interaction while still allowing group members to build relationships with one another.

What do you do during Community Groups?

• Share life together. We connect through conversation, food, and fun.
• Discuss and apply the Word together. We have a focused time when we talk through the discussion questions based on the Sunday morning message.
• Exhort and edify one another in love. We love, encourage, pray, and help one another.
• Pray together. We spend a few minutes sharing requests and participating in a voluntary prayer time.

What agreements do group members make?

• We commit to biblically love, encourage, pray for, and help one another.
• We endeavor to create an environment that encourages everyone to participate and that no one person dominates.
• We will make each meeting a priority.
• We recognize that Community Groups are just one spiritual environment in which Christ has called us to live and that it is not a replacement for the corporate gathering.
• We commit to faithful participation within the group meeting by listening to Sunday’s message and then consider and share how we may apply those truths in our lives.
• We strive to foster intergenerational relationships and discipleship.
• We desire to do everything in our power to welcome newcomers and to start a new group.

What will a typical night look like?

• Introduction– This is conversation or activity that will help us relax, get to know each other, and enjoy one another.
• Discussion – This is a time of sharing what God has taught us through the Sunday morning message. During this time a volunteer reads the passage, someone summarizes the passage, and the group leader leads us through the discussion questions provided.
• Prayer – This is a focused time to help us transition from abiding in the Word to praying the realities of the Word into each other's lives.
• Fellowship – This is a time for food and conversation. It provides a time for us to connect with each other. Those within our group may sign up to bring some small snacks.

Will Group Members be singled out or tested on their knowledge of Scripture?

No. Participants won't be put on the spot or asked to pray or read aloud (unless they want to). We do encourage participants to contribute and discuss but are not pressured to do so.

How is the leadership structured?

• Regional Coaches – They oversee and train Discussion Leaders and Assistants. They visit groups and meet with Group Leaders. Initially these individuals will be led by pastors.
• Discussion Leaders – They facilitate discussion, lead prayer time, and communicate with the group.
• Hospitality Coordinators – They organize the meeting space and coordinate any refreshments.
• Assistants– They cover in the Discussion Leader’s absence. The Regional Coach and Discussion Leaders recruit and train potential Assistants.

What about childcare?

Childcare is organized by the Community Group Discussion Leaders and the Group Members. Teens and children will participate with parents in their Community Group. Childcare options for the groups to consider:

• Members rotate childcare responsibilities each week so one couple serves the others by caring for children. Group Leaders will receive information on childcare policies and procedures to apply toward childcare taking place at the Community Group location.
• Parents may use their own extended family who live in the area (like grandparents or aunts and uncles) to babysit at the parent’s home or the home of the relative.
• Parents within that group can hire a caregiver to care for the children.