The following is an article version of the audio transcript:
Small groups are an important part of church life. Personally, they have also played an important role in helping me mature and grow in my faith.
If you aren't currently part of a small group, here are three ways I suggest finding one.
Three Ways to Find a Small Group at Church
1. Ask Your Pastors
The first way to find a small group is to ask your pastors. This can be especially helpful if you're new to a church or have been attending for a while but are still struggling to find a group where you can connect with others.
Your church may have established ways for people to get connected with small groups, so start by asking your pastors what opportunities are available.
There may also be certain steps you need to take before joining a group. For example, you might need to become a church member, get baptized, or attend the church for a certain amount of time.
I think these requirements can be reasonable. Small groups often involve opening yourself up to others, building relationships, and making a commitment to one another. Churches may want to establish a certain level of commitment before bringing people into these groups.
Of course, some small groups may be more open to the public or have a more evangelistic focus. Those can be great opportunities to explore as well.
Whatever kind of group you're looking for, asking your pastors is a good place to start.
2. Join a Fellowship Group
A second way to find a small group is to get involved in a fellowship group first. From there, you may discover a smaller group that is connected to that fellowship.
Churches offer different kinds of fellowship opportunities. I consider Sunday school a type of fellowship. Depending on your church and stage of life, you might also consider joining a youth group or getting involved with a service team.
These are all opportunities to meet other people, build relationships, and become more connected to your church community.
As you spend time with people in these different settings, you may naturally find a smaller group of Christians with whom you can connect more deeply.
3. Start Your Own Small Group
The third way to find a small group is to start one yourself.
If you already have a group of Christian friends, consider taking the initiative and suggesting that you start a small group together.
Depending on the kind of group you want to have, you might decide to make it open to others or keep it limited to a smaller circle of friends. Either approach can work.
The important thing is to find people who are willing to make time for one another and commit to growing together.
I do recommend talking to your pastors and letting them know you're forming a small group, especially if you want it to be officially connected to your church.
Ultimately, meeting regularly with other Christians is a great way to grow in your faith.
My Experience with Small Groups and Why They're Important
Personally, small groups have been a great encouragement to me. I'm currently part of two small groups, and both have been important in my life.
The first is a marriage small group. My wife, Jess, and I meet with other married couples to talk about marriage, the challenges we face, and sometimes parenting.
One thing that makes our group special is that we're also open to dating couples.
When Jess and I were dating, one of the ways we grew together was by meeting with our pastor. We would go on walks with him and his wife, and they provided us with a lot of encouragement and guidance throughout our relationship.
We want to offer that same kind of encouragement to other dating couples. That's why we've made our marriage small group open to them as well.
The second small group I'm part of is a men's group. It's made up of brothers in Christ, and we talk about a variety of things. We discuss work, marriage, fatherhood, and the different challenges we face in life.
There's a lot we can talk about, and I find tremendous value in having other Christian men with whom I can share and grow.
Both groups are important to me, even though they came together in different ways. Our marriage small group was established through a more official church channel, while my men's group is a little less formal.
As you can see, there are different ways to become part of a small group.
Find a Small Group and Grow Together
Regardless of what kind of small group you join, I encourage you to find one.
It's important to spend time with other Christians, grow in your faith, and encourage one another. We weren't meant to pursue the Christian life in isolation. Having other believers alongside us can help us mature and persevere in our walk with Christ.
If you aren't part of a small group yet, consider asking your pastors, joining a fellowship group, or even starting one yourself.
Take that first step toward building deeper Christian relationships.
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