WELCOME

What challenged you to consider being part of "Small Group Ministries"?

Was it for the opportunity to get to know other people in this church better? Was it for the opportunity to learn more about the Bible in a relaxed friendly way with people that had the same interest and perhaps the same understandings as you? Was it to be with people you hoped would be concerned about your concerns, prayed and encouraged each other? Great your going in the right direction. Better than that, the Bible encourages us to do exactly that (read Acts 2:42)

The time and effort that you are about to invest is commonly referred to as a "Pilgrims Journey". Basically, your interests will bring you into new areas, and hopefully you'll discover things (some personal) that you never knew before.

Before it's over, you'll meet people on the same journey as you. Some further along, willing to share what they discovered ahead of you and encourage you to press on. Overall, you'll be richer for having done so.

We prepared the chart below for everyone on a personal pilgrimage through Small Groups Ministry. Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact our Director of Small Group Ministries, Pastor Tom Burns.

Group Level	Type Of Group & Basic Study	Looks Like	Purpose & Goal	Time Frame	Next Step	Additional Recommended Studies
One (Teaching)	"Come & See" Book 1: Finding the Way* (Operation Timothy)	6-10 People	Purpose: Accept Christ as Savior Goal: Baptism	Can last 2 to 3 months	Book 2: Knowing the Truth	The Stranger on the road to Emmanus Living the Light of the gospel story
Two (Training)	"Come & Follow Me" Book 2: Knowing the Truth* (Operation Timothy) Book of Romans	6-10 People	Purpose: Prepare to share your faith Goal: Personal Testimony	Can last 9 to 12 months	Book 3: Living With Power	Why Go To Work Too Busy not to Pray If You Will Ask Growing Strong in God's Family (Navpress Book 1)
Three (Coaching)	"Come & Be with Me" Book 3: Living with Power* (Operation Timothy) Spiritual Discernment A Wonderful Spirit Filled Life Secrets of the Vine Book of Ephesians	6-12 People	Purpose: Learning to depend on the Holy Spirit Goal: Deepen fellowship from new friendships Edification: "Iron Sharpens Iron" (Proverbs 27:17)	Can last 9 to 18 months	Book 4: Making A Difference	Home Builders Couples Series A Life that God Rewards Deepening Your Roots In God's Family (Navpress Book 2)
Four (Empowering)	"Remain in Me" Book 4 – Making a Difference* (Operation Timothy) Crown Ministries I Thessalonians Book of Ephesians Book of 1 John	6-12 People	Purpose: Becoming "living proof" of who Christ is and what He has done in your life Goal: Becomes part of the Discipleship Community Head a Ministry: - Youth Leader - ABF Leader - Small Group Leader	Can last up to 1 year	Evangelistic Level	Bearing Fruit (Navpress Book 3) Pilgrims Progress
Five (Evangelistic)	Releasing Phase - Living Proof Video series - Grace Evangelism study	Open	Purpose: Life application of all your equipping Goal: Continue to reproduce self in others (2Tim. 2:2) and to share Christ (Mt. 28:19) Teach Books 1-4 (Operation Timothy) Coach Small Group Leadership Team	Can last 6 to 8 months	Reserves Level	Your House A Lighthouse
Six (Reserves)	Reserves Phase ("What we lack in number, we can have in conviction") - Strengthen your grip study - Improve your serve study	Open	Purpose: Ready to serve as needed UNLIMITED Lay Speaker/Pulpit Exchange	Lifetime	Ongoing Books of The Bible

The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:10 that the Church is Gods equipping place.

Our church Purpose Statement is "To Know, Grow, and Show God's Grace through our living".*

Therefore, the leadership at Grace Community Evangelical Free Church is being intentional in its shepherding approach to equipping (teaching training, coaching) Small Group members, and encouraging sustainable personal growth.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

For us to do is literally "in order that we might walk in them". The purpose of these prepared-in-advance works is not "to work in them" but "to walk in them." In other words, God has prepared a path of good works for believers which He will perform in and through them as they walk by faith. This does not mean doing a work for God; instead, it is God's performing His work in and through believers (cf. Phil 2:13). This path of good works is discussed by Paul in Ephesians 4-6⁽¹⁾.

⁽¹⁾ The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvood & Zuck, Pp 624.

*Copies of our church "Purpose Statement" are on the communications board in the church lobby.