Everyone Needs a Small Group – Nathan Washburn 
More than likely, you’ve heard about the changes to our Bible Study hour coming up on September 8. What has been known as our Sunday School classes will be making a transition to Sunday Small Groups. Content will not change. We will be, as we always have been, learning the Bible, seeking to know the God of the Bible, and making efforts to connect the Bible to our everyday lives so that Christ is exalted in us.
What is going to change is how these groups operate. They will be reflecting life stage, and some of the groups may have a different feel—for example, discussion may become more of an emphasis than simply going through the lesson for the day. The goal is the provide a place where those who don’t know Christ will more easily enter into a group where they’re able to find community and hear the gospel. These groups are for everyone, including…

The Faithful Saint
You’ve been here for a while. You’re here each Sunday, you give sacrificially, you read your Bible, and you love your church. Thank you. Thank you for your faithfulness and constant support of the church by your presence and service. You are so needed during this me. Every me younger people come into the church, they need a faithful saint near to show them how to run the race of faith, how to endure hardship, how to navigate this changing world with God-given wisdom. And you need a small group because you need a context in which to share the wisdom you’ve given and en- courage the one in need of endurance.

The Worship Attender
You’ve been a ending worship for some me now. You sing, give, and dig deep in the word together with the rest of us on Sunday morning during the worship hour, but you haven’t yet moved into a small group. There’s a component of your walk with Christ that’s missing, and it’s probably the component of being in community with others who are around the same life stage as you. You desire a li le bit of accountability, encouragement, and help thinking through things that a group of peers could offer—especially peers who are approaching life from a biblical worldview. You need a group who walks with you towards Christlikeness and who shares in the highs and lows of this life we’re doing together.

The Community Neighbor
You’re our neighbor. You may not have even been on our church campus yet. It’s possible you’ve only lived here for a couple years, but even in that me you haven’t been able to really connect with people and establish friendships. You desire to raise your children with a good moral compass but you’re not sure exactly how to do that. In fact, aside from your children and family, you desire more even for yourself. You’re busy with so many things in life, but you’re sti ll unfulfilled. You’re skeptical of a ending church because of past hurt, so you need a small group with others around your stage of life just so you can connect in a meaningful, honest, and unthreatening way.