Small groups

Redeemer currently has 24 groups with over 250 people.
Retired… Middle aged… Young family… Empty nesters… Women… Singles…

What happens at a small group?  

STUDY – Small groups at Redeemer are committed to studying and applying God's Word. Most groups use a curriculum to help them study Scripture. However, groups need to focus on more than just attaining Biblical knowledge. Small groups offer Christians the rare opportunity of studying the Bible, then holding each other accountable to grow in Christ and experience life change.

FELLOWSHIP – One of the main reasons people seek involvement in a Small Group is to develop significant relationships with other people. In this rushed and scheduled world, it is often difficult to find a place where true friendships can occur. Most people hunger for these more intense relationships. Although they lead busy lives, they are often lonely and longing for a deeper level of relating. Fellowship encourages community - a place where you experience the richness of living life in biblical community with God and the members of his family.

PRAYER - Prayer is a valued and important part of group life. The group comes together before God to praise, request, confess, and thank Him for all He has done. Prayer encourages group members to be humble, knowing that every blessing comes from God. In prayer, they also feel valued and come to understand their own worth. As groups become closer, prayer requests begin to move from surface-level concerns to more personal and spiritual struggles.

WORSHIP - There are many different ways to worship God. Worship simply means taking time to be in His presence and praising Him for who He is. Groups may choose different styles of worship – singing songs, sharing with each other the good things God is doing, listening to music, different types of prayer ... Truly transformational small groups are groups that are focused on God, His will, His Word, and His ways.

OUTREACH – While we spend much of our group time connecting with God and with our fellow group members, another of our goals is to reach outside of our groups. Serving others should be both a personal and a group priority. Reaching out to the lost and the hurt, opening up our close-knit group to someone searching for truth and love, offering to pray for a co-worker who is experiencing trouble, inviting a neighbor over for a meal… the possibilities are limitless!

Are Small Groups a New Concept?

Community is a concept found in both the Old and New Testaments. From the Creation story in Genesis – “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” to the advice Jethro gave Moses in Exodus 18, we can see the establishment of the value of small groups. However, the New Testament makes it even clearer. Jesus spent most of his public ministry doing life and ministry with his community of twelve disciples. Peter, Paul, and others started new communities wherever they went proclaiming the Gospel. In Acts 20:20 Paul's vision was to preach the message publicly (large-group worship) and to teach the message from house to house (small-group community). The Christians of the Acts 2 church spent their time learning, experiencing fellowship, eating together, worshiping God, supporting each other, reaching out to others, and growing in number (Acts 2:42-47). Small groups were an important part of the early church structure.

What is the Goal and Vision for Small Groups at Redeemer?

Here at Redeemer, a small group's goal is to change lives. We want to move people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and to make them more and more like Him. What does this mean? We are told in 2 Peter 3:18 to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And in Philippians 2:5, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

What is our vision for small groups at Redeemer? We want people to know that there is always a place for them here in a small community. We are the body of Christ – His hands and His feet. We are the family of God and a community of followers devoted to Christ and His cause. We are here to “ Connect people with the love and life of Jesus Christ.” In order to do this, we need to:

1) know more about the life of Jesus,

2) more fully understand His love, and

3) connect into a community of fellowship & mutual support.

Small groups must teach the truth, model His love, and reach outside of themselves.

Questions about groups?

Email Kelvin at the church office at kelvin@dewittredeemer.org or call 669.3430 ext. 116.