What is a Grace Group?

Grace Groups are what other churches sometimes call small groups or cell groups. They are small groups of people, usually no more than twelve to fifteen, which meet in local homes or businesses for fellowship, prayer, to praise the Lord, study and to reach out to others. Meetings last about one to one and a half hours once a week.

What is their role in the church?

The primary roles of Grace Groups are to strengthen the church through ministering to those in need and reaching those without a relationship with Christ. As these people become members of Grace Groups and the groups grow and multiply, new members are added to the church body. Grace groups also provide continuing education for adults instead of having a Sunday school class

Why Meet in Homes?

The early New Testament Church met in people's homes. They didn't have church buildings. This is the pattern the early believers followed and it resulted in large numbers of people coming to Christ. What better way is there to make people that don't know Christ feel welcome and "safe" than to invite them into a non-threatening environment such as someone's home? Here they can experience God's grace and love through the other Grace Group members as they minister to them.

The New Testament pattern

The pattern for Grace Groups is found in the New Testament scriptures:

Acts: 2;46-47

"They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Acts 5:42

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they didn not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

Acts 20:20

The Apostle Paul said, "You know I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from hosue to house."

What are the Benefits of Joining a Grace group?

Fellowship- A small group setting is ideal for forming friendships and developing relationships with fellow believers. this is where you become "connected" with the rest of members of the church body.

Discipleship- Discipleship is a result of one person modeling Christ to another which a small group is the perfect environment for.

Study-Instead of traditional "Sunday School," adults learn about the bible and how to apply it to their daily lives in Grace Groups.

Prayer- Grace Group meetings provide an opportunity for people or concerns to be prayed for by others believers. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, "...if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." If the group has a prayer time, it was worth meeting for.

How do I Join a Grace Group?

Contact the church office or one of these Grace Group leaders.

Type

Day and Time

Subject

Leader

Location

Phone

Equipping Class

Wednesday @ 6:30pm

Marriage 101

Brian and Michele Good
1317 Morton

935-7067

Equipping Class

Wednesday @ 6:30pm

Financial Peace

Mike and Radna Running

1310 E 2nd

934-1530

Grace Group

Wednesday @ 6:30pm

Sermon Discussion

Bobby and Kriste Martindale

500 Carson

935-2339

Wednesday @ 6:30pm

Sermon Discussion

Raymond and Stacey Brady

508 Forrest

935-4323

Wednesday @ 6:30pm

Sermon Discussion

David and Carmen Purl

7024 Cemetery Rd

922-2387

Wednesday @ 6:30pm

BASIC.Series- Francis Chan

Kurt and Jami Pafford

124 Carson

220-9742

Sunday @ 6:00pm

"Encountering God"

Fred and Irene Hughes

Conference Room

934-1293

Awaken Youth Wednesday @ 6:30pm 7-12 Grades Jill Welch Java Casa 934-1293

Childcare Wednesday @ 6:30pm Children ages 0-5 Carol Henderson GTF Classrooms 934-1293

Missionettes Wednesday @ 6:30pm Girls K- 6th Grade Carol Henderson GTF Classrooms 934-1293

Royal Rangers Wednesday @ 6:30pm Boys K - 6th Grade Dustin McKay Wow Room 934-1293