Fall Small Group Semester | September 8 – November 23
Small Groups provide three things:
1. A place to connect with others.
“Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him.”
1 CORINTHIANS 9:22 TLB
We were not made to do life alone. God created us for community, and Small Groups provide a place for you to connect with others, share life, and grow in faith together.
2. A place to protect each other.
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 JOHN 3:16 NLT
When we do life together, our problems become smaller as God uses others to bring support and encouragement to our lives. Small Groups become a place where others don’t just know your name but care about what is happening in your life and want to support you in your spiritual journey.
3. A place to grow together.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
PROVERBS 27:17
We believe every person is created with God-given potential to make a difference in the world. Small Groups are a place you can grow with others to become more like Jesus and reach the potential God has put inside you.
Four things to know about Gilead Small Groups:
1. Our groups are “free market.”
We want people to gather together based on things they enjoy and are important to them. Essentially, the things you are already doing in your life are the things that can make up your Small Group! From sports groups to lunch groups, parenting groups to student groups, Bible study groups to creative arts groups, our groups are as varied as we are. All groups fall within seven hubs:
Men • Women • Co-Ed • Marriage and Family • Students • Freedom • Outreach
2. There are three semesters every year.*
Life flows in seasons and we want to make it easy for you to be in the right Small Group in each season. This is why we have new groups that start and stop three times a year in what we refer to as “semesters.”
3. Everyone can join a group.
Our hope is for every person at Gilead to be connected in meaningful community through a Small Group. With so many groups to choose from, we are confident there is a group that is a great fit for you. Once you find a few groups that interest you, contact the leaders to learn more and make plans to check them out in person.
4. Anyone can host a group.
We believe hosting a group is simple because we all have something to offer others. Whether it’s something you are passionate about, an experience you’ve had that can help others, or an area in which you are looking to grow, hosting a group is a great way to bring people together in meaningful community. To learn more about becoming a Small Group leader, attend Small Group Leadership Training at Step Four of the Growth Track. Even if you’re not sure if you’re ready to host a group, we invite you to come to a training.