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A small group is normally a gathering of 6-12 people who want to deepen their relationship with one another, while exploring and learning God’s ways as revealed in the Bible. Small groups are places to find encouragement for life. Small groups allow you to have a place where you can live out the total life of a follower of Jesus. A small group serves as an anchor point for your walk with God.
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Acts 2:42-47 describes the activity of small groups: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 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. At Concordia we call our small groups "LIFE Groups." The name "LIFE" sums up the activity you see in Acts chapter two.

Small groups are all about:

Learning God's ways
(Acts 2:42, 45) Getting together around God's Word, the Bible, is the focal point of a LIFE Group. The goal, however, is not simply to gain knowledge about the Bible. The goal is to become more like Jesus, to live the new life God gives. Small groups transform your life.

Intercession and prayer
(Acts 2:42) Your LIFE group is a place where you can take time to pray, and where you can receive the blessing of being prayed for! You don't have to worry about praying out loud. The point of prayer in your group is remember each other and to support each other in your journey of faith.

Fellowship and bearing Fruit
(Acts 2:42, 46) Being in a LIFE Group means that you get to experience quality conversation, fun, and meaningful time together. It's a place where you can know others and be known, love others and be loved, accept others and be accepted. It's also a place where God may lead you to serve Him in special ministry of mission activities.

Encouragement and Evangelism
(Acts 2:44, 47) Your fellow group members are there to encourage you in your walk of faith. It's a place where you can find accountability, support, and guidance. It's also a safe and warm place where you can invite friends and family to get a first taste of what the church is all about.

That's what small groups do. Small groups allow you to have a place where you can live out the total life of a follower of Jesus. Your group serves as an anchor point for your walk with God.
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A longing to belong goes to the core of who God created us to be. In our lives it has become increasingly more of a challenge to connect with others in meaningful friendships. Even when it comes to church, it can be easy for us to come together for worship – yet feel completely alone. No sense of connection. No one knowing our needs or hurt or heartaches or joys. That’s where small groups come in.  Small groups provide a chance to spend times with others in a fun, life-giving way!
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Do you have a Heart for Christ and other people? Can you Open your home up to a handful of others (or meet at a restaurant, a coffee shop; your workplace... etc.)? Are you able to Serve a few snacks and then simply Tell a few friends about what your doing? If you’re saying “Yes! That’s me! I can do those things!” – God has given you everything you need to Host a LIFE Group!
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Hosting a small group is really as simple as A.B.C. Ask God who (who do you know that you’d like to get to know better) Begin contacting them right away (by phone or in person). Check out a curriculum series. To see a listing of Concordia Impact small group curriculum options that are available to download contact Josh Hower at or 210-479-1477 ex. 1040. You might also check out Group or Zondervan publishing, as well as Willow Creek or Saddleback church.
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You would be enabling others to grow closer to God. By stepping out in faith, you yourself will grow in a significant way!  Not only will you grow closer to God, you will grow and develop significant relationships with other people. God wants to use you for the work of His Kingdom, and promises to help you! There are people, resources, and tools to help you every step of the way.
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No. Whether you don’t know about Jesus, are seeking to discover more, or are a seasoned follower of Christ, you are welcome to join any one of the available small groups.
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So that relationships have a chance to deepen, we recommend that groups meet at least twice each month. Small group sessions are about 90 minutes long. Typically, group members will agree to a schedule of gatherings.  Many groups take time off during the holidays and during the summer.  In fact, the DVD curriculum that Concordia provides twice each year tries to honor this natural rhythm of life.  Fall and winter/spring spiritual growth campaigns allow times to rest, take a break because of certain life circumstances, find a new group, or start a new group.
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While most groups gather in each other’s homes, (A healthy practice is to rotate homes instead of meeting at the same home for each session) your small group can gather anywhere you’d like. Groups have met around a swimming pool, in a coffee shop, at a local restaurant, on campus at church, or at work over lunch. As long as you get permission first, you could really gather anywhere in the community.
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Rather than make a decision in the first 5 minutes of visiting a group, we encourage you to try a particular group for a few visits. Anytime you try something new it can take a while to grow on you. It could very likely take a few sessions together with a group before it feels like a good fit. At the same time, we want to help you find the group that is right for you. If after a few visits you’d like to try a different group, please feel free. However, a good goal is to find a group and invest yourself in the lives of those gathered together.
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There is opportunity to socialize with other group members. The focal point of the evening is to spend time around God’s Word and a particular study topic with discussion questions. There is also time for prayer (No group member has to pray aloud or is ever put on the spot). One of the goals of the gathering time is that you receive encouragement for your daily life. You can also plan service projects together as well as social activities.
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Yes. As a host, you will have a “small group coach” to encourage you, support you and be a resource for you. You will also receive additional support through e-mail and other resources. Wanting to honor the step of faith it takes to host a small group, we want to encourage you in any way that we can, as well as provide you with the resources you need to be successful.
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Pick the day and time that works best for you. For example, if Thursday nights are open nights in your life, then you might want to Host your group on Thursday nights. If you have free time during the day, consider forming a daytime group. Whatever time you pick, more than likely there will be others who can gather then as well. Simply pick a time to start, and let the group decide from there.
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God has placed numerous, if not dozens of people into your life.  You already know them, or would like to get to know them better. Why not tap their shoulder and invite them to your group? Who’s number is saved on your cell phone? Who do you know from church? From work? In your neighborhood? Who are the parents of kids on your child’s sports teams?  Once you have a list, simply ask them if they’d join you and a friend, or you and your spouse, to go through a small group study together. The invitation can be as simple as: “Hey, a few of us are getting together to go through this study together... on such and such a date and time... it’s for this season of time... would you join us?” More often than you might expect, people say yes...
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Because the answer varies from group to group, ultimately, each small group should decide how they will address the issue of childcare. Some groups ask the members to find their own babysitters. Group members attend the meeting while the children are at home with the sitter. Other groups put the children together in a different room at the Host home and all the members pitch in to pay a sitter or two to care for them (older siblings can fill this role). Other groups swap child-care with a group that meets on a different night. And yet others create a kind of neighborhood co-op with the group. There are many creative solutions and it is a great idea to address these up front with the people you are inviting.
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Sure. On the night you will miss the group, simply plan on having others host and facilitate that evening. Rather than cancel your time together, allow others who can attend share the group responsibilities. This ultimately will lead to a healthier, more balanced group – where each group member contributes. This, in fact, is the Biblical model.
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Sure. Simply break into two smaller groups with one in a different area of the house when it comes to discussion times or prayer time. This actually can sometimes be more fun for everyone, and give more opportunity for discussion.
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Yes. It is a good idea for every group to put words to their shared values, expectations, and commitments. Such an agreement will help you avoid unspoken agendas and unmet expectations. We recommend that each group discuss their agreement during session 1 of each new season together, or at the beginning of each new study. This will lay the foundation for a healthy group experience.
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For a healthy group experience we recommend that each small group agree to the following values:

Clear Purpose – To grow healthy spiritual lives by building a healthy small group community.

Group Attendance – To give priority to the group meeting (call if I will be absent or late).

Safe Environment – To help create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved (no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes)

Be Confidential – To keep everything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group.

Spiritual Health – To give group members permission to help me live a healthy, balanced life that is pleasing to God.

Welcome Newcomers – To invite our friends and family who might benefit from this study and warmly welcome newcomers.

Build Relationships – To get to know the other members of the group and pray for them regularly.

Rotate Leadership – To encourage shared responsibility for who facilitates the study. This also could mean rotating whose home you meet in and who brings what refreshments.
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