Grace Growth Groups

We all desire to be known—truly, deeply known. No pretending, no faking, no lying.

Whether you realize it or not, God created you to live in close relationship with himself and with others. Regardless of where you find yourself on the narrow path of discipleship, you need to be known by other believers. If you aren’t, then you can’t expect to change. That’s because spiritual transformation happens best in the context of community. Jesus calls each of us to become more like him. Yet growth in Christlikeness doesn’t happen automatically. Instead, it requires cooperation with the Holy Spirit and with other followers of Jesus.

We seek to pursue transformation in community through Grace Growth Groups (G3).

A G3 is a group of 2–4 people of the same gender who gather regularly to pursue spiritual transformation. These groups provide a safe, confidential space where you truly can know others and be known by them—where you truly can know God and be known by him.

Having a smaller group of 2–4 offers a couple distinct advantages over a larger-group gathering:

• Authenticity: We often struggle to be real in a large-group setting. A smaller gathering gives each person more space to speak to and share, which will lead to faster-growing trust among the other group members. 
• Mobility: Gathering with a few people is easier than scheduling a larger meeting. A G3 is inherently mobile. Meet at the time and place that works best for your group.

Your G3 will meet regularly—every week or every other week. During each gathering, we recommend you do these three things:

1. Check in with one another. Here’s your chance to say where you really are in your walk with Jesus. Share your strengths and weaknesses, your joys and struggles, your victories and failures. Let yourself be known!
2. Engage with Jesus. You might study the Bible together. Or you might work through a book on a specific topic. Use this time to get to know who Jesus truly is.
3. Pray for one another. Believers pursuing spiritual growth together pray for one another’s hearts, needs, and challenges. But they also celebrate the work that Jesus is doing in each of their lives.

A G3 only works when each member of the group agrees to follow the same expectations. For spiritual transformation to happen, you must…

• Be Present: Commit to gathering with your G3 regularly.  When you gather, put the phone away so you can focus on the people with you.
• Be Real: If you aren’t honest about where you really are,  you can’t expect to grow. Vulnerability is essential for transformation.
• Be Gracious: Keep things confidential. When you do, you’ll cultivate an environment of grace, respect, honesty, and trust.
• Be Attentive: Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Listen to understand, not to respond. There’s a time and place for advice-giving.  A G3 isn’t it.
• Be Praying: Pray for your group members throughout the week. Since you know what they need, you should bring those needs to God daily.
• Be Missional: Your growth isn’t just for you. It’s for others, too. So serve together—both inside and outside the walls of the church.

Starting a G3 is easy! Just ask a few friends to join you on the journey of spiritual transformation. Once you've formed your group, please register your group so we can keep in touch with you. Or if you’d rather build relationships with new people, we can assign you to a G3. Regardless of who’s in your group, if you take this journey together, you will experience growth in your relationship with Jesus.

For your first several meetings, we recommend using our G3 Startup Guide. This guide will help you get to know one another as you share your stories and learn about the essentials of spiritual transformation.