“Life change happens in circles, not in rows.”
~ Andy Stanley
The “church” is not a building, a denomination, or a business organization. It’s a family of people who agree about Jesus. At Grace Hills, we believe that the family needs to gather together on the weekend in our worship time, but we also believe the family should scatter around the community and meet in small groups during the week. We call these small groups Grace Groups.
Join a Group »
Every believer needs a church home, and we also need a small group of other believers for support and encouragement. We believe that spiritual growth happens as we gather regularly with a few other believers, and when we meet, our goals are simple:- To share each other’s hurts and triumphs.
- To pray for one another.
- To know one another.
- To be accountable to others.
- To encourage one another.
- … and more.
If you’re ready to find a group, start below!
Host a Group »
Contrary to what you might assume, you do not have to be a Bible scholar or gifted communicator to host a small group. You simply need to be a committed believer, a member of Grace Hills, and have a willingness to do four things:- Have a heart for people.
- Open up your home for a few friends or neighbors.
- Serve some coffee and a snack (not dinner).
- Turn on a video lesson.
Group Resources »
We provide video-guided studies every week that dig a little deeper into the weekend message. Most groups at Grace Hills will use these as their curriculum, and during some seasons, all groups do so.Other resources for small groups and group hosts and leaders:
There are plenty of reasons to join a Grace Group, but here are a few of the most important ones…
1. God created us to “do life” with other people. He never intended for you to have to “go it alone.” People need people, and believers need to lean on other believers.
2. You will understand the Bible better with a group. There needs to be a safe place to ask the tough questions about life, about God, and about the Bible. Since Grace Groups are sermon-based, the group meeting becomes an extension of the weekend worship experience. Group hosts have a 15 to 20 minute video to show from one of our Pastors as well as a discussion guide that digs deeper into what was introduced on Sunday.
3. Your prayer life will grow as part of a group. No one is pressured to pray out loud in a group, but as you feel more comfortable with the people in your group, you will learn more about what it means to have a simple conversation with God.
4. You will be surrounded by other people with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Group time isn’t necessarily confession time. There’s no pressure to share details about your life, but as group members get to know each other, you realize that you’re not alone in your struggles and that it’s easier to struggle together than to hurt alone.
5. You will have help with consistently living the life God intended. When we know other people more deeply, it’s harder to slip away without someone noticing and drawing us back in.
6. You will laugh. Group members are encouraged not to take each other too seriously. To laugh together helps us to live together.
7. Grace Groups are a great place to bring friends. Sharing your faith in Christ with others is challenging and sometimes a good way to help someone understand your faith is to bring them to your Grace Group.
8. You will develop your leadership gifts and abilities. Grace Groups are an ideal place to serve others in the way God uniquely shaped you.
9. You will develop close friends. You can’t talk about spiritual things and big life issues without becoming closer with the people in your group. Friendships form in the trenches of Grace Group life.
10. You will be a biblical Christian. Consider these verses:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together… they broke bread in their homes and ate together… and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47
“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:42
“Greet also the church that meets at their house.” Rom. 16:5
“Aquilla and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord and so does the church that meets at their house.”
I Cor. 16: 19
“Give my greetings…to Nympha and the church in her house.” Col. 4: 15
