Relationship
Small Group
A small group is where the church gets real. The intimacy is higher, the stakes are more personal, and the opportunity for genuine formation is greater.
When the relationship is good
Attitudes
I see my small group as more than a Bible study — it is a community I belong to and am responsible to
I bring my real self, not my Sunday self — the group can only help me with what I actually show them
I hold what is shared in the group in confidence — trust is the soil everything else grows in
Actions
I show up consistently — my presence tells the others they matter to me
I listen as much as I speak — everyone's story deserves space
I follow up with group members between meetings — community doesn't happen only once a week
When the relationship is hard
Attitudes
When the group dynamic is difficult, I look at my own contribution before I assess others'
I do not let one awkward or painful group experience be the reason I stop being known
I extend to others in the group the same patience I want extended to me
Actions
If there is conflict in the group, I address it directly with the person rather than letting it poison the whole
I pray for each person in my group by name and by what I know they are facing
If I am struggling to engage honestly, I tell a trusted person rather than just quietly withdrawing