Community Group Leaders
Serving as a Community Group leader is a significant commitment. Your role is vital to the health of the church and your leadership helps to set the culture of Advance Community Church. Thank you for leading!
Why Community Groups?
Relational Growth is the focus of the first hour when a group gathers. Typically, this time will take place in the kitchen around the table. Appetizers, desserts, and/or a full meal will promote discussions around your everyday life. These casual and organic discussions are a time to build community and connection. Often, this is a time of laughter and mutual enjoyment.
Spiritual Growth is the focus of the second hour. Usually, this will take place in a living room setting. With Bibles open, the discussion will be based in the Scripture passage preached the previous Sunday during worship using discussion questions located in the bulletin or on Advance’s app. If the sermon is a monologue aimed at the mind, group discussion is a dialogue aimed at the will. Therefore, this portion of a community group is not about having the right answers. It’s about applying the Scriptures to our everyday living. A time of prayer closes each Community Group gathering.
Spiritual Growth is the focus of the second hour. Usually, this will take place in a living room setting. With Bibles open, the discussion will be based in the Scripture passage preached the previous Sunday during worship using discussion questions located in the bulletin or on Advance’s app. If the sermon is a monologue aimed at the mind, group discussion is a dialogue aimed at the will. Therefore, this portion of a community group is not about having the right answers. It’s about applying the Scriptures to our everyday living. A time of prayer closes each Community Group gathering.
Relational Growth
Building trust and community takes time and intentionality. The time component is built in to community groups with weekly meetings. The intentionality component will take work. Being intentional with community group relationships means:
-appoint someone to gather birthdays and anniversaries and be in charge of texting the group on these special days
-check in on prayer requests mid-week
-send a message reminding your group to pray for an upcoming surgery, exam, or work meeting
-send a card or text on the anniversary of a loss
-if someone misses group, reach out
-appoint someone to gather birthdays and anniversaries and be in charge of texting the group on these special days
-check in on prayer requests mid-week
-send a message reminding your group to pray for an upcoming surgery, exam, or work meeting
-send a card or text on the anniversary of a loss
-if someone misses group, reach out
Spiritual Growth
Community Group participants sit under biblical teaching on Sunday mornings. Midweek gatherings are designed to help apply that teaching.
As a group leader, your first responsibility is to model vulnerability, submission, and obedience to Scripture. As participants begin sharing heart-level responses to the text, listen carefully and press in with thoughtful questions. Seek clarity where someone may be struggling to obey and help cultivate gratitude, understanding, and application of God’s Word.
As a group leader, your first responsibility is to model vulnerability, submission, and obedience to Scripture. As participants begin sharing heart-level responses to the text, listen carefully and press in with thoughtful questions. Seek clarity where someone may be struggling to obey and help cultivate gratitude, understanding, and application of God’s Word.
Helpful Resources:
GotQuestions.org: This website is a great starting place for theological or doctrinal questions.
Systematic Theology: Significantly more detailed, this book provides Biblical clarity to many theological topics.
Christ Centered Exposition (Commentary Series)
Bible Project: Visual overview of books of the Bible
GotQuestions.org: This website is a great starting place for theological or doctrinal questions.
Systematic Theology: Significantly more detailed, this book provides Biblical clarity to many theological topics.
Christ Centered Exposition (Commentary Series)
Bible Project: Visual overview of books of the Bible
Missional Opportunities
Serving together as a group cultivates deeper spiritual growth and stronger relationships. Each Community Group has the privilege of supporting a college student and a widow/widower.
Supporting a Widow/Widower
The best way to help a widow or widower is to get to know her or him well. Don’t assume anything.
Will she or he be alone on holidays? Ask them.
Does he or she need help around the house? Take your rake or shovel over to their home and help with maintenance tasks that may feel overwhelming.
Have children send cards to brighten his/her day.
Send a birthday card from the group or have each household send one.
Have someone call monthly or quarterly to ask how you can be praying for her or him.
Invite him/her to a small group lunch after church/some evening so the group can get to know him/her.
These small, intentional acts of love communicate something powerful: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. This is one of the beautiful ways community groups live out the gospel together. If you have questions or would like help thinking through practical care for the widow assigned to your group or someone else in your group, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
The best way to help a widow or widower is to get to know her or him well. Don’t assume anything.
Will she or he be alone on holidays? Ask them.
Does he or she need help around the house? Take your rake or shovel over to their home and help with maintenance tasks that may feel overwhelming.
Have children send cards to brighten his/her day.
Send a birthday card from the group or have each household send one.
Have someone call monthly or quarterly to ask how you can be praying for her or him.
Invite him/her to a small group lunch after church/some evening so the group can get to know him/her.
These small, intentional acts of love communicate something powerful: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. This is one of the beautiful ways community groups live out the gospel together. If you have questions or would like help thinking through practical care for the widow assigned to your group or someone else in your group, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Supporting a College Student
The best way to support a college student is also to get to know him or her well.
Use this Favorites List to create personal care packages throughout college, especially during finals week!
Send postcards or notecards each month. *Tip: print labels with your college student's name and address to make the card writing process easier!
Pray for your college student and let them know! “Dear {Student’s Name}, I am praying for you this semester that God would strengthen you by the power of His Holy Spirit to a deeper faith in Christ rooted in His love so you can know the unmeasurable, mind-blowing fullness of God for yourself and for the Church.” (Eph 3:14-21).
The best way to support a college student is also to get to know him or her well.
Use this Favorites List to create personal care packages throughout college, especially during finals week!
Send postcards or notecards each month. *Tip: print labels with your college student's name and address to make the card writing process easier!
Pray for your college student and let them know! “Dear {Student’s Name}, I am praying for you this semester that God would strengthen you by the power of His Holy Spirit to a deeper faith in Christ rooted in His love so you can know the unmeasurable, mind-blowing fullness of God for yourself and for the Church.” (Eph 3:14-21).