Small Groups are Filling and Starting!!

We all have those stretches of days that we really look forward to–  the first 4 days of March Madness, the Oscars, Opening Day of baseball season, the last day of school, July 4th…

We make plans to be with people, we prepare special food, we buy a new tv.

Well, you guessed it, my favorite days are those that occur between the opening of small group registration and the first small group gatherings.  We are in ’em!  These are the salad days, my friend.  Gravy.

It’s been 5 days since Tri2 Small Group registration opened and we’ve had over 100 registration forms turned in.  In Restoration small group lore, that’s viral.  Never have so many signed up so fast.  Way to go.

Wondering what the buzz is about?

We’ve got 23 of ’em firing up in Arlington County and beyond.  They start on Sunday, April 15.  Here’s a little tour:

‘sermon’:  Most of the groups [in fact 15 of them] will gather for an in-depth study of the Bible passage that was preached the previous Sunday.  There is a life-giving mix of getting to know other people in the church, praying for them, and wrestling with the implications of what the Bible teaches and how it affects our life.  This is the bread and butter of what our small groups do–  connecting people to each other and to the truth of the Bible.  I am sure there is one that meets close to you and at a time that works for you.  If not, let me know, we are always adding more.

We also offer small groups on more specialty topics:

Andrew and Christine Jones are facilitating The Marriage Course.  This is an opportunity to take stock of your marriage, to learn new tools for staying married, to rejoice in your marriage, to get help for your marriage.  It is applicable if you’ve been married 2 months or 20 years.

A few weeks ago, I talked about Jesus and our stuff.  Kelly and Tom Ingebritson are facilitating the Financial Peace University.  Wondering how to make a budget?  Wondering where your money goes each month?  Want to be a better steward of your resources?  Want to get out of debt?  This is the small group for you.  Absolutely critical for those who want to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus.

What if you are new to all this stuff?  What if you have questions about Jesus, the church, the Bible?  What if you have never done a small group before?  Laurel and I are hosting one in our home just for you.  We will get to know Jesus in the first chapters of Mark.  We will talk about practices that grow our relationship with God.  We will engage hard questions about Christians and Christ.  We’d love to get to know you.

Did you know that we have small groups for kids in middle school?  We call it APEX.  On Sunday nights at 6:30, they get dinner, a Bible study that is geared for them, and more creative games than I can describe.  Sean and Catherine Burke lead this crew.  It’s a great way to close Sunday–  come to the 5, leave your middle-schoolers for small group while you grab dinner–  go back and get your middle schooler [please!!].

We are even offering a small group for those who have been doing small groups for a while.  If you have been a Restoration small group regular, then check out the one lead by Wray and Elizabeth Fitch and Barb and Devin Hagarty.  They are looking at Richard Foster’s Devotional Classics and leaning deeper into their own spiritual formation.

And what if you are a woman who is hoping to be mentored or interested in mentoring?  Have you seen what’s happening on Tuesday nights?  Julianna Hutchins, Anne Cregger, Kerry Brown, and Colleen Dyble are facilitating a group that is hoping to foster these mentoring relationships.  I know this is a hope and desire for many of you.

This is Life Together.  This is the space that God often uses to catalyze growth, change, and friendship.  It is my prayer that all of us who worship together on Sundays will be together in small groups during the week.  Sign up today.  The salad days are upon us.

-David