WHAT ARE SMALL GROUPS?
Being involved in a small group is an opportunity for in-depth fellowship and friendships. It is a place to bear burdens and celebrate victories. It's a place to give and receive inspiration, to live up to God's best. A small group experience is not all serious. Warmth and acceptance is the best atmosphere for fun and relaxation, spontaneous get-togethers, and building lifelong friendships.

Hebrews 10:24-25 “Let us not give us meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing; but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.“

WHY SMALL GROUPS EXIST?
Small groups serve primarily to help SSEFC to meet it's biblical responsibility for believers to care for one another. Scripture is filled with admonitions to love and encourage each other in the body of Christ; with allusions to our accountability to God for each other's spiritual vitality; and with directives to leaders to shepherd their flock.

Meeting "house to house" was much more than a simple solution to the space problem when thousands were being "added to the church daily" in the early days of the church. It was a natural means for accomplishing some of the basic activities of the local church including fellowship, prayer, Bible study, discipleship, outreach and assimilation of newcomers.

TYPICAL MEETING
Small groups consist of five to seven singles, couples, or family units which usually meet in homes. The actual format may vary from group to group or from meeting to meeting but it will generally include the following elements:

• Social time- for the opportunity of getting acquainted, having fun and building a level of friendship.
• Bible emphasis- that varies from the study and discussion of a given verse or passage to a brief devotional to group scripture memory.
• Personal sharing- in order to grow deeper friendships and to know the joys and needs of the members of the group.
• Prayer- especially for each other buy may include church-wide, community-wide, and kingdom-wide prayer items.
• Celebrations- whenever the group finds unique events taking place in the life of members of the group or the season of the year suggests such an activity.

A small group is not a Bible study, although the Scriptures will be used regularly; it is not a prayer meeting, although the group will pray together, it is not just a social event, although informal and casual fellowship will be a vital part of each time we are together." The heart of a small group is the doing of these things together so that life-changing and life-sustaining relationships are established.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
If you are not currently involved in a small group and you have interest in getting involved, please call the church office (612-431-5466) and make known your interest. Your name and telephone number will be given to the Small Group Steering Committee which will find a small group for you to attend. In order to help us place you in a group that best fits your concerns, please indicate which one of the following five preferences is most important to you:

• Being with a particular couple who is currently hosting a small group.
• Being in a group which another specific person/couple attends.
• Being in a group that includes children in a portion of the small group meeting frequently, occasionally, or never.
• Being in a group that meets in the area of your home.
• Being in a group with other single adults.