Why Small Groups?
Small Groups exist to mature believers through devoted, truth-speaking communities.
1. Mature Believers
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.”
Hebrews 5:12-6:1
Maturing in righteousness is a non-negotiable essential of the Christian walk. It is far too easy to settle with stunted, stalled growth. Instead, we must progress from being students to teachers. We must move from milk to meat. The chief end of small groups is to “go on to maturity” together. These groups spur one another on, asking, “How can I grow in godliness now and how does my godliness compare with where I was a year ago?”
2. Devoted, truth-speaking communities
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 3:12-13
Every heart is susceptible to a grave disease: An evil, unbelieving heart can lead us to fall away from God (v12). However, God’s word gives a prescription: Exhorting communities (v13). These are communities of faith that are devoted enough to each other to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15-16). Small groups are designed to be these communities – groups of Christ-followers who regularly, urgently and attentively exhort one another that none of us “may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin”.
What Do Small Groups Look Like Particularly?
When
Small groups meet weekly during each semester. Each year is broken into 3 semesters: FALL (Labour Day to Christmas), WINTER (New Year to Easter) and SPRING (Easter to Canada Day).SGs typically meet weekly on weeknights. A typical SG evening schedule is shown below:
7:00 to 7:15pm – Arrive and Connect
7:15 to 7:45 pm – Worship and pray together
7:45 to 8:30 pm – Discussion of God’s Word.
8:30 to 9:15pm – Accountability Time
What
This Fall semester, each small group will be studying pulpit curriculum. Pulpit curriculum is small group curriculum that is developed each week to correspond with the Sunday sermon. Pulpit curriculum questions are sent out every Sunday via email.
Where
Starting Fall 2022, groups have returned to meet in homes in the Etobicoke and Mississauga areas.
Learn MoreWho
Small groups consist of 10-16 people who are hungry to mature together through devoted, truth-speaking community. When groups have vacancies, new members are added at the beginning of each semester.
Commit to A Small Group
We hope that you see the importance of Small Group community for the health, growth and progress of our faith. Below are your next steps to joining a Small Group at Hope Church.
STEP 1 is a casual lunch where you can meet and get to know our staff and pastors. STEP 2 is an interactive class held by one of our pastors where you’ll learn more about what it means to follow Christ.
Our Small Group Commitment explains what non-negotiable Small Group members agree to keep.
Once you’ve read and agree to the Small Group Commitment and are ready to get plugged-in to a group, simply fill out and submit this online form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Check below!
Childcare is not formally provided for small groups. However, we do have family groups where moms and dads meet on separate weeks. Please contact us directly to learn more about our family groups.
No. Our desire is that you invest heavily in one small group for the sake of increasing greater unity and devotion within a small group.
7:00 to 7:15pm – Arrive and Connect
This is a time to have fellowship over light refreshments.
7:15 to 7:45 pm – Worship and pray together
This is a time to fix our eyes on the study and meditation of God’s word to come.
7:45 to 8:30 pm – Discussion of God’s Word.
This time is intentional in 3 ways. Firstly, this time is discussion-driven. Rather than being a time where a single person teaches, it is a time where we can teach and exhort one another (Col 3:16).
Secondly, this time is word-centred. Rather than drawing from extra-biblical sources, this is a time when we dig deep in God’s very words (2 Tim 3:16).
Thirdly, this is time is application-focused. Rather than being a mere exchange of intellectual ideas, this is a time to take specific steps to apply God’s word to our daily lives (James 1:22-25)
8:30 to 9:15 pm – Accountability Break Out
During this time, the group breaks out and the men and women gather separately. During this time, sin struggles are identified and accountability measures are established for the sake of victory over sin.