St. Paul Connect Groups
We want Connect groups to be a vital part of our ministry at St. Paul. We want to do more than be a friendly church. We want to be a church of friends. Connect groups are one place where friendships are made and deepened.
Connect groups are the aspect of our ministry that is almost entirely led and conducted by the congregation. The pastors don’t run the Connect groups or plan the Connect groups. The Christian Life Board will provide a little training for Connect group leaders and help plan content for Bible studies. But for the most part, this is pure member ministry.
Explore Our Current Connect Groups
What is a Connect Group?
When you share your life with a community of fellow believers, we call that “fellowship.” The Apostle John wrote, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). When believers are united to God, they are inevitably united to one another also.
This is necessary. God did not design human beings to face life on their own. Instead, he intended for believers to be woven together in a community so that they might encourage one another as together they walk the often difficult path of life. Consider these words of encouragement from the Scriptures, intended for all Christians.
Be devoted to one another in love. (Romans 12:10)
Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)
Offer hospitality to one another. (1 Peter 4:9)
Connect groups are one way St. Paul carries that out. The purpose of our Connect groups is to knit Christians together in a community, that they might share their lives and have ways for Spirit-wrought fellowship to be celebrated.
The Three Types of Connect Groups
Connect groups are not always synonymous with Bible study. The main purpose of Bible study is spiritual growth. The main purpose of Connect groups is to knit the people of St. Paul together to that they might share their lives as God’s Word directs them to. Sharing of one’s life can certainly happen in a Bible study. But it can happen in other ways as well. Thus, we have three types of Connect groups.
Study Groups
Study groups are comprised of Christians who want to gather for the spiritual Study produced by Bible study and devotion. They take St. Peter’s words to heart. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
These Bible studies differ from Sunday morning Bible study. They are usually more discussion oriented. Study group members take portions of God’s Word and apply them to their lives. There often is no “teacher” in study groups. There is a facilitator who keeps discussion moving and focused on the topic of the day.
Of the three types of Connect groups, Study groups are the only type where the pastors help the leaders prepare. If you would like to be a study group leader, a pastor will work with you to find appropriate and meaningful Bible study materials.
Serve Groups
Serve groups are comprised of Christians who want to serve either St. Paul or the community in some way. They understand that faith-wrought service gives a type of testimony, just as Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Serve groups identify a way that they could serve the church in general, or serve specific people/groups within the church, or serve a segment of the community.
Some examples of Serve groups: a service group that meets at an assisted living center to socialize with the residents; a service group of young people that meet at elderly or sick members’ homes to do yard work; a service group that works at a local food pantry; a service group that prepares music for worship or maintains the church’s buildings or grounds.
Social Groups
Social groups are comprised of Christians who want to gather for some recreational fellowship. They understand that just as God rested from his labor (Genesis 2:2), so also people will rest from time to time. We need to rest and recharge intellectually and emotionally, so that after that rest we might resume serving our God with vigor.
Examples of social groups: a social group that gets together to play golf once a month; a social group that discusses a book which the entire group has read; a social group that shops, or talks, or just gets together.
Planning a Connect Group
If you want to form a Connect group, here are the things you need to consider before we can promote it.
Are you going to facilitate a Study Group, a Service Group, or a Social Group?
If you want to plan a Service group or a Social group, you can plan that all on your own. If it’s a Study group (small group Bible study), the pastors can help you locate good Bible study material. For example, we plan to produce weekly study guides to continue discussing the previous Sunday’s sermon. Sometimes a group might have multiple elements mixed into what it does. In that case we’ll ask the group leader which of the three is primary as we list and promote the group.
How often is the Connect group going to meet?
We want Connect groups to meet a minimum of three times to get started as a group. They could meet weekly or monthly or quarterly. The frequency is up to you. Once your Connect group starts, you’re responsible for letting Holly in our church office know your upcoming dates (and any cancellations or rescheduling) so that our church calendar is correct.
When and how long will you meet?
If it’s a Social group that is meeting for a game night which begins at 7pm on Fridays, does that night end at 9pm or midnight? People need to know exactly what they are committing to.
Where is the Connect group going to meet?
Connect groups might meet at multiple locations. For example, a monthly golf Connect group might meet at three different courses. But many Connect groups, particularly Study groups, will meet in the same location each time. The ideal place for this is in your home. Studies of church small groups have consistently shown that if the goal of the group is to knit Christians together in family, meeting in the leader’s home is ideal. “Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
Another possibility is to meet somewhere in the community. For example, a Study group of six meeting at a coffee shop for Bible study can give public testimony to the community of the importance of being in the Word.
If meeting in-home or off-site is simply not feasible, it is possible to have a Connect group meet at church.
For whom is the Connect group intended?
There is nothing wrong with creating Connect groups for a certain demographic. Examples: a seniors’ Connect group that visits various historic sites, a women’s Connect group book club, a singles’ Connect group. You limit the number of possible participants, but that’s OK. Smaller groups can be just as beneficial as larger groups.
What are the costs (or potential costs) of participation in the Connect group?
Is it not wise for there to be surprise expenses for Connect group participants. Thus, if participants need to purchase materials, please list those costs on the Connect group planning form.
What is it called?
You need to come up with a name. The catchier, the better!
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve never run a small group. How will I know what to do?
We will provide you with brief training to help plan for a Connect group. No matter what type of group you would run—Study, Service, or Social—it’s not hard!
Are Connect groups just for St. Paul members, or may non-members attend?
Of course non-members may attend! That would be encouraged. Our primary purpose is simply to knit people together into a true Christian family. But by all means, invite unchurched friends or family.
What if I plan to host a Connect group and no one signs up?
Small group experts will tell you that is likely to happen every time a church has groups. Sometimes one “fizzles.” Some thoughts on this. First of all, be careful how you define “no one.” If you have one person sign up, you have a group. Those same small group experts will tell you that meeting in a group of two or three is a very powerful way for Christians to grow together. Secondly, if zero sign up, realize it demonstrates either a lack of interest in your suggested topic or that your topic was of lower interest than the others promoted that period. It’s not a lack of interest in you! Everyone who hosts a Connect group will find out that, from time to time, one of their Connect groups generates no interest. So give it a try! Don’t be afraid.