Growing up we weren’t wealthy and that meant we lived in a smaller home. So one of my mom’s favorite phrases was, “Love grows best in little places”. It was clever and cute and created a way for us to remember that life isn’t all about square footage and I have carried that phrase with me ever since. It reminds me that life really is all about relationships and that they grow best when we’re in close proximity to one another.
At Orchard Church love grows best in circles that build relationships that help us grow.
Relationships are what Small Groups are all about. We’re made for relationships and designed in such a way that we all feel sort of incomplete without them. For most of us, when we think about how we’ve gotten to wherever we are in life, it probably has something to do with a person who has helped us get there.
Some of our greatest moments to celebrate as well as our biggest regrets usually have something to do with the people in our lives .
If we have 2 or 3 people in our circle who are willing to cheer us on, then we are more blessed than a lot of people in this world. But we need more than a couple of people in our corner. Because as great as that might be, if we only have those folks and nothing more, then the power and encouragement we get is limited to the power and encouragement of the people in the room. If we need answers to tough questions, the ceiling for those solutions is limited by the knowledge and experience of those people.
So it’s really good news when Jesus tells His first followers, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus says that when people get together to help each other follow Him better, that He gets together with them. And when Jesus is in the room, He makes all of the difference in the world.
That’s why in Orchard Groups…
Orchard Groups meet during natural seasons of the year during Fall (September - November), Spring (February - April) and Summer (June - August). In Fall & Spring we offer all types of groups and in the Summer we make the most of the weather, the mountains and the activities we love and connect them to Jesus.
Our 4 Types of Groups are:
Sermon Discussion Groups take the Weekend Message and dig deeper while asking and answering questions about what we learned and how we can apply it. This is a great starting point for people who are taking their first step into joining a small group.
Bible or Book Discussion Groups are based on seasons of life, specific topics or a specific book of the Bible. They aren’t classrooms where a teacher gives information. Instead they are where we unpack the issues of life and discover answers together that we find in the Bible or from great Bible teachers.
Activity-Based Groups are where we take our favorite hobbies or interests and connect people to Jesus through them. Whether you love hiking, biking, camping, cooking or crocheting, these groups are where you can meet people who love them too and include spiritual conversations in the middle of it.
B.L.E.S.S. Groups are where we connect people who want to serve their neighbors and city in specific ways. The B.L.E.S.S Practices are Begin with prayer, Listen to others, Eat together, Serve others and Share our story. These groups find ways to intentionally meet real needs through service projects in neighborhoods all across Denver metro area.
Ready to learn more and take your next step? Click here to go to our Orchard Groups webpage or if you still have questions that need answering you can email Mark Johnson, Orchard’s Groups & Discipleship Director.