Small Groups continue to be one of the most effective ways to grow in faith, build community, and live out our discipleship together. While the ways we gather and connect may change, the importance of creating spaces for prayer, learning, and mutual care remains constant.

Small Groups are essential to helping the church grow in faith and connection. Consider incorporating these key spiritual practices, rooted in our United Methodist membership vows, into your gatherings:

Prayer:
Our churches, communities, and world are always in need of prayer. Make time for prayer a consistent part of your group’s life.

Presence:
There is sacred value in being together. Whether meeting in person or online, create opportunities to connect, share, and worship together.

Gifts:
Faithful stewardship deepens discipleship. Encourage open, grace-filled conversations about generosity and gratitude. Each year, Breakthrough offers a Stewardship Small Group series as a resource for exploring these themes.

Service:
God continually calls us to serve others. How is your group being inspired to meet needs within your community?

Witness:
Many people are searching for hope. Use your Small Group as a place to share stories of faith and encouragement—and to reach out to others who need to experience God’s love.

In the midst of the bustle of life, people are meeting in small groups to discuss issues that are meaningful to them, offer mutual support and explore their relationship to God. Men, women, couples, teens and young adults are gathering regularly to talk about how God was working in their lives.

Small Group ministry has its foundation in both the Bible and church history. Jesus and Paul did significant ministry in small groups. John Wesley developed a system of discipleship by gathering people together to share how they were doing in their walk with God.

Today in GNJ we still hold to the belief that faith is best nurtured in a small group setting. Relationships built within a small group draws us closer to each other and nearer to God. Small Groups helps us create a more intimate and meaningful understanding of our faith.

New resources will soon be available to help you form Small Groups as well as support and enliven the Small Groups that are currently active in your congregations.