BIBLE STUDY
Hi church family!
As you’ve already heard from our Sunday announcements and community group leaders, we’ve got some significant changes coming to our small group structure starting September 2024.
The good news is, it was all designed to add options to you, without removing any at all. We believe in making disciples, and we believe making disciples effectively requires regularly exploring new ways to do so.
Now that we’ve gotten some additional clarity after piloting the new Bible study in the summer, and speaking with our community group leaders, we’ve got a better idea of what things will look like starting in the fall.
Please take a look at the below FAQ about what’s coming, and get in touch if you have remaining questions!
We are convinced that the below changes will diversify our options for discipleship, open up new doors for people to access the church, and create a better experience for many inside and outside our church.
Pray with us that this will be the case!
Thank you!
Garrett & Nate
Mission City Elder Team
What’s the big picture?
We’ve added a new type of “small group.” We now have a Bible study, in addition to community groups. Members can choose to be a part of either one. (Previously only community groups were available.)
We’ve specified the duration of our small groups. Both Bible study and community group now run annually. Every September will be sign-up month, when all church members will choose either to be part of a Bible study or a community group for following year, both of which will run from October to August before the next round of sign-ups in September. (Previously community groups ran indefinitely.)
We’ve lessened the expected frequency of our small groups. Bible study will meet 2 times per month, and community groups will meet 2-4 times per month, with each community group deciding for itself within that range. (Previously community groups and Bible study were both aiming for weekly consistency.)
What’s the difference between community group and Bible study?
At community group, personal experiences and life events are the starting point, and then Scripture is brought in. At Bible study, Scripture is the starting point, and then personal experiences and life events are brought in.
At community group, participants counsel and challenge one another. They do “accountability.” At Bible study, participants do not counsel or challenge one another. They do not do “accountability.”
Community groups are separated into either men’s or women’s groups. Bible study is mixed gender.
Community groups require membership at the church, so only members are present. Bible study is open to everyone, so both members and nonmembers are present.
Community groups are where we disciple each another. Bible study is where we study the Scripture together.
Do all members need to sign up for one or the other?
Yes, every September.
How do I sign up?
A form will be provided at the start of September to collect your availability, location and preference on group type.
What if I don’t sign up?
Every August we’ll let you know that sign-ups are around the corner. Then in September we’ll let you know several more times that it’s time to sign up. It will be hard to miss.
If near the end of September you haven’t replied, we’ll check on our end to make sure there wasn’t a lost form or an administration error of some kind.
Finally, if after all these steps you are non-responsive, we’ll call and touch base with you, and ask whether covenant membership is still something you’re still willing and able to be a part of for the following year.
How many Bible studies will there be this year?
One.
What happens during Bible study?
A book, theme or set of passages is chosen a few months at time (for example, during the summer pilot of Bible study, we studied the Gospel of John). Participants are seated in circles of 6-10 people. A section of the Bible text is taught for 5-10 minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of discussion. This process is repeated a few times.
Where and when will Bible study be held?
For Fall 2024, all Bible studies will be held at 379 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn on the following Tuesday nights at 7pm:
October 8
October 22
November 5
November 19
December 3
December 17
Why just one Bible study?
A public space works best, and the public space we have access to has plenty of room to accommodate demand. There are also additional financial costs and leader requirements that prohibit more than one location at this time.
Who will lead Bible study?
Garrett & Ellie, with opportunities for others to fill in.
Who will lead community groups?
Our existing community group leaders.
Can new people still join in the middle of the year?
Of course.
Anyone can join Bible study anytime.
And new members can be either added to Bible study or to the community group that works for their location and schedule at any time throughout the year, just as before we adopted this new model.
Will we ever split a growing community group in the middle of the year?
Probably not. September sign-ups should give us the annual pause we need to redistribute groups as needed.
But if a group does “overflow” (e.g., gets to 11-12 people), we will evaluate this on a case by case basis with the community group leader and do whatever is best in that specific situation.
Can I do both?
Yes!
If you want to do both, sign up for a community group in September and consider that a firm commitment. Then attend Bible study as consistently as you are willing and able.
One important caveat here: “both” is great, but “half and half” is not.
So, if you try for both and but then a scheduling conflict arises, plan to prioritize community group.
The reason for this is the difference in group design. Community group is a closed group that thrives on mutual commitment, consistency and intimacy. Therefore absences can hurt your ability to relate effectively to the next group gathering, because you’ve lost some context with other members of the group. But Bible study is an open group that thrives on freshness and new people coming frequently, therefore absences do not hurt your ability to relate effectively to the next Bible study. You can show up to the next Bible study and it will be a different combination of people anyway.
In other words, community group is counting on you in ways that Bible study is not.
So if you want to try for both, great! But if your calendar later makes you choose one or the other, whether on a single week or an ongoing basis, choose to honor the community group commitment and catch Bible study when you can.
If our current group wants to stick together next year, can we do that?
Yes! There is no change required.
On your sign-up form in September, you and your group leader can communicate that the group (in whole or in part) wants to stick together for another trip around the calendar.
You and your group can do this as many years in a row as you want.
If Bible study doesn’t work for my calendar, should I plan to stay in a community group?
Yes.
Hopefully one day we’ll have more than one option for Bible study, but for now one is our starting point.
If I sign up for community group, am I guaranteed to get my ideal place and time?
We will always do our best to get you in a group that’s ideally located and timed. We don’t want anyone wasting travel time. However, not many people have a convenient fit for their community group location and time.
Keep in mind again, as the church grows, the number of our small groups grows, and then everyone’s commute can decrease. Until then, remember that we’re not doing biblical community gatherings because it’s always easy, but because it’s always worth it.