Acts 2:46-47: "Every day they continue to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

The people of the New Testament church met for corporate worship and instruction in the temple courts as people of the church today meet regularly in the church building. But the people of God also met in homes where they had table fellowship and worshipped God praising Him with glad and sincere hearts as they enjoyed one another.

These activities of table fellowship, worship and the enjoyment of being together are key relational principles of Christian community. Christian community can be defined as the body of Christ expressing the life and message of Christ to build each other up and spur one another on to proclaiming Christ's message to the people of the world.

Gathering together in small groups is therefore a key activity of the Christian life. It is therefore not surprising that Jesus formed a small group of men to encourage, teach, and send to do His ministry. We see this pattern of ministry to one another and the world through small groups continued in the missionary endeavors of the Apostle Paul and others such as Barnabas, Priscilla and Aquila. Small groups in the New Testament were loving communities of believers who engaged together in worship, learning, sharing of life and ministry.

At Crossroads we recognize the eternal value of believers gathering for these purposes in small groups. There are many reasons for any one small group to exist, but all groups are committed to worship, learning, sharing and ministry in various forms. A particular group may accentuate one of these activities, but a healthy group is engaged in all of these. For example one group might accentuate the learning activity by spending the majority of their time studying scripture together. Another group, such as a worship team, might invest the majority of their time worshipping together. Another group might accentuate ministry by committing themselves to a service ministry at Crossroads or some evangelistic endeavor.

Leadership at Crossroads is investing in the development of such groups. We encourage every participant at Crossroads to pursue involvement in a small group. Some may feel called to give leadership to a small group. If you are interested in giving leadership or pursuing involvement we would love to talk with you. Matt Boyers is the staff pastor who gives leadership to the small group effort. Matt would love to answer your questions and help you connect with others in a small group.

"Some of the most significant growth in our Christian lives has come about through the relationships and activities of a small group. Lanita and I have been consistently participating in a variety of small groups for the past 20 years. Through small groups our closest relationships with people have been formed. Through these relationships we grow in Christ and in an understanding and application of His Word and will. The small group has also been the most significant source of caring and nurture for us over the years. We truly believe that life change into the likeness of Christ happens best in the context of small group. We would be lost without involvement in a small group."
Matt and Lanita Boyers

For information on these or any other programs e-mail us or phone us at 419-335-3686.