What Are Care Groups & Why Are They Important?
Why Should We Have Small Groups?
What Are Care Groups & Why Are They Important?
The Bible Church of Little Rock’s Care Group ministry is a small group ministry that purposes to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), to “care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:25), and to demonstrate in deed the unity of the Body of Christ ( John 17:20; Ephesians 4:1-6). Care Groups meet on the first and third Sunday evenings of the month, 6:15-7:30 p.m., to pursue mutual care on a personal and practical level through:
- Studying God’s Word, praying for one another, serving one another, and implementing the biblical “one another” commands to encourage one another day after day in our battle against attitudes of unbelief which arise in our hearts to steal our joy in God (Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:23-25).
- Building up one another in faith through the use of spiritual gifts which God freely distributes to His body as He wills for the purpose of edification, so that we might become mature in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 14:12,26; Hebrews 10:24).
- Pursuing our joy in God through the multiplication of worshipers for the glory of God in our city and beyond.
Groups may vary according to age, special needs/interests, location, ministry, family orientation, etc., but they seek to make the above activities the goals of their existence.
How Do They Function?
Care Groups are the basic units for Christian community at BCLR. Groups are made up of 6-25 people in which the body-life of the church is lived out through the development of intimate relationships, through the discovery and use of spiritual gifts, through discipleship and accountability, through practicing the biblical “one another” commands, through bringing others to Jesus Christ, and through making the Lord supreme in every part of our lives.
Groups meet every other week (the first and third week of each month) from 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. Many groups are finding that more frequent meetings are even better. Additional combined Care Group events are often scheduled for the summer months. Care Groups are led by gifted leaders. Each group is unique, due to the blend of gifts, interests and personalities of group leaders and members.
Why Should We Have Small Groups?
The biblical basis for small groups is strong. The early church often met in small groups (cf. Acts 2:46, 12:12, 20:8, 20:20; Romans 16:4-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Col. 4:5; Philemon 2) and many biblical commands given to the church seem to require them.
We are commanded in the Word to minister to one another (Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25; Galatians 6:2; Colossians 3:16; James 5:16; 1 Peter 4:8-9; Ephesians 4:32). Small groups provide a venue whereby we can practice the one another commands. The significant biblical basis coupled with our experiences in the effectiveness of small group ministry (and with the experiences of countless other Christians throughout the world) provides a strong rationale for BCLR to pursue “the Care Group Vision.”
Our prayer is that every able member and regular attender of BCLR will view participation in a Care Group as an integral part of their privilege and responsibility as a part of the Body of Christ.
How Do I Get Involved?
A current list of groups is available on the Care Group bulletin board on the second floor outside Room A-202 and in the church office.
Please let us know if there is a particular leader that you would like to have contact you.
You are welcome to visit more than one Care Group to see which group best fits you.
For more information regarding the Care Group ministry, contact the BCLR office.
