Why Growth Groups? It all comes back to love.

1. We want everyone to be loved. God created us for this very purpose, to love and be loved. We want everyone to have this experience.

2. What this really means is that we want everyone to be known. A person feels unloved to the extent that they feel unknown. Until a person is fully known there is always a question in their mind, "I wonder if people would still love me, if they knew me?” We want people to find that the answer is, "Yes."

3. Being known means finding a place and time for being known. In our modern, impersonal world there are not as many ways that you can become known, or know others. There is an abundance of superficiality, even in relationships. This means we must be more intentional about seeing that such places and times exist.

4. The Growth Group is a place and time for being known (loved). It may not be the only place where people can become known and loved, but it is a proven place. We have chosen Growth Group because they are scriptural, strategic and scalable.

5. We are convinced that for many people what they need is not just a sermon, but a friend. There are things that a person will get in a Growth Group that they will never get by looking at the back of someone's head in a Sunday Service.

6. There is no more important leader than the leader who will convene 6-12 people in Jesus name for friendship, encouragement, Bible application, prayer and outreach.

7. Because the Growth Group leader and Care Link is taking responsibility to see that people are loved. It's easy to say "we want everyone to be loved." The Growth Group leader takes responsibility to see that it happens. This is what leaders do: they see what needs to be done and they do what needs to be done.

When you break it down, the best Growth Group and Clusters are about love. For this reason we must pray, "God help me to love the people in my group."

If you are not already in a Growth Group but would like to know more about them please ask at the information desk, see the Growth Group display board in the foyer or contact our church administrator, Sue Forrest, email: admin@bridgechapel.com