How do I get into a group?
It's easy. Go to http://groups.austinstone.org/ to search and sign up for your group. You can also sign up before or after a Sunday service at any of the computers at the Sign-Ups table in the Welcome Center.
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What is the vision for small groups (missional communities)?
Our vision for groups is to build a movement of missional communities who worship Christ, live in community, get trained for ministry, and make disciples... together, over time.
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What is the definition of a small group?
Small groups (missional communities) are the vehicle by which we can live out what it means to be a missional church. This follows the pattern of the early church in Acts 5:42 "And every day, in the temple (weekend service/celebration) and from house to house (missional small groups), they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” [NASB]. Small groups meet in locations such as homes, restaurants, coffee shops and businesses. Any location that is convenient for the attendees works. They meet morning, noon or night throughout the week.

At The Austin Stone, we ask small groups to do more than Bible study. We ask them to pursue four elements of missional believers – which are also elements of a New Testament church: Worshiping Christ, Living in Community, Getting Trained for ministry, and Making Disciples. We believe that as we balance these pursuits we will grow a missional church, missional small groups, and missional followers of Christ.
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What does a small group do when it gets together?
Eat, Meet, Multiply. Eating meals together is a very important aspect of a small group. Sharing meals was a very important part of the ministry of Jesus. He fed the multitudes, ate in people’s homes, and sometimes invited Himself to the houses of sinners and tax collectors. He was even falsely accused of being a glutton and a drunk (Luke 7: 34). At the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples ate roast lamb, bread, wine and bitter herb. He commanded the disciples to continue to gather for meals and to think of Him when they did so. Accordingly, the early church often met over food (1 Corinthians 11: 20; Acts 20: 7).

Eating together speaks a powerful message of love and unity, especially in a fragmented society such as ours. As much as possible, groups should gather frequently in order to pray, search the Scriptures, and have simple fellowship meals. As a spiritual family, we should share both our material and spiritual blessings (Acts 2: 42-47).
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How do groups handle childcare?
We encourage groups to make childcare a top priority in order to make it happen. Ultimately, the leader and group will decide how they  will address the issue of caring for their children during meetings.  Each group is responsible for their own childcare. We recommend that each group seek a creative solution together.

How childcare is handled will vary from group to group. If there are people who can't afford to pay a babysitter, the group might challenge one another to step up to help cover their cost. Other groups rally together to help with childcare. Some groups are able to get a sitter to watch the kids in one part of the house while the group meets in another room. For groups with another home nearby, one person could watch the kids there while the group meets. Some groups rotate people out of the group to take care of the children. Some group members prefer to find their own babysitters and attend the group by themselves. Some groups are intentionally "family-integrated" – they make a conscious effort to include children in spiritual-growth activities such as prayer, worship and training (as appropriate). These are just a few of the solutions that groups have come up with. When you sign up for a group, communicate with the leader to find out how they coordinate childcare.
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How do people move from one group to another?
We have found over time that people do move from one group to another. It is important that you let people have the freedom and the flexibility to move to another group. It's important that the leaders understand that helping others become missional people is the primary concern even when that means their joining another small group. We encourage leaders to remember that not all people grow at the same rate or have the same needs over time. It is healthy for people to seek a group that helps them continue growing.
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Who is the leader?
Most groups have an official leader. Ideally, the group will mature and members will rotate the leadership of meetings. We have discovered that healthy groups rotate leaders and homes on a regular basis. This model ensures that all members grow, give their unique contribution, and develop their gifts. Ultimately, Christ is the leader of each small group, each step of the way.
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Do I need to be a "Bible expert" to become a small group leader?
Definitely not! The most important things that you need are a desire to serve the members of your group and to grow in your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When you take this step of faith, through prayer, God's Holy Spirit will give you what you need to be an effective leader. We have training available that provides a good start for you to lead your small group. As a leader, your main responsibility will be to facilitate group discussion. We also have ongoing leadership development available for you. Check the website for upcoming leadership workshops.
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What training is required to be a small group leader?
We ask small group leaders to participate in our Leadership Development Pathway which includes our basic three-hour Leader Training 1. Beyond basic training we offer progressively more advanced Leader Workshops in skills, character, group health, and mission. Additionally, twice a year – in January and August – we ask every small group leader to join us at the Small Group Leadership Summit for additional vision and training. Look for upcoming leadership events on austinstone.org.
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What are some specifics of the vision for small groups?

1. We are a church OF missional communities.Alongside our Sunday worship, small groups (missional communities) are a primary vehicle for being the church and living missionally in our city.
2. Our groups will place a large emphasis on building a movement of the gospel. Many of our existing groups have been primarily formed and grown from church-wide announcements and events. This will remain a priority but the focus and efforts for the growth of your group will shift to include non-believers who are not part of a church. Prayer, evangelism, simple training and obedience to the Bible will remain essential values for each group.
3. Each group will live out all 4 elements of a missional church – Worship Christ, Live in Community, Get Trained, and Make Disciples. In the past, groups would often only focus on 1 or 2 of these elements. We want to encourage the practice and emphasis of all four elements among our groups. In this way, small groups will more fully become the "house to house" expression of church that is talked about in the New Testament.
4. Leadership of groups. We want to begin to open up our leadership tracks and give more people an opportunity for responsibility. We are not lowering the bar for what a leader should do. Rather, we are lowering the bar on who you need to be to start leading. This is how movements of the Gospel occur best – leadership development happens over time, little by little, topic by topic, and based on obedience and faithfulness. We believe this is a lot like Jesus’ model.
5. Groups are small. Groups consist of only 4-12 people.
6. Groups are based on several more types of affinities. We will use all kinds of affinity: common life-stage, common cause, geography, schedule, etc.
7. Training others to train others. Everything you learn should be given away. If you can pray, you can train someone else to pray by praying with them. If you can share your faith, you can train someone else to share their faith by taking them with you to share. If you know how to study your Bible, you can train someone else to study theirs.

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Do you have a small group Question not answered here? Read the full list of frequently asked questions or email us for an answer.

 

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