“Nobody can force the soul of a community. The only possibility open is to create conditions in which the community can freely develop and discover the ways that lead to redemption.”

                                ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen

 

The Sunday service is just the door through which we enter into community with others in the body. To really feel connected, we all need to make an effort outside of the worship service to get to know and care for each other. 

 

Home groups and other small groups are our primary pathway to connect with others and grow in the ways of the Lord.  After all,  we belong to Jesus and to each other.  He is the Head, and we are His Body; “...each one members one of the other.”  (Romans 12:4)

 

While it can be easy to either get lost or to hide in a larger group, such as the Sunday morning service, small groups provide an opportunity to be known and to know others in our church. They are the key to connect and grow with others on a more personal and honest level.

 

Through these relationships we mutually challenge and encourage one another in our faith. Our small groups embody the core values of DSC and therefore are only open to members of DSC.  Small groups gather formally and informally throughout the community at DSC. Some groups gather every week, others every other week. 

 

In every group, people are building friendships that will last their whole lives and provide the support each person needs in order to grow into a mature follower of Jesus.

 

 

 

DSC ‘s pathways to connect for men are small groups (3-5 men) called LEAD Groups.  LEAD groups are listening, encouragement, accountability and devotional groups.  These groups meet weekly at Starbucks, the church or other places. CLICK here for more info. Or email Pastor Michael at onecor13@aol.com

 

Pathways for women to connect are small discipleship groups. Women also connect within our weekly and semi– monthly in Coffee Talk groups. CLICK here for our present study groups. CLICK here to understand what Coffee Talk Groups are all about. 

 

Home groups are a key and vital way to connect at DSC.  CLICK here for the list of DSC’s home groups.

A Word on Commitment to the Local Body

We believe that commitment to a local congregation is the foundation to building any relationship. Relationships thrive when there is commitment.  They stay shallow when commitment is absent.

 

We believe that commitment to and involvement with one’s local congregation is imperative for the believer’s growth.  When a believer commits to one local congregation he is saying, “I am called here. This is where God wants me to grow. I belong to you and you belong to me.  I’m here to develop relationships built on trust; to learn to depend on the Lord and to be inter-dependent with my brothers and sisters.”

 

Often Christians will pick and choose where they “relate.” They might go to this church for the music or that church for the preaching and that other church for connection in a small group. This attitude impedes personal growth and keeps the body of Christ weak and immature. This is why we encourage those who “float” to have the courage to plug in to the life and fellowship of one church – not two. 

 

We encourage fellowship with other believers in different congregations, as well as participation in certain church functions, seminars and events hosted by other congregations.  Yet, today, because there is an epidemic of disconnectedness within the Body of Christ, we strongly encourage believers to make the effort to connect within one church and be intentional about getting involved and letting people (within that church) into their life.

 

DSC’s small groups are Home Groups, Men’s LEAD Groups, Women’s Coffee Talk Groups and Home Builders Groups. The exception for attendance in a small group would be regarding those who are regular attenders who are moving toward membership.

 

 

RECOMMENDED READING: Stop Dating The Church: fall in love with the Family of God, by Joshua Harris,  c 2004 by Joshua Harris, Multnomah Publishers.