Small Groups

The first step in joining a small group is to attend one of our Small Group Previewmeetings that happen in August and January. At those meetings, you will find out what it looks like to be in a small group, hear from others who have benefitted from being in a small group, and what the commitment level is.  After that meeting, we place everyone who is interested into a new or existing small group.

If you are wanting to get involved but find yourself a few months away from one of these Preview meetings, please email us, and we will get you on a list so you can be informed when the next Preview will be. While you wait, please consider attending the Discovery Class to learn more about The Crossing (this is the class required for membership) or one of the other Night Crossing classes or one of our Women’s or Men’s studies.

During a typical small group meeting, the group will begin by spending some time catching up relationally about life happenings over dinner or some snacks. After that, they will then spend time discussing that week’s sermon or a chapter from a book they are reading or book of the Bible that they are studying together. The meeting concludes with a time of sharing concerns with each other and prayer for each other. Groups will also meet occasionally outside of the regularly scheduled meetings to go out to dinner or go to an event together in order to build relationships and have fun together.

At The Crossing, we typically place people in small groups that are similar in life age and stage. So, if you are a married couple without kids you will typically be placed in a group with other married couples without kids, etc. If you are single, you will typically be placed in a group with a mix of married and singles of similar age or a group of all singles of a similar age. We also have some groups that are mixed in terms of life age and stage. When you sign up for a small group, you will have a chance to tell us what type of group you prefer.

Most groups meet every other week for 1.5-2 hours, typically on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday nights between 6-9pm depending on the group. Most small groups meet in homes throughout Columbia and the surrounding Mid-Missouri area (Ashland, Jefferson City, Fulton, Booneville, etc.).

When thinking about joining a small group, it’s normal to have some hesitations. It’s easy to think that everyone in the group knows a lot about the Bible and has their lives neatly put together with little to no struggles. The reality, though, is that everyone in your group is a work in progress. Everyone is learning together. There is no level of Bible knowledge required, only a desire to learn. Along with that, small groups are a place where we can be honest with our struggles and come to realize that everyone is, in some way or another, broken and in need of grace. It’s also normal to wonder if you will like your group or they will like you. While our groups are open and welcoming to new people, we realize that sometimes groups just aren’t a good fit. Although we do encourage people to give a group a good try by staying in for a year knowing that relationships take time, if you still feel like it’s not a good fit, we encourage you to contact us so that we can help you get into a different group.

Small groups are a place that we can be known and grown in our relationship with God and others. Small groups are a way to make a big church feel small.They help create a smaller place to get to know others, ask questions, personalize teaching to our own lives, and to receive encouragement in our struggles. Practically, it’s a group of usually 10-16 people who meet every other week. They spend time getting to know each other. They talk about the Bible and what it means in their life. They share about their lives and pray for each other. There will also be times to connect with your group through fun socials and service events. All groups are led by trained leaders and are coached regularly by Crossing Staff and Pastors.

In many ways, small groups are the heart of The Crossing. They are the primary place where people connect with one another and develop genuine friendships. A small group will offer a chance to grow spiritually and build real community through exploring the Scriptures, sharing concerns, praying, and having fun together.

The Scriptures are clear: the Christian life is meant to be lived in community. This is the biblical design for the church: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.… They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts (Acts 2:42-46). We need others to help us apply the all-encompassing and ultimately satisfying truth of the gospel. As we remind each other about God’s grace and all of its implications, we help each other experience the genuine spiritual growth that God desires to bring about in our lives.

In the fall, most groups discuss the most recent Sunday’s sermon using a provided Sermon Discussion Guide. These guides are written in such a way that whether or not you were able to hear the sermon, you would still be able to participate in the discussion. During the spring we encourage small groups to take a break from sermon discussions and pick a study from our Small Groups Resources website that helps address different needs or issues that might be pressing for members in the group.

For a list of studies that we recommend, check out our list of Small Groups Resources.