DISCIPLESHIP HAPPENS BEST IN RELATIONSHIP.
TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP
We all need people who encourage us, pray for us, and walk alongside us as we grow in Christ. Community at Emmanuel is built around that vision. Whether you’re looking for a group or strengthening the one you’re in, here’s how you can take your next step.
FIND YOUR GROUP
look around you
The best place to start community is often with the people you already know—friends, couples, or families at Emmanuel who are also looking for deeper connection. Gather them together, talk about forming a group, and when you do, let us know so we can support you.
Register Your Group
get alongside others
Community often begins in spaces where people are already chasing after Jesus. Join a Bible study, serve on a team, or take part in an event at Emmanuel. You'll be able to naturally build relationships with like-minded disciples who may be ready to form a group with you.
View Opportunities
Try Community formation
If you’ve tried the other steps and still need help starting a group, then Community Formation might be just right for you. This 6-week series is offered twice a year, in the spring and the fall, and is designed to help you meet others who are also looking to start a Community Group.
Request Information
Help your group thrive
Healthy community doesn’t happen by accident. At Emmanuel, we’ve identified six foundational practices that help every group grow strong in Christ. We call them the six Keys to Biblical Community.
WHY COMMUNITY CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Real transformation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we walk with others—rooted in God’s Word, growing in faith, and living on mission together. Community is where discipleship takes root and faith comes to life as we encourage one another to look more like Christ.
FAQS
Healthy groups go beyond “hanging out.” Here are three guiding questions that help bring depth and balance to your time:
- How are you feeding your soul? Share what God is teaching you in His Word, in prayer, or in your daily walk with Him.
- How are you feeding your flesh? Be honest about struggles, sin patterns, and the places you need prayer and accountability.
- How are you feeding others? Encourage one another, speak truth from God’s Word, and consider how your gifts can build up the church.
There’s no single formula—but regular connection matters. Single-gender groups often find weekly or bi-weekly rhythms work best. Married groups often meet weekly or bi-weekly by gender, with a monthly gathering as couples.
No. While we believe that every healthy Community Group should embody the principles found in the Keys to Biblical Community, we also recognize that groups will vary in how they live this out. The format, structure, and materials used are flexible—shaped by the needs, rhythms, and personalities of each group. Some groups may walk through book studies together, while others may reflect on Scripture individually and come ready to share. We’re not prescribing a formula, but providing a framework for meaningful, Christ-centered community.
To see every person at Emmanuel look more like Jesus. We do this by helping believers within the body live in close relationship with one another as a critical part of their discipleship.
Whenever people walk together over time, friction and conflict can arise. When it does, we encourage groups to follow Jesus’ model for reconciliation, as taught in Matthew 5:23–24 and 18:15–17.
When you're stuck, take heart. Our goal is for every group to have a Community Shepherd, a trusted leader available to offer prayer, support, and counsel. They’ll be a lifeline as you live out Christ’s call to be ministers of reconciliation to one another.
Reach out to Mike Smith at [email protected].
"Being part of a Community Group changed the way that I honor God, relate to my husband, and how we raise our kids. Our group members helped us establish healthy guardrails that keep us from drifting into our ditches. They gave us opportunities to be fully known. Fully embraced. They helped us to look more like Jesus. Community can sometimes be hard, but it is good."