by Pastor Billy Byler
I’m a sucker for a good small group. Maybe that’s not the right way to say that, but there’s just something about gathering with a few people and talking about life, God and the common journey we all share. There’s growth. There’s discipleship. There’s an intimacy about it that strengthens who we are and reminds us of our identity in Christ. We’re not just individual Christians. We’re the PEOPLE of God. And the atmosphere, vulnerability and honesty of a small group reminds us of this.
Jesus engaged in a small group (those 12 disciples left all they had to participate). John Wesley championed the idea. And here at Wichita First Church of the Nazarene we want to make every opportunity to allow our community to grow in the knowledge of Christ and each other through this important life discipline.
While many groups, including several Sunday School classes, engage in this type of discipleship on an ongoing basis, we also have a few new “Growth Groups” starting in the coming weeks. Feel free to browse through this list. Hopefully one will catch your interest. If you have any questions, click the title of the group for more info, contact the group facilitator or call the church office at (316) 858-1400.
A New Day 101: Building a Future from the Lessons of the Past
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
This class welcomes anyone age 20 and up who is wanting to grow beyond the hurts, hang-ups and habits that seem to keep them from experiencing the daily joy and true freedom in Christ.
“New Year, New You!” for women
Sundays at 5:30 p.m. starting Jan. 25
As busy women, we have common concerns in our daily lives. We’ll look at God’s perspective on time management, health, relationships, self image and how to work smarter.
Compass: Navigating Your Finances God’s Way
Sundays at 5 p.m. starting Jan. 25
Whether you’ve got a sound, long-term financial plan or are lost amid a stack of bills and debt, this small group will bring together a variety of financial backgrounds to explore what God has to say about money.
Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. starting Jan. 28
Discover what the first 300 years of Christianity looked like. How and why did the church grow and develop doctrine, and what did her worship look like? As Christians this is our history. How and what are we to learn from it?
Thursday morning Bible study
Thursdays at 7 a.m.
This is a long-standing small group that was initially led by Pastor Gene Williams. Now facilitated by Jim Coburn, the group looks at a variety of topics from the Bible. The current study is focused on Proverbs.
Thursdays with Pastor Brad
Thursdays at 10 a.m.
Join Pastor Brad Riley as he studies the four Gospels beginning with the Gospel according to Mark with the perspective of the early church father’s and their interpretation of the Gospels.
