Are you ready to Pursue reaLife?

We are not made to experience life alone, but to truly live the life God has created for us - real life together! reaLife groups are how we best pursue and cultivate relationships with others, so that together we can grow, pursue, and serve.

Click here for a reaLife Fall 2008 Catalog or just click on reaLife group finder and you will be able to search groups by area, day of the week, or the type of group that you're looking for! We want you to make a reaLife connection!

reaLife group FAQs

Why would I want to consider a reaLife group?

Everyone needs community and everyone needs to be connected. Why? Well it's no accident or coincidence. God created us this way! We are wired to be in relationship with God and with each other. It's true! Think about it; whether in school, in our workplace, or just living life in general, we really don't want to be alone. There are around 56 "one another's" in the Bible. We need each other. Again, we were created to be growing in community.

Why have I heard people say as a church community grows larger it must grow smaller at the same time?

First, it's important to know that it's OK for a church community to grow larger. Jesus said "I will build my church." This means He is the reason for the church, by using the word "build" means that He is actually building something (the people), and He is the One who ultimately makes it grow!

Second, the "church" is the people and not a building. It is about being the "Bride of Christ." Wow! If nothing else - this signifies relationship. It also demonstrates that He cares deeply for His "Bride", the church, so much so that He gave His life for it!
So, seeing that cultivating relationships is huge, we realize we all need each other, and if we are relying solely on coming to the church building once a week for the "weekend worship service" to fill this, it will become apparent that, as hard as we work to try not to let this happen, that it's pretty easy to get lost in the crowd.

Therefore by finding a smaller group of people to know, meet with, hang with outside of the group, serve each other, and together serve others outside of your group, you begin to develop the relationships that God intended for you have! You see, simply realizing that you need each other and taking a step - taking a risk - it is the beginning of experiencing reaLife together - growing in my relationship with God, pursuing relationships with others and serving the world!

Again, don't take our word for it - check out the back half of the Bible, the New Testament, and turn to the Book of Acts. In Acts chapter 2:38-47, you will read about people who believed what Jesus did for them on the Cross, and then as they committed their lives to Him, they were not only baptized(an act of identifying with Christ and fellowship with other believers), but they also committed themselves to one another. You will see that not only they were changed by meeting together in homes, in the context of smaller groups, but the people around them were changed! There was something different and attractive about what was happening in their lives!

Do I need to be a "Bible expert" to be in a group?

No way! We will ALL be learning and growing together!

Can I get bring a friend with me to the reaLife group?

Please do! While you are more than welcome to come by yourself, we know the reality is that this group may be one of the first ways you may get to meet some other people. We realize that bringing someone else with you is a great way to make this an exciting and challenging adventure for you and for those you bring!

What I am committing to?

Great question! You are committing to taking a step towards growing closer to God and to others. Try it out! Commit to even going to a group one or two times, and then if this appears to be the group for you, take another step and commit to attending, participating, and contributing to building relationships within the group - at least for the length of the current study! Our hope and experience says you will be pleasantly surprised! If not, we'll help you find another group!

What is my time requirement each week?

From start to finish, the average reaLife group gathering lasts between 1 ½ to 2 hours. Remember, this is not a program - this is about relationship. Thus, we would encourage you to get together for coffee, hang together, maybe help somebody within or outside of the group who needs help, and at a minimum think about and pray for your group members.

When will my group meet?

One of the great things about reaLife group is that it can pretty much fit with every person's schedule. We have many groups currently meeting. Simply email us and let us know how we can help you!

What happens in the group time each week?

Most group gatherings will last between 90 and 120 minutes. This includes time spent in connecting (a shared meal or snack), prayer and Bible study. Sometimes the group will use a teaching DVD/study guide combo. Other times, groups may utilize a book study, or other resources that we can help your group find. This could be a study on parenting, marriage, or all sorts of topics. Again, we always want to base our study and discussion on God's Truth, and you may be amazed at how relevant this is in your daily life!
Regardless of what "method" for the study is used, the content is important, but the discussion and application of this content is critical! Thus, the majority of the study time will be spent using the discussion materials provided in the study guide.

How many people should I expect to be in my group?

An optimum number of people to have in a reaLife group is 8-10. However, there could be 3 or 18! Regardless of the number of people in the group, we want to make sure there is great interactive communication and giving all people a chance to talk and share.

Are there groups with people who are similar to me?

There are various types of groups based on a certain affinity such as Couples, Singles, Women, Men, Single Parents, etc. Simply let us know if you are looking for a particular type of group. We love to help folks connect via "common ground", and yet we also know that diversity within the group (be it age, season of life, hobbies, etc.) can also help expand your cultural horizons and be a real character-building experience!


reaLife together is how we connect and mobilize the people of Grace Community Church, to honor God by reaching out to people with the good news of Jesus Christ and teaching them to become fully devoted followers of Him.