Community groups are the places where lasting friendships are made. They are the safe place to open your heart, share your life, and ask the tough questions. The overriding mission of Harvest Community Church is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and we believe that accountability, care, and a sense of belonging are crucial components of that spiritual growth. These three things are best achieved within the context of a small group, or community, of like-minded, relationally connected believers. We refer to this as authentic community.

As we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and as we connect relationally with other believers, we believe that every aspect of our lives will be affected. To summarize, it will affect five facets of our day-to-day lives:

· Relationships · Expectations · Actions · Lifestyle, and · Mindset

REALM Community Groups is the ministry of Harvest that attempts to cultivate authentic community by providing a framework in which those connections can occur.

However, just like any friendship, community, and the relationships that comprise it, grows step-by-step over time. Community does not automatically occur just because we might desire it to. Rather, it is cultivated over time in safe environments that promote growth. Accordingly, REALM Community Groups attempts to create environments where you can experience community at your own pace in the context of three steps.

Large Groups

Within a large group environment, smaller discussion tables allow participants to interact as each feels comfortable doing so. It offers a sample of community. At the same time, the larger group and nature of discussion topics provides a safe environment to meet people.

Starter Groups

Starter groups allow people to try out community with a particular group of people for a short period of time, usually meeting every other week, for 6-8 meetings, in someone’s home. These groups are somewhat less structured than the large-groups to allow members to share experiences, prayer needs, victories, and struggles as each feels comfortable doing so. Each person’s commitment to the ideal of community provides a safe environment to get to know people.

Community Groups

Once members have had a chance to try out community with a group of people, the members may choose to continue with that same group of people for a longer period of time. When we refer to authentic community, this is where it happens. Each member commitment to each other provides a safe environment to care for people.

What is Realm

A realm can be an area or domain of something, such as the kingdom or dominion of a monarch. In a way, as we continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we enter more and more into this new realm – a kingdom centered around Jesus that affects every facet of our being. The letters REALM can also represent these facets of our being that are affected as we grow in our relationship with Jesus.

Relationships

This may seem redundant, but our relationship with Jesus Christ also affects three other vital relationships. These vital relationships our with God, with those in our church family, and with those outside of our church family.

Expectations

As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, our expectations also expand. It includes expectations of the splendor and joy that comes from living within this new realm, as well as the expectations of what God will do in us and through us.

Actions

New expectations will always produce new actions, specifically as they relate to the vital relationships mentioned above. Rather than a checklist of “dos” and “don’t”, these actions are based upon relationships with God and others as well as upon the expectations that result from those relationships.

Lifestyle

Actions repeated over time create a lifestyle. The manner in which we live our lives reflect our relationship with Jesus Christ to those around us. In essence, “growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ” is our way of life.

Mindset

As expectations are continually reinforced by actions, the very way in which we think changes. We actually begin thinking in this new realm. We begin to think in terms of our relationships with God, with those in our community, and those outside of our community. It brings us full-circle to where we started: a realm of existence centered upon Jesus Christ and our relationship with him.

Each of these aspects reinforces all of the others and creates a self-perpetuating cycle.

Community Group FAQs

What is a “starter” group?

Starter groups are community groups that meet every other week for a short period of time, usually 6 – 8 meetings. The purpose of starter groups is to allow people to “try out” community for a given time period. The starter groups provide a safe and predictable environment for people to get to know each other within the framework of a particular Bible study. Group discussion, mostly related to the study, is an integral part of each meeting, and we encourage everyone’s participation, but only to the extent each person feels comfortable in doing so. Think of it as community at your own pace.

What can I expect when our group meets?

The details will vary somewhat based upon the people in the group, but generally there will be a time for 1) general conversation, 2) a video segment presenting the topic, 3) and discussion of the topic. Each group will decide independently on issues such as snacks, refreshments, etc. One member of each group has agreed to facilitate, or coordinate, some of the specific details of pulling it all together; and most groups will have one or more members who have agreed to host by opening their homes to give the groups a place to meet.

Will childcare be available?

Childcare is primarily based upon the host – either none, limited, or yes. If the group is listed as not having childcare, please do not bring children to this group. “Limited” means that the host has space suitable for some children, but does not have any supervision available. “Yes” means that the host has space and has made some arrangements for childcare, such as an older child of a group member willing to babysit younger children, sometimes for a small charge. In either case, please contact the host to discuss childcare.

What will the starter groups study?

Each starter group chooses their own material for each session.  The study material is listed for each small group under the “Current Groups” tab.

If I join a group, what will I be committing to?

Safety (trust) and predictability are essential to community and building relationships. Each group member should be mutually committed to:

• Regular attendance – please contact the facilitator if unable to attend a meeting
• Confidentiality – each member should trust that issues discussed within the group will not be discussed outside of the group
• Respect – group members should not say or do anything that will embarrass their spouse or other group members
• Privacy – as a general rule, once the group has started, no new members or visitors should be invited

How can I join a group or get more information?

You may contact the facilitator, Darrell Callebs, or email realm@harvesttn.com at any time to join a group or get more information. In addition, you will have a chance to meet and speak with the facilitators, hosts, and members from all the starter groups at a function called REALM Link, held one Sunday after church services prior to groups starting. This is a great opportunity to explore available groups and get further clarification on any questions you may have. Even if you are new to Harvest or are unsure that you would even like to be involved in a community group, REALM Link allows you to get an idea of what it is all about.

What happens at the end of the starter period?

At the end of the starter period, each member will decide whether to stay with the current group or try another. The purpose of the starter groups is to help individuals find the right “mix” of people with whom they can experience authentic community. People can try different groups, or when the right mix is found, continue with that as a community group.