When we look at the church in the book of Acts we read that the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, of course that was the teachings of Jesus, and they also gathered to fellowship, to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

In our modern culture we have gotten away from some of what made the early church a community. We know from church history that the early church gathered each Sunday and they also had public Scripture reading, preaching, and singing similar to how we do it today, but they also regularly gathered around a table and discussed the Word of God and prayed with one another.

Small groups, life-groups, home-groups, or as we are rebranding ours, Lighthouses, are just a method, but the intention is to create and develop Christian community. Rather than thinking of our church or these Lighthouses as a weekly event, we want us to think about them as "doing life together." Bearing one another's burdens, so fulfilling the law of Jesus.

Our purpose for "hitting the reset button" on our small groups is to open opportunities for new groups so that no member of our church is not deeply intrenched in a Lighthouse. We understand that given our busy Arkansas culture to commit to a weekly gathering in addition to the Sunday gathering requires intentionality and commitment. But we feel that it is essential. Each Lighthouse will meet at the home of the leaders, so be sure to check out the map and consider drive time along with the night of the week. We are so excited to refresh what has been such a huge part of our church these last several years.