What is a Small Group?
There are a variety of opportunities for you to get involved in Adult Small Groups at Cornerstone. A small group is typically made up of four to twelve people who meet regularly to share life, support and pray for one another, study the Bible, and reach out to the greater community together. While many of our small groups tend to be more open-ended, our new Semester Groups offer people the opportunity to make a shorter-term commitment, generally between 6 to 12 weeks. Because Semester Groups are offered throughout the year, there are always opportunities to get connected in a group. For current Semester Group options, click here. All of our small groups have one or more leaders who receive regular support and training from our Small Groups Pastor. We currently have 11 groups that meet in homes in and around Markham. Some groups meet weekly; most meet bi-weekly; a few meet monthly.
Why should I be a part of a Small Group?
Small groups are Cornerstone’s main avenue for helping you make vital connections with God by connecting relationally with other Christians. When religious leaders asked Jesus what was most important He answered them simply, "Love God and love people." With that answer, Jesus defined spiritual maturity in relational terms and that's what we're going for with small groups. If you are ready to connect with other people, and grow in your walk with God, it's time to get involved in a small group. One of the best things about small groups is the friendships you'll make. It's easy to underestimate the importance of having people in your life who will encourage and challenge you. Small groups help meet this need by providing a time and place to learn about God, build each other up, and have a lot of fun all at the same time.
What do Small Groups do?
This can vary from group to group, but most groups have a time of fellowship, prayer, Bible or book study, discussion, and life application. Not all groups study the same thing; some read and study a Christian book together; others go through a book of the Bible; still others use a video-based Christian curriculum. In addition to the many general groups we have, there are some with specific focuses, including Women’s and Men's Groups, a Parenting Group, and Marriage-Enrichment Group.
We also encourage all our small groups to serve the community together. To name just a few examples, groups have fed the homeless, washed cars, picked up litter in parks, visited patients in the hospital, built Habitat for Humanity homes, sponsored community life-skills seminars, hosted neighbourhood block parties, and collected hundreds of Christmas presents and food for needy families in the community during the holiday season. It's amazing what God can do through a group of people as they use their skills, gifts and resources to help those in need!
Interested in checking out a Small Group?
Many people who start attending Sunday services at Cornerstone naturally get invited into groups by leaders and members of existing groups. Sometimes, announcements are made about sign-ups for new groups. Perhaps the quickest way to find out about how to connect with a group that’s right for you is to is to contact our Small Groups and Connections Pastor Jeremy Tao by filling out the online inquiry form to the right.
