Small Groups - Deepening Discipleship & Devotion (D3 Groups) 
_____________________________________________________________________

A VISION & STRATEGY FOR SMALL GROUPS AT IBC

As believers in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we desire to glorify Him in all we do each day of our earthly lives.  We are part of His Body, the Church.  Being part of His Body gives us privileges and responsibilities to each other.  Ephesians 4:11-16 identifies some privileges and responsibilities for believers on how the body is to function and grow. This passage also explains our individual part in the spiritual growth, unity and maturity of the Church.  It is our vision for all at IBC to be involved in this important Biblical mandate.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

We are seeking to establish small groups as a priority for reaching this vision.  Small groups contribute invaluably toward…:

• …equipping the saints for the work of service (Eph 4:12a).
• …building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:12b).
• …the unity of the faith (Eph 4:13a).
• …mature believers (Eph 4:13b).
• …the proper working of each individual part that causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Eph 4:16b).    

Small groups can function in ways that larger groups can not.  Small groups are designed for application.  Small groups are an ideal context for applying God’s Word to our lives in personal and practical ways.  Small groups provide the encouragement, correction and accountability that should keep us from drifting.

Priorities for D3 Groups   The first priority for small groups is to gather to learn more of God’s truth and help us in our progress in sanctification.  The foundation of small groups is sound Biblical teaching and doctrine.  A second priority of small groups is to create a context where every member can give and receive care, with a focus on praying for one another.  A third priority is to truly fellowship together, to participate and communicate those things we hold in common, foremost being our relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, by God the Holy Spirit.  A fourth priority of small groups is the need to become familiar with and participate in the varied and distinct works of the Holy Spirit; locally, regionally and to the ends of the earth  (Acts 1:8).