Our Woodmen Valley Chapel small group is focused on the following biblical values and vision.

We are made up primarily of saved believers who are focused on and engaged in following Christ.

As Christ Followers, we base all of our beliefs and practices in Scripture alone, especially in the New Testament realities of God's grace. >>2nd Timothy 3:16.

The members of this group willingly and unreservedly affirm the basic biblical and historical Christian beliefs of the Woodmen Valley Chapel Statement of Faith named, "Our Beliefs" found on:

www.woodmenvalley.org

We operate under the Vision Statement of Woodmen Valley Chapel and the local pastoring of Senior Pastor Matt Heard.

We all believe in God as our Creator and we all believe in Jesus as our Redeemer and our Savior from sin, death, Hell, and the deceptions of the devil.

~We all believe that Heaven is our guaranteed destiny through the grace of God through faith in the crucifixion, death and burial of the God-man Jesus Christ for our sins--and His bodily resurrection on the third day. >>Ephesians 1:13,14; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4; John 6:47.~

We all believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and also worship Him as He is: God the Son. >>John 1:1.

It is He alone, with the Father and the Son, the Holy Trinity, Whom we worship.

It is Jesus, our Head, who is the invisible and present Leader of our small group.

We all also believe that Jesus is coming back to earth to judge the world and to take us believers to Heaven to be with Him forever. >>Revelation 22:20.

We welcome the presence of non-believers who are sincerely and respectfully examining the claims of Christ.

As taught by Pastor Rob Bentz in the WVC Small Group Launch, we also want to "[continue] steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." >>Acts 2:42.

Being single people, we cherish having a weekly home-cooked or purchased meal with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We also remember Jesus' death by regularly celebrating the Lord's Supper with bread and wine, the same as we do in the larger church gathering at Woodmen Valley Chapel.

The Lord's Supper serves as a further way to focus us regularly on our sinfulness and brokenness, and on the the worship of Jesus our Savior and to unite professing and following believers--as it was in the homes of the early Christians. >>1st Corinthians 11:23-26.

We have weekly meetings of believers, all in the same boat, who want to follow Christ as part of the fleet of Christ-followers from Woodmen Valley Chapel.

Continuing steadfastly in Biblical Doctrine and Bible teaching: regular reading of sizeable portions of Scripture, with both prepared and spontaneous discussion of the text.

Prayer of all kinds, especially for the strengthening of our daily lives in Christ, and for the salvation of those who do not yet believe in and/or follow Jesus.

"Listening prayer" where we are given insights from the Spirit of God that agree with the teachings of Scripture.

Fellowship: knowing and caring about each others' varied lives and walk with Jesus.

Works of service: reaching out in tangible ways to believers and nonbelievers.

Enjoying each other's company in different contexts and having fun: games, movies, bowling, outings, etc.

Growing in grace and relationship with God and each other as free New Testament, New Covenant believers.

Fostering an environment of grace, trust, and growing by caring, kindness, respect, patience, forgiveness, confession of sins, knowledge of the Word, and obedience to God by His grace.

We rely on Jesus as our Source and Strength.

We purify our minds and emotions, our souls, though Scripture's truth, through love, and through obedience to the Word and the Spirit of God in our consciences.

We invite Christ to be present at our meetings and to fill us all with His Spirit, His love, and His joy.

We maintain a weekly small group community with other Christ-followers because it is vital to our mutual spiritual health.

The members of our small group are an intimate inner circle of mutual spiritual support in Christ.

We influence each other deeply over time toward a deeper daily walk with God.

We encourage the evangelistic efforts of each other and pray for the evangelistic efforts of the church.

We know each other's lives.

We make each other laugh.

We rely on God to lead us.

In Christ, we are literally "friends
forever."

We are compassionate listeners.

We also maintain confidentiality of members' sensitive information.

We accept each other as Christ accepted us.

Thus, together, we grow in a fellowship relationship with Jesus and with one other in the grace, love, and knowledge of Him.