We suggest you form a group of three because, from experience, the dynamics of this number work really well. You might like to meet with people you already know. Alternatively, we can put you in touch with others who want to form a Core Group. It’s worth keeping in mind that, as strange as it may seem, it’s not important to know the people in your group before you start. The key thing is that there is a common desire to live for Christ. The relationship comes out of that!

Your Core group will evolve over time, but to get the most out of it you’ll need to allow sufficient time to include all the important elements, and be meeting often enough to maintain continuity. An hour a week or a couple of hours every fortnight might be a good guide. On top of those times, you’ll probably want to schedule occasional meetings where you can be together without any agenda.

When  you  meet is entirely up to you – the crack of dawn, late at night or anywhere in between!

Once the group has been established, we would normally include the following elements: sharing news, praying for one another and studying the Bible. Exactly how much time is spent on each will vary from one meeting to another. Opening the Bible when you meet – even if it’s just to share some verses that you’ve read in individual Quiet Times – is really important: it’s the primary way God speaks to us, strengthens us and generates faith within us. Out of the Word, we can pray and minister to one another with much greater confidence and assurance.

There’s so much great material that we’d like to recommend. To mention a few: Just for Starters, by Phillip Jensen & Tony Payne,  Christian Living for Starters, Explore Bible Notes, HighQuest and Tim Chester’s excellent book, You Can Change. 

We’re really keen to support your group in any way we can; do get in touch if you need anything. A couple of times a year, we will arrange times when other Core groups can get together. These are opportunities to share stories about how things are going – particularly ideas that have worked well.