GROWING
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to GROW up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body GROW so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
At Open Arms Church, some of our greatest passions are to help one another grow personally in a relationship with Jesus AND to together seek the expansion of God’s kingdom here on earth. We encourage this to happen in at least 4 ways:
NATURAL CONNECTIONS
Growth happens most often through a naturally-occurring process: individuals & couples & families who lovingly speak God’s truth within their connected relationships! While those lifelong conversations tend to happen organically both inside and outside of the church body, we also want to proactively resource and equip each other to do that well. Click here for some tools that you may find helpful as you interact naturally with one another ... and if you need other tangible resources (e.g., utilizing space; arranging Zoom meetings; etc.), let us know!
COORDINATED CONNECTIONS
Whenever any of us desire to have more relationships that are grounded in the life application of God’s truth, most often the first thing we can do is to connect more deeply with those around us! Invite a few people you know, or perhaps someone to whom you’ll introduce yourself, to study God’s Word together for a few months. If you’re hungry for such connections but uncertain about who else to approach, contact the pastors and/or fill out this form to be linked with others in the church who have a similar passion for following Jesus!
CONNECTION GROUPS
As something more structured for those who are newly following Jesus and/or new to Open Arms Church and desire to grow, we create Connection Groups on an as-needed basis: small groups of 4-8 people with trained facilitators whose goals are to a) lead a study of the Word, b) get to know each participant, and c) seek to facilitate introductions to others in the church. To learn more about and/or express interest in a Connection Group, click here.
INSTITUTE CLASSES
Over the years, we’ve found that certain topics emerge frequently as we seek to help one another follow Jesus. In order to help our entire church body grow in insight and application, Open Arms offers pastor-led, large-group Institute classes at certain times of the year to teach on topics such as Fundamentals of the Faith, How to Share Jesus, How to Study the Old Testament / New Testament, and How to Grow. You can learn more about upcoming class offerings and/or sign up by clicking here.
Effective disciple-making can be defined as investing God’s truth in the life of another over time where life transformation (PERSONAL GROWTH) and multiplication (KINGDOM GROWTH) is the result. May we be known as a church that does that well, to the glory of God!
At Open Arms Church, some of our greatest passions are to help one another grow personally in a relationship with Jesus AND to together seek the expansion of God’s kingdom here on earth. We encourage this to happen in at least 4 ways:
NATURAL CONNECTIONS
Growth happens most often through a naturally-occurring process: individuals & couples & families who lovingly speak God’s truth within their connected relationships! While those lifelong conversations tend to happen organically both inside and outside of the church body, we also want to proactively resource and equip each other to do that well. Click here for some tools that you may find helpful as you interact naturally with one another ... and if you need other tangible resources (e.g., utilizing space; arranging Zoom meetings; etc.), let us know!
COORDINATED CONNECTIONS
Whenever any of us desire to have more relationships that are grounded in the life application of God’s truth, most often the first thing we can do is to connect more deeply with those around us! Invite a few people you know, or perhaps someone to whom you’ll introduce yourself, to study God’s Word together for a few months. If you’re hungry for such connections but uncertain about who else to approach, contact the pastors and/or fill out this form to be linked with others in the church who have a similar passion for following Jesus!
CONNECTION GROUPS
As something more structured for those who are newly following Jesus and/or new to Open Arms Church and desire to grow, we create Connection Groups on an as-needed basis: small groups of 4-8 people with trained facilitators whose goals are to a) lead a study of the Word, b) get to know each participant, and c) seek to facilitate introductions to others in the church. To learn more about and/or express interest in a Connection Group, click here.
INSTITUTE CLASSES
Over the years, we’ve found that certain topics emerge frequently as we seek to help one another follow Jesus. In order to help our entire church body grow in insight and application, Open Arms offers pastor-led, large-group Institute classes at certain times of the year to teach on topics such as Fundamentals of the Faith, How to Share Jesus, How to Study the Old Testament / New Testament, and How to Grow. You can learn more about upcoming class offerings and/or sign up by clicking here.
Effective disciple-making can be defined as investing God’s truth in the life of another over time where life transformation (PERSONAL GROWTH) and multiplication (KINGDOM GROWTH) is the result. May we be known as a church that does that well, to the glory of God!