Connect. Care. Grow.
Learn more about our community life groups for fall 2023: DNA Groups and Growth Groups.
FALL 2023
At Renaissance Church, we believe we were created to be in community. We believe we're called to care for each other. Our community life groups are a key way we provide opportunities for you to grow in your faith, to be known and cared for, and to grow in your relationships with other Jesus followers.
We're excited to launch a new season of groups for the fall 2023 season! We'll be organizing DNA Groups and two Growth Groups. Groups will begin meeting the week of October 15, 2023 and will have their final meeting during the week of December 10, 2023.
To understand more about the group options, please carefully read the information below.
To understand more about the group options, please carefully read the information below.
WHAT ARE DNA GROUPS?
DNA Groups (Discipleship - Nurturing - Accountability) provide an encouraging space to wrestle with who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. God made us to be in community, so we need others to help us apply the gospel to our lives. DNA Groups are also a key way that our church ensures you are known and cared for.
Each week, DNA groups meet to watch a short teaching video, discuss the previous week's sermon, discuss life, and to pray together. All of the content is designed to help us follow Jesus and renew our minds with the gospel.
DNA Groups consist of 8-10 participants, who meet in person or via virtual video call (Zoom or Google Hangouts), based on preference.
While we hope--and certainly expect--you to form friendships with people in your group, DNA groups are not social clubs. We intentionally place everyone in groups where they'll interact with people who have different backgrounds. We believe these diverse perspectives help us get more out of our scripture reading and give us more opportunities to put our faith into action. The ultimate goal is for us all to grow in the way we follow Jesus.
Each week, DNA groups meet to watch a short teaching video, discuss the previous week's sermon, discuss life, and to pray together. All of the content is designed to help us follow Jesus and renew our minds with the gospel.
DNA Groups consist of 8-10 participants, who meet in person or via virtual video call (Zoom or Google Hangouts), based on preference.
While we hope--and certainly expect--you to form friendships with people in your group, DNA groups are not social clubs. We intentionally place everyone in groups where they'll interact with people who have different backgrounds. We believe these diverse perspectives help us get more out of our scripture reading and give us more opportunities to put our faith into action. The ultimate goal is for us all to grow in the way we follow Jesus.
WHAT ARE GROWTH GROUPS?
Growth Groups help you to connect with people at Renaissance, while also getting the opportunity to go deeper on a specific topic over the course of eight weeks.
Each week, Growth Group members engage with teaching and discussion related to the selected topic. These teachings are longer than those offered to DNA Groups. The meetings will include both small group and large group discussion for more insight and spiritual formation. Each session will require your active engagement.
For fall 2023, we are offering two Growth Groups:
THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE - Sundays at 1:30 p.m. | PS 76 Cafeteria - *REGISTRATION IS FULL*
For most of us, our understanding of marriage comes from cues we got (or did not get) from our families or media. Marriage is something God created, and participants in this track will be challenged to rethink and understand marriage from the perspective of God's eyes. This track will work through content from the book The Meaning of Marriage by Dr. Timothy Keller. This course is open to people with an interest in this topic, regardless of relationship status -- single, dating, engaged, or married.
This Growth Group is limited to 40 participants and will meet in person only.
Note: This is not a pre-marital counseling course, which is more detailed and intensive. Also, if you are married, you and your spouse are welcome join this group together, however, it is not required.
Having access to the book The Meaning of Marriage and completing assigned readings is required to participate. Led by Pastor Lester Kim.
Each week, Growth Group members engage with teaching and discussion related to the selected topic. These teachings are longer than those offered to DNA Groups. The meetings will include both small group and large group discussion for more insight and spiritual formation. Each session will require your active engagement.
For fall 2023, we are offering two Growth Groups:
THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE - Sundays at 1:30 p.m. | PS 76 Cafeteria - *REGISTRATION IS FULL*
For most of us, our understanding of marriage comes from cues we got (or did not get) from our families or media. Marriage is something God created, and participants in this track will be challenged to rethink and understand marriage from the perspective of God's eyes. This track will work through content from the book The Meaning of Marriage by Dr. Timothy Keller. This course is open to people with an interest in this topic, regardless of relationship status -- single, dating, engaged, or married.
This Growth Group is limited to 40 participants and will meet in person only.
Note: This is not a pre-marital counseling course, which is more detailed and intensive. Also, if you are married, you and your spouse are welcome join this group together, however, it is not required.
Having access to the book The Meaning of Marriage and completing assigned readings is required to participate. Led by Pastor Lester Kim.
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS (MEMBERS ONLY) - Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. | In-Person & Virtual
While there are many Christians who do daily quiet times, attend church, and serve faithfully, many are woefully underprepared to build healthy relationships. Their relationships with people in the church, their significant other, parents, children, extended family members, and friends are often marked by immaturity.
This powerful course will equip you with practical tools to really love people in difficult situations and mature into an adult follower of Jesus. The course will address core biblical principles to guide you into an experience of discipleship designed to deeply change your life. You will learn eight practical relationship skills to develop mature, loving relationships (of all kinds) with others.
This Growth Group is limited to 80 participants and members only.
Having access to the Emotionally Healthy Relationships materials and completing assigned readings is required to participate. Led by Pastor Jordan Rice.
While there are many Christians who do daily quiet times, attend church, and serve faithfully, many are woefully underprepared to build healthy relationships. Their relationships with people in the church, their significant other, parents, children, extended family members, and friends are often marked by immaturity.
This powerful course will equip you with practical tools to really love people in difficult situations and mature into an adult follower of Jesus. The course will address core biblical principles to guide you into an experience of discipleship designed to deeply change your life. You will learn eight practical relationship skills to develop mature, loving relationships (of all kinds) with others.
This Growth Group is limited to 80 participants and members only.
Having access to the Emotionally Healthy Relationships materials and completing assigned readings is required to participate. Led by Pastor Jordan Rice.
WHICH GROUP IS RIGHT FOR ME?
We don't think there's a wrong choice, but this largely depends on what you feel your largest needs are right now.
If you're looking to place an emphasis on relationship building and accountability, DNA Groups would be a great choice for you. If learning more about marriage from God's perspective could be really helpful for you in your spiritual journey, consider signing up. If you're a Renaissance member and want to deepen your discipleship in the area of loving others well, the EHR Growth Group could be a great choice for you.
DNA Groups offer more flexibility from a scheduling perspective (with groups meeting at various times on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays). The Growth Groups have very specific meeting times that are fixed.
If you're looking to place an emphasis on relationship building and accountability, DNA Groups would be a great choice for you. If learning more about marriage from God's perspective could be really helpful for you in your spiritual journey, consider signing up. If you're a Renaissance member and want to deepen your discipleship in the area of loving others well, the EHR Growth Group could be a great choice for you.
DNA Groups offer more flexibility from a scheduling perspective (with groups meeting at various times on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays). The Growth Groups have very specific meeting times that are fixed.
SHOULD I JOIN A GROUP?
Yes.*
It's a yes with an asterisk, because we first want you to ensure you have the time and willingness to show up consistently. We often say, "You'll get out what you put in to your group." If we all show up consistently and honestly, we'll have really meaningful growth and connection. But when some of us say we'll be there and don't show up, others in our church experience hurt, which we want to avoid.
It's a yes with an asterisk, because we first want you to ensure you have the time and willingness to show up consistently. We often say, "You'll get out what you put in to your group." If we all show up consistently and honestly, we'll have really meaningful growth and connection. But when some of us say we'll be there and don't show up, others in our church experience hurt, which we want to avoid.
CAN I DO MORE THAN ONE GROUP?
We encourage everyone to not overload themselves with commitments and to truly focus on growing in one particular area, whether in one DNA Group or in a Growth Group.
This means some of you who love your previous DNA Group will opt to take a break from that group, so you can engage with the Growth Group instead. We think that's fine, and we hope you'll trust God in that process. We also hope you'll find ways to nurture those established relationships in other ways, outside of the structure of DNA Group.
This means some of you who love your previous DNA Group will opt to take a break from that group, so you can engage with the Growth Group instead. We think that's fine, and we hope you'll trust God in that process. We also hope you'll find ways to nurture those established relationships in other ways, outside of the structure of DNA Group.
ONLINE VS. IN PERSON?
If you choose to register for a DNA Group, you will see space to indicate your preference for in-person meetings vs. virtual meetings.
We know many of you desire to meet with your group in person. At the same time, organizing in-person DNA Groups will be possible only to the extent that some of you register and indicate you’re open to having 8 people meet in your home. We’ll try to put 2-3 willing hosts in each group, so the hosting can be shared. But the number of in-person groups we’re able to organize will depend on the willingness of people to open their spaces. We say this not to place pressure on people to do something they aren’t comfortable with, but to set accurate expectations as you register for groups.
We know many of you desire to meet with your group in person. At the same time, organizing in-person DNA Groups will be possible only to the extent that some of you register and indicate you’re open to having 8 people meet in your home. We’ll try to put 2-3 willing hosts in each group, so the hosting can be shared. But the number of in-person groups we’re able to organize will depend on the willingness of people to open their spaces. We say this not to place pressure on people to do something they aren’t comfortable with, but to set accurate expectations as you register for groups.
WHAT ARE THE GROUP OPTIONS?
For fall 2023, we will offer groups in the following formats:
- Virtual men's groups
- Virtual women’s groups
- In-person men’s groups
- In-person women’s groups
- In-person co-ed groups.
HOW DO I JOIN A GROUP?
If you're confident you can commit and want to sign up, please use the buttons below to register for the group you choose. If it's your first time registering for a DNA Group, you'll receive information about completing an orientation before being assigned to a group. This helps ensure that all of us who are in groups are on the same page and can prayerfully thrive together.
If you are a Renaissance member and want to register for the EHR Group, please check your email and register using the link provided.