Small Group Bible Study in Milwaukee: How Small Groups bring gospel-centered community
About ten years ago, I attended my first Christian small group. I was a student at Bethlehem College & Seminary and joined a group of college and first-year seminary students. As a first-time attendee, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I imagined our time together would be spent talking about how wonderful our God is—praising Him for His kindness in each of our lives. I figured we’d open the Word and engage with deep truths that would leave me in awe of the greatness of God for days. I expected our meetings to be a consistent source of encouragement and spiritual fellowship. After all, wouldn’t a small group like this be perfect? My expectations were high.
It didn’t take long to realize that my perception of small groups was very different from the reality of small groups. What I thought would be a time of laughter and rejoicing often turned into evenings filled with tears and lament. The encouraging conversations I imagined frequently became hour-long discussions about the brutal facts of life—tough marriages, infertility, miscarriages, depression, financial hardship, and the loss of loved ones.
The point became clear: life is messy. Despite all the joys we experience, the walk of faith isn’t always easy. It’s often paved with unexpected challenges and hardships at every turn. Sometimes what we expect life to be doesn’t match what we live day to day. Christians aren’t immune to the effects of sin and the fall—and neither are small groups.
Small groups aren’t perfect - they’re powerful
Small groups aren’t designed to shield us from the world’s mess; they’re the battlegrounds where the truth of the gospel prevails over chaos. The community of believers has always been a people in the world, but not of the world. Jesus made this clear to His disciples.
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” – John 17:15-16 ESV
Jesus isn’t asking the Father to remove His followers from the world’s pain but to protect them from the schemes of the evil one. Like soldiers assembled for battle, He sends His disciples into the world to meet people where they are and to bring the light of the gospel into dark places. In the same way, small groups are places where the gospel meets life’s challenges. They’re open invitations to cast your cares onto Christ and to find strength and encouragement alongside fellow believers. Small groups provide an opportunity to be known by others as we make Jesus known to the world.
We Need One Another
At CrossWay Milwaukee, we believe it’s vital for every believer to be known by others in their local church. Whether it’s here at Crossway, or another small group in Milwaukee, we don’t encourage anyone to practice their faith in isolation, which is why we place such a strong emphasis on small groups to care for God’s people. We see the care of fellow believers as a pattern of life that began in the early church.
In Romans 12, Paul exhorts believers to “contribute to the needs of the saints” and to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Paul intends believers to be ready to carry one another's burdens and share in their joys. Small groups offer a unique opportunity to walk together in faith, growing in Christ’s likeness as we get to know one another. They provide a means of perseverance for every believer—through encouragement, the study of God’s Word, and the daily habits of grace we practice together. Simply put, small groups are how we make maturing followers of Jesus.
Small Groups at crossway: build community, share life
At CrossWay Community Church Milwaukee, small groups are made up of 10–15 members at various ages and stages of spiritual maturity. They are open to anyone and meet Monday through Thursday in the homes of CrossWay members. We intend for small groups to be a place of care and community among believers rather than a deep dive into Scripture, which takes place at other times. Small groups offer an opportunity to build a community of faith and to participate in meeting the needs of one another. If you’d like to join a small group, we encourage you to contact admin@crosswaymilwaukee.org to learn more or fill out our connection card!
Written By: Peter Merritt, elder at Crossway Community Church Milwaukee
