A Shepherd group at Cornerstone Church is a small community of believers which meet regularly in a friendly environment for nurture, service, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Shepherd Groups are the church within the church, encouraging opportunities for worship, reaching out to others, instruction, fellowship, and pastoral care as members engage in ministry to one another. A key part of the fabric of Cornerstone Church and the health of the families of the church is involvement in Shepherd Groups, as they provide pastoral care naturally with members fulfilling the Biblical mandate to minister and care for one another. Click here for a complete list of all Shepherd Groups.

Reaching Up

All Shepherd groups reach up in worship. Because God’s people find their meaning and purpose in Him, it is not possible to think of the gathering of God’s people without some aspect of worship. Reaching up has in mind the worship of God through a deliberate approach to Him in praise and prayer, such as reading the Psalms, singing, prayer, and so on. It is not until we acknowledge our position before God and respond to Him that we can respond to others both in and out of our Shepherd group.

Reaching In

All Shepherd groups have a focus which has the relationships of the group in mind. It is ministry to one another, both in aspects of pastoral care and spiritual nurture through the study of God’s Word. Ideas include Bible study, sharing prayer requests, meals together, providing meals at times of sickness, or simply listening to each other's story. This, of course, takes place in the larger church body, but the Shepherd group is the 'church within the church.' It is a microcosm of what the church is called to be to one another. In addition, as Shepherd groups concentrate on reaching in to the group, the habit of reaching in will spill over to relationships with the rest of the church both in and out of Shepherd group settings.

Reaching Out

All Shepherd groups must plan to be an inviting and “missional” entity. The Shepherd Group exists not just for the group, but for the sake of those outside the Kingdom of God. The “empty chair” mentality reminds us that someone is to be sitting in it, like a neighbor, a friend, or a co-worker. When a group reaches a maximum size, about twelve, it reaches out by forming a new group. Shepherd groups reach out to others through service together in the community but most importantly in trying to bring new people into the group.