If you are in Kansas City today, you can’t miss it. In schools, offices, coffee shops, and neighborhoods all across the metro, people will be dressed in red. It’s Red Friday! On top of that, it’s the Chiefs’ season opener against the Chargers. You can feel the excitement in the air. Of course here in Kansas City, we know it’s more than a football game; it’s a sense of belonging, a reminder that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
That’s the power of being on a team. When the Chiefs run out onto the field tonight, it won’t just be about the 11 players on the field—it will be about the anticipation of a new season, full of hope, promise, and possibility. But they also know they can’t get there alone. They need one another—teammates, coaches, and fans—to carry them through the challenges ahead. In the same way, that’s what small groups are all about.
And just as the Chiefs are launching into their season, here at Good Shepherd we’re stepping into ours—the start of our small group season. It’s a season filled with the same anticipation: fresh opportunities for connection, growth, and the kind of community that can carry you through whatever lies ahead.
In our current sermon series, Stage Dive, we’ve been talking about the courage it takes to trust, to leap, and to believe that others will be there to catch you. Small groups are where that leap of faith becomes real. They’re the place where anticipation meets action—where you step off the edge and discover that people are ready to show up, cheer you on, and hold you up when life gets heavy.
And that’s exactly what happens. In a group, you’ll find people who will celebrate with you in moments of victory and who will stand beside you in seasons of struggle. You’ll find a circle where your faith can grow stronger, where you can ask questions, and where God’s presence becomes tangible through others.
So as you pull on your red today and get ready to cheer for the Chiefs, think about the kind of team you need around you—not just on game day, but every day. Who are the people that will celebrate with you, encourage you, and walk with you through the ups and downs of life?
If you don’t have a group yet, now is the perfect time to take the leap. Not because you need another thing on your calendar, but because you need a team of people around you. That’s what small groups are all about. Don’t sit this season out, find your group by clicking the link below.
After all, faith—like football—isn’t meant to be lived alone. It’s better when we do it together.
Peace,
Matt Fulmer
P.S. Don’t miss worship on Sunday as we ride the wave of a Chiefs victory and keep diving into our Stage Dive series—where we’re talking about the people God puts in our lives who always have our back.
