Connect and grow in faith

where the church gets small.

Real talk: it's hard to find friends as an adult. Small Groups are how we make it easier. Find your people, grow in your faith, and do life alongside someone who gets it.

Small Groups will resume the week of September 13, 2026.

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THINK OF IT AS YOUR PEOPLE.

WHAT IS A SMALL GROUP?

A Small Group is a handful of people who get together regularly to talk about life, dig into the Sunday message, and show up for each other outside of church. No agenda. No performance. Just honest conversation and real community.

sermon based
small groups

GROW IN Faith.
together.

young adult small Groups

Gladstone small Groups

north oak small Groups

gsHigh Girls

high school youth small groups

A place to belong.
A space to grow.

Girl’s 10& 11th GRADE

Girl’s 9th GRADE

Boy’s 9-12th Grade

older adult
small groups

get connected.
find community.

Friday Morning ONLINE

Cribbage Group

3rd Tuesday’s Game Day

younger adult
small groups

Find purpose.
Find people.

HEAR THE STORIES

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PREV.

Pete had been part of Good Shepherd for six years — and part of a small group for most of them. Then life got hard, and he stepped away. One semester became a year. He kept showing up to church, but something was missing. Eventually, he took a chance on a brand new group. It was clunky at first. Awkward. But more than a year in, the group grew to near capacity and became a space for real, honest conversation.

"Join a small group. Get connected. Be intentional. If you do these things, I think you will also find great connections, and great purpose."
— Pete Gutschenritter

MEET PETE

Ashley sat in the corner of her small group for five years and said almost nothing. She showed up. She listened. She kept herself at a careful distance — from the women, from God, from all of it. Then one day, something shifted. She spoke up. The women around her lit up. And looking back, she realized they'd been loving her through her silence the whole time.

"I know they were still caring for me and loving me along the way. I'm really thankful I finally figured out a way to accept that."
— Ashley Collier

MEET ASHLEY

Mary Claire found that her small group did something she didn't expect — it helped her understand Sunday mornings differently. Sitting with people whose life experiences looked nothing like hers brought new perspective to the same sermon, and gave her a safe place to say what she actually thought.

"My small group has given me better understanding of sermons. The variety of life experiences bring different views. It is a safe space to share our hearts."
— Mary Claire Fleener

MEET Mary ClairE

real people. real stories. real community.

small group stories at good shepherd.

Pastor of Discipleship and group coordinator

Bryan Rezen

I grew up in the Northland of Kansas City and absolutely love every bit of being from the Midwest. I have a deep passion for the life changing work Jesus does through the environment of a small group. I love to write, read, and have conversations around faith and spirituality…hit me up anytime!
I have two amazing adult children, Brody & Olivia and my wife Tara and I have been married for over 30 years. It is my privilege and joy to serve at Good Shepherd.

My favorite BBQ restaurant is the original Joe’s Kansas City BBQ…you know the one in the gas station.

EMAIL BRYAN

What does it look like to join a small group?

First, search for the group, date, and time that will work for you. You can view all available groups here. Next, register for the small group, once registered the group coordinator will contact you.

what do small groups do?

All small groups are sermon based small groups. This means that the group will meet to read the scripture from the sermon and discuss how they will work to grow and apply it to their lives.

Do I have to know about the Bible before I attend?

You don’t have to know anything about the Bible to attend. All we request is that you have a willing heart to be open to meet with others who have the same desire…grow in their faith life.

How often do small groups meet?

Small groups meet weekly from September to the first week in May. Small groups break during the summer and a 3-4 week break over the holidays

What if I can’t attend small group weekly?

Joining a small group is a major commitment that we ask those who are attending to make. For most everyone it means rearranging your schedule to be able to attend. We ask for a goal of 3x a month attendance.

Why do I have to sign a covenant to join a small group?

To keep small groups a safe place to grow in your faith it’s important to have a guide for how the group will behave together. The covenant helps everyone know how they will speak to each other and how they can be a support and encouragement as well.

Connect and grow in faith

where the church gets small.

THINK OF IT AS YOUR PEOPLE.

sermon based
small groups

GROW IN Faith.
together.

high school youth small groups

A place to belong.
A space to grow.

older adult
small groups

get connected.
find community.

younger adult
small groups

Find purpose.
Find people.

real people. real stories. real community.

small group stories at good shepherd.

Pastor of Discipleship and group coordinator

Bryan Rezen

What does it look like to join a small group?

First, search for the group, date, and time that will work for you. You can view all available groups here. Next, register for the small group, once registered the group coordinator will contact you.

what do small groups do?

All small groups are sermon based small groups. This means that the group will meet to read the scripture from the sermon and discuss how they will work to grow and apply it to their lives.

Do I have to know about the Bible before I attend?

You don’t have to know anything about the Bible to attend. All we request is that you have a willing heart to be open to meet with others who have the same desire…grow in their faith life.

How often do small groups meet?

Small groups meet weekly from September to the first week in May. Small groups break during the summer and a 3-4 week break over the holidays

What if I can’t attend small group weekly?

Joining a small group is a major commitment that we ask those who are attending to make. For most everyone it means rearranging your schedule to be able to attend. We ask for a goal of 3x a month attendance.

Why do I have to sign a covenant to join a small group?

To keep small groups a safe place to grow in your faith it’s important to have a guide for how the group will behave together. The covenant helps everyone know how they will speak to each other and how they can be a support and encouragement as well.

Will I be asked to pray or read the Bible out loud?

No one will ever be asked to pray or read the Bible out loud. Small group members will be asked to participate in that way only if they desire to.

Connect and grow in faith

where the church gets small.

THINK OF IT AS YOUR PEOPLE.

sermon basedsmall groups

GROW IN Faith.together.

high school youth small groups

A place to belong.A space to grow.

older adultsmall groups

get connected.find community.

younger adultsmall groups

Find purpose. Find people.

real people. real stories. real community.

small group stories at good shepherd.

Pastor of Discipleship and group coordinator

Bryan Rezen

What does it look like to join a small group?

First, search for the group, date, and time that will work for you. You can view all available groups here. Next, register for the small group, once registered the group coordinator will contact you.

what do small groups do?

All small groups are sermon based small groups. This means that the group will meet to read the scripture from the sermon and discuss how they will work to grow and apply it to their lives.

Do I have to know about the Bible before I attend?

You don’t have to know anything about the Bible to attend. All we request is that you have a willing heart to be open to meet with others who have the same desire…grow in their faith life.

How often do small groups meet?

Small groups meet weekly from September to the first week in May. Small groups break during the summer and a 3-4 week break over the holidays

What if I can’t attend small group weekly?

Joining a small group is a major commitment that we ask those who are attending to make. For most everyone it means rearranging your schedule to be able to attend. We ask for a goal of 3x a month attendance.

Why do I have to sign a covenant to join a small group?

To keep small groups a safe place to grow in your faith it’s important to have a guide for how the group will behave together. The covenant helps everyone know how they will speak to each other and how they can be a support and encouragement as well.

Will I be asked to pray or read the Bible out loud?

No one will ever be asked to pray or read the Bible out loud. Small group members will be asked to participate in that way only if they desire to.

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sermon based
small groups

GROW IN Faith.
together.

A place to belong.
A space to grow.

older adult
small groups

get connected.
find community.

younger adult
small groups

Find purpose.
Find people.