But neither do they become the full expression of local church community life. In this philosophy you will hear neither “we have a small groups department” nor “the group is our church.” Church Is Small Groups You will, however, hear “the group is our church” in the church is model. This model is obviously on the same continuum as church of. But the church is model often differs in its theology of the nature and expression of church and in its intensity of small group emphasis. The purpose for small