Banding

A community of disciples dedicated to practicing the way of Jesus.

Where you belong shapes who you become. 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:23-25

Join a community dedicated to practicing the things that Jesus taught and modeled.

Practicing the Way: Banding Feature

Our friends from Practicing the Way recently did a deep dive into the banding life of our community - we invite you to use this as a resource as you consider participating in a discipleship band. 

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Three diverse women sit together at a wooden table with their heads bowed in prayer. One woman has a supportive hand on another's shoulder.

MORE ABOUT BANDING

What is Banding?

A band is an intentionally small group of three to five men or women who meet weekly to engage in transformational questions and to pray for one another.

Banding is one of the ways that we experience connection and practice community at Arise. 

When we connect with people who are committed to following Jesus, we set ourselves up for the support and encouragement we need to belong in our faith. 

We find that spiritual growth is as close as a few other people who are willing to band together.

HELPFUL ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Start with an Opening Prayer

Ask the Questions

-How is it with your soul?
-What are your successes and struggles?
-How might the Word and Spirit be speaking in your life
-When you are ready to go deeper, you may add these questions.
-Do you have any sin to confess?
-Is there anything you desire to keep secret?

End with a Closing Prayer

Bands are formed based on factors such as age, stage of life, and gender. While the priority is to form bands within house churches, network-wide connections are an option as well.

Yes, you can choose who is in your band. Complete this form with your preferences, and the Arise staff will help you begin your journey. While we cannot guarantee your exact match, we will prayerfully and carefully suggest a band grouping with your desires in mind.

If there’s no one in your house church, we have you covered! The Arise staff will communicate with house church leaders to find a suitable band for you.

Joining a band involves committing to regular weekly meetings and maintaining confidentiality.

No, bands are not a forever commitment, but some bands do stay together for long periods of time. Arise is introducing "banding seasons" this year.  

Implementing "banding seasons" is new for Arise. While following this schedule is optional, it provides a natural rhythm for onboarding new members and an easy, guilt-free way to conclude your band participation. Sometimes bands don't work for various reasons, and it may be difficult to exit. Having "seasons" allows for a natural transition point. Banding seasons will also provide a structured way to introduce new spiritual practices that you can try implementing with your bands.

Suggested banding seasons:

  • Banding Season One: February 1-May 31
  • Banding Season Two: August 1-November 29

Next Steps

Fill Out This Form

Fill Out This Form

To give us the best idea of who you are and how we can best place you in a band, click the sign up button below. 

Sign Up
Wait for a Response

Wait for a Response

Haven’t received a response? If you haven’t received any information within the week, send us an email at contact@arisechurches.com. 

Email
Prepare for Your First Group

Prepare for Your First Group

After you receive a response from our staff, pray! Pray for the members of your band, pray for vulnerability, authenticity, and true connection. You can also check out the banding resources below to get started. 

Digital Resources

Digital resources for banding provide essential tools and materials to help musicians collaborate, practice, and grow together in their craft, all while staying connected through technology.

Banding
Timeline

Find a timeline for starting a band.

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Meeting Format
& Guidelines

Find out what a typical band looks like along with expectations and helpful hints.

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Band Evaluation
Guide

Learn to evaluate your band in healthy ways.

View

A Practical Field
Guide to Banding

Discover more about the importance of banding and how to do it well through this helpful resource from our friends.

View

Banding Conflict
Guide

How to navigate conflict within discipleship bands.

View

Soul
Words

Discover some more descriptor words for Question #1 of banding (“how is your soul?”).

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Band Meeting
Guide

How to lead through a discipleship band.

View
Check out our Discipleship Band feature on Practicing the Way's website!
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