BANDING AT ARISE
A community dedicated to practicing intentional discipleship.
Where you belong shapes who you become.
Join a community dedicated to practicing the things that Jesus taught and modeled.
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.
The Format
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
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Joining a band involves committing to regular weekly meetings and maintaining confidentiality.
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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
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Wait for a response
Haven’t received a response? If you haven’t received any information within the week, send us an email at allie@arisechurches.com.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Banding Conflict Guide
How to navigate conflict within discipleship bands.
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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.