Proctor Road at 9:00 and 10:30 am
Lakewood Ranch at 9:00 am

What Are Community Groups?

God did not create us to live in isolation; rather, he has purposed us to live in community with others.  In other words, he wants us to do life together. In essence, Community Groups are a place where we learn to do just that.


We offer a Community Group for every age person, from newborn through senior adult. Our groups for preschoolers, children, and students are organized by age or grade.

Our adult groups are organized around stage of life. Although we list an age by each group, it is a loose guide and you will most often find people in a group that are outside the posted age range. The more important factors are the age of your children, the size group you prefer, the teaching style you enjoy, and your marital status.  We often offer more than one group for a particular life stage.  We have groups that are small, with fewer than 10 people, all the way up to groups that are large and may run as high as 80 to 100 during the winter. Our teachers all teach the same scripture passage and key principle but they do so in varying styles. If you stop by the kiosk or contact the church, we can talk with you about those factors and help you find the groups where you are most likely to connect.  Because of the options and diversity we offer, please feel comfortable visiting more than one group to find your best connection.

Community Groups Help Us Fulfill Our Mission

Community Groups are a vital part of our mission, which is “to do whatever it takes to connect people to Jesus Christ.” They extend personal invitations to our guests to join them, offer social opportunities open to new people, and provide support for one another and service to others.  Community Groups are also the key component of our strategy to "equip believers practically in God's Word."  The small group setting provides opportunity for questions and discussions that are not possible in a worship service. These are not classes for Bible scholars, they are families where everyone is learning together and no question is too basic.

It is our hope that every person who considers Sarasota Baptist their church home would attend a weekly corporate worship service, connect with others through a Community Group and share the knowledge, abilities and passion God has given them through serving.

For a list of our Community Groups, please click on one of the links to your left or browse the list below. If you need more information stop by the information kiosk on Sunday, call 941-922-1449 or contact our Community Group Director.  At Lakewood Ranch contact Joe Brannon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For Proctor Road contact Robert Smith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


Next Step Classes

Next Step Classes are short term topical studies. Typically these classes range from 1 to 13 weeks in length. We offer classes on marriage, parenting, sharing your faith, finances, relationships, biblical studies and more. The courses offered change regularly and are available at both campuses.

For a list of our Next Step classes, please click on one of the links to your left or browse the list below.

For questions or additional information contact Carol Wheeler at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


Join Us On Mission

Our Community Groups and Next Step Classes are part of our mission to connect people to Jesus and our strategy to "equip believers practically in God's Word."  We are always praying for additional teachers and facilitators and we are open to innovative ways to accomplish what God has called us to do. If you desire to equip people to know and live by the truth of the Bible, whether at church or out in the community, through our current options or in some new way, contact Carol Wheeler at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it