Some of the things that seem to have brought our small group closer in Christ as we become closer as Christians are: Bible study that is demanding; Prayers that are real, risky, and Word driven; Non-judgmental, non-critical attitudes toward the members as they reveal their situations; Regularity in coming together in person and by phone and email for assurances of prayer and praise reports.
I'm not saying we're there yet, but we're in a much closer situation that I could have ever imagined, and seeing God working with us has been delightful, making the demanding commitment well worth it.