LIFE Groups are an incredible way to share about our life and find out the truths of God’s word and how it can apply. The purpose of life group is to see the people of God, build, encourage, strengthen, and share the hope of Jesus Christ with each other and the world around them.
LEADING A LIFE GROUP?
We have 2 great resources to help you lead your group.
Sermon based studies are customized to follow along with the current sermon (series) and are added each week.
Smallgroup.com is a library of thousands of customizable Bible studies on virtually every text and topic in the Bible. Whether you want to create studies that align with the weekend message, write your own studies without starting from scratch, or give your group leaders access so they can take their group where it needs to go, smallgroup.com has you covered.
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
LIFE GROUP FAQ'S
A Life Group is 4-20 people gathering in locations all across the Treasure Valley in homes, coffee shops and workplaces for a time of fun, relationship, bible study and prayer.
Simply put, “we need one another.” God made us that way. He designed us to be His personal agents to encourage, challenge, and care for one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
They meet at a time and place that is convenient for the whole group. Ideally Life Groups meet weekly in someone’s home. Developing significant relationships takes time and consistency—that’s why we encourage groups to meet every week.
Each group is responsible for providing their own childcare. Pastors strongly encourage and ask each Life Group to include their children in some part of the group time and then allow for separate time specifically tailored for both the adults and children. Some practical suggestions regarding childcare can include parents chipping in together to hire a babysitter either at the place they meet or at a nearby home. Each group can decide how to handle this issue in the most appropriate way for their group.
Each Life Group will have several great options for discussion. As needed, groups can choose from a number of recommended resources and curriculum from our Deer Flat Library. These will help address specific areas for continued transformation, building relationships and equipping for service.
One of the intrinsic values of Life Groups is that they are small which enables them to foster a more intimate atmosphere of trust, accountability, and personal spiritual growth. Small intimate groups represent the model of the New Testament Church.
(Acts 2; Philemon 1:2; Col. 4:15; 1 Cor. 16:19, etc). When a group of adults number 14 or more, it’s time to begin planning a Life Group Birthing. A birthing takes place when part of the group establishes another Life Group independent of their parent Life Group. Like natural birth, this at first can seem painful, especially because a group has built strong intimate relationships. But the heart of the Kingdom of God is about reproducing disciples and birthing new Life Groups not only improves opportunity for intimacy and accountability, but also increases opportunity for others to join who are not members of a Life Group. In these situations, we strongly encourage a parent group and its birthed group(s) to still get together occasionally (bi-annual or annual) for a special reunion time of fellowship.
Classes are intended to be larger (20+ people) lead by an instructor with little engagement. These are primarily held Sunday morning during both services. They are either topical or series-based studies. Classes are a great place to make initial connections with people with whom you might want to be in a Life Group. Life Groups are intended to be a smaller (4-20 people) weekly gathering of people desiring a stronger level of relational depth with other believers in pursuit of maturing in Christ. Life
Every group will be different on when they start and end. However, every Life Group will start during the beginning of the school year and end at the end of the school year. We encourage LIFE Groups to do bible studies, curriculum, or group discussions that are developed for 8-week increments. While the commitment is for a school year the group may decide they want to meet during the summer for fun activities. This will be a great way to introduce new friends and invite those for the next study or topic your LIFE Group will be going through.
Life group leaders are responsible for providing their groups with vision, direction, and support—they do not need to be Bible experts or teachers. Leaders are successful when they are personally growing in their intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders, and are leading their groups in such a way as to encourage the group members’ growth in these areas as well. Each life group leader is supported by the Life Group Pastor.
· Have a personal, growing relationship with Jesus Christ
· Gone through the LIFE Track 101 course
· Have good social skills and emotional intelligence
· Recognize the Bible as the ultimate authority
· Has the time, emotional capacity, and moral discernment to lead a group
STARTING A LIFE GROUP
Vision
Here at Deer Flat Church it is imperative that we connect as a family. It is our desire to see the church body build the Kingdom of God as we gather in daily life.
Hebrews 10:25, Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Purpose
Life Groups are an incredible way to share about our life and find out the truths of God’s word and how it can apply. The purpose of life group is to see the people of God, build, encourage, strengthen, and share the hope of Jesus Christ with each other and world around them.
Life Group Plan
For people to follow you, you’ve got to know where you’re going. Your Life Group Plan will become your roadmap to a successful Life Group. Make it yours and get started right away. Feel free to reach out to your Life Group Pastor if you need help getting pointed in the right direction.
So what is your next step? Complete the application and Life Group Plan (if you are ready) and our Life Group Pastor will contact you.
SERMON BASED STUDIES
Jason Leist
Pastor, Contemporary Worship