Life Groups Q&A
Why commit to a life group?
Life groups are not a new idea because they date to the first generation of the church. Acts 2:46 says that the early disciples were together “daily in one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46). Notice they were together both in the temple (i. e. the church building) and in smaller, more intimate settings (homes). This model is being confirmed by 1000’s of other congregations that are finding small groups to be vital in their mission to make disciples by linking people to Jesus and each other. Even now we use small group settings very effectively in our Celebrate Recovery program.
When and where will life groups meet?
We meet for 13 consecutive weeks beginning in August and January. There are announcements prior during these period to let you know when and how to sign up. We have groups that meet on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.
What will happen when a life group meets?
There are three key components to life groups- informal connecting, personal sharing, and Bible-based discussions. A usual night would look something like this:
- 15-20 minutes of informal conversation/ light refreshments.
- 15-20 minutes of sharing/ prayer requests/ updates on life events.
- 45 minutes of discussion based on last week’s sermon with sermon notes/questions provided.
The plan is to have sermon based discussion groups. What this means is that there will be handouts with discussion questions based on the Sunday morning sermon that allows the participants to go beyond the sermon. In other words, the sermon will not simply be rehashed but corporately applied through questions designed to stimulate discussion. These small groups will meet in homes one night per week (probably Sundays or Wednesdays), for approximately 1.5 hours.
What about childcare?
Each group will handle this situation differently. Some groups will choose to use babysitters while others may choose to meet at the church so their children can participate in children’s programs on campus. The preferred mode is to bring your children and meet as families.
What if I don’t like my life group?
As mentioned previously, the life groups will meet for 13 weeks with a significant break between semesters. We would like for you to make a 13-week initial commitment. When the groups reconvene in January, you are free to choose not to participate or join another life group.
I’d love to sign up OR I’ve got more questions. Who can I contact?
Please contact Nathan Leasure at pastorleasure@greenevillefcog.org or call/text (828)-394-7193.