What To Expect At A LifeGroup
Our desire is that everyone who calls FavorLife home is connected to a LifeGroup. LifeGroups are all about fellowship, encouragement, making new friends, prayer and study of God’s Word as it relates to the issues and challenges of everyday life. LifeGroups are a place where we can share our lives with others. The good times, the tough times, and all the times in between. The Bible says: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
Our LifeGroups functions are modeled after the early church based on Acts 2:42-47 (NIV):
1. LifeGroups study the Bible
Small groups in the New Testament studied the Bible together. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …” Of course, we know the teaching of the apostles is what we call the New Testament today. They lived in an oral culture, but they were still studying lessons from the apostles.
Our LifeGroup Bible study concept is to have our groups study what we teach our congregation on Sunday. We will provide discussion points and reflection questions to help with the Bible Study discussions.
2. LifeGroups share life together
The Book of Acts says the early believers were “devoted to fellowship (Acts 2:42)”. This means they were serious about their friendships. Notice the Bible says they were “devoted to fellowship”, not just to the fellowship. In other words, fellowship is not just something the church does; we are the fellowship.
Jesus calls us to be committed to one another, and it is through small groups that we learn the skills of relationship. LifeGroups are laboratories of love, where we learn to obey the command of Jesus to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
3. LifeGroups pray together
The Bible says the early believers “devoted themselves to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Jesus taught that there is a power to prayers spoken aloud for each other, and he made an incredible promise about small groups of believers: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20 NASB). In the intimacy and confidentiality of small groups, we can pray for each other as we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help.
4. LifeGroups do ministry together
The Bible says these small groups gave “to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:45 NIV). Small groups allow us to help each other with practical needs. Each LifeGroup will have opportunities to serve God’s people with the love and compassion of Christ.
5. LifeGroups worship together
The Bible says the New Testament small groups worshiped together, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:47). We need to worship God more than once a week, and Life Groups offer an opportunity to worship together. Prayer, Bible Study and fellowship are all forms of worship.
6. LifeGroups witness together
As these small groups met together, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). The early church were inviting others to join them at their small group home meetings. You too should invite your family, friends and neighbors to lifeGroup and church meetings. A LifeGroup may also help start another small group.
As your loving pastor, I encourage you join a LifeGroup here at FavorLife for all the above reasons. Don’t just come to church, be a growing believer and get plugged into the church. If you can’t find one you like, start a LifeGroup. You need at least one person to join you to have a LifeGroup. We will help you start one!
Mike Prah