LIFEGROUPS GUIDE 8/15/21

by | Aug 13, 2021 | adult ministry, Church Wide, LifeGroup Guide

LIFEGROUPS: WEEKLY DISCUSSION GUIDE

Lesson: LifeGroups – Doing Life Together

Week of August 15, 2021 

INTRODUCTION

  • This morning is going to be a little different when it comes to our lesson and discussion. As we kick off a new season here at Bay Area Church, we will take this week to cast some vision for our LifeGroup.  We will take some time to look at what LifeGroups are, what they are about, what they do, and how we can all work together to create a thriving and growing spiritual community on mission for Jesus.  
  • Many of you are LifeGroup “veterans.” You’ve been a part of a LifeGroup for years. You’ve experienced the power of doing life with other believers. You know what it means to practice the “one another’s” of Jesus’ teaching in a group setting. You’ve seen not only the value of being part of a Life Group but also worked to create a great place for others to experience the same. Others of you may be new to LifeGroups or new to our LifeGroup. Either way, today will be an important and informative time together. 
  • As we begin our time, I want to take a few minutes to get the discussion started by answering a few questions together: 
    • #1: In your opinion, what is the purpose of a LifeGroup? 
    • #2: How has your involvement in a LifeGroup (here or at another church) encouraged your life and faith? 
    • #3: What would you say is the number #1 reason why someone should be in a group? 
  • At Bay Area Church, we believe that we are better together! Every person needs to be part of a spiritual community. Every person needs to have others in their life that know them, encourage them, challenge them, grow them, and love them. We want our LifeGroups to be the place where this happens for those in our church and community! For this to happen, we must agree on what a LifeGroup is (purpose), what a LifeGroup does (rhythms), and how we can all work to make our LifeGroups a place where everyone can find the spiritual community they need.   

TWO FOUNDATIONAL PASSAGES

  • As we begin our deeper dive into LifeGroups, two passages of scripture will be foundational in our discussion today. 
  • The first is Mark 6:13-19. 
    • In this passage, we get a glimpse into the life and ministry of Jesus. We see what was important to Jesus and how he focused his life and ministry, which will be helpful as we talk more about our focus as a LifeGroup. Read this passage as a group. 
  • The second is Acts 2:42-47. 
    • This passage describes the life and rhythm of the early church, the first Christian community. We see their priorities, how they lived life together, and how God led them to be a community on mission. Their example will be helpful as we talk about our mission and purpose as a LifeGroup. Read this passage.
  • With these in mind, let’s answer some basic questions about LifeGroups at Bay Area Church. 

WHAT ARE LIFEGROUPS? 

  • Let’s continue our discussion today by focusing on a fundamental and foundational question: What are LifeGroups? 
    • We must have an aligned understanding of what LifeGroups are and why they are essential. 
  • At Bay Area Church, we define a LifeGroup in this way:
    • A LifeGroup is a community that is being spiritually transformed, growing as a spiritual family, and centered around our mission to restore people, families, and churches within the 4B area.
    • A LifeGroup is not just people meeting together at the church or in a home. It is a community with a specific mission living out that mission together. 

THE VISION OF LIFEGROUPS

  • The vision of LifeGroups is to multiply disciples of Jesus in the context of Gospel-centered community and mission.  
    • Community – As LifeGroup members gather to read and study Scripture, pray, worship, encourage one another, and serve others, they will grow as disciples of Jesus and discover the joy of taking part in a shared mission (Acts 2:42-47). 
    • Mission – As LifeGroups are intentional about serving neighborhoods, networks, our kingdom partners, the people within the 4B area will witness a community that lives out the Gospel in tangible ways. (Matthew 5:14-16)

WHO CAN BELONG TO A LIFEGROUP? 

  • Life Groups are central to Bay Area Church. LifeGroups are communities that people can belong to before they believe. LifeGroups reflect our entire church body and have mature Christians, new Christians, and non-Christians. Simply put, we want everyone to be in a LifeGroup because that is where both community and mission take place. Bay Area Church is NOT a church with Life Groups; we are a church OF LifeGroups.

THE CORE VALUES OF A LIFEGROUP

  • As we do life together, leading and encouraging people to follow Jesus through LifeGroups, we want to focus on three Core Values. 
  • Core values define what is important to a group. These values drive what LifeGroups prioritize, what LifeGroups do, and how they do it. 
  • Here are the three core values that drive our Life Groups: UP – IN – OUT. 

Because of God’s act of reaching DOWN to us in the Gospel, followers of Jesus individually and in a LifeGroup respond with an upward movement toward God, an inward movement toward each other, and an outward movement toward others to represent Christ to their unique areas of influence. 

These Core Values drive various rhythms that allow the Spirit of God to transform members’ lives and create a mission-centered community. 

Let’s talk through each of these core values. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about them, how we see them lived out in the life of Jesus and the early church, and how we can make these a core part of our rhythm as a LifeGroup here at Bay Area Church. 

VALUE #1: Looking Up – Movement Toward God 

In a LifeGroup, people will pursue God and grow in their love for Jesus. It may sound simple, but in our fallen world, people seek to become their own gods. As a result, we often seek to live apart from God, preferring our independence over a relationship with our Creator. But through the Gospel, Jesus transforms our hearts and moves us to a place where we recognize God as King, Father, and Savior! It becomes our joy to know, serve, and worship Him. 

Let’s look at a few scriptures: 

  • Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
    • Question: How does Paul describe us in our sin? 
    • Paul says that we were “dead” – spiritually separated from God and dead in our sin. But this is not who we are now in Christ. 
  • Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV “4 ButGod, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
    • Question: How does Paul describe us now because of Jesus? 
    • Paul says that in Christ, we are now “alive.” We’ve been made spiritually alive through faith in Jesus, and we are to now live in a relationship with God through Him. We are to look up to God, love him, and pursue a life with Him. 
    • Jesus said it this way. 
  • Matthew 22:36-38 ESV “36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”
    • Question: What does Jesus say is the greatest of all the commandments in Scripture?
    • The greatest commandment is to love God. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that he prioritized and focused on his relationship with the Father. 
    • The call to “look UP” is accomplished and encouraged individually and together in a spiritual community. 

How Did Jesus and the Early Church Model “Looking Up”? 

  • How Jesus Modeled Looking Up
    • Luke 6:12 ESV “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”
    • This passage is not the only time we see Jesus getting away and spending time with the Father. 
    • Just as Jesus looked up, we need to create a rhythm of doing the same as individuals and a group. 
  • How the Early Church Modeled Looking Up
    • Let’s look at the early church. They took this upward focus and created a rhythm for how they lived life together. 
    • Acts 2:42 ESV “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” 
      • Question: What does it mean to be devoted to the apostle’s teaching?
      • It means that they spent time listening to the word of God and learning from the apostles. In the following verses, Luke writes that they met together in the temple courts and their homes. The early church placed value on Looking Up. 

How Can Our Life Group “Look Up” Together? 

  • “Looking Up” is one of the core values for our LifeGroups here at Bay Area Church. 
  • Question: What are some ways we as a LifeGroup can practice looking up together? 
    • Let’s take a few minutes to discuss how we already do this. Then, let’s brainstorm ways for this to become a rhythm for our group. 
    • Here is a list that Eric Davis, the Adult Pastor, provided to the group leaders: 
  • Rhythms that include UP 
    • SOAP – Reading and applying the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Joshua 1:8)
    • Making regular time to reflect, pray, and praise God for His work. (Psalm 95:1-2) 
    • Engaging in discipleship Huddles. (2 Timothy 2:2, Hebrews 10:24-25) 
    • Worshipping God in creative ways. (songs, communion, etc.) (Psalm 105:1-2) 
    • Confessing and repenting of sin and reminding each other of the good news of Jesus Christ! (James 5:16) 
  • Point Leader: 
    • As a LifeGroup Leader, I’ve been encouraged to build a team to help us focus in these ways. 
    • Question: Who would be interested/willing to help our group focus on “looking up” and leading out in ways where we can practice this value? 
      • Identify people and plan to follow up to talk more.  

VALUE #2: Leaning In – Movement Toward God’s People 

In a Life Group, people learn to love one another. They share each other’s burdens, victories, pray for each other and forgive as Christ forgave us. New people are not left out but drawn in as they experience the family of God living in light of the Gospel. Living life connected. 

Let’s look at a few scriptures: 

  • Matthew 22:39-40 ESV “39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
    • Jesus, continuing his answer to the question of “which is the greatest commandment in the Law,” tells the crowd that we are not only to love God but also to love others. 
    • It’s impossible to obey this law alone. LifeGroups provide an excellent place for us to learn and practice what it means to love others. 
  • I Thessalonians 5:11 ESV “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
    • Question: How do Paul’s words here echo the command of Jesus in Matthew 22? 
    • Paul echoes the commands of Jesus in many places, one being the verse above. He often wrote about the importance of loving and serving one another in our relationships. He wrote about the importance of the church, the Body of Christ, and being a part of this community. 
    • Both Jesus and the early church modeled this way of living. 

How Did Jesus and the Early Church Model “Leaning In”? 

  • How Jesus Modeled “Leaning In”
    • Luke 6:13-16 ESV “13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”
    • In the Gospels, we see Jesus surrounded by others, specifically the disciples. 
    • Jesus built a community around him. These twelve were the closest to Jesus. They knew him best, and he knew them best. They prayed together, served together, traveled together, suffered hardship together, and loved each other. In this, Jesus was modeling what it means to live with an inward (relational) focus. 
    • We, as His followers, are called to do the same, and LifeGroups are a great place to live this out. 
  • How the Early Church Modeled “Leaning In”
    • Let’s again look at the early church. They took this inward focus and created a rhythm for how they lived life together. 
    • Acts 2:44-47 ESV “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.
      • Question: What are some of the relational rhythms and activities we see lived out in the early church in this passage? 
      • The early church shared with one another, served one another, ate together, celebrated together, and met together often. 
      • They formed a solid relational bond and support system for one another. 
      • We need this same thing today. 

How Can Our Life Group “Lean In” Together? 

  • “Leaning In” is one of the core values for our LifeGroups here at Bay Area Church. It’s an integral part of who we are and what we do as a LifeGroup. 
  • Question: What are some ways we as a LifeGroup can practice “leaning in” together? 
    • Let’s take a few minutes to discuss how we already do this. Then, let’s brainstorm ways for this to become a rhythm for our group. 
    • Here is a list that Eric Davis, the Adult Pastor, provided to the group leaders
  • Rhythms that include IN 
    • Practice hospitality and care for one another in practical ways (prayer, meals, service) (Mark 12:30-31, 1 Thessalonians 2:8) 
    • Encourage each other and build fellowship by sharing testimonies. (Psalm 22:22, 1 John 1:1-3) 
    • Engaging in discipleship Huddles. (2 Timothy 2:2, Hebrews 10:24-25) 
    • Praying, praising, and worshipping God together. (Psalm 95:1-2, 105:1-2)  
    • Practice Third Place opportunities. 
    • Create times for fun, celebration, and connecting. 
  • Point Leader: 
    • As I shared earlier – as a LifeGroup Leader, I’ve been encouraged to build a team to help us focus in these ways. 
    • Question: Who would be interested/willing to help our group focus on “leaning in” and leading out in ways where we can practice this value? 
      • Identify people and plan to follow up to talk more.  

VALUE #3: Launching Out – Movement Toward God’s Mission 

A Life Group has a defined and shared mission. In other words, we are a family on God’s mission together. Our shared mission field is an affinity group, neighborhood, or network of people. For example, neighbors who live on your block, in your school district, young families with kids, single parents, coaches, college students, or recovering addicts. This mission is a blessing to be a part of, as we get to take part in God’s redemptive work in restoring people. 

Let’s look at a few scriptures: 

  • Matthew 28:18-20 ESV “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    • Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave the disciples and all those who would follow Him a commission: we are to go into the world and make disciples. We are to be about loving and serving others so that they can come to know the love of Jesus and choose to follow Him with their lives. 
    • It is not just an individual call; it is also one that we are to answer together. 
    • A healthy LifeGroup will not just “look UP” and “lean IN” – it will “launch OUT” to be part of God’s mission together. 
  • John 15:13 ESV “13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
    • Jesus commands us to love God and to love others. 
    • He gave us a picture of what it truly means to love our neighbor. He gave His life to serve others. 
    • We are to do the same. 
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
    • Paul writes that we are “ambassadors” – representatives of our King and His Kingdom here on earth. 
    • As His representatives, we need to be like Him, reflect His character to others, and do what He did. 

How Did Jesus and the Early Church Model “Leaning In”? 

  • How Jesus Modeled “Launching Out”
    • Luke 6:17-19 ESV “17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.”
      • Jesus lives with an upward focus, an inward focus, and an outward focus. 
      • Jesus came to restore the world and its people to God. He met practical, rational, and spiritual needs. 
      • We are to live and do as Jesus did! Jesus launched out and lovingly served the world around Him. 
      • We see the early church doing the same as well. 
  • How the Early Church Modeled “Launching Out”
    • Acts 2:47 ESV “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 
      • The early church lived as a community on mission. The way they lived, loved, and served resulted in new believers daily. 
      • Question: How can the way we love and serve each other and those in the world help bring people to faith in Jesus? 
      • Serving others was a part of what the church was called and encouraged to do. 
    • Galatians 6:10 ESV “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
      • Paul encouraged the early church to “do good to everyone.” He called them to love and serve others. To “launch out” as a community on mission. 
      • We see the early church leaders preaching, healing, meeting needs, and calling others to do the same. 
      • They even served and shared the Gospel in difficult seasons. 
    • Acts 8:4 ESV “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”
      • Even when the church was scattered due to intense persecution, they kept preaching the word and living on mission. 
      • They embraced the call of Jesus to be a light to the world. 
    • Matthew 5:16 ESV “16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatthey may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
      • We see this in and through the early church. They loved, served, and healed others. They worked to live as Jesus lived and serve as Jesus did.
      • The way the early church lived, loved, and served was appealing and attractive to those around them. They represented Jesus in how they lived life together, and people came to faith and salvation! 
      • We are to follow their example. 

How Can Our Life Group “Launch Out” Together? 

  • “Launching out” is another vital part of who we are as a LifeGroup.  
  • Question: What are some ways we as a LifeGroup can “launch out” together? 
    • Let’s take a few minutes to discuss how we already do this. Then, let’s brainstorm ways this can become a rhythm for our group. 
    • Here is a list that Eric Davis, the Adult Pastor, provided to the group leaders.
  • Rhythms that include OUT 
    • Practice ThirdPlace opportunities. (Mark 2:13-17) 
    • Invite people to your Life Group. Allowing the Gospel to be seen and heard in the community is powerful and can help people know the joy of worshiping Jesus (John 13:35) 
    • Care for your neighbors in practical ways. 
    • Plan and organize service projects or events that meet a need in your community. Mark 12:30-31, 1 Thessalonians 2:8)
    • Intentionally work alongside our Kingdom Partners. (Matthew 6:33)
    • Meet new people by participating in existing community events organized by neighborhood groups, non-profits, or businesses. Be reminded that Jesus regularly attended community events. (John 10:22-30) 
  • Point Leader: 
    • As I shared earlier – as a LifeGroup Leader, I’ve been encouraged to build a team to help us focus in these ways. 
    • Question: Who would be interested/willing to help our group focus on “launching out” and leading out in ways where we can practice this value? 
      • Identify people and plan to follow up to talk more.  

CONCLUSION

LifeGroups are vital to the life and mission of Bay Area Church! 

We are excited about what God has done, is doing, and will do through our LifeGroup. However, for our group to function at its best, we need to remember the mission, vision, and core values of a LifeGroup. These values will help us create an excellent LifeGroup for those in this group and help us align with other groups here at BAC to make a more significant impact on the 4B Area for the Kingdom of God! 

Will you commit to this vision with us? Will you commit to LOOKING UP, LEANING IN, and LAUNCHING OUT together? 

WRAP-UP QUESTIONS

As we conclude our time this week, let’s take some time and talk through a few final questions. 

  • What did you hear? 
    • What is your one “take-away” from this week? How did God speak specifically to you through this passage and study? 
    • As you look at our LifeGroup, which of the three Core Values is our best, and which one needs the most work? Why?  
  • What do you think? 
    • How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think about the resurrection? 
    • What about the series? How did God affirm, challenge, or change the way you think?
  • What will you do? 
    • What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your life this week?   
    • What practical steps can you take to better live out these core values in your life and the group? 

Let’s close in prayer. 

UPCOMING MESSAGES: “Life Together” 

  • August 15 – “Devoted to the Same Things” (Acts 2:42-43)
  • August 22 – “Sharing and Giving Like Family” (Acts 2:44-45)
  • August 29 – “Gathering in Big and Small Ways” (Acts 2:46-47)