FAQ's about Life Groups
Q. What is a Life Group?
A. A Life Group is two or more who gather in Jesus’ name to live out God’s purposes for your life.
Q. Why Join a Life Group?
A. Life groups are the basic building blocks of community life at Christ Fellowship. In a Life Group, you will:
- Grow closer to Jesus
- Deepen your understanding of the Bible
- Strengthen your prayer life
- Discover spiritual encouragement and support
- Learn how to live God’s purposes
- Meet new friends
Life Groups help people experience more of God through community with one another. Different groups work for different people. That’s why we have many different types of life groups at Christ Fellowship.
Relationships are part of the process of progressively becoming more like Christ. They’re instrumental in discovering how God has gifted you and called you to serve others. We all experience hardships in life. If you’re not experiencing trouble now, at some point you will…and that’s when the healthy friendships you’ve developed in a group will make all the difference in the world for you and your family.
Q. What kinds of groups are there?
A. There are many different types of groups:
- Study groups using Beth Moore, Andy Stanley
- Support groups including cancer, GriefShare, Recovery
- Shared Interest groups including deep sea fishing, scrapbooking, photography
- Service groups including homeless feeding, Thanksgiving meal preparation, fight against human trafficking
Q. Why do you call them Life Groups?
A. Because they’re for…
Life transformation
Life-change
Life development
They’re for experiencing the life of God.
Extending the life of God to others. In other words, they’re life-giving.
Life groups are for the whole of life – they offer a way of living our lives purposefully for Christ.
Q. What is the difference between a Life Group and a Life Study?
A.
| Life Group | Life Study |
| Host home environment | Classroom environment on-site |
| Host facilitates discussion | Trained leader |
| Evolves over multiple seasons | Starts and finishes in one semester |
| All difference varieties | Structured topic |
Q. How do I join a Life Group?
A.
- Start your own! It’s easier than you might think. We even offer iMAX guides as a way to engage in discussion-based bible study. Invite your friends and others you know to join you to study a topic, enjoy a certain activity, or serve together. Watch the GroupStart video and you’ll be well on your way to launching your own group.
- Attend one of our GroupLink events held multiple times a year. This is an open house environment for you to come meet hosts who are open for new members to join their group.
- Check out the GroupFind tool and it will direct you to group options based upon your days and times of availability. You can contact the hosts directly for information on their group.
Q. How do I start my own Life Group?
A.
- Watch the GroupStart video then complete and submit the online application.
- Attend a Get in the Game class and become a committed member of Christ Fellowship.
- Experience a coaching session. This happens in two formats: A connection with a community leader or your participation in a host orientation.
Q. What are the requirements for me to start/host/lead my own group?
A. By completing this simple 3 step process, you will be able to fulfill, and acknowledge your agreement with all the following:
A host must…
- Have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
- Have watched GroupStart (10-minute online video) and submitted the host application (online).
- Have made the personal decision to be baptized or has made the commitment to soon be baptized.
- Agree with Christ Fellowship’s statement of faith without any reservations
- Agree to embrace and develop the five biblical purposes in their life and the lives of people in their group.
- Protect the unity of Christ Fellowship.
- Support the mission of Christ Fellowship: We are called to impact our world with the love and message of Jesus Christ.
Q. What is expected of me if I sign up for a Life Group?
A. Depending on the group, you may get together weekly, every other week, or maybe even monthly. There may be some other requests made of the specific group you select, like personal study you do before each meeting or commitments of confidentiality. Do your best to come to the group you’ve signed up for. Once you find a group that sounds like it would be a good fit for you, the group leader will let you know of important details.
Q. What if I'm not spiritually mature enough to be a part of a Life Group?
A. Spiritual maturity or Bible knowledge is not a prerequisite. To the contrary, we understand that all of us need to continue growing closer to Christ, and Life Groups are designed to encourage us in that. No matter where you feel you’re at in your spiritual journey, life groups can help you take your next steps closer to the Lord. What matters is that you have a heart that desires to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and invite others to join you n the journey.
Q. I'm still unsure about joining a Life Group. I'm so busy and just can't imagine making another commitment. What should I do?
A. Life has seasons. There are many different opportunities to connect, serve, and get to know others at Christ Fellowship while keeping a healthy, balance. We’d love to help you discover what’s best for helping you connect with others in your Christian life.
Q. What if I join a group and don’t like it?
A. Every host in our community life wants you to find the group that is right for you. You can always try again at our next GroupLink or find the one that’s a better fit for you on GroupFind. Also, new life groups launch out of our life studies on a regular basis so, choose one that interests you and jump right in!
Q. When do new groups start?
A. All the time! New groups are starting every month of the years. Waves of new groups start with each GroupLink. However, if you want to be in a group now, we encourage you not to wait. Several new groups begin new studies in the fall, winter, and spring-but you can join a group anytime of the year.
Q. How long do Life Groups go for?
A. Each life group is different. Some go for a specific number of weeks. Others are ongoing. Most, however, follow a seasonal rhythm so after a term of 6-10 weeks, you can easily exit a group you’re in or enter one that’s new for you.
Q. Where can I find reference to “Life Groups” in the Bible?
A. One equivalent to “life group” in the Bible would be a “house church” as you’ll find in the scriptures. Also, it is worth noting that a “church” is a gathering of ‘called out ones’, as the Greek word (ekklesia) suggests. Community always has and always will play a vital part in how God has called us to mature in Him and impact our world with the love and message of Jesus Christ.
“Every day [all the believers] continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily whose who were being saved.” –Acts 2:46-47
“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ.” –Acts 5:42
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” –Matthew 18:20
“The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” –Mark 12:29-31
“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
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” –I john 1:7
“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” –I Jon 3:23
“Let us not give up meeting together…but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” –Hebrews 10:25
“Greet also the church that meets at their house.” –Romans 16:5
“Aquilla and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord and so does the church that meets at their house.” -1 Corinthians 16:19
“Give my greetings…to Nympha and the church in her house.” –Colossians 4:15
Q. Why are Life Groups so important?
A. We all need the encouragement that comes from other people to faithfully lives out the purposes of God (Hebrews 10:25)
The Great Commandment requires relationship with others (Mark 12:30-31)
The Great Commission requires relationship with others (Matthew 28:19)
Discipleship and evangelism are relational by nature (John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:12)
The exercise of spiritual gifts and leadership development happens in community (Acts 6:1-7, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:15-16)
The Church of God is God’s household-a family-a community of people in relationship with God and one another as different parts of one Body (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27)
Healthy relationships are necessary if the Church is to be all God has called it to be (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, 5:42)
God designed us for community (Genesis 1:27-28)
They provide a biblical strategy for living out the dozens of ‘one another’ commands through the New Testament, e.g. “love one another”, “carry one another’s burdens”, etc.
Q. Do you have a Life Group question not answered here?
A. For more information about life groups at Christ Fellowship, please click here to contact us and we will follow-up with your shortly.
