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Belonging. “One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do Two can be as bad as one It's the loneliest number since the number one…”. Belonging is a central aspect of The Kingdom of God. Acts 2
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Belonging “One is the loneliest number that you'll ever doTwo can be as bad as oneIt's the loneliest number since the number one…”
Belonging is a central aspect ofThe Kingdom of God Acts 2 • 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
Belonging is a central aspect ofThe Kingdom of God Acts 2 • 45They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity —47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Belonging is a central aspect ofThe Kingdom of God Acts 4 • 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
Four Spaces of Relationship Public Social Intimate Personal
Life Group Premise The intent is to get God out of our heads and into our lives. Our hope as a result of this endeavor tobecome better human beings. • When we come to group we share honestly about our own reality and the discrepancy between what we believe and what we do. At the same time, however, we begin sharing small everyday experiences. We listen to other people’s stories, to their reality. This might encourage us or confuse us. In either case we are in the real world where God intersects with real people.
Life Group Premise • We begin to learn that God is not afraid of difference or humanity. We loosen up and watch God work. We start noticing that our spiritual life is getting richer. While doing this our beliefs become more real and more personal. • In order to get God out of our heads and into our lives we must practice doing what we say we believe. Our relationship with each other helps these beliefs take root and grow in our minds and hearts.
Life Group Values Here are some guiding values to get a feel for how Life Group should go: Humility: I am not God, I can be wrong, I don’t know everything. (Php. 2) Honesty: I’ll try not to hide who I really am and how I really think and feel. Be authentic. (Col. 3) Honour: I’m interested in hearing your story. (Php. 2) Home: I’ll observe the “rules of the house” – take my shoes off, remember please and thank you, etc. (Col. 3) Holiday: Take a Sabbath break every 7th week.
Life Group Manners Everybody comes from a different home with different “manners”. Just to make sure we’re all starting on the same page, same expectations, here are the manners I’m advocating for our Life Groups. • No “Converting”: respect where people are. This is about Jesus but it’s not about “building up our organization”. I love it when people introduce me to a friend; I hate it when it feels like they’re recruiting me. • No Correcting: you can disagree with what you just heard without trying to ‘correct’ what the person just said. “That’s not where I’m at.” Is entirely different from, “That’s not where you should be.” People in our culture often won’t listen anyway until they know you like them. And no ‘correcting’ with your answer to the same question, just share your own thoughts and feelings to the question.
Life Group Manners Everybody comes from a different home with different “manners”. Just to make sure we’re all starting on the same page, same expectations, here are the manners I’m advocating for our Life Groups. • Find Common Ground: Look for ways you are like the people in the group instead of ways you are different from the people in the group. • Ask Questions That Clarify:A clarifying question is one, which brings more out of the person’s story. It is not a time for us to share our stories or opinions. For example: “That makes me think of something that happened to me” is NOT a clarifying question. “How long did you say that experience lasted?” is a clarifying question. • Nobody HAS to Share: In any discussion, ice-breaker or conversation every person can choose to pass or not share at that moment.
Life Group Manners • Keep Answers Brief: When it’s your turn to share you get a maximum of 5 minutes for your answer. You don’t have to use all that time but it’s best if you don’t use MORE than that. If people in the group ask a clarifying question for more info you can go a few more minutes. The reason for this is that this is a group experience and everyone gets time to share. People can relax and listen if they know that this won’t go on forever. • No Hijacking: Try not to jump in every time something that someone says makes you think of something. Let it flow as a natural conversation. Please don’t try to make sure that people get to a “right” answer. These are really just OUR answers and for this journey those are the answers we’re after.
Life Group Manners • No Driveway Follow Up: “O.K., now that we’re out here I can tell you how crazy you sounded…” is NOT what we want to be saying in the driveway as we’re leaving. • Sometimes a question is just a question. Don’t feel like you have to answer every question that’s posed. Jesus didn’t. Sometimes people are just “wondering out loud” and they don’t really want your answer to their question. Try not to be the “answer guy”. • Eat, Drink, Laugh, Listen, Love. Go where the conversation takes you.
Sharpening the Focus • What can a Life Group be? • Almost any environment that your group can grow in as a centered set. • Can it be a book study? • As long as it is a centered set with Jesus and not a book as the center. • Can it be a weekly golf foursome?(same as above) • Can my worship team be my Life Group? (same as above) • Can it be a cooking group? (same as above) • Can it be a Bible study? (same as above) • Can it be a Monday Night Football Group? • As long as…you get the point. • How big can a Life Group be? • Almost any size in which the Leadership can maintain the relationships and centeredness of the Group.
Resources Can your recommend any good books? • I encourage you to use resources that naturally flow with our Vision & our Values. • If you’re looking for a good book or guide I can help you. • Sundays I’ll post icebreaker & discussion questions rolling out of Sunday’s message. (please note: these are helps, NOT “the plan”.) • We will have a quarterly meeting for all Life Group Leaders for training and encouragement.
If you’d like to lead… • Talk to Brian to define and coordinate. • Pray, invite, pray some more. • Create safe and sacred space for people to meet in. • Have fun or you’re doing something wrong. • Remember: All groups are not meant to go on until Jesus returns.
GOALS • We’ll grow in our relationship with Jesus. • We’ll have each other’s backs. • We’ll exercise our spiritual gifts. • We’ll be a living sign that Jesus is alive. • We’ll experience God’s love. • We’ll extend God’s love. • Lives will be changed.
