Life Groups United: Recap
Hey everybody! Thanks to all of you who came out on the 9th to join us for Life Groups United! It was a very good first step in our journey together. It was great to hear Pastor Rick’s heart and commitment to group life at Adventure. My dream is that the day comes when we really do have 150% of our weekend adult attendance in a Life Group. Sounds wild…I know…but it is happening in some places around the country. And it can happen here…
Life Change Begins with the Leader
If you want change to happen in the life of the member…what has to happen? Let’s just say that change in the life of the member level is unlikely to happen unless they can see change happening in the life of the leader. Does that make sense to you? Although there are other factors at work, it is clear that change (learning to pray, developing a regular devotional habit, becoming more patient) is more likely caught than taught.
So how will that happen in a Life Group? It will require change in the leader. And that begs the question, “What was the last thing in your life that moved in the direction of becoming more like Jesus?”
One of the places in the New Testament that inspires me the most is when Paul wrote,
I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously
reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count
myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where
God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not
turning back.” Philippians 3:13-14 (MSG)
What’s he saying? He’s saying that he knew he had a ways to go, that he was on the way and intent on reaching his goal.
And the question I ask myself is, “Am I? Am I on the way? Am I intent on reaching that same goal? Or have I settled for being the way that I am? For the rest of my life?”
We ought to all be asking that question. Have we settled? Are we on the way? Are we intent on reaching that goal: that we would be like Jesus? Or have we settled?
With that set up, we spent the next few minutes around tables working through two handouts. I’ve linked them here:
Purpose Driven Life Health Assessement This assessment is a helpful way to examine your own spiritual life. It is also an excellent tool for a Life Group to use as a way of evaluating the group as a whole. The outcome can then be used to develop next steps, either for an individual or for a group.
Purpose Driven Life Health Plan Once you’ve worked through the assessment, your results can be used to formulate a plan, a way to grow in each of the five purposes (fellowship, discipleship, ministry, mission, and worship).
Accountability Questions
During the meeting I asked people to share their devotional pattern or habit. It was very interesting to hear how different people spend time with God in different ways.
Next, I asked people to share who fills the “shepherd” role for them. Dr. Wayne shared that he meets with someone and they ask each other the following questions (Taken from Chuck Swindoll):
- Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
- Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
- Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
- Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
- Have you given priority time to your family?
- Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
- Have you just lied to me?