Life Groups: Three Core Values

God designed His people to live in three vital relationships– their relationship to God (reaching upward), their relationship to other believers (reaching inward), and their relationship to nonbelievers (reaching outward). Life groups focus on developing and experiencing these three relationships.

1. Reaching upward refers to our relationship with God. Life groups are centered around the person of Jesus. We want to see God honored and exalted above all else. We desire to see Jesus greatly glorified in our hearts and shine forth into the community. This happens through studying the Bible together, sharing how God is working in our lives, worshiping through song, and corporate prayer.

Helpful Scriptures: Exodus 18:11, Psalm 48:1, Psalm 150:2, Matthew 22:38

2. Reaching inward refers to our relationship with other believers, particularly those in our life group. Life in gospel community involves caring for one another, living ordinary life together, rejoicing and weeping together, praying for each other, encouragement, accountability, exhortation, and so much more. The “one-another” scriptures are appropriate in this context. For example, be devoted to one another, honor one another, and live peaceably with one another ( Romans 12:9-20).

Helpful Scriptures: John 13:34, I Corinthians 11:33, Galatians 5:13

3. Reaching outward refers to our relationship to nonbelievers. God desires for us to engage in His redemptive mission. Jesus said that his mission is to seek and to save that which is lost, those who are far from God. Mission is not intended to be engaged primarily on an individual level. As a life group, we actively seek to share with others His great gospel story. While each individual person in the life group reaches out to their friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and others, they do so with the help, prayer, and support of others in their life group. In the group setting, using the “empty chair” is a helpful reminder that there are others who need to be welcomed into the group.

Helpful Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20; Ezekiel 34:16, Matthew 15:24, Matthew 25:40, Luke 15:4