Life Groups

Are you searching for joyful, grace-filled friendships, a stronger faith, & a practical understanding of how to apply the Bible to your life? 

Then join one of our Life Groups.  Read on to learn more, and contact us for a list of current Life Groups and their meeting information.

What is a Life Group?

A Life Group is an intentional, informal gathering of 5-15 people who meet regularly with the common purpose of growing in Jesus Christ, encouraging one another, and reaching out to lost people.

• Intentional:  You make a decision to join the group of your choice.
• Informal:  Most of the groups meet in homes.  There is one exception to this:  one of the groups meets at the building on Sunday nights at 6pm.
• Gathering of 5-15:  A small number is more conducive for building trust and sharing.  Once a group grows to 12-15 adults, it will multiply into two groups.
• Meet Regularly:  The groups will have a scheduled time that they meet each week, and regular attendance is encouraged.  The groups meet 3 times a month.
• Common Purpose:  These groups will meet to discuss and apply the Sunday morning message in a positive environment where spiritual friendships are formed and newcomers are welcome.  Plus, these groups will be there for each other when someone in the group faces a life crisis.

How a Life Group Works

• A sermon outline is placed in the Sunday morning bulletin with blanks to be filled-in during the message.  Group members are encouraged to fill it out and take it to their group meetings.
• A listing of all groups (times, locations, leaders, phone numbers, e-mails) is also found in the bulletin, and, each Sunday, visitors are invited to attend a group.
• Groups meet that Sunday evening or during the week with the following format:  a period of welcome with an ice-breaker question, a period of worship, a period of Bible study discussion aimed at applying the Sunday morning lesson to everyday life, and a period of intercessory prayer.  Group meetings should last 1 hour to an hour and a half.

Top 10 Benefits of Life Groups

1. Surface-relationships replaced with meaningful fellowship and friendship
2. Increased application and reinforcement of Sunday morning messages
3. People needs met more consistently (benevolence; information; emotional support; visitation; crises)
4. Intergenerational relationships and mentoring fostered
5. Every participant expected to grow in ability to minister to others
6. An incubator for leadership
7. Evangelism and service as a team effort
8. An informal, attractive option for lost people, new members
9. Locations available throughout NE Florida/SE Georgia
10. All groups follow a common study

Life Group FAQ's

What options will there be for children?

• Each group will decide for itself, but options include allowing children to participate in a portion of the meeting times, hiring babysitters, and/or rotating the task of caring for the children among the group members.  Our Children's Education Ministry (Wee Care) is willing to provide training and/or curriculum if adult groups want to use time when kids are separated as a teaching time.

What options will there be for teens?

• Each family can decide for themselves, but there is a teen Life Group meeting weekly or groups/families may choose to take their teens with them to their Life Group meetings.

What if I miss the Lord's Supper on Sunday morning, and I want to attend a Life Group that meets on Sunday nights?

• Of course, it will be offered at the building on Sunday night by the group meeting there, but each group meeting in homes also on Sunday nights will be prepared to offer the Lord's Supper there, too.

"Why I Love Life Groups"

Michelle Arseneau (pictured here to the right of a fellow Life Group attender) wrote this about her experience in Life Groups:

I feel as though I do not have the proper words to convey...the importance and the need for life groups and participation in them.

For me it has been an incredible blessing for the past two years.  When I attend church, my thoughts are not always focused on what and why I am there.  I know I am not the only one that struggles with this.  By going to 'life group' it focuses me, rejuvenates me, and helps me to gain control once again.  It has also made me break down a wall of pride that I knew I had but didn't know how much control Satan had over me in this area of my life.  By allowing my life group to be my family, my support, and my sounding board, I have been blessed with wonderful prayers and answers to them.  God is so GOOD!

My prayer for you...give Life Groups a try and watch how the Spirit will move among you and feel the love of Jesus--it is amazing!