TLC LIFE Groups Fact Sheet

• TLC LIFE Groups are the primary relationship building and discipleship tool of our church. We believe everyone who attends TLC should be in a LIFE group.
• Our LIFE Groups are sermon based groups. The focus of a sermon based small group is not so much on the curriculum as it is on the process. The ultimate goal of a sermon based small group is simply to Velcro people to the two things they will need most when faced with need-to-know or need-to-grow situation: the Bible and other Christians. (Key = The Bible and Relationships)
• Small Group sessions run for 10 weeks at a time with a brief rest between each session. A longer break is taken during the summer.
• Participants can sign up for any small group, and are encouraged to choose a group based on common interests, life stages, and proximity.
• Each small group studies the previous weekend’s sermon in greater depth. A group “homework” sheet is provided at the LIFE Groups kiosk at the end of the service that participants will take with them to their LIFE Group. Sermons are available in CD form or can be listened to or downloaded via our website. www.trueliftetoday.com
• At the beginning of a 10 week session participants can stay with the group they were in, or are free to join another group.
• A three week trial period is built into our small groups as well. If at the end of the first three weeks you are not happy with your small group you can switch to a new group, or sit out until the next session. It may very well take a couple groups before you find one that feels like “home.”
• Each group signs a covenant at the beginning of each session that outlines the expectations of the group.
• Our small groups are scheduled to take an hour and a half. This includes refreshments, a time of sharing, along with study and discussion.
• At the end of each 10 week session an evaluation form is completed to help us continue to offer great groups.
• There are two requirements for group leaders and hosts:

1. Spiritual Warmth = The most important trait a leader or host must possess is spiritual warmth. By that we mean a growing relationship with Jesus. It is absolutely essential. No amount of giftedness, knowledge, or people skills can compensate for its absence. Spiritual warmth is not the same thing as spiritual maturity. Spiritual warmth is characterized by obedience in the light we have. It is marked by a strong desire to be a growing disciple of Jesus, and can even be found in someone with a sketchy understanding of the Bible.

2. Relational Warmth = The second essential trait in a good leader or host is relational warmth. This doesn’t mean that every leader and host has to ooze with charisma, be extroverted, or make their living in sales! However, they do need to likeable.

• New attendees are assimilated into our LIFE Groups in one of two ways. If brought by a friend they may want to join the group their friend attends, or they simply may pick to be part of an existing group. We call this seeding. Or, we will routinely start “New Groups for New People.”