Key Life Group Values

All groups operate according to certain values and expectations. Often these are unwritten or unspoken. In order to foster open communication and clarity about the purpose and values of True Life’s Life Groups it is important that as a leader you understand and support their implementation via the Life Group Covenant. This week we will discuss the values that are keys to building Life Group relationships. Consider your own ministry in deciding how best to approach your group. The most important thing is that your members are committed to growing in interpersonal relationships and maturity in Christ.

1. Affirmation. It is important to create an atmosphere where group members will affirm and encourage one another, build each other up in Christ and help each other to grow.
2. Availability. It is also important that group members and their resources be available to each other. Our time, attention, insight, as well as material resources, must be available to help meet each others needs and to serve one another.
3. Prayer. Prayer is an important part of the Life Groups. The group comes together before God to praise, ask, confess, and thank Him for all He has done. Prayer encourages the members to be humble, knowing that all things come from God. In prayer, we can help each member to feel valued and come to understand their own worth, not only to God but to us. As you develop your group dynamics and deepen relationships you will see God move to answer the prayer concerns of the group members, everyone is encouraged by this.
4. Openness. Openness in relationships within the group promotes honesty and an ease of sharing feelings, struggles, joys, and hurts. Reaching the goal of deep authentic relationships begins by being open with one another and by opening the group up to new members.
5. Honesty. We need to desire to be honest with each other if we want to develop real relationships. In order trust to develop among group members, they must speak the truth in love so that ‘we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ’ (Eph. 4:15)
6. Safety. Honest, open relationships must be guarded with an agreement of safe communications – that is what is said in the group stays in the group, confidential, unless permission is given by the individual for one of the leaders to share with the LG Coordinator or Sr. Pastor. We need to develop an openness which will be respected and allow for differences without breaking this safe environment.
7. Confidentiality. As part of the concept of safety, confidentiality promotes openness by promising that whatever is shared within the group will remain in the group and not be shared outside the group.
8. Sensitivity. A commitment to being sensitive to the needs, feelings, backgrounds and current situations of other group members will help build relationships within the group.
9. Accountability. In true relationships, accountability is voluntary submission to another group member(s) for support, encouragement and help in various areas of your life, giving them some responsibility for assisting you in those areas of need.
10. Evangelism. As a group, we need to commit to evangelism by expanding the True Life Community of believers through such things as sharing your faith, inviting others to join us in both our Sunday worship and Life Groups or other forms of outreach.
11. Outreach. Having your group grow to about 10-14 members and eventually birth new groups enables True Life members to carry out the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 and the Mission of True Life Community “To live up to our name and honor God, by opening the doors to True Life to the families and individuals who attend this church, our community, and to everyone God brings into our lives.”

As Life Group leaders think about and meditate on how you how you want to encourage these values in your own group. As a team (leaders & hosts) discuss the best way to encourage and build these values from the beginning of your group.