TLC LIFE Groups

Why Sermon Based?

1. The focus of a sermon based small group is not so much on the curriculum as it is on the process.

1. 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)

1. The seemingly arbitrary nature of the topics covered in a sermon drives home the point that the Bible speaks to an incredible array of subjects.

1. There is great value in studying one thing and studying it well as opposed to studying lots of things, none of which we ever cover in depth.

1. Increased attentiveness. When the congregation is aware that they are going to discuss the message later they pay more careful attention...

1. Increased note taking and recall. Once again, with the awareness that the message is going to be the foundation for the small group, people tend to take better notes. It has long been pointed out that we forget most of what we hear unless we also interact with the material visually, verbally, or physically. That is why getting people to take notes increases recall dramatically.

1. Sermon based small groups make it much easier for the pastor to keep the entire church focused and headed in the same direction. Whether casting a vision, clarifying direction, or simply dealing with an important issue.

1. It allows the church to take one topic, slow down, and digest it together. This not only creates a greater sense of common direction, but it also does away with the lack of focus and disjointedness that comes when we study one area of the Bible in Sunday school, another in the service, and yet another at our small group.

1. This style encourages and allows those who miss church or serve in some other area of our ministry to pick up a CD or the message, or listen to it online. This means that a number of people who otherwise wouldn’t hear the message not only hear it but reflect on it and then go to a small group to discuss it.

1. Sermon based helps move people beyond mere exposure to actual knowledge. Small group participants are exposed multiple times to a passage, principle, or spiritual truth. This naturally fosters a cycle where individuals are applying important spiritual truths and doctrines of faith to the way they live.

1. These groups allow people to connect with the larger body of the church, the worship service, and the weekend message. When each small group is focused on a different study your ability to relate with those outside your group becomes limited. With sermon based, even though someone may not be in your group, you are naturally able to relate due to the shared study of scripture.

1. These groups make the task of leading a small group much more manageable due to the fact that you don’t have to be a Biblical scholar or experienced teacher to lead a discussion. Effectively leading a traditional small group Bible study usually requires a good deal of biblical knowledge, at least some degree of a teaching gift, and a significant amount of pre-meeting preparation. In contrast, sermon based small groups only need a facilitator who has a growing relationship with God and a heart for the people in the group.

1. These groups allow for the occasional vacation, trip to the mountains, family sickness, among other things that might cause someone to miss one or two weeks. Instead of now having to try and catch up by doubling up on the chapters needed to be read in a typical book study, a couple can just download and listen to the sermon if they like while away, or when they come back they can just jump back in and it is as if they never missed. New sermon, new passage, same friends, same shared journey through the Bible!

1. These groups also make it easier for new Christians to participate without feeling out of the loop or that they have nothing meaningful or intelligent to share. Because the discussion is about a sermon they’ve heard and experienced, they will most likely be much quicker to share their thoughts and insights.

1. Anytime a group of friends commit to gather together to share their lives, pray, and discuss the biblical text and life application of the previous weekend’s sermon, good stuff happens!