Life Groups
Below you will find, hopefully, most all the information you'll need to understand what Life Groups are and why we have them.
What are Life Groups?
Life Groups are smaller groups of people who gather to do life together. Life Groups are the primary way by which we fulfill the second step in our ministry process, "Grow Together." Once an individual or couple have been attending Sunday mornings for a while, our hope is they would move to the next level and become a part of a Life Group.
Why Do You Have Life Groups?
Sunday mornings are awesome, and serve many purposes, but quite frankly it is very hard to build meaningful relationships and care for one another in a large gathering once a week among 300 people for 70 minutes. So we offer different Life Groups with the purpose to Connect, Care, and Challenge.
1) Connect
We weren't made to be alone, we were made for relationship, and Life Groups provide that place to create and develop meaningful relationships. It's hard to stay connected to people and establish meaningful relationships if you only see them once a week at church for maybe 5 minutes before and after service. So Life Groups provide that chance to connect with people who might be in the same place as you in life or might have the same passions you do.
2) Care
At the heart of Life Groups is this idea that we would do life together, which includes all the ups and downs that come with it. Caring for one another, and being cared for, is one of the marks of what it means to be a follower of Christ. When you're a part of Life Group you know that you will be surrounded by people who love and care for you, will pray for and with you, will band together and carry you in those times you need carried. Not to mention, you yourself will get the opportunity to love and care for those who hurt.
3) Challenge
We are all in different places in our journey to live in the Way of Jesus. Life Groups provide the opportunity to challenge one another, and be challenged, to live more holy, fruitful, fulfilling lives. It's easy to just coast lazily through life when you're alone, but when you're surrounded by people who love and care for you, and who are challenging you to grow, you might just find yourself different tomorrow from who you are today.
What Can I Expect?
Most Life Groups meet in homes throughout the East Valley. Groups meet anywhere from 60 minutes to two and half hours! There are many different types of groups, but usually the group will decide on a book to study together (that could be a book of the Bible, or maybe a book on marriage and relationships...), and they'll meet maybe every other week or so to discuss the book. They'll meet and catch up on life, encourage and council each other. They will pray for and with each other. And then, of course, usually there is some sort of food consumption.
Generally you can expect a group of people who, like you, want more out of life than just the routine, shallow relationships we tend to have, and who believe that being a part of a church is so much more than just showing up every Sunday.
Who Are They For?
Life Groups are for everyone who is:
- looking for meaningful relationships
- needing a stronger sense of community
- wanting to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus
- feeling lost in the crowd on Sundays
- hurting and broken and needs cared for
- healed and whole and wants to care for others
- hoping that church is about more than just 70 minutes on Sunday
When Are They?
There are a number of different types of Life Groups. Some groups meet midweek a couple times a month. Other groups meet every Sunday. Some are in the morning while others are at night.
Contact Matt Stowell to find out more specifically when a group meets that might work for you in your life,
Where Do They Meet?
Similar to the above answer, each Life Group is different. Most groups meet in homes, while others meet here at The Grove, and still others meet at a local restaurant or coffee shop.
Contact Matt Stowell to find out more specifically where a group meets that might work for you in your life,
