Should You Join a Life Group?
Think of any person from the Bible, and you’ll likely find one common denominator: community. Paul had Silas and Barnabas; Ruth had her mother-in-law, Naomi; and Jesus Himself traveled with a small band of friends.
From the Old Testament to the New, it’s clear to see that God intended for us to “do life” with fellow believers. That’s why we make Life Groups such a priority at Elevate Community Church.
Here, our team led by Pastor Chris VerSteeg dives deeper into what the scriptures say about authentic community and why it’s so important.
What are Life Groups?
Simply put, Life Groups are small groups of people who meet weekly (or every other week) outside of Sunday service to study the Bible and do life together. Groups gather at one of the member’s homes or at church for their meetings. Each meeting lasts around an hour and a half (longer if the snacks hold out).
Most groups have anywhere from 8-12 members. There are also a wide variety of groups you can join based on your life stage. For example, we have groups for:
Couples
College students
Men
Women
Singles
We also have groups that are open to anyone. If you’re not sure which group is the best fit for you, talk to one of our friendly staff members, and we’ll get you set up with the perfect group.
What can I expect from a Life Group?
We take our cues from the Bible, especially when it comes to authentic biblical communities. When you join a Life Group, you can expect it to look a lot like the groups that met in the earliest stages of the Church.
A prime model of authentic biblical community in action shows up in Acts 2:42-47:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Here we have a clear example of the power of community among followers. This is the atmosphere all our Life Groups emulate — fellowship, friendship, conversation, spiritual growth, and, of course, food.
Should I join a Life Group?
Now that you know some of the basics of what Life Groups look like, we want to walk through just a few of the reasons why we think they’re so important.
First, we believe that God has created us to live life together. All the way back to the beginning of time, God recognized that, “it was not good for man to be alone.” When He created Eve, he also created the first community.
Second, we know how difficult life can be. Even more, we know how much easier life can be when you’re surrounded by a group of fellow believers. Our groups have seen each other through loss, grief, doubt, fear, and a wide range of other trials.
Finally, we value Life Groups as an essential part of your spiritual growth. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” When you join a Life Group, you get to wrestle with your questions, learn more about what you believe, and develop your relationship with God.
How do I join a Life Group?
We understand that stepping out of your comfort zone and joining a Life Group is a big deal, so we want to be there with you every step of the way. First, head to our website to take a look at our list of active groups. Then, reach out to us and we’ll get you connected with the group leader.
