The Heart of lifeGroup

Sometimes in life we get confused. We get in routines and lose sight of the purpose behind those routines. We fill our lives with so much busyness that we can’t see the forest for the trees. We keep doing something for so long that we never ask, “Why are we doing this?” Occasionally it is good for us to stop and remember why we do the things we do. So why do you do the things you do? Think about it. See what answers you come up with from this list. Why do you…
go to school?
play a sport?
raise a family?
prepare a household budget?

What’s the purpose of…
going to work?
shopping for Christmas presents?
going on vacation?
making our bed (I mean , really, your just going to mess it up in a few hours anyway!)?
cleaning our room?
serving our neighbor?
praying for our neighbors?
reading our Bibles?

In 2001, while in India, I read the book “The Second Reformation” written by William Beckham. As I read this book I was also observing the rapid spread of Christianity under great persecution. These Indian Christians were completely dedicated to sharing the Good News that they had discovered about Jesus with their friends, neighbors and family. “They could not help but speak about what they had heard and seen.” Acts 4:20 This unbelievable growth happened through the multiplication of leaders, and house churches. At the end of that trip I came home filled with a vision, a clear picture of a preferable future. Could that kind of multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches happen in Madison? I hoped so. Today I know so.

In the fall of that year we started our first lifeGroup. My family, together with the Wenger’s, Kuhnke’s and Keagy’s began exploring what it meant to live life together. Today there are some 35 lifeGroups, including 2 churches and some 365 people living life together in these authentic biblical communities. Praise God!

It’s good for us to thank God. It is also important that we ask ourselves this question: Why do we do lifeGroups? What’s the purpose of these smaller communities?

I would love to hear from you. What would your answer be? As you ponder, allow me to remind all of us that Jesus gave us ONE mission. He said to His disciples, and to all those who believe in Him throughout the ages (that’s you and me, friend), “Go, and make disciples…baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. “ Matthew 28:20 Our mission is to make disciples! Earlier in His ministry Jesus gave an invitation to those who were considering following Him. He said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 So, following Jesus results in being able to catch people for Jesus!

So, what’s the purpose of lifeGroup? What is the ultimate goal? lifeGroups exist for one purpose. We gather in these smaller communities because we believe they are the best environment for disciple-making. As we follow Jesus who is the center of our lifeGroups he will make us fishers of men. And people who are drawn to Jesus and desire to explore the truth about Him can do that most effectively in a lifeGroup. People who believe, but yearn for a deeper walk, and a deeper understanding of Jesus’ love in
their life can find that with the help of their disciple-making friends in lifeGroup.

Here are some questions to consider:
1) Is your lifeGroup actually making disciples? (more and better)
2) Are you taking enough time in your lifeGroup to follow Jesus so that He can make you a fisher of men?
3) How are you “discipling” the people in your lifeGroup? Are you praying for them? Are you supporting them and encouraging them in their journey? Are you teaching them how to read their Bible? Are you spending time with them outside of the group?
4) Have you nurtured an atmosphere in your lifeGroup that is conducive to authentic accountability to obedient living? “And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
5) Do your discussions lead to heart conversations and life transformation, or is your lifeGroup satisfied to keep things at an intellectual or social level?

As you think about such things, never forget the privilege and great responsibility we have been given to carry the Good News about Jesus wherever we go. May it be said of us as we live life together in lifeGroup, as we lead our lifeGroup, as we multiply our lifeGroup, as we start new churches, as we raise up more leaders…“They could not help but speak about what they had heard and seen.” Acts 4:20 Jesus is making us fishers of men!


Pastor Jeff