Doing Life Together

A New Environment for Connecting

Have you ever been in a small group that really wasn’t all that enjoyable, or didn’t seem to be very beneficial?  Do you know of someone that especially needs to find a place where they can meet regularly with other Christians – but you just don’t know how to help them, or where to send them?  Is, “Been There, Done That - No Thanks” your initial reaction to LifeGroups and the whole small group concept?  Perhaps you have thought about joining a LifeGroup, maybe even discussed it with your spouse and then dismissed the whole idea because you already have too many commitments and too little time.  Maybe you have already filled out an information card seeking to find a group that you could join, but you just haven’t been able to find the right LifeGroup connection.

WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU!  It’s a new place designed to help you see what LifeGroups are really about – and perhaps find a group that’s a right fit for you.  Here you can meet our leaders and hear stories of those doing life together within their groups.  You will meet folks who may have the same issues, questions and concerns that you have now. This is an informal place to ask those questions and get answers from leaders forming new groups or opening their existing groups to others.  Maybe you just want to listen.  No immediate commitment to join a group is required.  Sounds pretty easy, huh?  We hope so. In fact, we hope to make this place as uncomplicated and as easy as possible. So what kind of a place is this – and where is it going to be?

A NEW ENVIRONMENT!  Actually, this place already exists.  It’s called DOING LIFE TOGETHER (DLT).   People have already had an opportunity to hear what others in LifeGroups are experiencing - and a chance to ask LifeGroup leaders what their groups are about.  For many, it is an opportunity to begin doing life within a small group.  So perhaps you missed the notices and bulletin announcements or weren’t able to attend last month’s inaugural DLT meeting.  Don’t worry, there are future DLT events scheduled soon.  As a result of this first DLT meeting, several individuals were helped in finding a LifeGroup they could join, a place to “do life together” with other Christ- followers. In fact, three brand new LifeGroups were formed within the Senior Life Season alone!  Leaders from the Empty Nest Season came and in the Families with Adolescents Season, ten leaders representing five different LifeGroups were available to meet with those waiting to find a group.  In the Newly Married, Young Families, and Families with Elementary Children Seasons, several individuals made connections with leaders and available groups.

INFORMAL & NON-THREATENING ENVIRONMENT!   At this initial DLT event in September, several individuals found a group they could join immediately, after making face-to-face connections with one of our trained LifeGroup leaders. These were leaders who listened, answered questions and helped them understand more about what their own groups were like. Folks who came felt more comfortable about their decision, having a much better idea about what they were joining.  Those who were still unsure about joining group, left with a better understanding of what the LifeGroup experience is all about.

ONGOING PROCESS!   For some, the opportunity to join a group is still an ongoing process.  Our desire is to provide an open environment for all adults, married or single, with or without children, no matter what age or season of life - where making the connection to find a LifeGroup is an altogether easier and a whole lot less intimidating process.

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY!   At this point, you may be saying to yourself, “That sounds great for some people, but my past small group experiences haven’t always been that wonderful. In fact, at times they were down right uncomfortable or boring or just not a ‘real’ place to be myself – warts and all. I don’t know if I’m interested in doing that again. But I hear stuff like ‘doing life together with other believers.’  What is that all about? Isn’t praying and studying my bible and going to worship service enough?”  No, not as an ongoing norm for your life.  God wants His children to have real, honest and authentic relationships with other believers, with those who are imperfect and who don‘t have to pretend what their real life issues are all about.  That’s a part of ‘doing life together’ where our ongoing need for Jesus is evident in all the stuff that life brings.  This is why one of our core values here at Lincoln Berean is identified by our universal need for real-life community. Along with corporate worship, it is in fact one of the two main environments we encourage for every person at LBC – authentic community in small group relationships.  Where do we become authentic in personal relationships?  Is it in a class, a worship service, or during a Bible study? As good and as absolutely necessary as these environments are – they are not likely to be the place where we can be authentic, or real, as far as interpersonal relationships are concerned. Part of the norm for every Christian life must be found in real-life, honest relationships with other believers. It’s stamped across the pages of New Testament church life.

LIFEGROUP GOALS!   People can be superficial in any environment, small groups included – but that is not the goal or philosophy of LifeGroups at Lincoln Berean.  Our LifeGroup coaches and leaders are encouraged to participate in the ongoing training and shared learning environments we provide, as they seek to shepherd their groups to become places where people are accepted just as they are, being real about struggles, failures and needs… and seeing God at work in the midst of doing life together. Seeing God make people complete in Christ.

GRACE-BASED RELATIONSHIPS!  Understanding the truth of God’s Word is an ongoing requirement for growth – yet as we often painfully realize, knowing the truth and doing the truth are frequently separated in our Christian experience. So where do we learn not only to hear the truth, but also to do the truth in our daily lives, as James 1:22 commands us? It is in the context of grace-based relationships.   That means a LifeGroup is much more than a study and prayer time – it’s about serving together and serving each other, about shared events, meals, trips, get-togethers, sporting activities, concerts and fun times together… and funerals, hospital visits, hard times, projects, phone calls, busyness and the ordinary stuff of… “doing life.”

DLT CONNECTIONS!   We are excited about the new DLT events - a non-threatening place where LifeGroup leaders and people seeking to join LifeGroups, or just find out more about them, can come together and learn how to make the LifeGroup connection a reality.   Our first DLT meeting was held on September 17th.  The next one will be October 22nd at 12:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. A light lunch will be provided and children are welcome.  We only ask that you come with a willingness to follow God’s leading in your life as it relates to being in a LifeGroup. Our goal is to make these events available on a monthly basis.

We want the information and the connection process for joining a LifeGroup to be as easy as possible here at LBC.  LifeGroups are the place where people are “doing life together”, being supported in authentic communities that enable, challenge and encourage each of us, as part of God’s unstoppable church.

Parents - if you plan to bring your children or you would like to know more about lifegroups and the specifics of the next LGI event, please contact Carol Keller or Dee Ann Roberts at 483-6512 or email ckeller@lincolnberean.org or droberts@lincolnberean.org