Adults

Posts about Susan Hill

Home / Susan Hill / Page 6
May
6
F Leader , I Leader , Susan Hill

10 Reasons to Invite Someone to Your LIFE Group

by Susan Hill

We know that LIFE Groups are an important aspect of biblical community and a crucial component in the discipleship process. Yet the longer a group meets, the less likely members are to invite newcomers. The shift is never intentional, but it happens. As leaders, it’s important for us to continue to encourage our members to invite unconnected people to the group. It’s also important for us to communicate the reason LIFE Groups are so helpful.
Here are 10 good reasons to invite someone to your LIFE Group:

  1. In a LIFE Group, you will have the opportunity to focus on God’s Word.
  2. As a LIFE Group member, you will meet new people and be known by others.
  3. In a LIFE Group, you will have a group of people who are willing to pray for you.
  4. In a LIFE Group,you will grow in your understanding of the Word as you study it in biblical community.
  5. LIFE Groups provide the opportunity to use your spiritual gifts within the context of the group.
  6. As a LIFE Group member, you will have chances to serve the greater community through service and evangelism.
  7. As you focus on God’s Word in your LIFE Group, you will be challenged to study parts of the Bible you might not study on your own.
  8. LIFE Groups provide the best environment to grow in faith alongside a community of believers.
  9. Being a LIFE Group member provides an opportunity to make close friends & enjoy lasting relationships.
  10. Being in a LIFE Group means you will grow stronger in your faith as a result of spending time with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

 
 
 

Apr
28
F Leader , Susan Hill

Casting Vision for Your LIFE Group

by Susan Hill

All of us who lead LIFE Groups want our groups to be healthy, growing, and thriving in a way that glorifies God and builds His kingdom. Not a single one of us wants to stay stuck in the status quo. We want to flourish. But how often are we prayerfully seeking God’s direction for our group? Are we taking the time to envision what our group could look like in a year?
In his book, Visioneering, Andy Stanley says, “Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be. Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. Vision demands change. It implies movement. But a vision requires someone to champion the cause.”
When I launched a group a few years ago, my initial vision was two-fold:

  1. I wanted the group to serve as a place where members would come together to study the Scriptures in a way that deepened their love for Christ.
  2. I wanted the group to provide an environment where group members could build authentic relationships with one another. God has been faithful to manifest this and more in our LIFE Group and I am thankful. But as I contemplate the future, I realize my vision for this group needs expanding.

For instance, in the coming months I long to see first-time guests coming through our door every week. I envision non-believers making decisions to follow Christ. My hope is to see current members step into leadership roles and launch their own groups. I want to see long-time group members continue to grow in their relationships with Christ and disciple new believers. My initial vision for the group hasn’t changed but it has expanded and I am now prayerfully seeking God for greater things in this group.
Maybe you’ve already got a solid vision for your LIFE Group and, if you do, that’s great. If not, I encourage you to spend some time thinking through what you want your group to look like in the coming months.  Keep in mind that vision has to be communicated to be effective. In fact, it’s likely you will need to reiterate the vision several times. Sometimes members are absent and it’s possible not everyone will be present the first time you communicate your vision to the group.  Others will need to hear it several times before they take it seriously.
As leaders, we have the privilege of influencing people to grow in their relationships with Christ. Let’s prayerfully seek God’s will for the people He allows us to lead and continue to expand our vision for what is possible.