We believe strongly that every person on the planet was imprinted with the need for deep relationships at the moment of creation. Having a Real Community is necessary to succeed and be whole as a person at all stages of life. Life Groups fill that need for community by helping foster deep relationship with other people by living life together each week. Below you will find 10 reasons why you need to be a part of life groups:
1. You Were Created For Community
Community is never one sided, though we try so hard to act like it is. The friends in life group need your personality, your perspective, your giftings, and your struggles just as much as you need theirs. When you live in community you function as a part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Just like a body can't function properly without one of it's extremities, we can't function properly without each other.
2. We Are Stronger Together
Read Ecclesiastes 4: 7-12 NLT
7 I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. 8 This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Notice that author recognizes that you can actually work hard and make gains all by yourself, but he also the question of "but for what?". When we walk in community we can be stronger, more successful, and more productive in accomplishing the goals we have in life.
3. You Will Stumble and We Will Be There To Pick You Up
Jesus sent out this disciples in groups of no less than two. There are many reasons for this, but one of the main reasons Jesus did this was because the journey of following Jesus is not easy, but when done in community you will be more successful in every way.
Luke 10: 1-7 NLT
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
4. You Will Have Questions, Together You Will Find The Answers
Faith is full of questions and it's good to wrestle with them. Walking through the faith journey with others who are full of faith and wrestling with the deep questions of life creates a brotherhood or sisterhood so strong that these relationships will last a lifetime. Living life together doesn't mean that we all agree on all things... it actually means the opposite. What you bring to the conversation will always have different experiences and understandings simply because of how your life has been before now. That's one of the reasons why we need in our community.
Proverbs 27:17 NLT
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
5. When You Feel Safe, You Allow Yourself to Be Vulnerable
The longer you stay in community with someone the easier it becomes to let your emotional guard down and begin to reveal your inner self. Once you find the courage to share that area of your heart with safe friends, you will begin to process of growth as person like you've never experienced before. Life Groups are safe, and we want these moments to be a place where you can laugh, cry, care for one another, and feel the courage to be yourself without penalty.
John 15:13-17 NLT
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Discussion Questions
What do you agree with after hearing these five reasons why you need Life Groups? What do you disagree with?
Do you think that committing to a community is important for your success while in college? What about afterwards?
Have you ever been a part of a community such as the one's described today?
Will you commit to being a part of a Life Group for this semester?
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash