Life is Better Lived Together
God created us in and for community: Community with God and Community with others. When we enjoy Christian Community we find that we can practice the ONE ANOTHERS of scripture:
Love One Another
- Be Kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving towards one another (Ephesians 4:32, Romans 12:10)
- Build one another up (Romans 15:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13)
Serve One Another
- Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
- Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18
- Encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)
- Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
- Minister to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
- Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Personal connection
While we believe our Sunday Morning services, at LCC, provide a great opportunity for Connecting with God and Growing in knowledge they do not necessarily offer a means of close personal connection with other believers, nor do they emphasize service to our community. Therefore, we encourage our people to break into smaller groups throughout the week. We believe small groups create an opportune environment where our people can get to know others and be known on a deeper level. Furthermore, since we value service, we encourage our small groups to serve others outside of the walls of a church building.
Theology of Small Groups
We believe that man was created in and for community: Community with God, Community with nature and Community others. First of all, God exist in community and bore us in community. In Genesis 1:26, God says “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” While many have debated this passage, the grammar suggests a community effort with the repeated plural “our” image and likeness. As a church we ascribe to the doctrine of the Trinity. This teaching suggests that God is one being existing in three separate persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity emphasizes the communal nature within the Godhead and man was made in His image.
Furthermore, as noted above man was made for community. In Genesis 2:18 after God had created all things he looked at man, who he had created, and said “it is not good for the man to be alone”. Community is a part of who we are.
However, when man sinned against God in the garden the true community was fractured. We know this because in Genesis 3 the punishment visited on Adam and Eve resulted in broken relationships. Sin introduced strife between husband and wife, mother and child, man and his work and ultimately separation from God. We seek to make our small group a safe environment where the effects of the fall can be tempered by the character of Christ.
Ultimately, our model for small groups comes from Jesus and the early church. Jesus lived life with a small group of twelve men he called apostles. He spent most of his time teaching, empowering, eating and poring himself into these men. In the process of a few years Jesus had equipped them to carry on his ministry. In Acts 2:42-47 we are given a snapshot of what life looked like for this early church:
Furthermore, as noted above man was made for community. In Genesis 2:18 after God had created all things he looked at man, who he had created, and said “it is not good for the man to be alone”. Community is a part of who we are.
However, when man sinned against God in the garden the true community was fractured. We know this because in Genesis 3 the punishment visited on Adam and Eve resulted in broken relationships. Sin introduced strife between husband and wife, mother and child, man and his work and ultimately separation from God. We seek to make our small group a safe environment where the effects of the fall can be tempered by the character of Christ.
Ultimately, our model for small groups comes from Jesus and the early church. Jesus lived life with a small group of twelve men he called apostles. He spent most of his time teaching, empowering, eating and poring himself into these men. In the process of a few years Jesus had equipped them to carry on his ministry. In Acts 2:42-47 we are given a snapshot of what life looked like for this early church:
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. -Acts 2:42-47
In this brief scripture we can see that the church met both in homes for small groups and in the temple courts for larger groups. In both settings there was teaching, fellowship and provision for the needy. They ate together, learned together and grew cognitively and numerically, together.
One thing the early church does not do is set limitations on how big or how small groups should be. Therefore, we are left to figure out the math ourselves. Furthermore, we believe that small groups occur organically by means of geographic location, life situation and personal affinity. Here is how we define small groups.
One thing the early church does not do is set limitations on how big or how small groups should be. Therefore, we are left to figure out the math ourselves. Furthermore, we believe that small groups occur organically by means of geographic location, life situation and personal affinity. Here is how we define small groups.
WHAT IS A SMALL GROUP?
A small group is a group of 3-16 people who meet together regularly, in order to share life together, study the scriptures and discover creative ways to apply the teachings of Jesus in their daily walk.
MANY TYPES, ONE PURPOSE
Since we value connection, we desire to make finding a small group as easy as possible. We have groups that meet according to affinity, life stage, geographical location and study topic. We have home groups campus groups, men’s groups, women’s groups, support groups, youth groups, mom’s playgroups and mixed generational groups and age specific groups. Some groups meet every week, while others meet once or twice a month. Some groups stay together for 8 weeks others stay together for a decade. Here at LCC, each group has their own unique flavor, yet all are united under one God, one LORD one Faith, one Bible and one banner.
ARE GROUPS OPEN OR CLOSED?
Most of our existing small groups are what we consider open. An open group always has an open chair and is purposefully considerate of the needs of a new comer. However, in rare circumstances, concerning topics of a more sensitive nature, a group may choose to close after three sessions in order to facilitate greater accountability and trust. Then open up again at week 8 or 12 as a new study begins. Each group is reevaluated quarterly.
WHAT IF I WANT TO START A NEW GROUP?
A couple times a year we offer a "Step Up and Lead a Small Group" class for those interested in forming a new small group. We have found that starting new groups is often times better than asking people to squeeze into an existing small group. We will train you up and teach you what is expected from our Small Group Leaders/Facilitators.