-
Life Group
Orientation. At the beginning of a brand new Life Group, do an
orientation with the whole group as to the purpose of the group.
During that time, a mini-teaching on the importance of openness
within the group can be given.
-
Commitment.
At that orientation meeting, have the members make
a commitment to love one another, and to uphold the
confidentialities of one another. Where there is security of
mutual commitment, greater openness can exist.
-
Relationships, not programs.
Emphasize that the group is not a
meeting. Rather it is a "family in Christ" committed to
one another seven days a week and not merely a collection of
people that meet one night a week for a couple of hours.
Therefore, stress the relationships and activities outside of the
regular meeting time.
-
Meet house-to-house.
By having the meeting in one another's
homes, over the course of time members are able to get to know one
another more intimately. Also, this will help facilitate body life
throughout the week, because everyone in the group will know where
the other ones live and will more freely come to one another's
home.
-
Meals together.
What better way to develop closeness than to
have meals together periodically, but often.
-
Begin the meeting with meaningful icebreakers.
Questions which
enable others to know the "real you" go a long way to
developing closeness among members.
-
Openness by the leader.
When someone in the group opens up
about a need or a weakness, tremendous bonding results. The leader
of the group needs to set the pace by talking about the struggles
he or she is encountering.
-
Retreats together.
The Life Group I'm a part of took a 24-hour
retreat together one day after the group was formed. Some giant
steps were taken during that time which strengthened relationships
of this group of people who previously had been strangers to one
another.
- Reach out together.
Uniting together weekly to serve and pray
for unbelievers who need the love of Christ is a very good way to
build closeness among members. It actually may be the very best
way to build closeness. Together, doing the
will of God.
