"W" #4: LIFE Together

Contributed by:
Eric Dunaway
small groups pastor

In 1939, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a book called Life Together. In the book, he explored the gap between the body of Christ as it was described in the book of Acts, which he called a "community of love," and the way it looks to the modern world around us. Nowadays, you can't hardly read a church website or brochure on their small group ministry without seeing these words used together in some fashion. Doing life together. Experiencing life together. Serving life... together. At Pathway, we're no different. If you've done any snooping around, you know that we say our life groups are where we can pursue LIFE together. But here's why our use of the phrase is a little unique (and so much cooler than everyone else's)....

You see, when we use the phrase life together, we're actually referring to our values; what we call the four vital signs of LIFE (click the link to learn more about these values). What we've discovered is that authentic community in the context of a life group provides a place where these values can be discovered, applied, and lived out in very real and practical ways. That's what we would call pursuing LIFE together, and it's a real win for our groups. Here's what I mean:

The first vital sign of life is living a transformed life. Groups provide a setting for that to take shape through mutual discovery of Truth: opening God's Word, asking tough questions, chewing on those things together, and then actively seeking to apply them to our lives, doing what it says.

We say a vital sign of life is to be included in authentic community. Groups provide a context where we can begin to invest in caring friendships. When you meet weekly, or even twice a month, in someone's home, enjoying snacks together, laughing together, studying together, serving together, giving together - you can't help but form lasting friendships with one another.

We say a vital sign of life is to be focused on ministry partnerships. Groups place us in environments where we can faithfully serve inside and outside. We start by serving and caring for those in our group, but then look to leverage our resources to serve outside the group, as well.

Finally, we say a vital sign of life is engaging the mission. Groups allow us the opportunity to eventually branch out to bring more in. Have you ever considered the possibility that your group could be the very place where someone will be impacted by the life-changing love of Christ for the first time?

So when groups pursue LIFE together, not only are they surrounding one another through the ups and downs of life, but they're actually growing together in their understanding, and working out, of their faith in Christ. They're moving closer and closer to that LIFE we were meant to live in Christ. That is such a huge win for our groups - when they decide together that it's about more than just having a circle of friends, but truly pursuing the things that God desires for us in our Christian walk, and living them out.

How is your group pursuing life together right now? Wouldn't it be great if we had a way for you and your group to gauge just how effectively you were pursuing each of these vital signs of life? Well, as a matter of fact, WE DO! It's called the Spiritual Health Assessment Exercise, and it's part of the Continuing the Journey material. Contact us if you're interested in getting a copy of this study for you and your group.