Life Groups: A Vision for Weekday Christianity

Since the resurrection of Christ, the people of God have gathered on the Lord’s Day for worship. The Scriptures instruct Christians to do so (Hebrews 10:25) and give general descriptions of what took place at such gatherings (Acts 2:42-47). Though there can be much contemporary discussion on the size and location of these meetings, it is clear from the NT text that the first practice of the church was to regularly gather as a covenant people for worship (cf. 1 Cor. 11:18).

More Than Sunday 

Though the Christian experience centers on a regular gathering, mature Christians will rightly tell you there is more to Christian community than the rhythm of Lord’s Day worship. Whether living in century one or twenty-one, we need more than Sunday. Further, there is just more ministry to be done than can fit in a single day. As we look to the Scriptures, we may safely assume that the early Christians met with each other at some level in various degrees periodically during the week, though the NT record does not tell us how. Given the size of the church in Jerusalem (and others, such as the church(es) in Rome given the people in Rom. 16), it’s not unlikely that early Christians lived out the ‘one another-s’ of the NT on days other than Sunday (Acts 2:46).

Weeklong Christianity 

We may then ask an honest question: How did the early church care for one another (Acts 6:1-7) and teach one another? (James 3:1; and “admonish” Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:12, 14) I would like to suggest that they divided their large Lord’s Day group into smaller (home) groups during the week (See Footnote 1). These two gatherings—the large and the small—are the two spheres where the life of the church lives. Doing such allowed the church to experience throughout the week what the New Testament calls koinonia, or what many know as “fellowship.”

Christian fellowship is described as having at least three marks: content, community, and care. Church history and Christian experience have shown the church to grow along those marks and in that order. Content begets community, and so forth. Sunday mornings, therefore emphasize content, from which community and care develop—starting at lunch! One can honestly say that the week starts on the right trajectory when Sunday is at the helm. In a very real sense that is true: content is learned, community is known, and care is shared.

But there are more days in the week than just one. Insert “life groups.” Here is that second gathering space for the church to again experience the Christian fellowship of Sunday. The church is a collective noun, not referring to Christians only, but also groups. The “big” church is a collection of “small” groups. Sunday therefore is simply the in-gathering, now visibly seen sum total of life groups through the week.

Life Groups

These spaces would be the next and most natural place the Christian would find themselves outside a Sunday worship service. yet on a much more granular level with a reversal of priorities. Instead of starting with content, which was already given on Sunday and thus theologically undergirds the ethos for their mid-week meeting, their first priority now is care. Rather than the place to know, it is the place to be known. Having learned and loved on Sunday, the life group is the space to live and lead

Group Mechanics 

Who: Every covenant member is expected to regularly participate in the functions of a life group. Ideally each group would consist of five to seven couples (10-14 people). Members are encouraged to find other times to connect with guests and regular attenders of the church, as a way of practicing biblical hospitality. New church members would onboard a group at the appropriate time. 

What: The primary goal is to do spiritual good to one another. First to care for members through prayer, benevolence and physical assistance. Second, to lock arms in life together through meals, projects, and ministry efforts. (Some groups just need to take a week to sit around the camp fire together!) But thirdly to practice some sort of discipleship based on spiritual disciplines or the Sunday sermon. 

When: Most people find weekday evenings to be the most conducive weekly meeting time. Perhaps schedules allow for morning or afternoon times. Groups would meet 3-4 times per month, opting for a change of pace during the summer (See Footnote 2).

Where: Personal homes are likely the best place for most groups to gather. Groups without children may opt for a third place, perhaps one less kid-friendly. Members of these groups would share a similar geography. Given the suburban context in which our church resides, prudence calls for these groups to consist of members with a shared geography (See Footnote 3). 

How: These groups are organized under the oversight of the elders. To prevent stagnancy, groups will change meeting places and members on an annual basis. The elders trust that previous relationships would remain regardless of group assignment. Relational intimacy across the congregation is the ultimate goal. Groups are also charged to raise up new leaders for new groups. 

Conclusion

The church is a relational body. When Christians join the church (membership) connection is the assumption. Assimilating into the body of Christ is essential for life and service, allowing oneself to feed and be fed from others in the church. Life groups provide an immediate on ramp to experience life together, to serve and be served—to be Mary and Martha under the same roof!

Further, these groups serve as an extension of pastoral care. There’s the Lord’s Day, but let’s not forget the weekday. They are in a real sense the first line of ministry. To not be in a group is to be cut off from the larger community of faith known as Coram Deo Baptist Church. Life groups make the church sticky. And when relationships form, life begins and growth is on the horizon. 

 

Footnotes
1. As an illustration, we see a similar group model practiced by Jesus at his feeding of the five thousand. Luke 9:14 reads, “For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’” Just as Jesus divided up the 5,000 to feed them, a different, more personal ministry can be achieved in smaller groups.

2. Groups may desire to dedicate one meeting a month to a local project or mission, perhaps a neighborhood outreach. Summers could be leveraged with trips and/or extended meeting times different from the schedule practiced through the year.

3. Some churches may opt for a shared “affinity” such as sports, hobbies, or other interests. However, for the congregation to be known it is likely best for life groups to be a cross section of demographics that share a local geography of home residences.