These Life Group guidelines help with the flow and pace of the discussions, help us value one another, and help people to be more comfortable sharing deep and meaningful things.
SAFE GROUP We will all do our part to create an environment where everyone can be real, open, and honest with their struggles and victories.
CONFIDENTIALITY What is said in the group stays in the group.
LISTEN Let’s value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or what you are going to say next.
PAUSE Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares to give the person sharing the chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding.
SILENCE It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered. Most importantly, it creates opportunities to listen to our Teacher, the Holy Spirit.
NO “CROSS TALK” Be considerate of others as they are sharing. No side conversations.
NO FIXING We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Give encouragement, speak truth, and point to Jesus. Don’t try to solve or fix each other.
NO RESCUING When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people.
SHARING Be sensitive about the amount of time you share and how many times you share.
BE SELF-AWARE Be self-aware of how you are personally affecting the environment through your words, actions, and non-verbal communication.
USE “I” STATEMENTS It’s easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use “I” statements rather than “them”, “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc.
CONFLICT We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues between group members arise, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues.