Life Transformation Groups

We assume that the deep desire of all Christians is to become more like Jesus. We assume that most people, like us, struggle with sins related to emotions, behaviors and thoughts. We also assume that many of us wish that there was a place to go for direction, prayer and guidance. Don’t we all desire to be a part of a fellowship that is authentic and deals with the harsh realities of trying to follow Jesus with everything that we have—baggage and all? Well, we grow in our spiritual maturity not by going at it alone, but by engaging with others as they too engage with God. It is in grace-centered, authentic and confidential relationships where forgiveness meets our sin, where hope meets our mess. Just so you know, you’re not the only one in this world or in this church who is trying to follow Jesus while being thoroughly jacked up! We all need help in this thing called discipleship.

 

The main component for discipleship with Neighborhood Church is Life Transformation Groups (LTG). LTGs consist of three to four persons of the same gender. The group meets together for about an hour each week at a location and time that is convenient. These meeting places can be homes, cafes, parks or anywhere else. LTGs focus on three fundamental spiritual disciplines: reading Scripture, confession of sin, and prayer for friends who are not followers of Jesus. Each member ensures that their LTGs are a safe environment that values honesty, vulnerability, confidentiality and grace. Below is a further description of those three elements.

Scripture Reading - Each group selects a book of the Bible and decides how much reading is to be done for the week. The amount of reading is decided by the group. The number of chapters per week varies with each group but ranges from 12 chapters to 30 chapters per week. Some LTGs will choose to use the Bible Reading Plan for their daily readings while others will choose specific books of the Bible.  For those groups choosing that option, if a person in the group fails to finish the reading for the week, all members read it again.  This may sound like a bad thing, but it’s actually a part of the plan.  The goal is not to get through Scripture, but for Scripture to get through us.  If the group is reading a book of the Bible with fewer chapters - e.g. James -they may agree to read the book through two or three times in one week. Imagine what God can teach you after you have read James 2-4 times in a week!

Confession of Sin - At each meeting, group members ask one another a series of character-building questions. These questions should stimulate conversations of character and confession of sin in a safe environment that values honesty, vulnerability, confidentiality, and grace. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess yours sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” It is clear that we are to confess our sins not only to God but to other believers so that He may shape us through his loving community, the church. Many of us avoid this whole issue of confession, but God’s Word gives us great comfort: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. And though we sin we can approach his throne with confidence and receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).  

Sample Accountability Questions

Prayer – A portion of each meeting is devoted to praying for non-believing friends and family members. Each group member is to identify two or three people whose salvation they feel led to pray for and share these names with the group. Each group member commits to pray for these people everyday. We recommend that you keep this card in your Bible as a bookmark for your daily reading so that each time you open your Bible you are reminded to pray for your friends.

Sample Prayer Guide

 

We need to get back to the simple yet profound basics when it comes to disciple making.  When we attempt to teach all the theologies, disciplines, and methods to a brand-new Christian from the very beginning, we slow down his or her obedience.  The church is suffering from a bottleneck of teaching without obedience.  In essence, we are educated beyond our obedience, which is not to say that we know a lot, but that we do not practice the elementary things we do know.  We should simplify the process so that all Christians can be involved in disciple making and multiplying.  Then we will be able to build on a solid foundation of spiritual growth.               Search and Rescue, by Neil Cole (p. 175-176)

 

Interested in Participating? – Email or call 217-2145 for more information on taking part in an LTG.