Hope Lutheran Church

ChristCare Series®
Introduction

Updated: May 10, 2007

What Happens in a ChristCare® Group?

ChristCare Groups Are...

Gatherings of 5 to 12 people
ChristCare Groups are small so they can provide the caring relationships and spiritual growth that occur within the nurturing environment of a small group. When a ChristCare Group grows to between 10 and 12 members, it births into two groups. That way groups always remain small enough for quality relating, yet always have room for more people.

Who meet on a regular basis
ChristCare Groups usually meet weekly or twice a month. When group members meet regularly, they learn to trust and share at deeper levels more quickly.

With a trained, commissioned, and supervised leader
Leading a Christ-centered, life-transformational small group requires a number of different skills. A congregation's Equippers thoroughly train ChristCare Group Leaders to exercise these skills and to share leadership tasks with other group members.

In order to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ
ChristCare Group members grow as disciples of Jesus by participating in the four ChristCare Group activities described below.

4 Areas of Focus for every ChristCare group:

                Worship and Prayer (LAUD)

                                ChristCare Group members grow in their ability to pray and worship God--both individually and as a group. Each group explores ways to pray and worship together that meet the needs and comfort levels of its members.

                Community Building/ Care  (LIVE)

                                A ChristCare Group is a safe, nurturing place where group members can share their joys and sorrows, support one another in daily life, care for and be cared for, and encourage one another in their Christian walk.

                Missional Service (LOVE)

                                After experiencing God's love in the group, ChristCare Group members find specific ways to reach out with God's love to those outside the group. In doing so, ChristCare Groups typically meet a variety of needs in a congregation and community.

                Biblical Equipping (LEARN)

                                ChristCare Group members follow an 8-step cycle of hearing, discussing, reflecting upon, and living the Scriptures--not only when they are together as a group, but between group meetings. Biblical Equipping becomes life-transforming as group members apply God's truths to their daily lives.

Special Group Emphases

Every ChristCare Group does all four activities. However, ChristCare Groups may emphasize some activities more than others, depending on their mission and stage of development. For example, a discipleship group may spend the majority of time on Biblical Equipping. A new member assimilation group may spend more time on community building and care. A prayer-emphasis group may devote the majority of its time to prayer and worship. And a group formed around a specific missional outreach may spend more time on missional service than on the other three activities.

Whatever the main emphasis of a group, group members grow as disciples of Jesus as they use each of these four activities to reach up to God and out to others.

ChristCare Groups Are Flexible and Meet Many Ministry Needs

Examples
By giving greater emphasis to one or more of the four activities, ChristCare Groups can be:

Prayer groups

Biblical Equipping groups

Evangelism groups

Discipleship groups

Accountability groups

Youth groups

New member assimilation groups

Lay leadership development groups

Covenant groups

Care groups

Worship groups

Mission groups

Service groups

And more…

Every ChristCare Group has a Missional Purpose:

          The purpose of the Christ Care experience is to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and extend that experience to everyone inside and outside the congregation.

ChristCare Groups are aligned with Hope’s Vision:

                Shift the congregation’s focus to God’s mission for Hope Lutheran Church

Promote genuine Christ-like relationships through-out the congregation

Christ-like relationships with our community, especially those in need of healing

Promote spiritual growth-- not just “number” growth

 Provide a path for new members to become engaged in the congregation

Believe mission field isn’t out there somewhere- but everywhere

Make a difference in the world – starting with ourselves

Believe Jesus is necessary to transform the human heart

Discover our niche in our community and make the most beautiful offering we can to God

ChristCare groups can give you an opportunity to:

                Continue to grow spiritually

                Work and follow Jesus, relying mostly on Him rather than yourself

                Understand Hope’s missional needs and ways you can help

                Make others feel welcome

                Take risks

                Resist being satisfied with anything other than God’s Will

                Explore personal and community issues

                Allow Jesus to motivate you and others through an intimate relationship with Him

                Empower others and give them permission to love everyone

                Commit yourself to Jesus first and to the organization second

                Practice discipline in your relationship with Jesus – praying and listening

                Experience authentic communication and care for others

                Be an expression of God’s grace to all in brokenness

                Seek inspiring worship

                Feel comfortable leading others in prayer

                Be bold in your faith and step out when necessary

                Seek self-fulfillment through community

                Discover what HLC’s mission statement means to you

                Find ways to lose yourself in God

                Fill a hole in your life and heal brokenness

                Give and Receive support when life takes an unexpected turn

                Offer a safe & confidential place to share life’s experiences

                Hear and respond to God’s callings for you

                Retain a “small church feeling” as our congregation grows

                Draw connections between your life and Biblical passages

                Weave Jesus’ ways into your own life

                Identify your own personal gifts and talents

                Identify the best way to use the gifts you’ve been given

                Build new friendships, F ellowship, and HAVE FUN!