Life Groups

Life Groups are the heart and soul of the CBF experience. In these small groups believers meet together on a weekly basis to share and grow with one another in Christ-centered fellowship; where genuine love and concern for each other is expressed as a natural outflow of our study of the Bible and its application to our lives.

CBF life group leaders pursue the following five core values.

Transformation – Christ Likeness

Jesus Christ, as Head of the church, intends His followers to become like Him

It is God’s plan that those who call on His name should be like Him in attitude and behavior. CBF exists not just to collect followers, but to transform them.

Our ministries are the sum of all the activities that promote Christ’s work of transformation in our members. Programs and subministries are designed to serve the goal of changing lives, and will be surrendered as obsolete when they fail to achieve this end.

Basis: John 13:34; Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 1:4; Eph 4:24; Phil 3:21

Community

A life group provides the optimal environment for the life change Jesus Christ intends for every believer

Significant relationships occur best in the context of a life group. Connecting people in a life group is not an optional subministry at CBF – it is essential for growth. Without this connection, people can, at best, attend our meetings, but they aren’t truly participating in life transforming ministry.

A life group of believers who love one another with God’s love will experience the life Christ promised at the deepest level possible. This love radically transforms them and demonstrates His power. A group that does not contribute to this goal of spiritual maturity may well be a collection of our members, but it is not a successful life group.

Basis: John 17:20-23; Rom 12:2-6

Develop Strategic Leaders

The most strategic person in the life-change process of CBF is the life group leader

The priority of the elders and staff is to help life group leaders succeed through support and training. To that end, the best resources of the church will be employed to make sure the life group leader has everything necessary for effectiveness.

Life group leaders cannot flourish in a vacuum. Leaders need to band together periodically with other leaders for encouragement and accountability. Additionally, the elders and staff will provide training in skills necessary for group life and reminders of the purpose and goals that drive the ministry. Basic skills necessary for effective leadership of a life group are the same whether one is leading a task group of volunteers, a youth team, or a home group.

The ultimate goal of a leader must be life change: to help group members grow in Christ-like character through learning, loving one another, and contributing of themselves and their resources. Yet leaders must also help their groups grow in size and eventually birth new groups. We ask that each leader take responsibility for this growth by recruiting an apprentice/partner, attending training, and by planning for the eventual birthing process.

Basis: Eph 4:11-13

Span of Care

Groups must expand and multiply so that eventually every CBF member can by connected to others

A life group must not exist for itself. Christ-like people resist the urge to be selfish – they desire to include other unconnected people in such a way that they too may experience group life. Therefore we ask our life group leaders to pursue a span of care strategy for growth and reproduction so that someday everyone who gathers as part of CBF is included in some kind of identifiable life group connection.

Apprenticeship fosters new leaders and is an integral part of our life groups so that future leaders are continually gaining on-the-job training and experience. They are being prepared to lead groups of their own.

When a group gets too large, its leader cannot provide the care necessary for life transformation of each individual. Though groups must grow, the appropriate span of care is approximately one leader to ten members. The next step for groups that grow above ten members is to birth a new group.

Success in leadership of a life group is ultimately seen in its reproduction. The goal is not just to start a new group, but to birth a group that is healthy and creates life change.

Basis: Matt 10:8; Acts 20:35; 2 Tim 2:2

Seek and Celebrate

Effective ministry happens in an atmosphere of prayer and celebration

God is sovereign, and He sovereignly declares that we should pray. Great ministry follows great praying – believers who talk to their heavenly Father receive because they ask; when the knock, He opens. Those who seek God’s blessing on their work must seek His presence in their work through prayer.

Observe, share, value, and celebrate God’s activity. A climate of fun and festivity should permeate gatherings related to CBF life group ministry!

Leadership successes should be a source of public as well as private rejoicing. Life group gatherings do not take the place of the our corporate meeting for worship, and teaching of scripture, and telling stories of what He is doing among the members of the church. What happens in the life groups should transform the large gathering, and vice versa!

Basis: Phil 4:6; Luke 11:9; Rom 8:37; Rom 8:38,39; Rev 4:11