To help keep the selection of groups well rounded, we created a diagram to help organize our growth group model. The elements in the lower half of the building are different areas that groups can focus on and the upper half of the building are focus areas for each group to enhance the group time each meeting.
Here is a short summary of each block:
Foundation/Reason: Jesus Christ → Jesus is the only person who never fails us, even when all hope seems lost. He is the only person who can serve the position of ‘cornerstone’ in our lives. Each cycle of Growth Groups will have options to help you grow closer to Jesus.
Prayer is the insulation in our structure. We cover all our areas and activities with prayer in addition to having groups that focus on learning and strengthening our prayer life.
Lens: The Love-Truth Connection → By learning how Jesus balanced love and truth (never compromising what was right while always being compassionate) we learn how we must shape our lives as His disciples.
Growth Areas: These are the areas where we typically live our lives and where we must find balance. We must view these areas (and all subsequent areas in our lives) with the Love-Truth Connection. Most Growth Groups fall into one of these for broader categories:
→ Family: Strengthening our Marriages, our Finances, and the lives of our Children.
→ Unity: Learning how to live our lives with others by learning our Spiritual Gifts, strengthening our Talents/Abilities, and by following our Calling to help others.
→ Beliefs: Growing our faith and trust in God, in Jesus, and in how we view His Role in our Lives through what we believe about Him.
→ Rest: We must balance the stresses of life with periods of rest, and learning what True Biblical Rest means. God modeled rest for us at Creation, not because He needed it, but because we need it—especially in today’s busy culture!
Support: Spiritual Community → The spiritual community should support the Growth Areas by giving us tools and support for our daily lives, and it should also give us a platform for connections in the upper tiers of our growth. We would love it if the Experience matches your growth needs, but we understand if another community fits your needs better.
Connections: These are the areas where we connect with each other and where our stories intersect. These are key focus points for our Growth Groups.
→ Fellowship: Connecting with others
→ Evangelism: Connecting others with the message of Jesus
→ Ministry: Connecting my gifts/abilities with others needs
→ Worship: Connecting with God
Mission: Local Community → The mission of our lives is showing and teaching others about the love that Jesus has for them, which is why He came and died for them. This is one of the few things we can do here on earth that we won’t do in Heaven. The Experience is located in the Treasure Valley (specifically Meridian), Idaho. This is our “Local Community, and if you happen to live within driving distance, we’d love to team up with you to reach our local community!
Like a roof that sets on our home, the Methods we use must strengthen, match, and protect our structure. We must be using a method and plan that is tailored to needs and culture of our Local Community and not to some cookie-cutter plan from another church in a different local community.