Verse of the Day
Subscribe to Feed
L.I.F.E. Groups
Resources for LIFE Group Leaders
Below you will find the various resources that we have made available to all of our LIFE Group leaders.
Leader Handout
What Are Your Plans?
Jim Bracelin
Scripture— Daniel 1:1-16
1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.
6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Main Idea—Daniel Purposed in Advance to Stand for God—No Matter What
Babylon was a true superpower. They conquered Israel and deported residents to Babylonia. Daniel was one of the “select.” The rich food offered to Daniel and his buddies involved idol worship. Though his parents, spiritual leaders, etc. were not present, yet Daniel resolved or purposed not to participate in this ungodly diet.
He made decisions in times of peace that gave him guidance when the pressure came on. God blessed his courage.
God’s purpose is that we become transformers, not that we become conformed to the world—God wants to pour you into His mold.
Application—
- What Godly purposes can you relate that you have already made in order to guide your Christian life?
- Are there additional decisions God is leading you make in order to receive blessing and avoid sinful practices?
- What practices and habits are you practicing that will help you to attentively hear the Holy Spirit of God?
Small Groups (LIFE groups)
The Scriptures teach that the building blocks of the church are the people-not the building. The true ministry of the church occurs within a small group of believers as we interact and serve one another in our day-to-day lives. A LIFE group consists of 7 - 15 people who meet regularly from house to house during the course of the week.
Connecting to God through Worship: The LIFE Group is a worshipping community whose primary purpose is to bring glory to God.
Connecting to God's Truth: In LIFE Groups, each member is encouraged to apply God's truth to their lives.
Connecting Authentically to Each Other: This is accomplished when each person uses their God-given abilities in both spiritual and practical ways to bless other group members and the communities in which we live and work.
LIFE Groups put the work of the ministry where God intended it to be-in the hands of every believer.
L.I.F.E groups are for everyone....
- For singles and newly married couples...
- For families with children...
- For college and career...
- For mature adults...
In this day and age of busy lifestyles, many of us are struggling with the "captivity of activity". We can find various reasons not to join a LIFE Group. However, prioritizing connecting to God and one another will open to you God's gateway to a world of blessing.
A LIFE Group is a place where you can:
Love God and One Another: You will experience the sense of belonging to God's family. You will benefit from genuine love and ministry.
"Living life alone does not accurately reflect the One who's image we bear"
Andy Stanley in his book Creating Community
Andy Stanley in his book Creating Community
Invest in God's Kingdom: The Bible teaches that we are to invest our talents and skills in order to build up or edify the Body. This can only be done in relationships that are centered on Christ.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ
1 Corinthians 12:12
1 Corinthians 12:12
Find Purpose: You will discover God's purpose for your life. As you continue to use your God-given abilities in edifying the Body, you will discover increased confidence when you realize that you can have an impact in this world by allowing God to use you for His purposes.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:10
Evangelize our Community: This is a casual place where you could share Christ with friends, relatives, neighbors or co-workers who might not otherwise go to church.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47
Acts 2:44-47
To find out what groups are in your area, please contact Doreen Gelesko, LIFE Group Coordinator, at (631) 822-4978
Visit our LIFE Group Leader's resource page for a listing of resources we have made available for leaders.