Making R.E.A.L. disciples
R.E.A.L. (Righteous-Encouraging-Accountable-Loving) sustained growth takes place in the context of small community. Led by God, we establish a variety of R.E.A.L. Life Community Groups that meet weekly to foster authentic spiritual growth through believers doing everyday life together with God and each other. They are various environments designed to intentionally minister to the whole person, the whole family and the whole neighborhood, built on the foundation of God’s transforming truth. Generally they share a meal, bible study, fellowship, pray, encourage, build up and do missional outreach together. R.E.A.L. Life Community Groups help people facilitate release from the prisons of their past and live the promised life of freedom in Christ. They are a place where people can share their pain without fear of reprisal and experience the reconciling restorative love of Jesus Christ. They are R.E.A.L. family life environments of trust and safety (emotional & physical) based on the Apostle Matthew’s method – inviting people to come and meet Jesus in our home. (Matthew 9:9-10)
The discipleship process
Tell - Tell people what God's word says we should do.
Show - Show people how to live, by example, what God's word says.
Release - Release people to do what God says through Holy Spirit dependence.
Encourage - Encourage people to continue walking courageously when they stumble.
GENERAL GROUP FORMAT – R.E.A.L. Life Community Group
- Coordinated by a R.E.A.L. Life Facilitator.
- Meet weekly.
- Group decides what day and time they gather together.
- Invite neighbors to join the fellowship.
- Group decides which home to gather and whether or not to rotate.
- Suggested weekly meeting time 1 ½ - 2 hours.
- Break bread (eat a meal) together (group decides how to share responsibilities).
- Fellowship time, ministry announcements.
- Sermon discussion – Q&A (Living It Out)
- Prayer.
- Missional activity (group decides what, when, where & how).
