| home groups Q&A section |
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What is a home group?A home group is typically 10 to 14 people who meet weekly or bi-weekly to study, share, and support each other in their Christian lives. Each group is led by an experienced leader/facilitator.Groups meet at either the leader’s home or a host home. A typical meeting lasts for about 2 hours, including time for refreshments. What types of home groups are available?• Sermon-based - Participants in these groups represent a broad spectrum of people at different stages of life. Groups may be mixed singles and couples, singles only, parents, and mixed generations. What these groups have in common is a commitment to applying God’s Word to their lives. They accomplish this by following weekly, sermon-based discussion guides. These guides are aligned with each weekend’s sermon.• Special Topics - Leaders may ask group members to select a topic that supports Christian growth, but is different than the weekend messages. Often they choose published study materials which are approved by the pastoral team to ensure they support Lighthouse’s core values and biblical truth. Topics include: marriage enrichment, biblical worldview, new believers, prayer, and Christian apologetics. • Marriage Enrichment – Strengthening marriages is a vital part of Lighthouse. In a home group with this focus, married couples will typically study and discuss material specifically about biblical principles for marriage. There is always plenty of practical application! Why are some groups listed as ‘full’?Full groups are just that - they are at optimal capacity. This means they have reached a level of commitment and participation where 12 to 16 adults attend regularly. Growing any larger would make sharing and praying with depth and trust very difficult. Such groups might stay connected for years to come. When more people want to join a group, we seek to raise up leaders from within existing groups to form new groups. This is the biblical model.When and where do these groups meet?Groups meet on various days of the week in homes throughout our community. Using our GroupFinder directory online, you can see a map displaying group meeting locations.How important are home groups?We consider home groups to be the primary way people connect with God and each other. They are the place to discover genuine Christian community. Remember, community is God’s idea. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always existed in community—we are created to connect!How long does a group meet?Each home group session lasts 9 to 10 weeks. We’ve broken the year into 4 quarters or sessions. At the end of each quarter, you have the choice of staying in the same group, trying a new group, or even taking a break. Most groups stay together throughout the entire year. However, groups do not formally meet mid June through August, though some continue to meet informally or socially through the summer.Which group should I join?We suggest you join a group based on your season of life or common interest, rather than on geography or the most convenient night of the week. We’ve found that a group works best when you share something in common such as background, marital status, or similar aged children. Our leaders are understanding so please feel free to explore various groups. In fact, it might take two or three groups before you find the best fit. Discovery is part of the journey!What is the required commitment?Joining a home group requires a 9 to 10 week commitment to attend the regular meetings. Leaders understand that sickness, vacation, work conflicts, and special events are part of life’s journey. You will find that group leaders and participants care about you when you are present, and genuinely miss you if you are absent. We have found that this commitment is the key to strong relationships and healthy groups.What about childcare?Home groups are for adults only (exceptions are made for nursing newborns under one year old). We encourage each family to arrange their own childcare. There are many creative ways to care for your kids - swap with a group that meets a different day, offer to rotate homes, ask a neighbor who attends Lighthouse for the use of their home to meet. Please speak with your leader - privately or as a group - to determine the best solution for you. Remember, we all value our children...and we value uninterrupted study, discussion and prayer time as adults.What will we study?For Sermon-based groups, the studies are based on the previous weekend’s sermon. Most of our home groups are built upon what we call a “Teach and Apply” model. If you imagine each weekend sermon as a way to gain Bible knowledge, then the group meeting is the place where you get to roll up your sleeves and interact with the message – a place to develop Christian character and practices - and discuss how the sermon works out in real life.Each week groups are provided a series of Bible passages and questions to study and complete before your meeting. The homework is included on the back of the sermon note sheet found in your bulletin. Your group leader will help guide the discussion, sometimes focusing on a few questions not the entire guide. How do I sign up?Church wide sign ups begin at the start of each new session (in September, January, and April). You can sign up online using the Group::Finder directory from the home group landing page. Our leaders and Jayna Pettersen, Director of Home Group Ministries, will be happy to help you find just the right group for you. If you are new to the church, sign up for a great orientation class called The Loop. It meets every odd month for four Sunday mornings. Groups may form out of the participants in that introductory class and you can go right from loop-to-group!How many groups are there?In this spring session, we have 28 total groups, 12 of which have space available. All told, there are over 60 open spaces for you to choose!If you see a type of group that would fit you, but it’s full, consider leading a new group - it’s a rewarding experience! |