The success and effectiveness of your group will largely depend upon how engaged you are together in making it meaningful. It’s the natural tendency of groups in general to kind of drift, lose direction and become just another thing to do. 

How do you avoid that? By embracing and living out these three core values. 

While the Ground Rules are the relational expectations for your group, these values provide the direction for how we live out our vision of being real. When they are embraced and lived out they give purpose and mission to your group. They provide direction and alignment and represent the wins that you can celebrate. 

If you want to know how you can make your biggest impact as a leader, whether your group is new or not, leading your group to embrace and commit to these three values is the answer.

VALUE #1: LOVE GOD

"'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.'" MATTHEW 22:37-38

The love of God changes us.

Commit together as a group that you want to grow in your relationship with God. Groups provide the optimal environment for life change to take place. Our goal is to see people grow in being real with themselves, God, and others. As a group, commit to loving God. Be real and encourage each other in next steps.

Three building blocks for Loving God that can help guide you as a group: Be Baptized, Learn Scripture and Pray. 

"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 TIMOTHY 2:22 

VALUE #2: LOVE PEOPLE

"...the second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" MATTHEW 22:38

Love for people marks us.

There are over 50 “One Another” commands in the New Testament. They require relationships to obey. It’s clear that God designed the life of following Jesus to be lived in relationship with others. Groups are meant to be a place of mutual care where no one stands alone.

As a group, commit to loving people. Three building blocks for Loving People that can help guide you as a group: Gather (small and large group), Give and Serve.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." JOHN 13:35

VALUE #3: LIVE ON MISSION

"Then Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" MATTHEW 28:18-20 

Living on mission empowers us.

Loving God and Loving people should lead to something bigger than ourselves and that's living on mission. Groups that are growing in their love for God and love for people have the opportunity to leverage those deepening relationships to reach out beyond themselves and make an impact in the world. Healthy community always reaches outward and people move from being discipled to becoming disciplers. 

As a group, commit to living on mission. Three building blocks for Living on Mission that can help guide you as a group: Share the Gospel, Multiply Disciples and Baptize Others.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ACTS 1:8 

OPTIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

#1. What does it mean to love God? How do you think we do that as a group and individually? How could you encourage one another to Love God together? 

Have you been baptized? Are you learning scripture? Do you pray often? How can your group come alongside you this season to help you grow in these areas?

#2. How has your life been transformed by a relationship? What does it take to develop healthy relationships and do you think it’s worth it? How might God be encouraging you to grow in loving people individually and as a group? 

This could be a great time to take a look at the Growth Plan in the Sandals Church App and see what might be a good next step, which may include any of the following: baptism, worship, bible reading, prayer, serving, financial giving, sharing the gospel, leading (influencing others toward Jesus), and many others!

#3. What would it look like for you to commit to living on mission, both individually and as a group?

Jesus empowers us to make disciples. Do you feel equipped to share the gospel and disciple someone else? What could this group do to regularly take steps in making disciples in and beyond the group as you follow Jesus?