Life Group Series: This Is Who We Are

Of all the things we do at Mount Hope Church, with thousands of treasured individuals serving Christ, there is one reason that we do what we do. That reason is to make disciples. It’s all about making disciples that are healthy, growing, and full of love. We don’t want to go through life being good at a lot of things, but not good at the very thing God has called us to do. Though we may have many attributes, here are the  unique attributes that set us apart from other communities. These seven scriptural principles serve as guidelines to steer our culture and focus our behavior. 

Getting Started in Your Life Group: In this 7-week series, “This is Who We Are,” you’ll be lead with a discussion video, equipping verses to read together, and discussion questions. Each group should be 90+ minutes and about 30 minutes for hanging out afterward.

Before Your Group

Create the right atmosphere by being hospitable. Let’s roll out the red carpet for those coming to our Life Group. Whether that’s meeting them at the door, getting their drinks, or even giving a tour of your home—be sure to help them feel comfortable and taken care of. That mean providing a clean environment too. It sounds very practical, but it speaks volume.

During Your Group

Allow everyone to participate in discussion. Be sure that everyone has the opportunity to speak. Be honest, open, and transparent. Remember to be you, and understand that God has equipped you to leave this group!

Close with prayer. Take time during your Life Group to pray for one another, allowing others to lead in prayer. 

After Group

Set time aside for hang out. Whether it’s before or after, be intentional to leave room for people to get to know each other.

Respect others time. It can be easy to get off track and lose track of time, but be sensitive to others responsibilities by closing the group at the time that you set.

Thank everyone for coming. Be sure to thank everyone for coming, and when you do so, set the next time for your next Life Group. 

Week 1: Identity

Believers are meant to walk in a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father and with each other.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • Who is God to you?
  • Who does God say you are?
  • How is God’s love transforming your life?
  • How are you expressing God’s love to others?

Week 2: Prayer

Without prayer, all our labor is in vain, with God all things are possible.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” –Psalm 127:1

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • What is God speaking to you right now?
  • Who are you praying for?
  • What impossible prayers are you asking?
  • How are you growing in prayer?

Week 3: Community

Healthy relationships are a catalyst for spiritual growth and transformation.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” – Acts 2:42

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • How are you connected to other believers?
  • Who is spiritually challenging you?

Week 4: Discipleship

Every member is a minister. Each member of the Body is responsible to help the others grow.

“But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” – 1 Corinthians 2:7

“from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” – Ephesians 4:16

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • Who are you personally discipling?
  • Who is discipling you?
  • How are you spending time in God’s word?

Week 5: Faith

Believers are meant to walk in supernatural power.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues… And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” – Mark 16:17, 20

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” – Acts 1:8

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • What are you believing God for?
  • What spiritual gifts are you pursuing, and how?
  • How are you hosting the God’s presence in your life?
  • How are you being continually filled with the Holy Spirit?

Week 6: Excellence

Excellence and going the extra mile honors God and inspires others.

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” – Matthew 5:41

“Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.” – 1 Kings 10:1-5

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • How are you inspiring others with excellence?
  • What are you doing to go the extra mile?
  • How are inspiring the people around you?

Week 7: Evangelism

Lost people matter to God and to us.

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” – Luke 6:31-32

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 28:19

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • How are you helping to reach the lost today?
  • How is your love for the lost growing?

Identity

Believers are meant to walk in a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father and with each other.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • Who is God to you?
  • Who does God say you are?
  • How is God’s love transforming your life?
  • How are you expressing God’s love to others?

Prayer

Without prayer, all our labor is in vain, with God all things are possible.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” –Psalm 127:1

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • What is God speaking to you right now?
  • Who are you praying for?
  • What impossible prayers are you asking?
  • How are you growing in prayer?

Community

Healthy relationships are a catalyst for spiritual growth and transformation.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” – Acts 2:42

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • How are you connected to other believers?
  • Who is spiritually challenging you?

Discipleship

Every member is a minister. Each member of the Body is responsible to help the others grow.

“But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” – 1 Corinthians 2:7

“from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” – Ephesians 4:16

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • Who are you personally discipling?
  • Who is discipling you?
  • How are you spending time in God’s word?

Faith

Believers are meant to walk in supernatural power.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues… And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” – Mark 16:17, 20

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” – Acts 1:8

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • What are you believing God for?
  • What spiritual gifts are you pursuing, and how?
  • How are you hosting the God’s presence in your life?
  • How are you being continually filled with the Holy Spirit?

Excellence

Excellence and going the extra mile honors God and inspires others.

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” – Matthew 5:41

“Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.” – 1 Kings 10:1-5

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • How are you inspiring others with excellence?
  • What are you doing to go the extra mile?
  • How are inspiring the people around you?

Evangelism

Lost people matter to God and to us.

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” – Luke 6:31-32

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 28:19

Things to ask yourself and those you are in relationship with:

  • How are you helping to reach the lost today?
  • How is your love for the lost growing?