The 4 W's

Welcome - not just 'welcome to the group' but a getting involved in each other's lives. You can't be part of a Life Group that is working properly without others getting to know you pretty well, including what you're struggling with as a Christian as well as what you enjoy.
Important value: Honest and loving community.

Worship - There are no rules as to how this is done. It might be singing along to a CD or saying a psalm or thinking for a moment & then sharing something about God that you appreciate at the moment.
Important value: Jesus is at the centre of the Life Group.

Word - This is not a lecture by the Life Group leader but a discussion applying the Bible to every day life. The more theoretical input/ teaching comes from the Sunday sermon. The word section ends with prayer ministry: praying for the application of what has been talked about (or other issues) in people's lives.
 Important value: Everyone growing - everyone taking responsibility for their holiness and growth as a Christian

Witness - We all have a church 'oikos' (the Greek word for household) - this is our Life Group. We also all have a secular 'oikos'. This could be non-Christian family, friends, work colleagues, people in the same sports club or other interest group: everyone we mix with regularly who is not a Christian. The Life Group will spend time each week focusing on how we can introduce people in our secular oikos to Jesus. This might involve planning a Life Group social event to which individuals can invite others or it might be offering support to individuals in their efforts to share the gospel with their friends.
Important value: Everyone making Christ known

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Life Church

At the moment about half the members of St Philip’s Church are participating in a new way of being church.

In addition to worshipping on a Sunday they meet together in small groups – called Life Groups – during the week.  Most of these groups meet on a weekday evening but one of them meets in an afternoon.  These people see their group as just as much ‘church’ as Sunday services are ‘church’.

Some other important ideas and values:

Multiplying
From the start the group agrees that it plans to multiply (we prefer to use the term multiply rather than divide or split!) within a certain time - perhaps two years. It's not about getting together with a group of friends and making a holy huddle.

From the start each group has a leader and an 'apprentice leader' appointed by the church leadership. When the group multiplies the apprentice leader will become the leader of one of the groups and two new apprentices will be appointed.

Important Value: An expectation that the church will grow

Leadership
The Life Group Leader's role is a very important one. He or she is responsible for the life of the Life Group: its health, its growth and the pastoral care of its members.  This means that priority is given to training (through the apprenticeship system) and supporting leaders.

The vicar meets with all the Life Group leaders termly to make sure they have all the support they need to do the job. The vicar also makes sure there is material available for the 'Word' part of the meeting. This might include a summary of the main points of the sermon in case some of the group missed Sunday and some questions to help the discussion.

Important value: healthy Life Groups need well-supported leaders

Seasons
Life Groups operate for 'seasons' of seven weeks. This includes 5 sessions using the 4 Ws above, one session which is purely a social meeting and one week when there is no meeting - a rest week. Every 49 weeks there is a further three week break - usually the month of August.

Important value: Keep a balance in life: we all need a break sometime!

Every member ministry
Every member of the Life Group is given a job to do for a particular season (group of seven weeks).

Typical jobs are:

Welcomer - the person who opens the door and smiles!
Worship - responsible for leading the worship session
Coffee maker - makes the coffee, gets the biscuits!
Word - responsible for leading the word session

 Important value: everyone is gifted to do something and has a calling from God

If you have never tried being church in this way, why not give it a go? It is challenging but very rewarding.