LG LEADER GUIDE
Welcome / Share Vision for LG
Briefly welcome the group & pray before eating.
Welcome to life group! Life group is a safe, committed community to walk out our journey with Jesus together.
Dinner / Fellowship (30 mins)
We share dinner together as an act of fellowship. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus constantly interacting with people over a meal. The act of eating is so universal that eating together both fills a practical need and helps us open up again to community together. As we eat and share, let’s intentionally reflect on God’s presence in our lives. Encourage people to share, not report.
Optional: you can have the elements of communion to take communion together to start or end the meal.
Welcome to life group! Life group is a safe, committed community to walk out our journey with Jesus together.
Dinner / Fellowship (30 mins)
We share dinner together as an act of fellowship. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus constantly interacting with people over a meal. The act of eating is so universal that eating together both fills a practical need and helps us open up again to community together. As we eat and share, let’s intentionally reflect on God’s presence in our lives. Encourage people to share, not report.
- How have you encountered God this past week?
- What is something you’re thankful for?
Optional: you can have the elements of communion to take communion together to start or end the meal.
Announcements
(5 mins)
Hospitality Team Training | October 1st, 1:30-2:30pm at the church
Our Hospitality Team is getting a make-over! Join us October 1 to hear about what the hospitality team is all about, how you can get involved, and learn all the details to succeed! Let us know you’re coming on the app or at antiochfc.org.
Ownership Class | October 8 12-1:30pm in the eastside classroom
If you call Antioch your church home, or if you're considering making Antioch home, join us for lunch to learn more about what it means to own this house. We’ll talk about our core beliefs and how we live them out as a church family. If you've been to a membership class in years past, we encourage you to come to this to hear how the church has changed in this season. It's also an opportunity to recommit to being part of this house. Register online or in the app to let us know you’re coming!
Missions News | Join the announcement board on the app!
If you would like to stay up to date with prayer requests and new things happening in the missions department, find our group in the app messaging under “Discover.” Or you can click this link.
Hospitality Team Training | October 1st, 1:30-2:30pm at the church
Our Hospitality Team is getting a make-over! Join us October 1 to hear about what the hospitality team is all about, how you can get involved, and learn all the details to succeed! Let us know you’re coming on the app or at antiochfc.org.
Ownership Class | October 8 12-1:30pm in the eastside classroom
If you call Antioch your church home, or if you're considering making Antioch home, join us for lunch to learn more about what it means to own this house. We’ll talk about our core beliefs and how we live them out as a church family. If you've been to a membership class in years past, we encourage you to come to this to hear how the church has changed in this season. It's also an opportunity to recommit to being part of this house. Register online or in the app to let us know you’re coming!
Missions News | Join the announcement board on the app!
If you would like to stay up to date with prayer requests and new things happening in the missions department, find our group in the app messaging under “Discover.” Or you can click this link.
Bible reading
(10-15 mins)
Split into groups of 8 or fewer if necessary. Together, read out loud Psalm 16. Pause for a minute or two after for individual reflection.
Here are some questions for group discussion.
Split into groups of 8 or fewer if necessary. Together, read out loud Psalm 16. Pause for a minute or two after for individual reflection.
Here are some questions for group discussion.
- What does this passage say about God?
- What do we learn about ourselves and others?
- What stands out to you and how could that change you?
Practice: God's Loving Gaze
Read this overview aloud together. (5 mins)
We are made to be known and called to be a people of God’s presence. God’s Loving Gaze is another practice from Ignatius of Loyola where we experience God’s nearness, love, and allow him to see and know us deeply.
In this practice, we place ourselves in God’s presence, considering his care for us. We can do this in a couple of ways. The first is to imagine ourselves physically before the Lord looking deeply into his loving gaze and him looking deeply back into our eyes. This could be as Jesus like Martha experienced, where we feel his love, acceptance, and understanding. It could be as we’re looking into the Father’s eyes and we receive his care, compassion, and delight. Another way is to imagine God’s love for us by remembering and connecting it with feelings of love and care from a familiar presence such as a loving friend or family member. Either way, rest in this gaze and embrace of Love, letting yourself let go of other distractions.
As a group (10 mins)
Encourage everyone to sit comfortably. Encourage them to begin to breathe slowly and deeply to slow yourself and be present. Start with a prayer thanking God that he knows and sees each one of us. Then to close their eyes and imagine looking into God’s loving gaze. Sit for 3-5 mins.
Afterward as a group, spend a couple of minutes sharing your experience and what God spoke. Not everyone has to share. This also isn’t a discussion to comment on what another shares. If what someone shares doesn’t feel like it aligns with scripture, try to encourage them towards scripture without outright correcting them (unless clearly needed). The goal is increased intimacy.
On your own during the week
This practice can either be used by itself or as a start to further prayer or devotional time. Either way, it helps solidify us in God’s care and love so that we are grounded there to walk out our days. Use this throughout the week as a way to continually experience God’s heart towards you.
We are made to be known and called to be a people of God’s presence. God’s Loving Gaze is another practice from Ignatius of Loyola where we experience God’s nearness, love, and allow him to see and know us deeply.
In this practice, we place ourselves in God’s presence, considering his care for us. We can do this in a couple of ways. The first is to imagine ourselves physically before the Lord looking deeply into his loving gaze and him looking deeply back into our eyes. This could be as Jesus like Martha experienced, where we feel his love, acceptance, and understanding. It could be as we’re looking into the Father’s eyes and we receive his care, compassion, and delight. Another way is to imagine God’s love for us by remembering and connecting it with feelings of love and care from a familiar presence such as a loving friend or family member. Either way, rest in this gaze and embrace of Love, letting yourself let go of other distractions.
As a group (10 mins)
Encourage everyone to sit comfortably. Encourage them to begin to breathe slowly and deeply to slow yourself and be present. Start with a prayer thanking God that he knows and sees each one of us. Then to close their eyes and imagine looking into God’s loving gaze. Sit for 3-5 mins.
Afterward as a group, spend a couple of minutes sharing your experience and what God spoke. Not everyone has to share. This also isn’t a discussion to comment on what another shares. If what someone shares doesn’t feel like it aligns with scripture, try to encourage them towards scripture without outright correcting them (unless clearly needed). The goal is increased intimacy.
- What did you feel from God?
- How does that relate to your life right now?
- What is hard or easy about using this prompt to engage with the Lord? Why?
On your own during the week
This practice can either be used by itself or as a start to further prayer or devotional time. Either way, it helps solidify us in God’s care and love so that we are grounded there to walk out our days. Use this throughout the week as a way to continually experience God’s heart towards you.
Prayer / Worship
(25 mins)
End in a time of prayer and worship together. Start the time with a worship song or two. Then continue worship in the background but encourage each member of the group to either go to another person to ask for prayer or ask God if there is a person they should pray for. The Leader should close out the night with a final prayer and thanking everyone for coming.
Here are some worship songs you could use
My King Forever - Josh Baldwin
Great Are You Lord - All Sons & Daughters
Reckless Love - Cory Asbury
End in a time of prayer and worship together. Start the time with a worship song or two. Then continue worship in the background but encourage each member of the group to either go to another person to ask for prayer or ask God if there is a person they should pray for. The Leader should close out the night with a final prayer and thanking everyone for coming.
Here are some worship songs you could use
My King Forever - Josh Baldwin
Great Are You Lord - All Sons & Daughters
Reckless Love - Cory Asbury