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)
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.
Faith Revival Prayer | Tuesday mornings from 6-7am in the Annex
Come join us as we pray for our church and the nations. That our faith would be stirred and strengthened so that we might be conduits of God's transformative presence.
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.
Faith Revival Prayer | Tuesday mornings from 6-7am in the Annex
Come join us as we pray for our church and the nations. That our faith would be stirred and strengthened so that we might be conduits of God's transformative presence.
Bible reading
(10-15 mins)
Split into groups of 8 or fewer if necessary. Together, read out loud Psalm 139:1-12. 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 139:1-12. 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: The Daily Examen
Read this overview aloud together. (5 mins)
The Daily Examen is a prayerful reflection to help you see where God was active in your day. It was originally used twice daily - at noon and at the end of the day - to habitually keep awareness of God in the details of our lives. It’s important to not just sit in reflection during the Examen but to fully rejoice and repent. In those steps, we recognize and receive God’s gifts in our lives.
As a group (15-25 mins)
Encourage everyone to sit comfortably. Encourage them to begin to breathe slowly and deeply to slow yourself and be present. Read a prompt and then allow everyone to sit for 3-5 minutes as they individually pray through it before moving on to the next prompt. Everyone may want to pull up this guide to read the prompts themselves.
Afterward as a group, spend a couple of minutes sharing your experience. 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 is best as a regular close to each day on your own. Use it as a chance to process the day with the Lord and receive his mercy and rest anew. Optionally, you can do this at lunch time as well or instead of at night.
The Daily Examen is a prayerful reflection to help you see where God was active in your day. It was originally used twice daily - at noon and at the end of the day - to habitually keep awareness of God in the details of our lives. It’s important to not just sit in reflection during the Examen but to fully rejoice and repent. In those steps, we recognize and receive God’s gifts in our lives.
As a group (15-25 mins)
Encourage everyone to sit comfortably. Encourage them to begin to breathe slowly and deeply to slow yourself and be present. Read a prompt and then allow everyone to sit for 3-5 minutes as they individually pray through it before moving on to the next prompt. Everyone may want to pull up this guide to read the prompts themselves.
- Reflect: Am I carrying any troubles, worries, or tension from the day? I release those to you, God, and receive your peace.
- Rejoice: Reflecting on the day, Lord show me where You were at work in my life. In what ways did I experience Your goodness and when did I hear You speak? Thank you, God!
- Repent: Father God, would You remind me now of the ways in which I have sinned against you today through negligence, weakness, or my own deliberate fault. I take a moment to confess my sins before you now. God of Grace, thank you that when I was lost, You found me and when I was ashamed You forgave me, nailing the accusations against me to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). I receive Your forgiveness now.
- Rest: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). God of all seasons, the sun has set, the night has gathered in, my soul sinks slowly into Your rest, trusting now in the resurrection to come. Amen.
Afterward as a group, spend a couple of minutes sharing your experience. 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 about your day?
- What is hard or easy about using this prompt to engage with the Lord? Why?
On your own during the week
This practice is best as a regular close to each day on your own. Use it as a chance to process the day with the Lord and receive his mercy and rest anew. Optionally, you can do this at lunch time as well or instead of at night.
Prayer / Worship
(15 mins)
Split into groups of 2-3 to pray together to end the time. You can either share praise & prayer points or base prayer from what was revealed & shared during the practice. One of the leaders should close out the night with a final prayer and thanking everyone for coming.
Split into groups of 2-3 to pray together to end the time. You can either share praise & prayer points or base prayer from what was revealed & shared during the practice. One of the leaders should close out the night with a final prayer and thanking everyone for coming.