“EQUIP” AND “ENCOURAGE” ONE ANOTHER TO LIVE GREAT COMMISSION LIFESTYLES (Mt. 28:19-20). RBBC LIFE Groups are not simply a program, function or focus of the church. RBBC LIFE Groups allow people to experience church life and have a holistic approach based on Biblical values that help focus the lives of every believer:
Love God:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt 22:38). “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor 6.31).” Every healthy LIFE Group begins by focusing upward on our Lord. We do this through prayer, bible study, and worship.
Inward:
“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39). “A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you. . .” (John 13:34). When we begin by focusing upward, Christ’s love will flow through us toward each other. It is in this context that the small group practices the “one another” principles found in Scripture (e.g., Jn. 13:34-35; Rom. 12:10; 14:13; 1Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:2, 32; 5:21; 1 Th. 5:11; Jn. 4:11; 1 Pt. 1:22; 5:5; 1 Jn. 1:7).
Forward:
“Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you . . .” (Matt 28:20). “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many whiteness, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). As the harvest for Christ is brought in, a healthy small group is prepared to multiply by developing leaders ready to start new groups.
Evangelism:“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. . .” (Matt 28:19). As we love each other in the body of Christ, others will know we are His disciples (John 13:35). As we strengthen each other, we are able to minister and bring the Gospel to the lost. A healthy small group will develop a desire to reach out to their community.
These values flow out of the presence of the Holy Spirit in individuals and groups as He empowers believers to live God glorifying lives.