Core Group Guide
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A Core Group (CG) is a group of 3-5 individuals who meet together for intentional discipleship around the Core Values of Know and Love God, Love one another, Make Disciples. In this confidential, same-gender, safe environment people can grow in their love relationship with God and in love toward one another through obedience to Christ and sharing of His Word together. New Lifegroup members will join an existing Core Group. If a group consistently has 6 members, the Core Group multiplies into two groups.
While a discipleship group like this could take different forms, our Core Groups follow a simple and reproducible model that is driven by our three Core Values. The format we follow fits the acronym CALL (Connect, Accountability, Learn it, Live it). With the Core Values in mind, this approach helps us experience and grow in Jesus as we do life together. If you are going to be facilitating a Core Group or are training others to facilitate a Core Group meeting, check out our Core Group Facilitator’s Training!
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To grow in our love relationship with God together, we must have the opportunity to know each other deeply. At your first meeting, each person should spend up to 10 minutes sharing a few significant parts of their life journey (family of origin, significant others, faith background). The Core Group Facilitator (CGF) should go first to set the tone for honest sharing in the group. Minister to one another through prayer and encouragement after each person shares.
Example: Share three high points and three low points that have shaped your journey so far.
Set the expectation for future meetings by sharing the three values that will guide each meeting time (see What is a Core Group) and how you will use CALL to structure the time. Also cast vision for what will help the group be successful: consistent meetings, a growth mindset, and ministering to one another. This will require each member to be committed, teachable, and vulnerable. Do not force anyone to share what they don’t want to, but refer back to the vision as a reminder when needed. You should also stress that the group is confidential so long as there is not life-threatening information shared. If something comes up, contact your Lifegroup Leader immediately.
1. Connect
(10 minutes)
Begin by having each person briefly share how they are coming into the group time. This could be as simple as sharing a high and a low from the week. Minister as appropriate. No matter what is shared, bless and thank God for His generosity toward us.
2. Accountability
(15 minutes)
In this group we share how we’ve lived out — or struggled to live out — faithfulness to Jesus recently. Our goal is to encourage one another in truth, not to shame shortcomings. We can confess sin, share needs, and ask for help. Here are some questions to ask:
Did you follow through on your ‘I will…’ statement from last time? (if applicable)
What is one way that you have been thoughtfully living out your faith in God?
What is one thing that has come up that challenged that or another aspect of your life that we can pray for?
3. Learn it
(25 minutes)
Let’s experience God together by starting with the Bible
Read 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 .
Pause for 30 seconds to consider the passage.
Discuss the passage, share experiences, and process what you’re hearing:
What do you hear when you read this passage? Do you see this as a good perspective on giving and generosity? Do you see any challenges with this approach?
2. Share how this journey of generosity has been for each of you. If the group needs direction, pick any of these statements below to lead to deeper discussion:
Disciplined, consistent giving (especially to our local church expression) helps form in us a heart of generosity.
The initial experience of generosity with money is an invitation to experience God as trustworthy so that we can be even more generous with our whole life.
Jesus said it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
If we live as a community of generosity with an abundance mindset, it will transform how we share Jesus with people.
3. We hear God in community. As you’ve been asking God how to give during the REACH Initiative, what have you been sensing from God, and how is it going responding to His direction for you as a joyful giver?
Emphasize that this is a safe space to process—we want to offer costly gifts without comparing costs.
Emphasize that you are invited to share as vulnerably as you like. You can use numbers or percentages if it helps you but it is not necessary.
Emphasize that the final decision is ultimately between you and the Lord. Hear God and Obey.
Experience — Listening to God for one another
After someone shares, do the following
Pause for at least 30 seconds to wait on the Lord for them.
If someone feels like they have an encouragement or word from the Lord, share it and pray for them. The other group members can jump in with what they sense God saying or join in agreement with what was shared.
(Note: We want to encourage one another to hear God and obey. Don’t use a word of the Lord to pressure someone into generosity, but remind them of God’s own generous character that we get to grow into.)When the time ministering to that person passes, repeat steps 1 and 2 for each person in the group. .
You can find other starting points for all the Core Experiences on our Resources page.
4. Live it
(10 minutes)
The Lord invites His disciples to embrace truth, trust Him in obedience, and live differently as the Holy Spirit helps us. Reflect on your conversation and the words shared, then ask God for how to do so practically.
Pause to allow each person to create an “I will…” statement as God leads.
Write down each other’s “I will…” statements for follow up next meeting.
Close in prayer for one another and what the Lord will do this week. As you go throughout the week, stay connected and support one another obeying Jesus.