Growth Groups | My Site

WHAT ARE GROWTH GROUPS?

Disciples not only follow in the way of Jesus, they encourage others to do the same. Growth groups are designed to facilitate your walk with Jesus. They are centred on six guiding principles:

GRACE

RELATIONSHIP

OBEDIENCE

WITNESS

THANKFULNESS

HOLY SPIRIT

TAKING PART

This guide is designed to facilitate running and participating in a GROWTH group.
Growth Groups are not a replacement for Life Groups but an addition. Designed to create environments of challenge and accountability.

In order to start you’ll need a group of 3-5 people of the same sex who are committed to growing as disciples of Jesus. The success of these groups rests on a willingness to challenge and be challenged by one another in a safe space, as you pursue a greater obedience to the way of Christ. Agreeing to participate is an agreement to fully take part and be accountable to those in your group.

WHEN & HOW

Groups can take place in person or online. The ideal length for a meeting is 45-60mins and so the group could run in a lunch hour, before work or in an evening.

GRACE

We live under God’s grace, saved not by our works but through Jesus’ sacrifice (Eph. 2:8-9). His death and resurrection enable us to know God, demonstrating His extravagant kindness. Once saved, we are called to grow in obedience, becoming more like Jesus. This process of sanctification is a slow journey in a single direction. Growth Groups are places where we extend grace to each other, living out the grace we’ve received.

OBEDIENCE

Understanding God’s grace leads to obedience (John 13:16). We don't obey to earn His favour but as a response to the new life we’ve received. Obedience means hearing and doing what God says through His Word and Spirit.

THANKFULNESS

A disciple walks in thankfulness (1 Thess. 5:18). God’s generosity toward us should inspire joy, thanksgiving, and generosity. This thankfulness is both a result of the Spirit’s work within us (Eph. 5:18-20) and a choice we make (Col. 3:15). In your Growth Group, aim to be thankful for God’s work in your life and in those
around you.

RELATIONSHIP

Humans are designed for relationship (Gen. 1-2)—with our Creator and one another. Faith in Jesus is personal but should be lived out in community. Growth Groups, alongside other church gatherings, are meant to facilitate Christian community. Strong relationships with fellow believers lead to greater accountability, love for the church, and a shared commitment to Jesus' mission.

WITNESS

Jesus commissions us to make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). As we follow Him in obedience, we find ourselves on mission to the world. Growth Groups are spaces to encourage one another in mission, equipping each other to share the Kingdom of God wherever we go.

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit's power is crucial for our growth in Christlikeness (Gal. 5:16-26). He reveals Jesus to us, draws us toward Him, and empowers us to bear witness. Making space to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice and be filled with His presence is a vital part of Growth Groups.

RUNNING A MEETING

Step 1: Worship (10 mins)

Begin with worship and thanksgiving, such as prayer, singing, or reading a psalm. The aim is to refocus on who God is and what He has done. Andrew Murray said, “The power of prayer depends almost entirely on our comprehension of who it is with whom we speak.” Reorienting on God is a crucial first step.

Step 2: Welcome (5 mins)

Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your meeting (John 16:13).

Step 3: Review (10 mins)

Reflect on the previous meeting:

What did God say?
How did you respond?
Were there opportunities to share or meet needs?
Do you need to confess anything?

Step 4: Study (25 mins)
Using one of the set scriptures listed below:

Read: Read the passage twice, ideally from different translations.
Retell: Recall the passage together.
- What are the key points?
- Did you miss anything?
- Are there topics for further study?
Reflect:
- What does this teach us about God?
- What does it teach us about ourselves?
Respond:
- What action will you take based on this passage?
- What needs to change in your life?
- Who can you share this with? Record your commitment in the manual.

Step 5: Pray (10 mins)

Pray for each other, asking for God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s presence in the week ahead.

The following five studies provide 52 weeks of material for your group and lay the foundations for Christian faith and practice.

1. Salvation History (14 weeks)

Creation - Gen. 1:1-25
Creation of humans - Gen. 2:7-9, 15-25
Humans disobey God - Gen. 3:1-24
God destroys an evil humanity - Gen. 6:5-6, 9-22, 7:17-24
Tower of Babel - Gen. 11:1-9
Abraham trusted God - Gen. 12:1-7, 15:1-6
Abraham obeyed God - Gen. 22:1-19
God’s call to Moses - Ex. 2:23-3:14, Ex. 7:1-5
The Passover - Ex. 12:1-3, 21-31, 40-42
The Ten Commandments - Ex. 20:1-17
The cycle of disobedience - Judges 2:10-23
The suffering servant - Isaiah 52:13-53:12
The promised Saviour - Isaiah 9:1-7
The birth of Jesus - Luke 2:1-20

2. The Life and Message of Jesus (14 weeks)

John testifies of the Saviour - Mark 1:1-8
Temptation and ministry of Jesus - Luke 4:1-22
Jesus heals and forgives - Luke 5:17-32
Jesus’ power - Mark 4:35-5:20
Forgiveness and sacrifice - Luke 18:9-30
Love God & love your neighbour - Luke 10:25-37
God seeks the lost - Luke 15:1-24
Different responses to God - Matt 13:1-9, 18-23, 44-46
Jesus’ power over death - John 11:1-44
Passover with the disciples - Matt. 26:36-56
Jesus arrested - Matt 26:36-56
The crucifixion - Luke 23:32-56
The resurrection & ascension - John 20:11-31, Luke 24:50-52
Jesus in Heaven - Rev. 7:9-17

3. Jesus is Lord (9 weeks)

Who is Jesus? - John 1:1-18
What does Jesus offer us? - John 14:1-7, 23-27
What is the result of faith? - John 3:3-21
What is the price of following Jesus? - Matt. 10:37-39, Mark 8:34-38
What is your response? - Acts 2:36-41, Psalms 32:1-5, Rom. 10:9-10
What does Baptism mean? - Rom. 6:1-4, Gal. 3:26-28, Acts 10:44-48
Saved by grace - Eph. 2:1-10, Rom. 5:1-5
How will God help us? - John 14:15-27
What does he tell us to do? - Matt. 28:16-20, Acts 1:3-8

4. Being the Church (10 weeks)

The Church is the body of Christ - 1 Cor. 12:12-31
The Church is the bride of Christ - Eph. 5:25-32, Rev. 19:6-9
The Church is God’s family - Eph. 1:3-10
The Church is a spiritual temple - 1 Pet. 2:4-10
The Church is guided by the Spirit - John 16:5-15
The Church is a community - Acts 2:36-47
The Church serves one another - 1 Cor. 12:4-11
The Church gives generously - 2 Cor. 9:6-15
The Church sees signs and wonders - Acts 5:12-29
The Church remembers Jesus - 1 Cor. 11:23-32

5. Life in the Spirit (5 weeks)

Jesus promises the Spirit - John 14:15-27
The Holy Spirit comes - Acts 1:8, 2:1-18
Directed by the Spirit - Acts 16:6-10
The gifts of the Spirit - 1 Cor. 12:1-12
Living in the Spirit - Gal. 5:16-26