Life Groups at GCR are small communities of believers who exist to Win, Build, Equip and Multiply disciples of Jesus Christ.

 These 5 qualities will characterize Life Groups:

 Worship. Our life together will flow out of our desire to magnify God in everything we do. God deserves the worship of His redeemed people who live in wonder of His greatness. It is not about me. It is all about God.

For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen. (Romans 8:36 (NLT))

”Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.”                      John Piper

Discipleship. The aim of the Christian life is obedient imitation of Jesus Christ. His is the only life worth imitating. We make it our serious goal to imitate Him in every way possible—His faith, His love, His intimacy with and obedience to His Father.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. (I Peter 2:21)

 Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.                             Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Fellowship. Our relationship with the Father compels us to demonstrate our love for Him by how we love others. Our aim is to build Christ-centered relationships that provide a sense of belonging, community, and family. Our relationships will be marked by genuine love and authenticity where there is undeniable acceptance and a mutual encouragement to holy living. It is in Life Group that the "One Another" passages are lived out: "Love one another," "Honor one another," "Bear one another's burdens," "Teach and admonish one another," "Forgive one another" and many others.

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5a (NLT)) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (I John 3:16) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably, death. On the other hand, our spiritual family—our relationship to other believers—will continue throughout eternity. It is a much stronger union, a more permanent bond, than blood relationships.                                                              Rick Warren

Ministry. Just as Jesus did not come to be served, our life together is to be marked by a selfless service to others. God has created each of us with spiritual gifts in order that we might serve one another and bless outsiders with the love of God. We are to be salt and light to each other and the world.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (I Peter 4:10)

 Evangelism. God has wonderfully saved us from everlasting destruction and given us overflowing new life in Jesus Christ. Recognizing that our time is short and that he deserves more worshippers, we live obediently and hopefully always ready to tell others how they can turn to God. Telling others how to find life in God through Jesus Christ is not optional, but is a normal, commanded, and lifelong privilege for every believer.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

        

Lost people matter to God.                                             Bill Hybels