This is part of a series called Living Life Groups, Loving God. Read the introduction here.
A life group responds to stimuli and adapts to changes
In the year 2020 the pandemic broke out, and life, and life groups, as we know it changed forever. It was a season in history that made an enormous impact on a global scale, and everything on earth underwent a hard reset.
Nothing was exempted.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For the church, it meant finding alternative ways to spread the message of God. While His Word will always remain the same no matter what, the onus will always be on His called out ones to find ways to reach out to the lost in the most accessible, sustainable ways.
And so life groups moved to the online sphere, leveraging technology to make sure that the good news is still delivered no matter what. Churches the world over learned new ways to communicate, transitioning from old-school methods to modern approaches that they never would have considered otherwise.
Nowadays, the tides are turning again, and things are going back to “normal”. Note the quotes. Once again, churches need to pivot to ensure that their mission strategies are relevant to the times. Likewise, life groups have to follow suit and adapt to the times.
All this is not to say that God wants to make it difficult for His people. This is the exact opposite of what He desires for us.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11
God wants us to live life to the fullest. And that includes the complete experience of the full spectrum of everything that this universe has to offer. With all its ups and downs, happiness and sorrows. He created a world that turns, a world that has seasons. And so it stands to reason that He will also give His people the capacity to change with it, to adapt and grow in their gifted environment.
As a living, loving organism, a life group has to have the ability to acclimate to the changing times, not to conform to the world, but to influence it. A life group that is afraid of restructuring does not have Jesus in the centre, because this implies that it puts comfort and convenience above the mission that God had assigned.
God created us in His own image, and then gave us free will. Life groups that are alive in Christ take this moulded image, take this gracious gift of free will, and use it to thrive in continuous, harmonious existence with the families and communities that they serve.
Reflection Questions
- How well do you personally adapt to change?
- Describe the changes your life group underwent in 2020 and 2021. What were the biggest things you learned about your life group and your leaders during those times?
- What do you foresee for your life group in the coming days ahead as global lines seem to be shifting once more?