God’s purposeful calling on every soul is to grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus. This spiritual growth is not something that just happens. It must be intentionally cultivated with renewing commitment (‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:22 NLT). To become what we need to be in Christ rarely can be fulfilled by individual will. It requires the encouragement and accountability of other followers of Jesus who are also aspiring to become what they need to be in Christ. In sharing with others the trials and joys of our lives in Jesus, we not only grow, we grow together.

Given this truth, the leadership at Central has prayerfully gone about the work of improving the foundational structures upon which we expect to intentionally cultivate spiritual growth, (individually and as a body). We are convinced the way to do this is by connecting each person, in one way or another, with a LifeGroup. It’s simple, really, when you think of it. It’s like taking what we have that’s good, (like Sunday service) and enhancing it with deeper relationships. Take our fundamental tenets, Connect, Grow and Reach and how they play out in Sunday morning service, for example. Then see how they are enhanced when we add LifeGroup participation:

   -  On Sunday morning we celebrate the fact that we can CONNECT; in LifeGroups we actually

      CONNECT life to life, heart to heart.
   -  On Sunday morning we encourage you to GROW; in Life Groups we actually do the work it takes

      to GROW, sharing how God’s Word is revealed in and through our lives.

   -  On Sunday morning we challenge you to live out the “one-anothers” as we REACH to those who

      are lost and hurting; in LifeGroups we actually work together to REACH out to people we know,

      or take on projects where -- as a group -- we can live out the “one-anothers” together.

 

If you’re a bottom line thinker, here it is: You can Connect, Grow and Reach by attending the Sunday service; that’s the What and Why of our Lives in Christ. But when you add the experience of growing through your participation in a LifeGroup to the mix, you’ll have the How we live out the What of our lives in Christ.

 
You’ve probably already figured out that LifeGroups are also exceptional places to foster individual accountability… not that you can ever make someone else accountable for you! Only you can do that. But it is very useful to have someone who really cares about your spiritual growth standing ready to help you stay focused. Which brings us down to this final point: Each and every LifeGroup is in the process of taking a Spiritual Growth Assessment; LifeGroup leaders are committed to helping you find which “next steps” you might want to take in your spiritual journey.

 
If you are not currently in a LifeGroup, we greatly encourage you to find one.  Any elder or staff member can help you do this. If you are concerned about your spiritual growth (and we fervently hope you are), but have not yet joined a LifeGroup, please do pick up a Spiritual Growth Assessment in the Spiritual Growth Resource area in the church narthex, (formerly the Welcome Center). Then if you’d like to discuss it, simply ask any of Central’s leadership to help you determine your next best steps.