BASICS
Meet weekly with 1-2 other people (same gender) who are your LifeChange Partners.
This item speaks to the need for regular contact. Weekly is ideal with possibility of calls in the interim. The meeting should be in person, but there may be times that it is necessary to meet by phone or Skype/FaceTime type communication. These should always be same gender groups due to the nature of the sharing.
Attempt to fulfill the expectations of the Change Questions to the best of your ability.
You are committing to put effort into being shaped and molded by God through accountability with other believers. You should not motivate your Partner through guilt, instead, encourage them by the grace given to you through Jesus.
One of the goals is to add a 3rd and then a 4th LifeChange Partner, at which time you will multiply into two LifeChange Groups.
Discipleship is always a multiplying activity. You only need one other person to start. Between the two of you, you bring in another person. Once you encourage another partner to join the team, you're ready to start again. The nature of LC groups demand they remain small in size. The goal is not to be static but to continue reaching out to help others grow in being a follower of Jesus.
You come together as an equal partner, not above and not less than your other partners.
You are not in a teacher/student or mentor/mentee relationship. Instead, you are being taught and mentored by God himself through the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Even though there may be differences in spiritual maturity between partners, each are equally called to grow and mature from the point they are at present in their spiritual walk.
Your conversations with each other will remain strictly confidential, so, be completely honest.
Trust is the basis of open and honest relationships. Although this takes time to build, it can be destroyed with a careless comment. The expectation of privacy is necessary to confession.
Don't attempt to "fix" or judge your LifeChange Partners, only be accountable to them for yourself and pray for them.
Let God do his job. James (5:16) says your job is to confess to each other and pray for each other. In Gal. 6:1 it says, "if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path." Your focus should be on your own shortcomings.
Remain focused when meeting by attempting to follow the structured format.
It's easy to avoid talking about deep things. Avoid the temptation to fill the time with distractions. Meet with a purpose and fulfill that purpose. Keep your focus on life change issues. You can always meet together at other times to talk other areas of life.
QUESTIONS
What is God making known to you through your Scripture reading this week?
At the heart of LifeChange is the Holy Spirit teaching you through exposure to Scripture. Your reading should mostly be directly from Scripture, not books or devotionals about Scripture. Given this guideline, what you read in Scripture is up to you. You and your LC Partners don't necessarily need to read the same things, although it is best if you can. One of the most important parts of the learning process is passing on what you've learned to someone else, such as your LC Partner.
Have you imitated Jesus and honored God this week through your: THOUGHTS? WORDS? and DEEDS?
Honestly examine your thinking, speaking, and behavior this week. Use the example negatives as well as the example positives in each category. What specific ways have you fallen short? What specific ways have you imitated Jesus? What can you do differently? What can you do more of?
Have you been involved in showing love to others in a way that brings glory and honor to God?
This is not talking about a works-based salvation, but rather salvation-based works. James (2:17) puts it like this, "faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." We show love to the world and to other believers by the good things we do for them simply because we are a God-follower. We are told to "think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." Heb 10:24
Have you made the most of every opportunity this week to share the Good News about the loving kindness of God?
We have good news to share, why wouldn't we tell it? There is not opportunity every day or every week to share our good news, but there are likely far more opportunities than we take advantage of. Paul said, "my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." Acts 20:24.
Have you regularly prayed this week for your LifeChange Partners and list of friends and family needing God?
Prayer for each other should be part of every meeting with your LifeChange Partner. Additionally, you should be kingdom minded by being aware of others who need to share in the Good News of the wonderful grace of God. Praying for others to know God changes your relationship with them and possibly your behavior toward them. Keep kingdom eyes open for those God is leading to your heart. They will likely be those who are already within your sphere of influence.
LCP Suggestion for Reading Scripture and Journaling:
Start with the reading schedule in the Disciples Bible Study Journal which takes you through the New Testament once during the year. Use the accompanying journaling guide to record your weekly insights to share with your LC Partner's.