Session 1: MY GROUP

How Youll Be Blessed by Your Light Group

STARTER QUESTION/S:
1. Whats your name? How would you describe yourself if you were an animal,
and why?
2. Share one thing that you like, and one thing you dont like.
3. Share one blessing that happened to you in the past week.

SUBJECT:

A. Whats Light of Jesus About?

Light of Jesus started as a small group of 30 people in 1980.

Today, it spans the entire glove. Through the years, it also has given birth to many sister
organizations that do the most amazing work in media evangelism and works of mercy.

Light of Jesus deliberately keeps its operations very simple. For example, it only has two
major activities: The Feast and Light Groups. Everything else revolves around these two
things.

And heres a quick summary of what the Light of Jesus is all about: One Mission, One
Target, One Strategy, and One Tool.

1. One Mission
Our one Mission in the Light of Jesus is to make disciples. And as youth, our aim is to
make young disciples.
We dont publish magazines or TV Shows. Our sister organizations, Shepherds Voice
Publications and Shepherds Voice Radio & TV do that.
We dont run programs for helping the poor. Our sister organizations-- Anawim, He
Cares, Tahanan ng Pagmamahal, Grace to be Born, Pag-asa ng Pamilya, Jeremiah
Foundation, and the LOJ Pastoral Care Center-- do that.
In other words, weve delegated all these to them.
So what do we do? We make disciples.
Now heres a big question: Who will be the disciples?

2. One Target
God has sent us to the Unchurched.
To outsiders. To those who feel they arent welcome in Church. To people who feel
theyre far from God.
 Let me share with you how we disciple.

3. One Strategy
We do it by friendship.
Yes, we have big events and small events, but those are our tools. Our strategy is
friendship.
We build relationships. We go out for coffee. We listen. We care.
For us, discipleship is friendship.
Whether they come to our events is of second importance. The important thing is we
reach out, gain a friend, and show who God is through our kindness.
Now we can discuss our one tool.

4. One Tool
The Feast is a terrific place to bring people to God.
Many first-timers get into the Feast and their eyes are opened. They feel blessed and
want more of what they experienced. So they attend a few more times.
But if they dont join Light Groups, they usually dont stick around too long. Because
its difficult to keep attending a big gathering if you dont have any friends there.
So our one tool in making disciples is Light Groups.
Light Groups forge friendships. People now have companions to share the journey.
We receive love and give love. We infect each other with our faith. We get inspired to
grow more.

B. Light Group Covenant

Lord, I believe Ill be very blessed by this Light Group.

I also believe Ill be a blessing to my fellow members.
I commit to join this Light Group for the next semester.

CARE:
Ill care for my fellow Light Group members.
Ill listen with my heart.
Ill help in practical ways.
Ill pray for their needs.

ACCEPT:
I believe only love can heal.
Ill accept people as they are, weakness included.
In the Light Group, Ill build a safe place flee from judgment, where people can find
forgiveness and healing.

RESPECT:
Ill respect different opinions, beliefs, styles, and preferences.
Ill speak of what will unite rather than what will divide. Ill
also hold any sensitive conversations in private.
 ENJOY:
Ill enjoy my Light Group.
Ill be very grateful for my Light Group.
Ill help others become positive and blessing-focused.

In Jesus name. Amen.

C. Why Light Groups?

Ive discovered the problem of the world.

After 30 long years of ministry, Ive come to the conclusion that what makes the world
sick is really just one problem.

Its the core problem behind every divorce, every war, every depression, every financial
lack, every addiction

What is our core problem? We feel unloved.

Larry Crab, dean of Christian counselors, calls it by another term: Disconnection.

This is our soul wound. This is what makes us fall.

Primarily, were disconnected from Gods love. We dont experience His love, perhaps
because as a child, we were not loved in our families. Point: How can we receive Gods
love if we dont even know what it looks like?

And how do you heal this soul wound?

By getting into healing relationships. Some psychologists call it being re-parented by

other loving people.

Thats why I believe in small groups. Caring groups. Connect groups. And here in the
Light of Jesus Family-- Light Groups.

Ive been a part of Light Groups of 30 years now-- and Ive seen its power.

Light Groups can be places where quiet, unspectacular healing happens. They can be
places where one gets connected with others-- and receive Gods love.

This is the essence of Church. Not the rituals. Not the doctrines. Its the imperfect
relationships that will heal us of our soul wound. (Please dont get me wrong. Rituals and
doctrines are very important, but not as important as love.)
Go ahead. Find new friends here in your Light Group. Love and be loved.
And experience church. And be healed.

D. What happens at a Light Group Meeting?

We have four S parts in a Light Group meeting.

First, after a short opening prayer, we always begin with a STARTER QUESTION.

This makes everyone get to know each other more.

Usually, we ask people to share on Gods blessings the past week. In this way, we build
your faith and help you have a positive mindset. Of course, you can share your problems
and believe that God has a hidden blessing in them.

And then the Light Group Head gives the SUBJECT or SUMMARY of the topic, plus
reads supporting Bible passages.

The next part is SHARING how we apply the topic in our lives. People take turns
answering a selected question.

The meeting ends with SUPPLICATION. People can ask for prayers for specific needs.
We then pray for each other.

Wherever they meet, Light Groups usually (but not all the time) serve simple food in their
meetings. Expenses are shared. Light Groups meet at homes, coffee shops, offices,
schools, malls, and fast-food places.

Meetings usually last for one to two hours. Usually, people stick around after the
meetings for fellowship. Its fun!

SHARING:
What are your expectations for this light group?

SUPPLICATION:
What are things you want to pray for?
Pray for each others needs