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Life Groups

Leader Resources

GROUP STUDIES

We strongly encourage groups to use Sermon Questions for their “Grow” time when they meet. This really helps folks double-click on what was taught that Sunday and provides a place to not only process it, but apply it to their lives!

That said, sometimes your group may want to do something different due to your season of life or a particular need the group feels as a whole. If there is a particular book or study your group would like to use, we ask that you please contact Jeff Moore (BC), Clay Adkisson (DS), or Jeff Rutter (SW) to get it approved.

Additionally, we have opportunities for marriage studies to be led in your group by trained marriage mentors. Email your campus Groups Pastor to learn more!


Five Ways to Use Sermon Questions in Life Group
  1. Send out the passage of Scripture and questions to the group before you meet.
    It helps your group be prepared. It allows them to read the text beforehand, forming ideas and thoughts for discussion, and creating fewer blank stares and less silence when you lead the discussion.
  2. Take notes in the sermon and use them to form questions.
    As you take your own notes in the sermon, think about questions you want to ask in the group. You don’t always have to use all our questions. You know your group and what will land with them, so use some of your own.
  3. Use the sermon as commentary.
    Group time should not be a rehash of the sermon. The Scriptures are primary, while the sermon is commentary. A point or line from the sermon can help us understand the text as we discuss how it applies to our lives.
  4. The group time is not just a Bible study, but is about sharing life.
    While we want our discussion to be based on the Bible, it is not just an intellectual pursuit of knowledge in group discussion. It is a time to be vulnerable, sharing your life and faith while discussing how the Scriptures impact your life. A life group is where we share our lives, build community around God’s Word, and walk alongside each other to live out our faith.
  5. Follow up with the application points.
    During group time, we discuss application points from a passage of Scripture that we should live out during the week. But do we talk about how it went the previous week at our next gathering? Take time at the beginning of the group to discuss the week before, celebrating the victories of living out our faith while encouraging others when we fall short.

What if someone in your group goes to another campus?

Typically, across all our campuses, we hear a sermon from the same text. It would be beneficial to ask the person what they got from the sermon at their campus. It will provide a different perspective on the same passage of Scripture. The Scriptures, not the speakers, unite us as a church.

BONUS

Here are a few resources to help you effectively lead your group:

Have Questions?

  • Jeff Moore

    Groups Pastor

    Bee Cave

    Jeff Moore

    Groups Pastor

    Bee Cave

    Jeff is originally from Baytown, Texas, and has been in Austin since 2000. He has been married to Karol Ann since 1995, and they have two grown kids, one awesome grandson, and three French Bulldogs. He has a Master's of Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary and has been in pastoral ministry for more than 20 years. Jeff has a passion for seeing people grow in their understanding of and obedience to Scripture and equipping them to equip others in the community, and has been doing that at the Ridge since 2013.

  • Clay Adkisson

    Groups + Connections Pastor

    Dripping Springs

    Clay Adkisson

    Groups + Connections Pastor

    Dripping Springs

    Clay is from Nashville, TN, but Texas feels like home. He graduated undergrad from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and received his Master's of Arts in Religion from Redeemer Seminary in Dallas. He is married to Mandy, and they have three children: Seth, Asher, and Stella. Clay enjoys family time, college football – especially the Texas Longhorns – smoking meats, live music, comedy, the Texas Hill Country, and Mexican food. Clay has served in local church ministry for two decades in four different states. He is passionate about seeing people connect and grow in community around the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • Jeff Rutter

    Groups Pastor

    Southwest

    Jeff Rutter

    Groups Pastor

    Southwest

    Jeff grew up in Orlando, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University in 2012. He has been in full-time ministry since then, where he has had the opportunity to lead families, children, students, and now Life Groups and D-Groups. Jeff is married to Cheyenne, and together they have two boys, Everett and Cannon. He enjoys family time in the backyard, playing all sports, going to concerts and watching his Florida State Seminoles. Jeff is passionate about discipleship and helping others Know, Grow, and Serve Jesus. Jeff and Cheyenne are thankful the Lord has called them to Austin to be a part of such an incredible church and community.