Centered Sessions

Your Centered small group—ideally six to 12 people—can meet in person or online. The series consists of nine sessions, each of which includes a check-in time, two short films, and discussion. Time can vary from about 60 to 120 minutes, depending on whether both films are watched during a gathering and whether meals are incorporated. Find links below to the videos in each session.

Group Leaders’ and Participants Guidebooks

Session 1: Meeting Jesus and each other

Who is Jesus Christ, why does he matter, and what’s love got to do with it?

Session 2: Meeting Jesus and sharing life in small groups

Jesus gathered his disciples into a group of followers. We also flourish when we follow him as part of a small, intentional community where we experience belonging to God and to each other.

Session 3: Following Jesus as a way of life

We practice whole-life discipleship, that is, living and loving like Jesus in every part of our lives – not just on Sundays, but for our whole life long.

Session 4: Loving God like Jesus does

Jesus had an intimate, trusting relationship with God, his “Abba” (father) God, fostered through praying and turning again and again to God. We practice loving God by learning how God loves us and how God loves Jesus.

Session 5: Loving neighbors and strangers like Jesus does 

Jesus had a heart full of compassion for everyone he met, and that flowed out in healing, feeding, listening, humbly serving all, and seeking justice for the most vulnerable. We learn from him how to love neighbors and strangers alike through our words and deeds.

Session 6: Loving other disciplines like Jesus does

Jesus loved his friends; washed their feet; and invited them to tend, respect, forgive, and ultimately LOVE one another. He shows us how to be in relationship and partnership with fellow disciples.

Session 7: Loving ourselves like Jesus does

Jesus began his ministry hearing God proclaim him as “beloved.” Imagine if we saw and understood ourselves as beloved and honored our own and others’ belovedness?

Session 8: Creating a sustainable rule of life

Following Jesus takes intentionality and practice (one reason why the words “disciple” and “discipline” are so close). That’s why we need an intentional pathway like a rule of life and a community with which to live it out.

Session 9: Looking and acting like Jesus—together

We gather, covenant, and commit to support and bless each other in the power of the Spirit, not just for a program but for a season and even for life. This is the only way we can hope to live and love like Jesus in everyday life. What we do in small groups supports our faithful living as individuals, members of congregations, and members of society.

Related

Building intentional small groups