Life Group - Leader Guides

Many of you have heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Whether you are currently raising children, have grown kids, hope to one day be a parent, or simply play a role in a child’s life as a mentor, relative, or friend—this conversation matters. Scripture shows us that children are deeply valued by God, and each of us has an opportunity to influence the next generation. Today we’ll explore what it looks like to put God first in how we shape, guide, and invest in young lives through relationships, discipline, and spiritual leadership.

In today’s culture, friendships are often built on convenience or common interests, but Jesus shows us how to have deeper friendships. He teaches us that friendships should be marked by selfless, intentional, and sacrificial love. This week isn’t just about identifying good friendships; it’s about becoming the kind of friend who reflects that kind of love. Today we will look at the friendship between David and Jonathan as an example.

Last week, we talked about putting God first in every area of our lives. This week, we’re zooming in on relationships, especially marriage, but this isn’t just for married couples. Whether you’re single, dating, engaged, or married, the foundation is the same. God’s design for relationships doesn’t start when you say “I do” it starts with who (or what) you’re building your life on right now. The truth is, every relationship is being built on something. The question is: will it last? This week we’re looking at what it means to build relationships God’s way; strong, steady, and centered on Him.

Before we talk about marriages, kids, friendships, or dating, we have to start with something deeper—what it really means to know God. It’s easy to build our lives around relationships and still miss the most important one. We can even do things “for God” and yet never truly know Him. In this series, we’re going to look at all our relationships—but only after we get this right: God was never meant to be one part of our lives. He is meant to be at the center of it all. Because if we don’t know Him, every other relationship will eventually feel out of order.

This week, we’re looking at the names of God. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself in specific ways: provider, healer, shepherd, peace, and victory. These aren’t just titles; they show us who He is and how He meets us in real moments of life. What’s powerful is that these names don’t stay in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we see them fully revealed through Jesus. As you walk through each passage, encourage your group to notice what each name reveals about God’s character and how that connects to Jesus. This week is about recognizing who He is and how He is at work in our lives today.