The Youth and Family Institute and Bethlehem Lutheran Church encourage passing on the faith through the Four Keys:

      1.   Caring Conversation
      2.   Family Devotions
      3.   Family Service
      4.   Family Rituals and Traditions

The Grow Group discussions as well as some other discussion guides are designed to follow a regular rhythm:

      Reconnecting
      Reading
      Reflecting
      Responding

This consistent rhythm helps participants to practice each of the Four Keys.

Each gathering begins with Reconnecting.  By consistently taking the time to reconnect with one another, participants practice caring conversations.  They learn-by-doing the art of listening to one another with open ears and open hearts.  As they reconnect with God through a simple prayer, they also practice a foundational part of devotional life.

The next part of the “4R Rhythm” is Reading.  By reading the scripture passage aloud, the group practices a central aspect of devotions – centering our thoughts on God’s word.  The reading of scripture is a foundation of life together as the church in both its congregational and family incarnations.  As the group turns to Reflecting, they are invited to continue caring conversation while focusing on what they see in the world of the scripture passage and also their own personal world.

The fourth part of each gathering is Responding.  In this portion participants are encouraged to consider and share how they sense the Spirit stirring them to respond to the word and conversation.  The practice of discerning a cruciform (that is cross-shaped) response is taught.  Participants are asked to ponder how they may be called to respond in their relationship with God (vertical dimension of faith) and in their relationships with other people (horizontal dimension of faith).  The Responding portion leads participants to service.  What we learn in the midst of the gathering leads us to not just intellectual understanding but incarnation living out of the faith by serving others.  The ritual of praying with and for one another is one important way that participants practice service.

The “4R Rhythm” becomes a key ritual and tradition for the Grow Group participants.  The practices and skills cultivated in this ministry model can be a powerful impact upon the faith and lives of participants and their families.

About Grow Groups:

The Grow Group ministry model was originally developed at St. John Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, IA.  While its development shared many of the goals and convictions of the Youth and Family Institute, there was no explicit use of the wisdom or language of the Y&FI in the emergence of this particular small group ministry model.  However, there are many ways in with the Grow Group ministry dovetails with the Y&FI’s mission and methods.  A more complete overview of this particular small group ministry model is available in Grow Groups: Nurturing Discipleship through Short-Term Small Groups Centered on the Sunday Scripture and Sermon on Bethlehem’s website (http://www.bethlehemaberdeen.org/documents/JPWGrowGroupsThesis.pdf).

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey P. Whillock  (whillock@nvc.net)
Pastor of Teaching and Discipleship Training
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Aberdeen SD
Developer of the Grow Group ministry model