arise groups
ARISE groups were founded on the observation that too often, men’s communities in church settings leave growth to chance. We may get together for a backyard BBQ, have an annual golf outing, or catch the Superbowl on the jumbotron at church - but the meat of the conversation is hoped for rather than pursued.
What if we stopped trying to accidentally grow in Christ, and started working at it intentionally? What if we stopped trying to accidentally achieve deep fellowship--through activities and hangouts--and started pursuing it?
What is an ARISE Group?
ARISE groups are small, intimate gatherings of 3-6 men that meet regularly to support, encourage, challenge, and strengthen one another as brothers in Christ.
What does an ARISE meeting look like?
At its core, it’s guys sitting around and sharing what’s going on in life - the real stuff. It may be around a fire, over a warm coffee or a cold beer, or on a back patio; but regardless of where it is, it’s getting past merely “catching up” to talk about how we might grow more like Christ: sin struggles, things we're feeling called to, and things we’re thinking about and looking for direction on.
We follow a regular cadence that helps facilitate deeper connection.
Open in prayer.
Someone shares a verse with application / encouragement / reflection (~5 min)
Individuals share things for which we want encouragement, prayer, or accountability. (~10 minutes per person)
Identity
Confession
Feelings
Discipleship
Reminder of areas of focus
Progress report
Concrete next steps
New areas?
Feedback and encouragement
Close in prayer for one another.
Learn more about each section below.
What are some guidelines for sharing and feedback?
We talk about a lot of things most guys don’t often talk about. And it’s refreshing. When we share, we don’t shy away from sin. We encounter God’s grace, and experience the freedom and weight lifted when we name it, share it out loud with a brother, and receive forgiveness. We also identify areas God is working on in us - and places we’re joining him at work.
When we give feedback we’re fairly direct - but aim to do it in a loving way. We believe that individuals need to own their own commitments, but that often an encouragement to make it concrete helps us get there. We share from experience, but we also try to ground feedback in scripture.
Some general guidelines:
What to share:
Sin struggles
Things we're feeling called to
Things we’re thinking about, looking for direction on (am I called to it?)
When sharing, follow up on things previously shared.
Ask whether a person is open to feedback, before giving feedback.
Be open to feedback!
Keeps a personal log of discipleship areas, others' prayer requests, answered prayer, etc.
When there are new people:
Core members give a brief testimony before continuing with their usual sharing.
New people can choose whether they want to share.
What’s the commitment like?
Each group has their own routines - but we’ve found a weekly meeting to be most impactful. In addition to meeting regularly, each man is asked to make the following commitments to the group:
I commit to leaving no stone unturned! Shame is the devil's tool. There is no area of life that shouldn't be brought under the authority of Christ our King.
I commit to keeping confidentiality within the group unless given permission otherwise.
I commit to not using my phone during group time.
I commit to showing up. If I can’t, I tell the group and share why I couldn’t make it.
Can you share more about each section?
We’ve settled into this cadence after some trial and error. Ultimately, adapt as needed for your group. Here’s a bit more on why we find each section to be so important and some tips we’ve learned along the way.
Open in prayer
Prayer grounds us. We invite God in and quiet our own hearts after busy days.
Someone shares a verse with application / encouragement / reflection (~5 min)
Studying God’s word regularly doesn’t need to be profound; often, a simple truth resonates most. By rotating who shares insights weekly, the group benefits from varied perspectives, ensuring no one feels burdened and everyone's voice is heard. This approach enriches our understanding and strengthens our bond in a relational community.
Individuals share things for which we want encouragement, prayer, or accountability. (~10 minutes per person)
Identity
We hear a lot of voices that vie for our identity. A job, where we live, finances, education. Billboards abound, social media clammers. This simple statement names a truth about our identity in God. You may find you come back to the same statement or vary it each week, but we begin by reminding ourselves of Truth.
Example: “I am a beloved child of God, rescued from sin, and given new life.”
Confession (James 5:16)
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” - C.S. Lewis
While C.S. Lewis may have been referring to a shared interest or vision, it seems to be even more apt in areas of sin. We too often cling to shame, not accepting the grace God freely gives. This is one of the most impactful things we do each week. It’s the section that keeps it most authentic - because there’s nowhere to hide, and that’s where God works. In our brokenness and our weakness, he is there, and he is strong.
Feelings
Men don’t talk about their feelings much. But it’s helpful to name them; to check in on how we’re doing.
Discipleship
Reminder of areas of focus - We pick an area God has put on our hearts to address. Sometimes this is an area of sin we are seeing freedom from. Other times it’s a new calling we’re being faithful to.
Progress report - How’s it going? Sometimes you’re making progress and feeling energized. Other times this check-in serves as a reminder that you didn’t keep your commitments. We simply seek to do it intentionally and in community.
Concrete next steps - Too often we think or say things like “It’d be great if I got up in the mornings to do a devotional” or “I’m going to try to remember to pray with my wife before bed”. That’s great, but…honestly unlikely to see any fruit. We encourage guys to make it concrete. “I’m going to get up each morning this week and do a devotional before work” or “I’m going to pray with my wife before bed every day this week”.
New areas? While we like to stay on the same area for a bit, because often they are big enough to work on for a while, we also know there are times when God reveals a new calling or a new area.
Feedback and encouragement
After a man goes through the above, we pause and reflect. We don’t have to share feedback - and sometimes it’s as simple as “thank you for sharing”. Other times, we’ll invite a brother to make a concrete commitment. Still other times, we may question a narrative we heard, or point back to scripture as encouragement in the journey together.
Close in prayer for one another
Once each man has had a chance to share, we close in prayer. We pray over one another - each man for another - as a way to encourage and uplift and send out for the week ahead.