Live in Concert Part IV

This last installment of Live in Concert will be a time and teaching of communion.

We are very excited for many reasons about what we’ll cover. For one, it’s always a great thing to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ with other Christ followers through Communion. That alone gives us a reason to look forward to Sunday. But there’s more.

This Sunday will serve as something of a launch point for many of our Life Groups to begin taking communion together in the context of their Life Group meetings. Some groups already do occasionally, others are unsure about it, while for others the idea may have never occurred to them. This Sunday, we will teach on some of the history of this sacred memorial, as well as some helpful insights from 1 Corinthians 11- all of which are meant to heighten the value we place on Communion, while at the same time taking it beyond the limitations and even misunderstanding many of us attach to it.

So, for your group this next meeting, you may want to celebrate Communion together as you enjoy a meal. If after the message this Sunday, you choose to do so, you may still have a few questions about the actual doing. The following is meant to be helpful, but not necessarily exhaustive or in any particular order.

Remember Jesus and His resurrection.

As you eat the bread and drink the cup together, share stories about what God is doing in your lives together, as well as individually. Celebrate the story of Christ’s resurrection, and then, as a group, tell the story of resurrection still playing itself out in your families, your relationships, your work, your play, your awe, your prayer, and your wonder. Perhaps a time of confession between members of the group will take place. Perhaps a time of encouragement one or more particular members.

Be aware of God’s immediate presence.

We all know that Communion isn’t a snack to be enjoyed absent-mindedly. But even knowing that, we can still forget that Communion isn’t the ends, but the means. In the midst of shared stories, prayer- keep in mind that God’s Spirit is whispering. This sacred memorial is a representation of Christ’s actual presence among His people…don’t miss that.

Meditate.

As part of the time should be spent enjoying each other and what God is up to in your group, part of the time should be used to reflect on God, as well as upon our own lives in light of Him. Let God bring to mind areas that He wants to resuscitate, or regain authority over. Let Him also call to mind people that you have failed to present the humble selfless Christ to. If there are people in our lives that we have put beneath us, we’re never going to understand the weight and the power of our Creator’s spilled, innocent blood given to us.

Be sensitive

Some people in your group might not be Christians. You may decide, in light of that, that the group isn’t ready for Communion. You may also decide to go ahead and celebrate it together, with him or her not participating in this important part of the meal. But, the question remains as to whether it’s “okay” for unbelievers to take the elements, if they were to decide to. Well, if they don’t believe, then there isn’t much for them to celebrate. But, if they don’t believe and are taking steps on their journey and want to participate- be assured that God is able to use this. God is not offended by them taking a step into the tradition as well as toward the group. So, in the same way we invite those who do not yet confess faith in Christ to sing to God on Sunday morning if they want, to give money if they want, to pray if they want, to serve with us if they want- we can be confident that God will also speak to them through the sacred memorial of Communion as well.

How to

You can pick up Matzo crackers at any Grocery Store, and any grape juice or wine will work well. Don’t feel like the bread has to be the little miniature version we often use when we’re all together. And the juice/wine can be enough to drink- not the plastic thimbles typically seen on Sunday morning. There is nothing intrinsically sacred about having tiny portions- that’s just how it works best for hundreds of people gathered on a morning. Choose grape juice versus wine with wisdom. Both are fine- but wine used in groups where people currently have or have had struggles with alcoholism will instantly create an environment that’s not best, and is potentially harmful. If you are not certain about the pasts of your members, there is nothing lost by choosing juice, so wisdom would say that route is best where absolute certainty is lacking.

You can put the crackers and juice/wine out on a table, or you can pass it. You can make sure everyone has the elements and then pray, or you can just start talking about what God is doing as you eat together (remember, the bread and the cup are eaten typically in the context of a meal, Biblically speaking…so you should feel free to already have the atmosphere set for dining.)

Don’t feel as though there are special words to be said, or a special order to be followed in order for the elements to receive their blessing. The blessing comes in the hearts of your group uniting to celebrate a risen Christ and redeemed souls. Celebrate that well.

You may also want to decide ahead of time what your frequency will be. This isn’t meant to suggest that our groups will now do this weekly. It may be monthly, quarterly or some other rhythm- just be intentional and communicate it clearly.

 

Further reading

• Colossians 3:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 11:17-30
• Galatians 5:22-6:5

Live in Concert, Part III

Life Group Leaders,
Steve and his group are in Haiti right now, so I thought I’d provide you with a few questions to supplement the general questions you may use to further discuss the teaching from Sunday in your group. Hope it helps.
Jonathan

How has the way you thought about God changed over the years?

How has that affected lifestyle choices you’ve made both positively and negatively?

Dallas Willard defines worship as “an intentional tuning of the mind to God and ascribing to God all of the greatness and goodness and glory that belongs to him.”

What are philosophies, objects, goals, or persons that become easy for people to intentional tune their minds to, orient their thinking around, and ascribe greatness to other than God?

Why does that often become so easy to do?

If God is not an egocentric maniac, how does worshiping God meet a desperate need of ours more than a desperate need of God?

Talk and discuss some ways that you’ve witnessed or experienced “thinking affect behavior” and “behavior affecting thinking”?

Share some postures, actions, or disciplines that help you orient your thoughts around God?

(Possible Scriptures to discuss: Romans 8:5-7, Philippians 4:8-9, Psalm 16:8)

(Note from Jenny: Thanks so much Jonathan! Before Steve left we IM’ed some possible questions you could use or modify to “break the ice”:
*Did you receive any awards or superlatives in high school or college? If so, share one or two and the details.
*Think about the most egotistical person you personally know (now or in the past), what made them so hard to be around?
*Did anyone take Jonathan’s challenge in the email on Thursday to contact someone to express gratitude in a specific and personal way? If so, how did it go?

It's Coming...

In 30 days, we will launch ReGroup, an informative and interactive gathering designed just for you—the group leader! ReGroup will be happening 3 times a year, and is designed to give you an environment to stay connected to other leaders, as well as get the support you all need and deserve.

On Sunday June 22, during each of the three services, Steve will meet with all our current Life Group leaders to discuss issues that arise with leading, your groups’ mission, and more. In addition to your presence, we need to hear from you. What are the two most pressing issues facing you as a group leader at the moment? Please email me those asap so we can be fully prepared to discuss what you want during these gatherings.

All three time slots (one each service, upstairs in the Startingpointe room) will be the same, so choose one that works with your schedule family-wise, as well as your schedule serving on Sunday morning.

Please RSVP which one that you’ll be attending to Jenny at jrogers@crosspointe.org as well as your two issues. We value your input and look forward to seeing you at ReGroup!

It's Coming...

33 days and counting!!!

Summer

Hey group leaders-

May represents 19 months with my Life Group. We started way back in the day, when our groups were called "Gel Groups". Those were the days. 

I am excited for a few reasons about where my group is. This week, 10 of us will be going to Haiti to love on our beloved kids at the Haitian Children's Home. We will be doing a VBS with area kids that don't have a lot of access to school or love or the good news of the Kingdom at all. We will also be working on constructing a building that will allow very rural kids with little or no access to education or church to have a place to meet. It so amazes me how life-changing a building can be.

I tell you this for a couple reasons.

One, I covet your prayers for our group while we are there. We leave Wednesday morning and will be back late Sunday night. Pray for our safety, our energy, our unity and our effectiveness. And then, anything else you think of. You can follow the progress of our trip at http://haiti2008.blogspot.com/.

Two, as your group moves toward its goals, such as mission trips, serving and generally growing in faith, you have to account and plan for the Summer well. I know many groups are full of people with pretty crazy schedules. Summer can be a difficult time for consistency within the group. But I want to challenge you not to default to the "Summer Break" mentality. As we strive to make our groups more about friends doing faith and life together, and less about classrooms- we have to remain intentional throughout the summer to create an environment and a momentum that leaves room for God to work. If we "take the summer off", we are potentially creating a huge void in our journey. For some, we are shutting down the momentum of trust and vulnerability. If we just stop, we are also not serving others and growing in the study of the scriptures in the way that can only happen in the context of the group. If our Life Groups are classrooms, then breaking for a couple months makes perfect sense. "My life group is tracked out right now, how about yours?" "Oh, mine is traditional...". But, if our Life Groups are groups of friends wrestling with taking part in Jesus' Kingdom- then not meeting for an extended period is generally the opposite of what we're shooting for. Where and what you want your people to be in February 2009 will have much to do with the plan for these Summer months that you lead them through!

Undoubtedly, the schedule will look differently. So, the question is how you will be strategic with it in creating a realistic and challenging plan that allows for God to still do what He does in group life? How can you make sure that people are still together consistently, praying and encouraging and chewing on the scriptures together, serving or planning to, laughing together, eating together, living in rhythm and celebrating and doubting...together? Jenny and I discussed this, and here are some of the ideas she had:

Plan dinners with themed cuisine nights, take a picnic to the park, take a walk around the lake together, go to the NC State Arboretum or Duke Gardens, go to a Durham Bulls game- and when was the last time you went bowling? 

Plan to serve at the DRM once a month during the summer. Contact Pam McKerring, our new Pastor of Mobilization, for more information on opportunities. Take a Sunday(s) and serve in Kidspointe 3rd hour and go to lunch together!
Pray more—use prayer partners through the summer to keep group members connected to one another; utilize a prayer list through the summer gathering requests via email (maybe a group member would own this);
Give your host a break and rotate this responsibility, share leadership with that potential leader in your group and let them facilitate the meeting that is happening when you are on vacation! Use the Crosspointe message Curriculum for an easy way to promote discussion based on the messages. This is one curriculum that group members can go online and listen to if they miss and get caught right back up.

Save the Date—make a calendar for the summer with all of the planned meetings, socials and service projects so everyone knows what, when and where group life is happening!

As always- be creative. Be intentional.

I look forward to seeing what God does this Summer in all our groups, in our community as a whole, and in the little group of Jesus-followers that I have had the awesome privilege of journeying with for the last 19 months. 

Steve

KidSpace: A Great Group Service Project

Hi Life Groupers,
KidSpace is happening on Sunday June 1 and we are looking for some great people to help us make this event the best ever. We will need some folks assisting the rides, staffing the popcorn booth, ice cream, booth, kids booths, etc.
We will be setting up around 1:30pm. The festivities start outside at 3:30 and go til 5:00 and then we will clean up the outside area. The inside show starts at 5 and last one hour. After the show, we will need some help cleaning off the stage and getting the church back in order for the week.
Please email Bonnie Kovacik at bkovacik@crosspointe.org if you are willing to help us with this event. Some Life Groups are doing this as a service project for the group.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bonnie

Live in Concert Part II

Key texts to explore:
Daniel 3, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:26-29

• What were the key points of Sunday's message? 
  
• Did God cause any "lights" to go on during the music, prayer or the message?
• Have there been any thoughts or questions stirring since you heard the message?
  

• What is/was already part of my thinking on worship and our identity as Jesus-followers?
  
• What did I learn that was new to me about God and faith?
  
• What did I learn/realize about myself that I didn't know?
  
• What did I learn about people that I didn't realize?
  
• What changes of thought are necessary (individually and as a group)?
  
• What changes of action are needed (individually and as a group)?
  
• What are we up against in trying to re-orient ourselves around God, rather than ourselves?

It's Coming...

38 days and counting!!!

A huge THANK YOU!

Jenny,
If you would, please send a huge "THANK YOU" to all the Life Groups leaders!
We are sure that we now will have enough dessert to feed all the Turningpointe students and their Senior HS Families, because of the generous response from the 'volunteer muscle' we have in our wonderful LIFE GROUPS here at Crosspointe Church!
It has been quite an undertaking to get this event to come together, especially since it is our largest one ever! But I knew that our church members would come through, as they always do, to be the hands and feet of God.
Keep us in your prayers this Sunday as we honor the graduating Seniors of our church community as they head out to a less secure and protected environment. We are sure that the love we show them this next Sunday, will stay with them during those difficult and challenging times that lay ahead.
We can all do more than we think we can, when we know we are not standing alone. That is what we want to demonstrate on Sunday to our Seniors!

Gratefully Yours,
Linda Furdon
Lisa Smith

Even smaller small groups?

One of the goals of a Life Group leader is to create an environment where deep friendship can be enjoyed among the members. But it doesn't take long for most leaders to recognize that getting a dozen or so people to become best friends is somewhere between hard and impossible.

I want to make sure we are realistic in what we are going after with the groups we lead. If you start out with an unrealistic goal, then you will probably find yourself leading what you consider a bad group. And this is especially true in the area of the kinds of friendships that will form within your group.

Jesus had friends. He had 72 that he sent out and associated with, but they weren't so close that we ever get to know their names. He had 12 that he spent tons of time with, though their interests and goals turned out to be, in the very least, varied (a tax collector and a zealot at the same table? Wow. They probably never went for hot wings together unless the other 10 went...) But then there were 3 that Jesus seemed to really have at the center of His life. Peter, James and John. These three spoke with Jesus about the deepest things. These three witnesses Jesus do and say things the others didn't. These three saw Jesus cry in the garden. 

Perhaps it would be good for us as group leaders to expect no more than this kind of friendship making from ourselves. Perhaps our group members will love to be around each other, be vulnerable in increasing measure in the context of group discussion, and know each other like no one else. But, maybe the group should be seen as an environment where the members can do all that, but then further connect with a few of the others and be known in the deepest ways possible. Not to ignore others in the group, but to embrace the reality that even Jesus wasn't an open book with a group like He was with just a few others. 

Rather than seeing our groups of a dozen or so as the relational end, maybe we should see them as one of the last steps that help people go deep, and then deeper still, with a few great friends.

How would this affect group discussion? Prayer? Serving? The environments we lead our people in?

What are your thoughts?

Steve

Live in Concert

For the next 4 weeks we are going to discuss worship. 

And we're going to worship.

Together.

Each and every Sunday we come together to to be an encouragement to each other, and to be encouraged. To learn something about God and to sing songs that remind us of Who God is, who we are and what He is up to in us and in the world. These are things that followers of Jesus and seekers of truth have done for millennia, together, in concert. Our unified celebration of God and the life He gives is one of our distinctive marks as His community. So, over the next few weeks, we will discuss things like our singing, how remarkably subversive the worship of Christ is, the transformation of our minds and the celebration of communion.

You may also want to view this video as you begin!

_______________________________________

Discussion Guide, Live In Concert Part I

Thaw

• What is your all time favorite song? Why?
  
• What's an example of a song that's tied to a personal experience so much that, when you hear it, it stirs you emotionally? Tell about that.
  
• Was there anything that stuck with you from the message Sunday?
• How does the idea that music is something God has wired humans for shape (change, enhance)  your image of Him?
  

Leader note: help your members think about a music-making and music-loving God. We so often think of Him generically as "Creator", without actually thinking about Him taking joy in creating specific aesthetic things like tiny purple flowers, laughter and installing music-making/appreciation software in our heads.

• When we sing in church together, is that more for us, or for God? Explain your response.

Leader note: On week three, we will come back to this idea of God wanting singing for Himself, egocentrically. For now, explore how singing seems to be for us more, as we are wired to do it, recognize it, appreciate it and benefit from it. You may also note that the Bible portrays singing as done by a community, leaning on each other and toward God. So, it's a unifier, with God as the object so that we can, as a community celebrate God's power, rather than our own. Without God, we would have no one but ourselves to sing about. By God drawing our praises from us toward Him, it helps us to grow in selfless trust and confidence that the story is bigger than right here, right now.

• Is there a hymn or worship song that brings you back to particular experience with God? What was it?

Read

• Psalm 113-118

Leader Note: This section is the "Hallel" or the "Praise" section of the Psalms, sang for thousands of years by Jews and Christians ( especially right after Passover Dinner). In Hebrew, "Hallelujah" means Praise the Lord (Hallel-u-Yah). This is most likely what Jesus and the disciples sang moments before Jesus' arrest, and subsequent crucifixion. It's also likely that Paul and the others sang from this section while imprisoned (Acts 16).  This may take 7 or 8 minutes to read aloud, at the most. Before reading, prepare your group to listen to the kinds of things being said and remember the few phrases that stand out the most. Knowing our Lord sang this before His death may make some phrases pop out all the more.

Discuss

• What are some things that really stood out?
  
• What kinds of thoughts or questions or "aha moments" arise when you consider jesus singing this before his prophesied death, burial and resurrection?
  
• Have you ever sang in the midst of crisis, fear or even hopelessness? Share the experience?
  
• What does singing and praising God say to the circumstances ( and even the people causing them) around us?

Leader note: It's interesting that when we're afraid and stressed, our breathing becomes irregular, our heart rate increases, we're tense and our whole body becomes rigid. Singing illustrates rhythm, beauty and regularity in the midst of chaos, as well as having actual, measurable physiological benefits.

Read

• Colossians 3:5-16
  
• First thoughts?
  
• What does singing have to do with celebrating our transformed life in Christ?
  
• Why would Paul, a grown, educated man- tell other adults to sing about the most important things in the Universe?
  
• What are the hindrances for us singing?
  
• How can they be removed or ignored?
  
• How can this group take these ideas further, together, over the next 4 week?

Additional insights:

The following New Testament texts are interesting for two reasons: One, they are huge in what they contain and say about the nature of Christ and our faith. Two, they are believed by numerous scholars to be early Christian hymns contained within the letters, as a way of communicating the deepest truths in songs everyone was familiar with. You amy or may not want to review a few of these as a group to both read these important texts, as well as drill down deeper on the idea that we serve a God that wants the most important things to be put to a catchy tune!

Ephesians 5:14, Phil 2:6-11,Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim 3:16, 1 Tim 15b-16, 2 Tim 2:11-13, Heb 1:3 

Encouraging Next Steps, part 4

Miscellaneous Tactics
The following tips will make you more successful at the three step process described over the last week.

• Less is more. You will be more effective as a small-group leader if you narrow your focus in your covenants and steps. Teach and encourage less so that group members can achieve more. Focus only on what specific wins you want your group to achieve in a given time. Teach and encourage only those steps that will help them achieve their goals.
  
  
• Offer a menu. Instead of expecting group members to come up with their own next steps, offer or communicate some of the basic steps to them. For example, alert them to upcoming core courses, serving opportunities, messages that deal with specific steps of faith, etc.
  

• Peer pressure. Take steps as a group together. Nothing encourages people to action like peer pressure! Because, hey, if everyone else is doing it—why not?
  
  
• Celebrate. Catch your members doing something right by celebrating what they have done. Throw parties, bake a cake, get a gift, or just have fun whenever someone takes a positive step. Doing so encourages those who have taken steps, and it encourages others to start taking steps.
  
  
• Share stories. People are impacted by stories. Real-life examples of life change will inspire members to want experience the same.
  
  
• Invest in relationships. People will do anything for a good friend. And people are more likely to take on a challenge from a good friend. Building relationships and trust with your group members will make your challenges to them more effective. More relationships means more steps taken!

You know. You want her. Discussion Guide Part VI

Discussion Guide

• Who do you think of (real or fictional) when you think of courage and why?
  
• What is something you failed at before you succeeded?
  
• What's an example of something you were scared of, but once you did it, you wondered what you were so paralyzed about?
• What's something you regret not doing because of fear of what have gone wrong?
  
• What stuck with you most from Sunday's message?
  
• Were there any decisions or plans or actions that you felt like God was nudging you toward after hearing the message?

Read

• Luke 10:30-37
  
• First thoughts?
  

Discuss

• What are all the reasons that you can think of for not stopping to help an unconscious, naked victim of a mugging?
  

Leader note: You may even want to write all the reasons that are shared down on paper.

• What are the reasons for stopping?
  

Leader note: List these as well. You will likely notice that the list is shorter. Perhaps even much shorter. You will also notice that the first list will contain much in the way of tangible consequence; i.e. ritual uncleanness, bodily harm, being robbed as the victim was actually bait, etc...The second list shared by your group will likely be more a short list of intangibles, such as "the satisfaction of doing the right thing". You will want to also note that the Samaritan, the story's hero, was seemingly better off doing nothing at all, as he could have been hurt or killed in a worse case scenario, and spent a lot of his own money and had his plans very much altered in the best case scenario. many might call this "lose/lose". You might then compare the lists as a group and note that if we use logic alone (or risk management, or whatever smart-sounding terms we use to weigh out a decision), most of us would always do what the Priest and the Levite did.

• What benefit would God see in putting us in positions that require us to ignore what might "go wrong"?
  
• What does courage communicate about our belief in God?
  

Leader note: You may want to explore what the response to that last question has to do with true wisdom.

Read

• Proverb 26:13
  
• First thoughts?

Discuss

• How does fear and worry about what might go wrong equal being a "sluggard"?
  

Leader note: Explore how you may be an energetic person that gets locked into a certain way of living, carefully avoiding reasons to grow in trust of God and to do things that don't have an assured outcome. This may be a way of describing a sluggard, rather than merely couch potato; someone who doesn't take any risks because there might be a lion in the streets.

• How can waiting on a "calling" from God to do something actually be disobedience?
  
• If things get difficult, does it mean that you are not doing what God wants?
  

Leader note: As simplistic as these questions sound, it's important to realize that, one: God doesn't limit our lives and what we go after in courage to "callings" where we find ourselves with assurance and clarity. In fact, it's often much the opposite. The reason it takes courage to move and go after something is because there is a lack of clarity.  Courage assumes fear. Two: we should expect difficulty. The more something we are doing matters, the more difficult it will be to be involved and make things happen. The smoother is goes, the less it seems to have mattered. Remember, our faith was founded in hardship, crucifixion and martyrdom. Kingdom work will likely require sweat, dependance on each other, and deep dependance on God.

Apply

• What decisions are hanging out on the horizon that need wisdom and courage?
  
• Are there any decisions to trust God for the first time that the group can encourage and support?
• What are some things the group can go after that absolutely require this kind of wisdom? That demand faith, courage and have very little in the way of an assured outcome?

Leader note: Spend some time in prayer, opening yourselves individually and as a group, perhaps for the first time, to whatever exists now or is coming that requires courage and wisdom. Allow God's Spirit to challenge the group, as many of us are sitting on something that we are either dreading, or have gotten used to just tuning out. Be sure and tell the stories on the Group Leader site as we all watch to see what it looks like when our faith and God's faithfulness intersect!

Step 3: What Is Your Next Step?

The final step is to ask your group members, "What steps will we take to get to where we want to be?" In other words, "What's next for you?" This question helps you keep your group on track toward winning.

You want to set basic steps that will point your group toward achieving its goals. Again, be sure to establish these steps with your group and also one-on-one with each member. Here are some of the most basic next steps that a group or an individual can take:

• Start keeping a spiritual-growth journal
  
  
• Take a course or Sunday school class through your church (i.e., financial stewardship, Bible study, etc.)
• Discuss implementing/actual implement specific steps such as baptism, readings, prayer, resting, relational decisions, etc..

• Start, as a group or as many of you that can together, contributing time, talents, money, etc.

In Search of...Potential Leaders

As leaders, we certainly value your input. Steve and I are planning a Life Group Leadership Q & A in May. Is there someone that you would recommend as a potential life group leader?

Maybe this person is in your group. Maybe that person has leadership qualities and exhibits a genuine care for others. Maybe you have observed others looking to them for direction. Maybe you know this person outside of your ministry sphere and have wondered if they are leading a group because they should be! Maybe they are simply a friend that you know that needs to needs an invitation to take this next step.

Don’t worry if they are in a life group or not. Even if they are, we want to be sure we have them on our radar. Plus, we'll check the end date for their group and determine if now is a good time for them to start the process.

I'd like to challenge you to at least submit one name, intentionally praying about who God would bring to your mind. We'd really like to know who they are so we can invite them to this event to learn more about Crosspointe's vision for groups and what it takes to serve in this role in the fall or in the future. We need leaders for "everybody" groups, as well as men’s and women’s groups.

Another great option is for you to bring them to this event on Sunday morning May 18th at 10:15am in the Startingpointe Room. Your presence and encouragement might be just what they need.

Thanks so much for your help and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Jenny
jrogers@crosspointe.org
469-9111 x 235