A book named Action

"Those are good problems to have."

This is the retort of many people outside the Crosspointe community when they hear the challenges we face.  The logistical difficulties with parking and routing children and adjusting service times. The constant need for volunteer leaders in LifeGroups, student ministry, first impressions, etc. The sheer number of people and what it means to be their church home. The alternative to all of this of course is staring out the window, wondering why the same number of people slip in and slip out every weekend with no effort to or by them. Yawn.

Yes, we have some challenges. But they're good ones.

Use this group time to not only discuss the particulars of being part of a church that has grown so much in so relatively little time. But also recognize that the principles, countercultural as they are, help us experience fullness of life in every respect.



Thaw

• Besides sports or a favorite TV show, what seems to be on your mind the most as the fall season gets underway?
• How is your attitude about all this and why?
• What has most stuck with you from Sunday morning?

Read 

• Acts 20:35
• Though Paul is speaking directly to funding the mission and remaining generous with money, the principle for which he quotes Jesus, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’, is applicable more generally. How have you found it to be true in your life?
• In what ways is our culture learning that to give your self to something is nobler than to take from it?
• In what ways do our lives find confusion in being a Communer vs a Consumer?

Leader note: The idea here is to help members grow in awareness that we often mix the giving and taking roles. When we do this, the taking role is disguised as a giving role but is actually dominating the person's life. Such examples might be giving money mostly for a tax write-off, saying kind things to your spouse to earn sex, cleaning the house to assuage vocalized disappointment, making promises to garner promotions or votes. These and countless other ways appear to be giving, and are even celebrated. But, as always, the heart of the one acting, not their actions, is Christ's concern.

Discuss

• Within the context of Crosspointe, how might the individuals better exhibit being part of the story?

Leader note: This is no guilt trip. Some people can't serve any more than they already are, can't at all, or just shouldn't. There is a phenomenon where the same few people keep taking on responsibilities, wearing themselves out. Like a football game with 22 people sweating and exhausted and 40,000 spectators sitting and watching. This question doesn't represent this kind of scenario being perpetuated. It's simply about people who have predominantly received other's effort instead jumping in and saying "I want to be part of this!" Should interest be expressed, regardless of the area (parking lot, children, students, cafe, info team, etc.) have the person email volunteers@crosspointe.org

• Within the context of Crosspointe, how might this group better exhibit being part of the story?

Leader note: Dinners at DRM. Mission trip. Serving together as an entire volunteer team for children on Sunday morning, etc. Again, contact volunteers@crosspointe.org for more information.

• Outside the context of Crosspointe, what are some ways that you can live the kind of story where you give yourself to others more than you hold expectations and demands on them?

Meditate and Apply

• Many times when a challenge for volunteers and "doing" go out from a church leadership, it just sounds like manipulation and coercing. Hopefully, what is being conveyed and heard is instead an ongoing invitation to be part of a better story. To leave the tired narrative about predominantly taking, expecting, consuming and evaluating based on personal benefit, and embrace sacred difficulty as a new way of life. Read Acts chapters 1&2 to yourself, and allow the Spirit to kindle, or rekindle an excitement about being part of something bigger than a Sunday event going well. We're all invited into the story of the one who gave Himself, and called it more blessed.