Grow Groups

My wife loves gardening.  Flower gardens are great, as long as they consist mostly of perinnial plants, but mostly she loves the idea of a vegetable garden.  I say ‘idea’ because although we participated in a community garden a few years ago we have never actually had a garden at our home…something about full shade from our trees or raising 3 pre-schoolers.  Hopefully she’ll be able to have one soon…but not this summer. 

I think her infatuation with gardening is deeply rooted in our belief that helping things grow not only gives life to the thing, but also to us.  WE are a part of positive change, for a season.  It applies to parenting, to friendships, to church, & even to our groups.  Not all groups last forever, but whatever season you find your group(s) in right now I hope you’ll pray, nurture, water, feed, weed, & celebrate the harvest during this next year. 

One of the ways that want to help with that process is by offering GROW GROUPS at Journey.  These groups are a teacher-led or DVD-led environment typically meeting at the church building focused on a specific topic or study and ending after a certain number of weeks.  For a complete listing of our current Grow Groups check out www.journeychurch.tv on the adult ministries tab under groups.  Some groups just sign up together, be a part of the grow group, and then jump back into their normal group mode.  It is a great season of replenishment for thee leaders, a great change of pace for the members, AND surrounding a great topic.

For those interested, the BUSINESS BY THE BOOK Grow Group starts tonight at 6:30 and will be led by Chris Gregg/ AltaMere window tinting & Keith Steincamp/ Marriott.

A Map to follow…

Many of you have started the Mapquest: Giving Direction to your Life group series with us and have been blessed by some great Sunday morning teaching on personal vision as well.  Here are some things I found really challenging from this weekend’s talk on Setting the Course.

* Who are you following?  not just reading, thinking about, but really following…is it Christ first?

* What do you bring to the table?  not potluck dinner…but strengths given by God (usually created or brought out after a season of failure or weakness)

* ”We all spin plates…the question is are you chasing those plates, or chasing God?”

* Something that angers Clark is “people that believe the church is all about us.” (holy huddle syndrome)

* I wonder if Becky knows they have started putting in bloopers of her videos…

Consider your values this week in whatever groups you find yourself in, and ask God to show you the “1 thing” that he wants you to be about this week… Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Leaders lead…Chiropractors fix

I have been blessed this past week with some amazing discussions about Groups, culture, & community.  Although still in the processing stage here are some tidbits.

* Lead from your strengths (but you have to figure out your strengths & how to maximize them)

* Relational connectivity of believers is necessary.  If you aren’t connecting people through programs, chances are they are ‘connected’ in other ways, so change your formula.

*Water slides are tons of fun…and the new breed of chiropractors help get things back on track.

How to Fail at Small Groups

Just a tidbit from Discipleship Journal’s “Best Small Group Ideas” that I was reading today…

1. Lack of Leader Training or Guidance – invest in your leadership through books, talks, luncheons,  hanging out with your coach, & the annual group leader retreat!

2. Lack of Understood Contract – set your vision & values and reevaluate yearly.

3. Not taking time for Relationships – every time during your group time…it’s not just about getting through the content.

4. Choosing Lecture over Discussion – explaining, lecturing, you talking more than 50% of the time…all ways to kill the group conversation

5. Not Knowing When to End - if the group needs to bail out at the set time, but one person is still needing more time, offer to stay late or meet them for coffee during the week to continue the discussion without jeopardizing everyone schedule.

Technology & Herschel…a tossed salad for sure

Hey all you millions of readers out there clamoring to add to my comments & blogroll…  or at least my wife & group coaches…  I am setting up this blog to give a centralized location for our group musings & life lessons about groups.  As my web/tech trainers (Rayson & Bill) educate me more on the process we’ll be adding some of your words as well.

blackberry test

Hey everyone! I’m headed to lunch and testing my bb posting optns. H