Hello LifeGroup Leaders:
I hope your groups are going great! Here are some important items for December in your groups.
Below you'll find:
1) BASIC BUILDING BLOCK FOR DECEMBER - EVANGELISM
2) FOLLOW-UP ON OCT and NOV BUILDING BLOCKS
3) COMING SOON: MENTORING TRAINING FOR WOMEN
1) BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GREAT LIFE IN CHRIST - DECEMBER - EVANGELISM
[As you know we are trying to coach our LifeGroups not only in specialty topics like marriage, parenting, addicitions, finances, etc. We are also interested in coaching our groups in the "basic building blocks" or "fundamentals" of a great life in Christ. This month we look at evangelism in conjunction with our Sunday morning message series on the same topic. Since Amos Gray is especially gifted in evangelism, I asked him to write the following. Please use the following in your LifeGroup during December as a supplement to your group's chosen regular curriculum.]
What are we here for?
This is the question that we all as Christians must ask ourselves. If we really look at the big picture we would see from the life of Christ we are here for one reason. “To seek and save that lost”, this is the reason for which Jesus came and so it must be the reason why we are here.
How do we do this? Evangelism
Evangelism is an enthusiastic effort to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Questions for group discussion:
1) Does evangelism come easy for you or is it something you have to work at?
2) Has your evangelism been more casual/relational or has your evangelism experience been more in planned evangelistic efforts?
3) Share with each other a tool or two you've used in evangelism. (Roman Road, the bridge, etc.)
Regardless of your previous experience, here are some simple steps you can take to grow in your evangelism.
1. Prayer: Before you even open your mouth to share the faith you must open your mouth and talk to the Lord Jesus first. He is the one that will lead you to what must be said and how to say it. And, He is the one who will draw the lost to himself.
2. Care: Everywhere Jesus went he cared for the people and a lot of times He met their physical needs first and then shared with them.
3. Share: Sharing the Gospel is a privilege not a right. You must know why you are sharing and what it means to you. Your testimony is the second greatest story ever told. What Christ has done for you is the story that people around you must know. A person can know all the Hebrew, Greek, and hermeneutics in the world, but if he or she can’t share what Christ has done in his or her heart, all this information is head knowledge. Your sharing is a key to someone coming to know Christ.
Here is an easy tool to use in your personal evangelism using those three steps we just outlined.
1) Think of 3 people in your life who need to know Christ
2) Pray for each of them 3 minutes per day for 30 days. Ask the Lord to how you might care and share with these three people.
3) During and after the 30 days, care for them and share with them as God gives opportunity.
Pretty easy but so full of impact! Let's follow this simple plan in the following weeks and hopefully see many drawn to Christ.
2) FOLLOW-UP ON OCT/NOV BUILDING BLOCKS
Remember that in October we talked about prayer. Continue to ask your group how their prayer lives are going. Continue to allow group members to spur one another on to prayer by sharing their experiences or tips for a great life of prayer. A great thing your LifeGroup could do together in the realm of prayer is to attend Mosaic's corporate prayer time as a group in the sanctuary 20 minutes before the worship service on Sunday mornings.
Remember that in November we talked about memorizing 1 Peter 1:3-9. Do you have any stories about people doing that? Remember our contest? Let me know by Dec 15 what percentage of your group has that passage memorized.
3) COMING SOON: MENTORING TRAINING FOR WOMEN
If any of the ladies in your LifeGroup are interested in mentoring other ladies, there will be a training session for mentors on January 21. Please watch for more details soon.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Leggett's on TV!
I was working at the San Francisco Bread Company this morning and saw this on TV.
Mark and Lisa talking about adoption. Very cool.
After snapping that photo from my mac web cam I turned the computer a little. What in the world??? Oh! There was a twiggy kind of plant decoration next to the TV.
Silly I know... but I thought I'd share...
Mark and Lisa talking about adoption. Very cool.
After snapping that photo from my mac web cam I turned the computer a little. What in the world??? Oh! There was a twiggy kind of plant decoration next to the TV.
Silly I know... but I thought I'd share...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
November - Stuff you need to know!
Hope all is well with you! I'm hearing of great things happening in our
LifeGroups. Stories coming soon! Here are a few important items for
you...
NEW LIFEGROUP STARTING
Beginning this Sunday, Nov 4, Bill and Nancy Smith are hosting a
LifeGroup consisting of new Gateway "graduates". These new Mosaics will
attend this group for 6 meetings over three months, studying an overview
of Mark DeYmaz's newly released book, and then feed out into other
ongoing LifeGroups. Thanks, Bill and Nancy, for your work on this! We
pray you have an awesome start and a good turnout this Sunday night.
NOVEMBER "BASIC TOOLS" MINI-CURRICULUM
As you know, in addition to your group's curriculum on a specialty topic
like marriage, parenting, book study, etc we are asking you LifeGroup
leaders to be coaches for your groups in the fundamentals of the
Christian life. I've struggled with what to call those... fundamentals
of the Christian life, basic tools, Spiritual disciplines. None of
those feel right. Those sound too painful! While things like prayer,
memorizing Scripture, living in the power of the Spirit, and digging
into God's word require work, they are far from painful. They are some
of the most life-giving activities we can do. So... instead of
"fundamentals" or "basics" or "disciplines" I'm going to call them
"Building blocks for a great life with Christ" -- or just "building
blocks" for short.
In a file list on the right, you'll find our "building block" for the first half of November in both Word and pdf. One document is a "leader's guide" and the other
is a handout which you should copy for each participant and hand it out
at the appropriate time in your meeting (see leader's guide for
details). There's even a PRIZE for the group that does the best at this
month's building block. Please read these documents through and make
this part of your next LifeGroup meeting.
CHRISTMAS FOR FOSTER KIDS
You've received information from Donna Head about our LifeGroups giving
Christmas gifts to Pulaski County foster children. Please let Donna
know today or tomorrow if your group can participate in buying gifts for
a child or two. It would make a world of difference to those precious
kids both physically and emotionally.
Leaders, thank you all for your diligent work in LifeGroup leadership.
Keep on going!!!
LifeGroups. Stories coming soon! Here are a few important items for
you...
NEW LIFEGROUP STARTING
Beginning this Sunday, Nov 4, Bill and Nancy Smith are hosting a
LifeGroup consisting of new Gateway "graduates". These new Mosaics will
attend this group for 6 meetings over three months, studying an overview
of Mark DeYmaz's newly released book, and then feed out into other
ongoing LifeGroups. Thanks, Bill and Nancy, for your work on this! We
pray you have an awesome start and a good turnout this Sunday night.
NOVEMBER "BASIC TOOLS" MINI-CURRICULUM
As you know, in addition to your group's curriculum on a specialty topic
like marriage, parenting, book study, etc we are asking you LifeGroup
leaders to be coaches for your groups in the fundamentals of the
Christian life. I've struggled with what to call those... fundamentals
of the Christian life, basic tools, Spiritual disciplines. None of
those feel right. Those sound too painful! While things like prayer,
memorizing Scripture, living in the power of the Spirit, and digging
into God's word require work, they are far from painful. They are some
of the most life-giving activities we can do. So... instead of
"fundamentals" or "basics" or "disciplines" I'm going to call them
"Building blocks for a great life with Christ" -- or just "building
blocks" for short.
In a file list on the right, you'll find our "building block" for the first half of November in both Word and pdf. One document is a "leader's guide" and the other
is a handout which you should copy for each participant and hand it out
at the appropriate time in your meeting (see leader's guide for
details). There's even a PRIZE for the group that does the best at this
month's building block. Please read these documents through and make
this part of your next LifeGroup meeting.
CHRISTMAS FOR FOSTER KIDS
You've received information from Donna Head about our LifeGroups giving
Christmas gifts to Pulaski County foster children. Please let Donna
know today or tomorrow if your group can participate in buying gifts for
a child or two. It would make a world of difference to those precious
kids both physically and emotionally.
Leaders, thank you all for your diligent work in LifeGroup leadership.
Keep on going!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
BASIC Tools - Prayer (follow up)
Leaders: This mini-curriculum is a follow-up to the recent tool on prayer. Please use this with your groups the second half of October as you coach your groups toward Spiritual transformation.
We talked in BASIC Tools - Prayer about the difference between the “on the go” me-centered praying that we sometimes fall into and the refreshing “in our room” dedicated times with God which are possible and which our Father wants with us.
Last time we met we laid out the challenge of intentionally spending at least one or two times in dedicated prayer with the Father. Would anyone share about how one of your times with God went this week? Some of you who are experienced with this, can you offer any tips for those of us who are not?
Remember that outline of prayer we talked about?
1) Worship Him
2) Say sincerely “your will not mine”
3) Ask for the things on your heart.
Ask for two volunteers to read Mt 6:5-13 and Luke 11:1-4. (Don't put people on the spot to read!)
How do we reconcile the fact that these two versions of the Lord’s prayer are different? These prayers can be different because the prayer is a model outline, not an exact wording to be repeated. Worship him, your will not mine, ask for the things on your heart. It is a pattern for prayer.
Let’s this week carve out at least two times that we can spend in dedicated time with the Father. It doesn’t have to be long, but try to use that outline Jesus gave us as he was teaching his disciples to pray.
We'll talk next time about how it went!
We talked in BASIC Tools - Prayer about the difference between the “on the go” me-centered praying that we sometimes fall into and the refreshing “in our room” dedicated times with God which are possible and which our Father wants with us.
Last time we met we laid out the challenge of intentionally spending at least one or two times in dedicated prayer with the Father. Would anyone share about how one of your times with God went this week? Some of you who are experienced with this, can you offer any tips for those of us who are not?
Remember that outline of prayer we talked about?
1) Worship Him
2) Say sincerely “your will not mine”
3) Ask for the things on your heart.
Ask for two volunteers to read Mt 6:5-13 and Luke 11:1-4. (Don't put people on the spot to read!)
How do we reconcile the fact that these two versions of the Lord’s prayer are different? These prayers can be different because the prayer is a model outline, not an exact wording to be repeated. Worship him, your will not mine, ask for the things on your heart. It is a pattern for prayer.
Let’s this week carve out at least two times that we can spend in dedicated time with the Father. It doesn’t have to be long, but try to use that outline Jesus gave us as he was teaching his disciples to pray.
We'll talk next time about how it went!
Story
In my LifeGroup last week, we talked about a basic tool -- the first
mini-curriculum on prayer that I had used as an example in our training.
We talked about the big difference between "praying on the go" and
praying in our "closets" for dedicated time with the Father. This week
I followed up on that and asked how it went. Because the challenge had
been laid before them, two people in the group are taking intentional
steps to transform their lunch breaks from novel-reading or
business-meeting slots to moments spent with God and in His word.
That's what I'm talkin' about! Take a few minutes in your group to cast
a compelling call to an aspect of deeper discipleship and then coach
your group with gentle but intentional accountability. Lives will be
changed.
By the way: How are YOU guys doing in your prayer life? Do you find
yourself only in a "praying on the go" mode or are you able to make time
to "go into your room and close the door" for moments with the Father?
We can all get too busy at times. Make time for deepening your
relationship with the Father!
Send me your group's stories of life change!!
allen (at) mosaicchurch.net
mini-curriculum on prayer that I had used as an example in our training.
We talked about the big difference between "praying on the go" and
praying in our "closets" for dedicated time with the Father. This week
I followed up on that and asked how it went. Because the challenge had
been laid before them, two people in the group are taking intentional
steps to transform their lunch breaks from novel-reading or
business-meeting slots to moments spent with God and in His word.
That's what I'm talkin' about! Take a few minutes in your group to cast
a compelling call to an aspect of deeper discipleship and then coach
your group with gentle but intentional accountability. Lives will be
changed.
By the way: How are YOU guys doing in your prayer life? Do you find
yourself only in a "praying on the go" mode or are you able to make time
to "go into your room and close the door" for moments with the Father?
We can all get too busy at times. Make time for deepening your
relationship with the Father!
Send me your group's stories of life change!!
allen (at) mosaicchurch.net
Saturday, September 8, 2007
BASIC Tools - Prayer
Sometimes, despite our best intentions, time cuts us short and it impacts what we pray and how we pray. We fall into just a "help my this, bless my that, show me what to do here or there in Jesus name amen" kind of prayer. Our prayer is just a quick list of what we need.
Shortness of time can also impact the WAY that we pray. We throw up a quick prayer "on the go" while jumping into the car or running to a meeting or while dropping off the kids at practice. These prayers are OK at one level; but we can go so much deeper.
Imagine if a married couple never did any talking to each other except "on the go". As they run past each other one says, "I'll pick up Susie at dance; are you getting Ben from football?" "OK... see you later..." It's clear that this relationship would suffer if there were never focused time for the couple to be together.
Can any of you relate to this? (leaders: Model authenticity! Share your own experience)
In Matthew 6:6, Jesus tells us "when you pray, go into your room, close the door..."
Setting aside a time to be with God is so refreshing after time spent just praying "on the go".
Can any of you testify to the difference between "on the go" prayer and time spent focused with the Father?
For some of you, this may be something you already practice, but let's all this week try to have one or two times we set aside to go into our "room", close the door behind us, and spend time with our Father. It doesn't have to be long... just focused time set aside with Him.
Try this outline as you take focused time to pray:
First, offer prayers of worship for who God is, His character, His works, His love, His mercy
Next, tell him sincerely "Your will, not mine" (that could take some struggling)
Finally, ask Him for things that are on your heart
Sound good?
Next time we meet, we'll let you share (if you'd like) how those prayer times went and we'll look at where in the Bible that outline for prayer comes from.
Shortness of time can also impact the WAY that we pray. We throw up a quick prayer "on the go" while jumping into the car or running to a meeting or while dropping off the kids at practice. These prayers are OK at one level; but we can go so much deeper.
Imagine if a married couple never did any talking to each other except "on the go". As they run past each other one says, "I'll pick up Susie at dance; are you getting Ben from football?" "OK... see you later..." It's clear that this relationship would suffer if there were never focused time for the couple to be together.
Can any of you relate to this? (leaders: Model authenticity! Share your own experience)
In Matthew 6:6, Jesus tells us "when you pray, go into your room, close the door..."
Setting aside a time to be with God is so refreshing after time spent just praying "on the go".
Can any of you testify to the difference between "on the go" prayer and time spent focused with the Father?
For some of you, this may be something you already practice, but let's all this week try to have one or two times we set aside to go into our "room", close the door behind us, and spend time with our Father. It doesn't have to be long... just focused time set aside with Him.
Try this outline as you take focused time to pray:
First, offer prayers of worship for who God is, His character, His works, His love, His mercy
Next, tell him sincerely "Your will, not mine" (that could take some struggling)
Finally, ask Him for things that are on your heart
Sound good?
Next time we meet, we'll let you share (if you'd like) how those prayer times went and we'll look at where in the Bible that outline for prayer comes from.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Curriculum Recommendations for Fall 2007
Hello LifeGroup leaders!
Welcome to our LifeGroup leader's information station and community!
With this first post I'd like to list for you some curriculum options for use this fall. Samples of these materials are available for you to look at on the LifeGroup table in the church foyer on Sundays.
Bible Studies
"Sermon on the Mount" - by Bill Hybels
"Love Each Other" - by John Ortberg - a study on 1 John
Books
"What's So Amazing About Grace?" - by Philip Yancey
Book
Study Guide
"Make it Home Before Dark" - book to read together by Crawford Loritts
"A Passionate Commitment" - book to read together by Crawford Loritts
Books from Tony Evans' "Understanding God Series"
"Seismic Shifts" - book with a few questions after each chapter
Studies utilizing DVD and participant study guide - very practical and meaningful studies from Andy Stanley
HomeBuilders Studies - visit the following links for studies on
marriage
parenting
singles
Please contact Allen Arnn at church for assistance with purchasing FamilyLife materials.
Welcome to our LifeGroup leader's information station and community!
With this first post I'd like to list for you some curriculum options for use this fall. Samples of these materials are available for you to look at on the LifeGroup table in the church foyer on Sundays.
Bible Studies
"Sermon on the Mount" - by Bill Hybels
"Love Each Other" - by John Ortberg - a study on 1 John
Books
"What's So Amazing About Grace?" - by Philip Yancey
Book
Study Guide
"Make it Home Before Dark" - book to read together by Crawford Loritts
"A Passionate Commitment" - book to read together by Crawford Loritts
Books from Tony Evans' "Understanding God Series"
"Seismic Shifts" - book with a few questions after each chapter
Studies utilizing DVD and participant study guide - very practical and meaningful studies from Andy Stanley
- "Life Rules"
Study Guide
DVD
"Take if to the Limit"
Study Guide
DVD available at Mardel's
"Taking Care of Business"
Study Guide
DVD available at Mardel's
"Go Fish"
Study Guide
DVD
"iMarriage"
Study Guide and DVD available from Mardel's
HomeBuilders Studies - visit the following links for studies on
marriage
parenting
singles
Please contact Allen Arnn at church for assistance with purchasing FamilyLife materials.
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