Life Groups

Regular Expressions of God’s Love

lifegroupcoordinator — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:36:03 +0000

One of the saddest things for me to hear is when someone has lost their hope for the church. It’s devastating. They don’t know it, but it will impact their life negatively. So what will happen? They will stop coming to church and they will stop going to your Life Groups. Slowly they will drift away only to be left alone to the temptations of this world.

Why do we do small groups? You need to know. You have to have a clear perspective. Why do we meet regularly and consistently as a church? Yes, you and I know we do Life Groups so that we can imitate Christ together, but it’s more than that. Where else can people receive the truths of God’s word? Let me put it this way:

Life Groups and Cooperate worship provide the regular expressions of God’s grace in a world filled with a lot of useless noise.

By regular expression, I mean, people in our church are reminded by what it means to be followers of Jesus Christ. Where else can someone regularly be exposed to the Christian life? Where else are they encouraged to be still and consider God’s ways? Will they find it at their jobs? Will their kids find it at their schools? Will they observe it on TV? The answer is clearly no. The only place where God’s grace is regularly expressed is through the church. It is here where we experience the regular expression of God’s grace.

This leads me to my point, Life Groups provide a regular expression of God’s grace. Your fellowships provide avenues of God’s grace. Where else will they be prayed for? Where else will they be challenged spiritually? Where else will they be cared for? Where else can they find strong Christian relationships? Where else can people talk about their struggles? The world has nothing beneficial to offer them in these regards. It’s through consistent regular expressions of God’s grace we experience the Christian life as it’s supposed to be. I know this video is aimed at men in Life Groups but its principle is exactly why I trying to express:

Christians engage with one anther and talk. Battle the world’s noise; be active in the regular, consistent, expression of God’s love. Acts 2.

Steve Job’s Last words…

lifegroupcoordinator — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:30:15 +0000

Paul said it well when he wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Php. 1:21).” Is this how we think? Do I see death as being greater than my current situation, in that I will be with Christ? Paul, within a prison cell, reminds his writers the purpose of the Christian life. What is the purpose? To live as Christ. What is the ultimate goal? To be with Christ.

Sin has impacted all of us and as a result we all suffer through death. Each of us will have last words… This for some is a terrible event, but for those who put their faith in Christ it is a wonderful glorious event. I saw this clip and thought it handled both of these perspectives well. The only success that will transfer in this life into the next is dependent upon who you were dependent upon.

Christ the Center

lifegroupcoordinator — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:59:34 +0000

We are moving forward. Some of you are finishing up the last section of the stewardship book and some of you are moving forward into Philippians. Over the past years, in Life Groups, we have never handled a specific book of the bible to journey though together as a group. I am excited about Philippians because this letter paints a picture of what it looks like when Christ is the Center of your life.

Here’s a fly by of the upcoming five lessons:

Lesson One: Whatever circumstance that we go through, whether good or bad, we can have complete joy in Christ. (1:1-20)

Lesson Two: Our purpose in life is to live as Christ. (1:21-30)

Lesson Three: How do we live like Christ? With humility. (2:1-30)

Lesson Four: We understand the purpose of life. (3:1-21)

Lesson Five: Joy with contentment. (4:1-23)

My hope is that each of you will be able to walk away and understand the truths communicated in the book of Philippians and apply them to your life. I promise you if you apply the truths in Philippians you will be a better husband, wife, coworker, etc… but this doesn’t happen without application and accountability.

Throughout these next coming weeks my goal is to provide you with little illustrations, reminders, or nuggets on Paul’s letter so that we might truly place Christ at the center of our lives.

In closing, keep in mind the words of Paul, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

Back in it!

lifegroupcoordinator — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:53:35 +0000

We’re back in it! It so wonderful to see the groups starting back up and fellowshipping together once again! Tuesday night I witnessed one group and just enjoyed seeing the excitement and fun that they were having. There are many reasons to be excited for this next season of Life Groups. We have new leaders, new members, and new events coming up.

Over the last several months of Life Groups I have been really encouraged and for some reason I wanted to rely why. Most the time all of us meet together at our designated fellowships for fellowship, prayer, and instruction. Around mid-May and through August I have gotten numerous reports from leaders and members about what God was doing through their Life Group. I heard stories of member’s financial needs being met by those in their Life Group. I heard numerous reports of different groups going to the hospital to visit members going through a difficult time. I heard members taking on responsibilities by preparing dinners for someone in need. I could go on and on…

Guys this is Acts 2! You’re living it. Some of you are experiencing it. A member, who had just been through an awful experience, told her leader that this “Acts 2 stuff” Pastor Pugh talks about really does work! This member is right, it does work. But let’s remember it only works when we work together. If you’re not back in it get in someone needs you.

Keep the fellowship…

I wish I could Rap!

lifegroupcoordinator — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:51:03 +0000

Hold Fast

lifegroupcoordinator — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:15:45 +0000

Running frustrates me. I love running in soccer, basketball, and even baseball, but I hate running just for the fun of it. When I was in cross country, in middle school, there was a point in every race where I thought to myself, “Why am I doing this!?!” Sometimes I even wanted to quit, but I always reminded myself, “Hold on and finish.” Running was not my cup of tea, but I always enjoyed finishing.

In a word of encouragement to all our Life Group leaders and members, “Hold fast through June.” Do not let go of each other. Five months have come and gone, and now we find ourselves in June. The month of May has left many of us battered. Proms, sports, graduations, extra work hours, etc… have left all of us looking forward to a break. Keep the goals of Life groups, considering how each can stir up one another to love and to continue in good works. Do not neglect your brothers, but meet so that an encouraging word might be given to each. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

In closing let me remind you that we are not doing Life Groups just for the fun of it. God’s community is not designed to be ran individually just for fun. Wouldn’t that would be frustrating. Life Groups rather, are designed like a soccer or basketball team always dependent upon each other to win the game. Hold fast!

Anything is Possible

lifegroupcoordinator — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:13:13 +0000

I don’t know where you were, but I know where I was. On June 14th, 1998, I was at my parents home when Jordan shut down the Jazz in game six. On February 3rd, 2008, I was in my friend’s living room when David Tyree, of the New York Giants, caught “The Catch” leading them to their Super Bowl win over the favored Patriots. On August 16th, 2008, I watch from my own living room Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps win his 7th, gold medal by just 1/100 of a second. On July 10th, 2011, I was in our Dallas apartment when I watched the “Comeback of the Ages” when the USA Women’s world cup team defeated Brazil.

I am sure you have similar memories, but I have to beg the question, “What made those moments happen? It wasn’t me, it wasn’t you, and it wasn’t even your friends. It was the players who choose to use their “giftedness.” As a result these men and women blessed the world with their gifts giving us some of the greatest sport moments in our history.

So what’s my point? Sure many of us don’t have the “athletic gift,” but for those who are in Christ (1 Cor. 12) we each have a “spiritual gift.” It would have been a shame if David Tyree decided moments before the game not to play. It’s actually absurd to think that way. A gift is meant to be used, and in the same way God has given us spiritual gifts, which surpasses any earthly abilities, in order that we may employ it (1 Peter 4:10). Christians who employ their gifts are the athletic department of God’s kingdom.

GET INTO THE GAME!

Small Group Etiquette

lifegroupcoordinator — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:12:38 +0000

I saw this advertisement and thought some of you might be interested. For just $65 dollars a class session you or your child can learn the proper etiquette of eating at the table. Amazing right? This might sound crazy to you, but for some reason I still don’t know why some restaurants give you two forks. I always forget which one is for the lettuce and which one is for the main course.

Just like dinner etiquette we need to be reminded about small group etiquette. Unlike the advertisement above my sessions are free! Here are some of my Life Group etiquettes:

Be Committed – Our level of commitment to each other in some way reflects our commitment with Christ Jesus. (Gal. 6:2)
Give A Warning – If you can’t attend be considerate, let your leader know beforehand. Sometimes several people can’t come, and it might be better just to cancel the fellowship until next week.
Be On time – A group that meets together should always try to be on time so as to honor everyone’s commitment.
Know Yourself – Some of us know we are talkers, and enjoy dominating the conversations. If this you, try skipping the next question allowing someone else to respond to the question. Some of us know we are not talkers, and enjoy listening. If this is you, commit to speaking on one of the questions for the lesson.
No Gossip – If someone reveals a struggle it does not mean that everyone you know at work needs to know about it. Keep struggles confidential and encourage one another.
Silent the Phone – We all get annoyed when someone’s phone rings at the theater/class/meeting, and in the same way it is distracting when a group is in prayer and it’s interrupted by someone’s unique ring tone.

To each of you, continue Imitating Christ Together remembering that your involvement in the lives of your brothers and sisters both increases their spiritual walk and your own.

Risen

lifegroupcoordinator — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:54 +0000

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5–7

He is Risen..

He has Risen Indeed!

Waiting for Sunday

lifegroupcoordinator — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:34 +0000

Saturday,

We wait for Sunday, because without it we don’t have “Good Friday.” Saturday was needed just as much as Sunday, for He had to suffer and bear the weight. And Christ did this not for the righteous, but rather for the unrighteous. Praise the Lord, Jesus’ love never fails. He took it all, and that includes yours if you will just give it up.