Project 4:4 material for March

The March material for Project 4:4 is here!  Download and print it here - JG Discussion Pages - March - or follow the link on the right side of this page. How is Project 4:4 going in your group?  Comment and share a story of God's work in your group through Project 4:4 to date.  Let's celebrate His power to change us make us into His image!

Project 4:4 in February

Here is the February edition of the Project 4:4 Journey Group discussion material - Project 4:4 Journey Group Material - February.  You can also access the material through the link on the right side of this page. We continue to pray that this material will help your group engage God's Word in exciting ways this year!

Project 4:4 Journey Group Material

Project 4:4 is just around the corner! Are you excited and expectant for God to grow your faith in new ways through this experience? In preparation for the launch of Project 4:4 on January 1, 2012, we are releasing the first set of Journey Group material we've created. These discussion guides focus on a particular passage from each week's reading and provide questions to explore the Biblical content and apply the truths to our lives. The discussion guides will be released a month in advance through emails and the Journey Group Leader blog. We will also have a limited supply of paper copies available at the Journey Group booth in the atrium.

Two things to consider as your group uses these guides:

1. These are not just for the leader. Encourage your group members to print and use the guides as they read. Feel free to forward the emails or direct them to the Journey Group Leader blog.
2. Like any material created, it may need to be adjusted to suit your group. Use your knowledge of your group and the Holy Spirit to help you tweak these questions or create alternative ones as needed. We promise not to get our feelings hurt...too badly.

If you have any thoughts or questions about this material or Project 4:4 in general, feel free to reach out to us. You can reach Dave Irwin at 402-938-1562 or davei@cccomaha.org and Reid Brown at 402-938-1561 or reidb@cccomaha.org.

Important schedule updates

Hi, Everyone, I have some important scheduling updates to give you for Journey Groups. Some of these I have shared in group meetings already, but some will be new.

1. As we discussed at the last Leadership Community Night, the Leadership Community Night scheduled for Sunday, November 6, has been decentralized and will happen in living rooms rather than at CCC. This means that we are NOT hosting a gathering at CCC on November 6. Instead, the Journey Group Coaches will meet with their leaders sometime during the month of November and December. For those leaders who are not yet connected with a Coach, you will be hearing from me individually.
2. We are canceling the Mid-Year Huddle planned for January 7 in order to place more emphasis on Accelerate(CCC's whole church leadership event) that's scheduled for Monday, February 6. Accelerate will give us the opportunity to be encouraged and challenged by an internationally recognized leader in the Christian community. I also want to offer some opportunity for us to debrief and interact on what we learn as it relates to Journey Groups...but I'm still working out those details.
3. GroupLink is scheduled for Friday, January 20. If you are looking to add people to your group, this will be an excellent opportunity to network with people who want to join a Journey Group. We will be asking for your RSVP to be there in the coming months. I encourage you to bring up the opportunity with your group members and get their input.

Here is an updated copy of the Year-At-A-Glance calendar that you can print off and read each night before you go to sleep (we can help with counseling if you actually do this). If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop me an email (davei@cccomaha.org) or give me a call (402-938-1562)!

Dave

Future Shock Follow-up

Hi, Everyone, I wanted to let you know about a great opportunity to help the evangelism team in the coming days. This Sunday, October 30, is the last message in the Future Shock series and a response card will be collected in the service. The evangelism team has the job of following up with those who indicate an interest in a follow-up class and discussion groups for seekers. We're obviously praying for a big response and we want to line up a few extra people to help. Here's how you can jump in...

1. Come to the church on Sunday, October 30, in the evening to help sort out the response cards and/or make a few phone calls.
2. If you can't be there on 10/30, Tim Perry can email you a list of people to call during the week along with a few notes on what we want to accomplish in the conversations. Once you've talked with the people on your list, simply email the notes back to Tim Perry.

If you want to help the evangelism team in this effort, please contact Tim Perry at timp@cccomaha.org or 402-938-1505. Thanks!

Serving Opportunity

This opportunity to serve came across my desk today and I thought I would pass it along.

A senior citizen (heat attack survivor) and CCC attendee needs help with outside home projects. The brick home needs the soffits and picture window painted, any tree trimming would be greatly appreciated and cement driveway and sidewalk has cracks that need to be cemented. I will provide the materials, paint, brush, cement, however, I do not have ladders.

THANK YOU,

Linda at 402-556-8938

3616 South 46th Ave.

Summer Info

For those that couldn't attend the Year End Celebration, we missed you! We had a great time encouraging each other and praising God for His goodness and faithfulness to work in our Journey Groups. One piece of information you missed is the summer info page. It has all the important Journey Group dates and a few important reminders as we head into the summer season. You can view and print it here.

April's Leadership Development Notes

For those that weren't able to attend the Leadership Development night on April 3, I wanted to post the notes with a little explanation. Reid Brown began the time by looking to Scripture. We wanted to ask, "What is our Biblical motivation for pushing the idea of multiplication?" When we consider passages like Luke 22:27, John 15:13, and Philippians 2:3-4 a common message rings loudly - it's not about me! One of the common hesitations about multiplying a group is a reluctance to give up the group you enjoy so much. God's Word reminds us that following Jesus and serving His Kingdom is not about us; it's about others. As we strive to follow Christ's example of leaving our comfort behind and putting the needs of others first, I believe we will be compelled to multiply our small groups so that more people can have authentic community and grow in their relationship with Jesus. Based on these and other Scriptures, we are starting from the belief that every small group should multiply if it is following a healthy path.

We spent the remainder of the time discussing two practical aspects of group multiplication: 1) understanding the general life-cycle of a group and 2) understanding basic methods of actually launching a new group out of your group. Here are the notes we used - How-To of Group Multiplication

The life-cycle portion is pretty self explanatory, but remember that reality is rarely as tidy as it looks on paper. Your group may jump stages in the cycle or take steps backwards at times. Knowing what stage your group is in will help you lead effectively toward multiplication.

The methods of multiplication portion needs a little more explanation. Three basic methods of multiplying a group were discussed. The first two are similar in that only one person from the original group leaves to begin a new group. The third method involves sending half of the original group out to launch the new group. The original and new groups then add new members. The end result of all three plans is the same - one group becomes two. There are variations and hybrids of these three plans so feel free to adjust them to make a plan that will work best for your group.

Hopefully, you have been inspired to pursue multiplication in your group and have a few tools in your hands to help make that happen. Feel free to share any thoughts or questions you may have we me - davei@cccomaha.org

Dave Irwin

Great Curriculum advice

One of the most commonly asked questions is, "what should we study next?" That question hits at the most practical level of leading a small group. When I came across this article from Alan Danielson, I knew it could be a big help to a lot of leaders. Whether you need this info for tomorrow or next year, it's worth reading... Groups that start out around a common interest or life-stage sometimes get hung up on curriculum. Their groups form around ideas like parenting, finances, marriage or blended families and they go through a curriculum that is specifically designed for their common interest. What happens after they’ve finished with that particular curriculum is almost always the same: they ask, “What do we do next?”

Before I answer that question I want to make a pretty obvious statement: curriculum does not make groups, people do. With that in mind, don’t sweat over finding the next great parenting curriculum, hoping that it will bond your group closer together. Don’t waste time trying to find another powerful marriage curriculum, believing that it will make people stick with your group. Stop stressing out over the fact that you can’t find a blended family curriculum, fearing that your group won’t survive without it. The bottom line is this: curriculum does not make groups, people do. So don’t major on curriculum. Major on people!

Instead, of fretting over which curriculum to use next, group leaders should master the following skills:

• Identify. Look for your group’s relational strengths and maximize them. Look for your group’s relational weaknesses and compensate for them.
• Personalize. Pick any Biblically-based curriculum and tailor the discussion questions to fit your group’s unique context.
  • Example 1: “Abraham took a great step of faith when God called him. What faith step is God calling you to make as a parent?”
  • Example 2: “Jesus had the power to heal the leper. How does that make you feel about the healing that he can bring to your marriage?”
• Relax. Don’t worry about the curriculum being the “exact fit” for your group. Recognize the fact that people will automatically contextualize and personalize any curriculum. Everyone filters what they learn through the experiences they’ve had or are currently having. Thus, nearly any curriculum can be relevant to their current circumstances.
• Listen and pray. As people share about how the curriculum applies to their lives, listen for their needs, feelings, and desires. Then make those things a matter of prayer. Groups that pray for and with one another grow the deepest relational bonds. This bond goes far beyond those formed over brownies and movie nights. And it certainly goes beyond the connection formed over curriculum.

Almost any curriculum can be the right curriculum for your group, you just have to make it so. Save the time you’re spending looking for the right curriculum and instead focus on turning something into the right curriculum. Who knows, when you utilize the skills listed above, the Holy Spirit might even teach your “finance” small group something profound from a study about The Song of Solomon. Okay, so that’s a bit of a stretch, but you get my point.

Upcoming Leadership Development

Multiplication is a key part of a healthy Journey Group. When a group is active and growing in all areas, it will result in new groups being started. The tricky part is this doesn't happen in the same way at the same point for every group. Our leadership development discussion on April 3 (6:00-7:30 PM in EC 188 at the Old Mill Campus) will center on the topic of group multiplication. Specifically, why we should care about multiplication, knowing where your group is in its life cycle, and different methods of multiplying your group.

This is a critiacl topic for Journey Groups, so I hope to see you there! Feel free to give me a call (402-938-1562) or drop me an email (davei@cccomaha.org) with any thoughts or questions.

Dave Irwin