Unstuck Families

January 29, 2012

Opening 

Make sure everyone is aware of events and opportunities happening at Connections listed in the bulletin: we have construction projects, youth programs and other opportunities to move forward in your faith!  

If you didn’t get to it last week, have new registrants, or if the group has any questions, please review the “Connection Group Commitment.”  Address any questions and go over childcare needs if applicable.  This is a very vital part of the group experience.  Finally, did you send around a snack sign-up list?

Discussion

We’ve covered some BIG material so far.  Give the group time to catch up, or process.  In particular, talk about two things:

1. If you want to get unstuck in your faith, it is within your power to do something.  Perhaps the single best thing: start reading your bible!  What are you reading?  When and where?  What help do you need?  What resources?  What advice can you share?  Try to aim for 5 out of 7 days each week.
2. If you want to get unstuck in your finances, it’s going to take some work.  Review our BIG three:
1. Budget: You got to be knowing where your money is going.
2. Get out of debt.
3. Commit your first fruits to God by working toward a tithe, or to radical generosity!

Now, on to Unstuck Families: Our commitment verse is Joshua 24:15

“...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Discuss what it means to serve the LORD as a household.

What does this mean, or how does this look, for dads, moms, children and extended families?

The best biblical advice to get unstuck as a family, or to move forward, is to engage in serving God together.  With that in mind, the service ended with the following commitment:

Our Family will serve Jesus through...

~ Engaging faith at home;

~ Engaging faith with our church;

~ Engaging faith in our story.

How can we engage our faith at home?

Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and discuss this foundational passage.

Share some of your “best practices” as a family of faith at home...

How can we engage our families in faith at church?

Read Ephesians 6:1-4 and discuss the how the church can help parents in their role of building faith...

How can we engage our children in our own, and their own, story of faith?  Read Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” 

If you have kids, talk about how you are training them, and let the group share what they see in your kids.  If you don’t have kids, did your parents help to train you up in this way?  If so, how?

Close with a time of prayer for one another.  

If you have kids, consider how you can involve them in the Group.  (Remember, if children are a part of the families in your Group, they are a part of your Group.)  How can “Group night” become a time for them to see their parents serve, engage in meaningful community, and grow in love for God?  We hope that these Groups will help raise a generation that sees faith being worked out, and lived out, by parents, in homes, in the community!

Unstuck Finances

January 22, 2012

Opening 

Make sure everyone is aware of events and opportunities happening at Connections listed in the bulletin: we have construction projects, youth programs and other opportunities to move forward in your faith!  

If you didn’t get to it last week, have new registrants, or if the group has any questions, please review the “Connection Group Commitment.”  Address any questions and go over childcare needs if applicable.  This is a very vital part of the group experience.  Finally, did you send around a snack sign-up list?

Discussion

Talking about money (spending, debt, giving, etc) can be very intimidating, and scary.  Maybe someone in the group who is feeling stuck financially could share about their situation.  Then, perhaps someone not feeling stuck can share about their money management.

Discuss the meaning of money.  Try to rate yourself, giving each of the following four options a number, 1-4:

Status

• I look up to people who are financially successful.
• Having the best reflects well on me.
• I want to maintain a lifestyle similar or above my peers.

Security

• Having money in saving is very important to me.
• I would rather have extra money in the bank than a new purchase.
• I prefer safe investing over high risk investing.

Pleasure

• I really enjoy shopping, and buying.
• People who have more money have enjoy life more.
• Money can’t buy happiness... who am I kidding, it can!

Control

• The one who controls the account calls the shots.
• I would not be comfortable putting all our money in a joint account.
• I earned it, it’s my money.

It’s very interesting to read through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) looking for themes.  One theme to examine is the re-occurrence of money matters, and the many ways that people got themselves stuck.  Consider the following:

• A man stuck looking for status, Luke 19:1-10
• A man stuck looking for security, Luke 18:18-25
• A man stuck looking for pleasure, Luke 15:11-16
• Jesus’ teaching on trying to use money for control, Luke 6:27-36

How does God see money?  

Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and Matthew 6:19-24

Discuss this radical, counter-cultural understanding and use of money.

Getting Practical: 3 Easy Steps to Getting Unstuck Financially:

1. “You got be knowing where your money is goin!”

• Track your spending, every cent, for one month
• Create a budget
• Get an advisor

1. “The D Word”: Debt

• Decide to get out of debt starting TODAY!
• Read Proverbs 22:7
• Contact your creditors and start paying down.

1. “The T Word”: Tithing

• Decide that God is worth honouring, and eternity is worth investing your “First Fruits.”
• Read Malachi 3:6-12
• Give. Save. Spend...ENJOY!

My commitment to get unstuck in finances...

“Live on a budget. Get/Stay out of Debt.  Be Rich Toward God.”

Closing

If you are ready to get out of debt, and know you need help, talk to your leader, or someone in the church.  It probably took you a long time to get into debt, and it will take work to get out.  Don’t try to go it alone!

This winter, once the Ministry Centre is operating, we will be offering a first run at a Christian Foundations and Discipleship courses.  Biblical financial  stewardship will be a part of the curriculum.

If you are ready to become rich toward God we want to help.  We can provide you with an offering envelop for each week of the year, or we can set up your bank account for automated giving.

For great online resources go to www.northpoint.org/balanced

For the best book buy Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover

Close with a time of prayer  

Praying together is as important as studying the bible together in our groups.  Both are ways that we affirm our faith is not just personal, but profoundly communal. Your leader will prayer, but you will be invited to participate if you are comfortable.

"Unstuck Faith"

January 15, 2012

Opening 

Feel free to spend the bulk of your first gathering meeting one another.  To begin, play a “get to know you” game.   Nothing too hard to start.  Maybe talk about some New Years resolutions.  

After introductions go over the “Connection Group Commitment.”  Address any questions and go over childcare needs if applicable.  This is a very vital part of the group experience.  Give folks a week to think about their commitment.  

Other things to consider:

• Co-Leaders.  Maybe there is a person/couple in the group who want to become group leaders themselves.  Help them practice and get the skills they need to develop.
• Maybe your group is already pretty big (over 12 adults).  If so, perhaps you need to consider dividing into two smaller groups.  That could open the doors for even more people to join a group, and more leaders to grow!
• Perhaps your group is a little slim (less than 10).  Prayerfully think about who you could invite to join your gathering.
• It’s also a good pan to send around a snack sign-up.  Maybe turn it into a friendly competition:  best banana bread recipe?

Discussion

Take a look again at the Spiritual Continuum.  Encourage one or two in the group, who are comfortable, to share where they are at, or where they have been “stuck.”

Some interesting results from the REVEAL survey:

• Of church attenders, 10% are Exploring Christ, 38% are Growing in Christ, 27% are Close to Christ, and 25% are Christ-Centered.
• 92% of all respondents having been stuck at some point in their faith
• 26% report currently being stuck or dissatisfied
• Being stuck can happen at any stage, but over 50% are in the “Growing in Christ” group
• The longer one remains stuck, the more like one will become “Dissatisfied” with their faith and church
• The #1 reason given for being stuck... “Too Busy.”

One thing emerged in the REVEAL study that really came as no surprise: personal engagement with the bible is the one practice that was influential in every stage of growth and served as a catalyst to getting people “unstuck” and moving forward in their faith.

Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17

• In your own words now, explain what is the purpose of bible study, and what impact does it have on your life?
• Discuss and apply v. 17 “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  In your own words, what is salvation, and what does it mean to put your faith in Jesus?
• Discuss the four applications of scripture: teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness.
• Have you every had an experience where, because of your knowledge of the bible, you were “equipped” to do a good work, in your own life, or in someone else’s life?

Knowing that personal bible reading and reflection the most consistent factor in a growing and satisfying faith, we want to encourage and equip you to make this a part of your life!  Share what you need, or how you will engage in the bible...

Close with a time of prayer.  

Praying together is as important as studying the bible together in our groups.  Both are ways that we affirm our faith is not just personal, but profoundly communal. Your leader will prayer, but you will be invited to participate if you are comfortable.

Winter 2012 Semester

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  ~ Acts 2:42, 47

Connection Groups target the second part of our mission, “to connect people.”  In the Sunday worship service we gather to build into our relationship with God.  In our home groups we gather to build into our relationships with one another.  We hope that everyone who worships at Connections will be a part of a Connection Group.

It is through Connection Groups that each person can give and receive the best spiritual care.  We find a place to belong and find acceptance.  We can find opportunities to grow spiritually by digging deeper into the bible and prayer. We find a place to serve people and our community. 

We know that when people are a part of a Connection Group, they truly feel a part of Connections Church!
 

Here’s how they work, generally:

• Groups run on the semester format: Fall, Winter and Spring, 8-10 weeks each

• Groups have a clear starting and stopping date so you know when to step in, and when to take a break
• Groups are made up of about 12-16 adults + children
• Groups typically meet for 1.5 hours each gathering
• The standard curriculum is a bible study and discussion based around the Sunday worship service
• Groups are built around three guiding values:
• BELONG- Every meeting starts with a time of just “belonging” together- having a snack, and getting to know one another.  The bible calls these kinds of relationships “fellowship”
• GROW- This happens through a bible study based on the worship service and time to pray for one another and the church
• SERVE- Groups are to take seriously the needs of one another and their neighbors
• Groups are also encouraged to schedule some fun time together out side of the meeting, or to even plan a group project or event

Registration:

• We have several established groups that have a few openings.  Therefore, we may suggest that you try one of these groups if they meet in your area.
• For most of our new registrants we will place you in a new group.
• And if you get invited to join a group, and say yes, well that’s just fine!  Your leader will let us know.

Write info@connectionschurch.ca and let us know if your interested in join, or helping start up, a group.  It will help if you give us your name and contact information, and what evening(s) you are available.