GRACE Group Leaders
Building followers of Jesus
Christ…
8/16/07
God has given each of
you some special abilities;
be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds
of blessings.
1 Peter 4:10
GRACE - Every Person
Contributing - Using everything
God has given us to serve in the Body of Christ. We recognize that who we are
and what we have has been given to us by God, that it truly belongs to God. Our
time, our talents and abilities, our spiritual gifts, our past experiences
(good and bad), our personalities, and our possessions, we offer it all for His
service.
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Time To Take the Challenge |
Make plans for your GRACE Group to join
us on the Old Testament Challenge. I’m deep into writing the Personal Devotions
for this year and I can tell you that it is going to be exciting to read about
Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, and all the rest.
If you have never studied the prophets of the Old Testament, you have
missed out on some great pictures of who our God really is and what he loves
and doesn’t love so much. We are asking
all of our groups to participate in this last year of the Challenge.
Your group needs to get their study
guides while there are some still available in the office. You can come in and buy guides for your group
anytime during the week or you can find me on Sundays at the Old Testament Tent
in the East Lobby starting next week.
Give us a call and let us know how many books you would like us to hold
for you. 240-553-1090 Study guides are $11/person. We had a little trouble finding books this
time, so please be sure to buy yours early.
As in past years, there are four parts to the Old Testament Challenge.
1. Messages every Sunday for 8 weeks,
starting September 23rd, in all venues at Grace.
2. GRACE Groups each week taking
those messages and applying them to their lives with the help of a study guide.
3. A Daily Devotional sent to
everyone who desires to use it to have a quiet time built around what we are
studying.
4. Brand new OTC Small Groups
launching (on September 16th) to get hundreds of new people involved
in the community of small groups.
Get ready to join us. Mark out the dates for your group. You may order the study guides and register
for the devotionals from the Small Groups Office today. (gracegroups@gcconline.org
) Get ready to take the challenge.
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E - Every Group Participating |
Can I ask you a
question? Have folks in your GRACE
Group found a place to regularly serve in the body of Christ? For the first time, over 75% of those who
attend GRACE Groups are regularly serving with
If everyone in your group
has not found the right place to participate yet, then September is the month
for you. Help you group members take
advantage of all of the opportunities that are going to be presented this
month. Every ministry will be having
meetings where new people can jump on board and get a ‘taste’ of what it is like
to serve on their team. “A Taste of
Grace” is the theme and you will be hearing much more about it on Sundays in
September. Get you groups ready by
discussing the importance of “E-Every Person Participating” in the work of the
church. You will also be able to get
more information at http://www.uservecentral.com/index.html in the coming weeks.
|
Top signs you're in a bad small group! |
|
6.
Your group leader is featured on " 5.
They insist on meeting at midnight. 4.
The ice breaker is followed by a 911 call. 3..
The ice breaker that generates the most response is "If you could commit
a felony and not be caught, which one would it be?" 2.
The ice breaker is "Share your biggest pet peeve about the people who
are not here tonight" 1. Every
week people keep asking if this is the first time you have been here. |
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Survival Kit by Ralph W. Neighbour |
This 6 week intense study begins with a warning: “Being a Christian is Far More than Trusting
Christ for Salvation.” But take
heart. Survival is more than just the
“name of the game.” It is a promised
certainty for you if you want it. This
“Survival Kit” is a great study for small groups, for individuals, and also for
someone to use in a one-on-one mentoring situation. It addresses many of the key areas of
spiritual growth and studies how to be successful in each of them. This study requires some daily study time. So, it is great for helping a group or
individual be faithful to a quiet time for the duration. It assumes that the group or mentor meets
once a week. Scripture memory is
included as well. The groups and
individuals who have used this give it very high marks. One church we are associated with takes every
believer through this study. There are
special instructions in the back for small group leaders. If you or you group is ready to step up the
level of commitment to study, this is very rich and convicting. I have one copy in the office you can stop by
and take a look at or you can purchase it at: http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?ISBN=0805497706
Thanks for all you do!
Information, questions, comments.
240-553-1090 ext. 111
Please feel free to share this newsletter with the members of your
G.R.A.C.E. Group.