Grow Together Leadership

Hello everyone, I hope this email finds you well.  Here are a few things I wanted to pass along this week.

MARRIAGE NIGHT

I realize this may not apply to each of you or everyone in your group, but I am really excited about an opportunity we have coming up on Friday May 17.  We will be hosting an event called Marriage Night. Marriage Night is a way for couples to dedicate time to focus on what God has for their marriage. It’s a one-night event packed with laughter and lessons you can apply immediately to your own marriage.

Please join me in encouraging the couples in your group to be a part of this event.  Andrea and I are looking forward to it.

For more information or to register, please check out this page: https://www.firstdecatur.org/grow/marriage/

SERVE TOGETHER CELEBRATION

Please also plan to join us for the 4th Annual – Serve Together Celebration on Wednesday May 8 from 6-9 PM at the church.  This year’s theme is FCC’s Got Talent.  More to come on this in the week’s ahead.

TRANSITIONING TO SUMMER

As I mentioned a few weeks ago at the Leader Huddle, it is time to begin thinking about your group taking a break for the summer.  Not only does this honor the rhythm of life change that many people experience in the summer, but it also tends to make groups more excited to kick off again in the fall.

So, please begin deciding with your group when your last regular week of programming is going to be.  However, please make it a point of staying connected with your group throughout the summer.

Many groups choose to hang out at least once a month socially throughout the summer.  My only suggestion is if that is going to be your approach, please choose dates with your group now.  Otherwise it will be easy for the summer to fly by and never get together.

If you have any questions or need help with this process, please let me know.

Thank you, JG

LEADER HUDDLE THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!

The final leader huddle of this school year is taking place this Sunday March 24 at 6 PM in Mosaic Cafe. Thank you for all your RSVP’s. I’m looking forward to seeing so many of you.  Please come hungry.  We are having pulled pork.

I think one of the best ways we learn is from one another, so I have asked a few leaders who have led for a long time to be a part of a panel during our huddle. They will answer some questions I’ve put together, and then field any questions you have for them as well.

MEN’S RETREAT

As a reminder, Men’s Retreat is next weekend (March 29/30).  This is a great event to come to with the guys in your group.  Registration closes on Wednesday.

Men’s Retreat 2019 Invite from First Christian Church on Vimeo.

Here is a link to register: https://firstdecatur.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/213779

INTENTIONAL CHURCH CONFERENCE

If you would be interested in attending the Intentional Church Conference, we would love to have you.  You can register for free at https://www.intentionalchurchconference.com using promo code: FCCDECATUR.

SEE YOU SUNDAY EVENING – JG

PLEASE RSVP FOR OUR LEADER HUDDLE

The final leader huddle of this school year is taking place on Sunday March 24 at 6 PM in Mosaic Cafe. I have heard from many of you, but if you have not RSVP’d please do so by Monday so I can let the kitchen know.

Please email me to RSVP

MEN’S RETREAT

I am really excited about our Men’s Retreat coming up two weeks from Friday.

Here is al little video about it.  If you can’t see the video, please click here.

Please encourage the men in your small group to register at firstdecatur.org/men.

MARRIAGE NIGHT 

We are really excited to be hosting a simulcast of the Marriage Night event on May 17.  This event is still several weeks away, but it is going to be an awesome evening.  This could be a great event for those who are married in your small group to attend together.  More to come on this. For more details visit: https://www.marriagenight.org

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
– JG

Hello awesome Grow Together leaders, I hope you’ve had a great week.  I have two things I wanted to share with you today.  First…

OUR FINAL GROW TOGETHER HUDDLE

As you know, each year we have a few times we gather together for prayer, training, and connection with one another.  We call these opportunities: “huddles”, and the final leader huddle of this school year is taking place on Sunday March 24 at 6 PM in Mosaic Cafe.

Why should you come? Great question, I’m glad you asked it. Here are 5 reasons.

1. Dinner is provided.  If nothing else come so you don’t have to make dinner.
2. This is a great chance to learn and grow together.
3. There will be prizes and who doesn’t love prizes.
4. Pastor Brian said his favorite people come to huddles (that might be a misquote)
5. Honestly, one of the most valuable reasons you should come is to share what you’ve learned with other leaders, and to learn from others leaders.  Your insights might be just what someone else needs.

9 THINGS SMALL GROUP MEMBERS HATE ABOUT GROUPS

I read this article earlier today and found it to be a powerful reminder for me as a leader.  During a season of the year where things become a bit routine and it’s easy to drop our guard, I hope this article will serve as a reminder of why it is so important to lead well: https://churchleaders.com/smallgroups/small-group-articles/166905-9-great-things-many-group-members-hate-about-small-groups.html

Thank you again for leading your group well.  If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at jgrunden@firstdecatur.org.

Thank you -JG

HAPPY THURSDAY EVERYONE!  I realize that not every group is doing the Anxious for Nothing study, but for those of you who are, here is the week 3 study guide.

WEEK 3 GROUP STUDY

Here is the week 3 study.  Please feel free to download this using the link below and share it electronically with people in your group.  I have also placed some paper copies at the Welcome Center, if you would prefer not to download it.

STUDY LINK: Anxious for Nothing – Group Study Week 3

Thank you again for everything you do to lead, serve, and shepherd the people in your group.  I hope to see you this weekend!

God Bless, JG

Hello everyone and Happy Valentines Day.  I realize that not every group is doing the Anxious for Nothing study, but for those of you who are, here is the week 2 study guide.

WEEK 2 GROUP STUDY

Here is the week 2 study.  Please feel free to download this using the link below and share it electronically with people in your group.  I have also placed some paper copies at the Welcome Center, if you would prefer not to download it.

STUDY LINK: Anxious for Nothing – Group Study Week 2

Thank you again for everything you do to lead, serve, and shepherd the people in your group.  I hope to see you this weekend!

God Bless, JG

Hello everyone, I am really excited that we begin our “Anxious for Nothing” series this weekend, which includes a small group curriculum designed to follow each weekend’s sermon.  Below is a video with a little more detail, as well as some guidance for how to best serve people in your group who are navigating serious worry in their lives.

GT Update Feb 7 2019 from Jonathan Grunden on Vimeo.

If you are unable to see the video, please click here.

WEEK 1 GROUP STUDY

Here is the week 1 study.  Please feel free to download this using the link below and share it electronically with people in your group.  I have also placed some paper copies at the Welcome Center, if you would prefer not to download it.

STUDY LINK: Anxious for Nothing – Group Study Week 1

Thanks again, JG

Hello Grow Together Leaders, I hope your week is going well and all is moving forward with your groups.

ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

As I mentioned in the video last week, this coming weekend is our State of the Church weekend.  It is going to be an awesome weekend of celebrating what God has done in and through our church in the past year and what he is leading us toward in the future.

The following weekend (Feb 9/10) Pastor Brian and I begin a three-week series called “Anxious for Nothing”.  It centers around the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6-7:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As a part of this series, I will be writing small group curriculum.  We would love for your group to use this material for each of the weeks of the study.  Week 1 will be available here next Thursday.  I know that many of you are in the middle of studies right now, but I would ask that you please consider taking a break from your study to join us for these three weeks. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

GETTING TOGETHER

Also, as a reminder, I always love getting together with small group leaders to talk about how their groups are going and next steps.  If you would be available sometime for a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea, or even a phone call, please email me here.

Thanks again.  Have a wonderful weekend.  – JG

Hello awesome Grow Together Leaders.  Since we were unable to have our huddle last weekend, I wanted to make a “quick” video this week to update you on a number of important things. Here is that video.  It’s 7 minutes long so you might want to pop some popcorn first.  Also, in case you are wondering, yes I will be getting a hair cut this weekend.  🙂

If you are unable to see the video, please click here: https://vimeo.com/313276843

Here are some of the things the video covers:

• Our upcoming “Anxious for Nothing” series, which will include small group material.  We would love for you to join us for that.
• A thought on evaluating your group and setting goals for spiritual growth
• 4 ideas on how to have good conversations in your group

As always, I’m happy to answer any questions you may have and I would love to hear how your group is going.

God Bless, – JG

Hello everyone, I hope this post finds you well.  This is my final update of 2018, so I thought I’d put together a quick video for you.

GT Update Dec 13 from Jonathan Grunden on Vimeo.

In case you can’t see the video, please click here.

ADVENT READING PLAN

Also, if you aren’t already doing an Advent Bible Reading Plan, I would encourage you to hop on over to Youversion and check out their reading plans: https://my.bible.com/reading-plans

There are a bunch to choose from, including this super short 4 day plan: The Bible Project | Advent. This would be great to do on your own or as a group.

MERRY CHRISTMAS – JG