This weekend we finish our 2-week series called “Take the Lead”. Following that series, we will begin a series leading up to Easter called “FORETOLD: Jesus Throughout the Bible”. We are excited about this series and the opportunity it provides us and our groups to prepare our hearts for Easter. As a result, we will be writing a small group curriculum that can be used following each week’s sermon. As a reminder, the first week of that curriculum will be available right here next Thursday. I hope you and your group will consider joining us for this study.
Please let me know if you have any questions. – JG
Hello awesome small group leaders, I hope you were able to catch Pastor Wayne’s announcement last weekend. To learn more about the upcoming transition, please visit: https://www.firstdecatur.org/transition/
FORETOLD: JESUS THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE
This weekend we begin a 2-week series called “Take the Lead”. Following that series, we will begin a series leading up to Easter called “FORETOLD: Jesus Throughout the Bible”. We are excited about this series and the opportunity it provides us and our groups to prepare our hearts for Easter. As a result, we will be writing a small group curriculum that can be used following each week’s sermon. As a reminder, the first week of that curriculum will be available right here 2 weeks from today. I hope you and your group will consider joining us for this study.
Please let me know if you have any questions. – JG
From time to time, we make it a priority for our small groups to sync up their discussions with what we are learning about on the weekends. We believe this is a good way to build cohesiveness and help people internalize what is being preached. With that in mind, we thought the weeks leading up to Easter would be a good time for our groups to do this.
In light of that, as a church, in the weeks leading up to Easter, we will be looking at passages from the Old Testament that point us toward Christ. This series will begin the weekend of February 20/21. Along with this series, we will be providing a group curriculum to help build on what is taught each weekend. This curriculum will be available the Thursday before each weekend and is to be used when your group meets following each week’s sermon. The first week of the curriculum will be available on Thursday, February 18.
Please take some time during your next group meeting to discuss if your group will participate in this study with us. We would love to have you join us as we prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter.
Special Announcement this Weekend.
You may have received a letter in the mail this week or an email today highlighting the special announcement we will be rolling out this weekend. If you missed those, you can learn more here: https://www.firstdecatur.org/transition/ As leaders in the church, please make sure to catch the service this weekend in-person or online to learn more about what this will mean for our congregation.
Hello amazing Small Group Leaders, I hope this post finds you well. As your small group kicks off again, I wanted to pass along some ideas and some encouragement.
While I’m not suggesting this truly is the most important aspect of being a small group leader, I thought it contained an important reminder for each of us. Please take an opportunity to read and let me know what you think.
ROAD MAPS
I know many of you have used studies from Rightnow Media. I also know that sometimes, choosing a next study can be challenging for a group. With that in mind, Rightnow media has created something they call roadmaps. Roadmaps are a year-long study plan for a small group. I would encourage you to take a look at these study plans at https://www.rightnowmedia.org/roadmaps. Even if this doesn’t work for you, it might give you some ideas for your group.
THANK YOU
Finally, I realize the past 12 months have been incredibly disorienting. The events of the past year have impacted every aspect of our lives, including our small groups. In light of that I want to say thank you again for your faithful leadership in your group and the lives of people in your group. If there is any way I can serve you or your group, please let me know.
As we get ready to celebrate Christmas and the end of 2020, I want to say thank you again for your faithful leadership during this bizarre and challenging year. I know that many of you have gone out of your way to continue caring for your group amid the difficulties. Thank you for caring, leading, and praying for the people in your group.
Whether your group is able to meet or you would just like to pass along some encouragement to your group, there are several great options.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Finally this week, as leaders in the church I would encourage you to take time each week to check our “What’s Happening” page. This is a one stop shop for everything coming up in the next few weeks. You can always check this page at https://www.firstdecatur.org/whatshappening/
Hello Group Leaders, and thank you again for faithfully leading through all of the challenges of this pandemic. I was reminded again today of the incredible importance of the community you are fostering and the care/guidance/shepherding you each give. Believe me, I know this season has been more than difficult. As I talk with each of you I hear the struggle, but I also see the way you have persevered and continued to make your group a priority. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
STUDY IDEAS
As we move forward, many have asked about ideas for your next group study. In light of that, I wanted to pass along some recommendations. Each of these studies has been utilized by other groups here at FCC. Even if you don’t use them now, I would recommend keeping them in mind for the future.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the final week of the At the Movies series. I hope your small group time went well last week. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
AT THE MOVIES WEEK 5
Below is the small group guide for week 5 of the At the Movies series. Please feel free to download the guide and share it digitally with your group members. There will also be paper copies available at the Welcome Center if you would prefer to pick them up there.
Here is the video for this week. If you aren’t able to see the video, please click here.
Thank you again for joining us for this series. Next week I will send ideas for next studies for your group. I hope you have a great discussion this week.
Hello everyone, I hope your small group time went well last week. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
AT THE MOVIES WEEK 3
Below is the small group guide for week 3 of the At the Movies series. Please feel free to download the guide and share it digitally with your group members. There will also be paper copies available at the Welcome Center if you would prefer to pick them up there.
Below is the small group guide for week 2 of the At the Movies series. Please feel free to download the guide and share it digitally with your group members. There will also be paper copies available at the Welcome Center if you would prefer to pick them up there.
Hello Grow Together Leaders, and welcome to another year! I am so excited to see what God is going to do in and through your group this year.
AT THE MOVIES
This weekend we begin this year’s edition of At the Movies. For those who were unable to attend the Leader Huddle last week, below is a video from Pastor Brian about the series.
At the Movies Group Leader Welcome from Brian
This weekend’s (Sept 12/13) movie deals with the topic of community. In light of that, we decided to use this weekend to promote small groups one more time. As a result we will be having Small Group Launch (for new groups) next weekend, and there will not be a study to accompany this weekend’s sermon. If your group is planning to meet next week, we would encourage you to take this time to reconnect with your group and talk about goals you have as a group this year.
Starting next Thursday, I will be posting a study to be used the following week in small group. So, next Thursday (Sept. 17) I will post a video and study guide for your group to be used the following week: Sept. 20-26
AT THE MOVIES TOPICS
Below are the topics we will be discussing during At the Movies. Each week we will reveal the movie to you as the leader of your group, but we would ask that you keep that confidential. We have heard that keeping the movie titles confidential increases participation.
Also, due to copyright laws we will not be able to make the sermon available on-demand. So, we will be doing a replay on Wednesday evenings. In light of that, please encourage your group members to catch the service on the weekend, especially if your group meets before Wednesday evenings.
HERE ARE THE TOPICS:
Sept 12/13: Community
Sept 19/20: Forgiveness
Sept 26/27: Physical/Emotional/Mental Trials & Care Giving
Oct 3/4: Racial Reconciliation
Oct 10/11: Identity
SMALL GROUP 101
While this video focuses on basic group leadership, I found it to have some great reminders for me as a small group leader. For those who didn’t see this at the leader huddle, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to watch it and see what ideas stick out to you.
SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP 101
Thank you again, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
