Grow Together Leadership

Hello everyone, and welcome to week one of the Off the Shelf small group series.

BIBLE READING PLAN

As I mentioned last week, we will be encouraging the congregation to participate in one of two Bible reading plans throughout the Off the Shelf series.  For more information about that, please check out the week one reading plan here: Week 1 OTS Reading Plan  We encourage your group to choose one of these plans and read together over the next 13 weeks.

OFF THE SHELF – WEEK 1

Below are the video and small group guide for week 1 of the Off the Shelf series.  These will be available on this page each week for the next 13 weeks.  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 study guide for this week: Off the Shelf – Study Guide Week 1

Here is the video for this week.

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES

•  The best method for sharing this video with your group is to stream it to your TV. If that will not work for you, consider showing the video on a laptop or tablet. Please double check your technology prior to group time.   If you have any difficulties, please contact me at jgrunden@firstdecatur.org.
• If you have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.  I’m here to help.

Thanks again, and I hope you have a great first week.

God Bless, JG

Hello Small Group Leaders, we are now one week away from our Off the Shelf series.  We finish up the FCC at the Movies series this coming weekend with a movie of galactic proportions.

OFF THE SHELF

As I’ve mentioned a few times, I am really excited about this series.  I believe it has the potential to impact our congregation, and hopefully those outside it in major ways.  I am particulalry excited about our small groups going through this content for the next 13 weeks.

As we get ready, here are some important notes for you to be aware of. 

• Next Thursday (Sept. 5), I will post the first study and video for this series right here on the blog.  This is to be used during the week of Sept. 8-13, following the 1st weekend (Sept. 7/8)
• We will also be encouraging the congregation to particpate in one of two Bible reading plan during this series.  One plan will cover key passages of the Bible that correspond with each weekend’s sermond.  This plan will take less than 10 minutes per day, 5 days a week.  The other plan is to read the entire Bible in 90 days.  We will be using this plan for that purpose: https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/13-bible-in-90-days Please discuss these options with your group.  I think it would be great if each group chose one of these plans and went after it together.
• I recognize that some groups only meet every other week, and I would enourage you to consider meeting every week for the 13 weeks of this series.  I would also encourage you, to encourage the people in your groups, to commit to being at group and church every week of this series.
• If you are a social media person, there is a facebook group you can join for this series as well.  You can find that here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/offtheshelfdecatur/

Please let me know if you need anything.
Thanks again, JG

Hello everyone, I decided to put this week’s update on video.  Please take a minute to watch when you can.  It includes:

• Important information about our fall small group curriculum
• A quick recap of the training from our leader huddle
• A reminder about group lists
• A new coaching opportunity for group leaders.

As always, please let me know if you need anything.

Thank you, JG

Hello Grow Together Leaders, I hope your summer is going well.  I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, so I wanted to send a mid-summer update.  Please take a few minutes to watch the video below.  It contains two important announcements, that I want to make sure you are aware of as a leader in our congregation.  Check it out.

As always, I would love to hear from you. Please email me at jgrunden@firstdecatur.org.

Thanks, JG

Hello Everyone and Happy May!  I have just a couple quick updates this week.

SERVE TOGETHER CELEBRATION NEXT WEDNESDAY

The FCC Serve Together Celebration is taking place next Wednesday, May 8 from 6:30-9 PM.  This is our opportunity as a church to celebrate what God has done this year through our Serve Together ministries as well as show appreciation to each of you for all that you have done individually.

If you have not registered, please do so by clicking here: https://www.firstdecatur.org/serve/

Here is the promotional video in case you missed it:

FCC’s Got Talent Promo from First Christian Church on Vimeo.

MARRIAGE NIGHT

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/

Here is a short video about the event:

Thanks again, JG

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