PRECIOUS LIVING STONE(S)

THE FOUNDATION

2011-03-07T17:18:00.002-05:00

The hymn, "The Church's One Foundation," states clearly, strongly, and beautifully that JESUS is the center, the rock, the foundation of God's people. The words to the hymn are basic to my understanding of church, though the tune and style might sound outdated. This hymn was sung at my service of ordination, and at the first worship service when I began three pasorates.

WHAT MATTERS MOST IN SMALL GROUPS

2011-03-07T17:09:00.000-05:00

Released: 2/28/2011 1:45 PM EST
Source: Baylor University

Newswise — WACO, Texas — Establishing small groups within a megachurch — heralded by some as a remedy to the drawbacks of burgeoning congregation size — is “good medicine,” but not a cure-all, according to a national study by Baylor University sociologists.

“Simply having a small group program in a church is no guarantee of success,” said Dr. Kevin Dougherty, an assistant professor in Baylor’s department of sociology and co-author of the article “A Place to Belong: Small Group Involvement in Religious Congregations,” published this month in the journal Sociology of Religion.

What matters is that the groups meet regularly; that members trust one another enough to divulge matters they would not to a stranger; and that they tackle tough issues in one another’s lives, Dougherty said. He and Andrew Whitehead, a Baylor graduate student in sociology, conducted the study.
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SMALLGROUPS.COM

2011-03-04T13:42:00.000-05:00

SmalGroups.Com is a website sponsored by Leadership Journal and Christianity Today. Extensive site with tabs for:

start - variety of models to choose from
train- assessments, handouts, magazine, media
lead - bible studies, meeting planner, icebreakers
connect- web-based tools to communicate with group, records & management tools, integrate other groups
organize - legal and financial admin tools
store - bible studies and free downloads

BUILDING BLOCKS

2011-03-04T09:29:00.002-05:00

Our God, who longs to bring us life and return us to his presence.... allows himself to be the fist stone laid at corner of this structure that we compose. He becomes the cornerstone, the bedrock upon which everything else can be built. It’s one the thing for him to tell us to “be a house” and that we should “make a place for him”. But he starts by setting the example. Everything that he expects us to do, HE DID. As Jesus he was tempted in every way and yet was without sin! (Hebrews 4:15). So, not only is he the figurative “cornerstone” he is literally a God that has been in the trenches so that he can understand what we’re going through and set the example for us! (copied from Chris Woolard)

MARS HILL CHURCH

2011-03-03T02:43:00.002-05:00

Mars Hill Church in Seattle has much organizational and strategic material about community groups. The website has extensive video and print material on their small groups. A handbook includes tabs for foundation, vision, elements, organization, training, and resources. There are also downloads for group plan, neighborhood plan, replication plan, discipleship guide, coaching guide, and one year plan.

LIVING STONE(S) SCRIPTURES

2011-03-03T01:23:00.006-05:00

The Apostle Peter had a special insight into the church being "living stone(s)." When Peter made his confession that Christ was the son of the living God, Jesus told Peter (Petros = stone) that on this rock (Petra = large rock, which I believe signified the declaration that Messiah came from the living God), he would build his church.

GATEWAY CHURCH

2011-02-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

Gateway Church with multiple campuses in Dallas/Ft.Worth area makes use of small groups.
Click here to website with video introduction to small groups, much leadership material, and link to "groups that give."

CELEBRATION CHURCH

2011-02-25T10:03:00.001-05:00

Celebration Church in Jacksonville FL

Pastor Stovall Weems preaches message, "God's Gatherings," about importance of small groups in their church.

God's Gatherings from Celebration Church on Vimeo.

SADDLEBACK CHURCH

2011-02-25T09:46:00.002-05:00

I had this great idea to develop online small groups. Already been done!
Saddleback Church Online Small Groups

Information about Saddleback "regular" small groups is here.

Pastor Rick Warren states biblical basis of large group WORSHIP and small group FELLOWSHIP here.

KEY WORDS

2011-02-25T01:23:00.002-05:00

Some key concepts of the smaill groups I envision are:
TRANSFORMATION
MISSION
WORSHIP
OPENNESS
HONESTY

NEW DIRECTIONS

2011-02-22T19:09:00.001-05:00

I have gone down a lot of roads in my life journey. Long ago as a senior in college I found the narrow road with a small gate that Jesus says leads to life.

Along the way there have been byways, highways, expressways, and more than a few detours. I have stood at many intersections and pondered which road to take. Sometimes I have felt like the traveler in Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.”
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