Thursday, December 9, 2010

Leader Update

The 2010 fall season is almost over!  If your group has already met this week, please go on your group page and set your next meeting date to Jan. 9th, 2011.  It's located in the upper right hand corner of your main page.  This way you won't get emails asking you for a meeting report over the next few weeks.

THIS IS SIGN UP MONTH!
We have 9 NEW groups starting next season!  That's pretty awesome!  Tell everyone you know who is not in a group that this is a great time to get in.
Invite your neighbors, co-workers, and friends to join your group during this sign up month.

Dates for next season:
Launch Week: Week of Jan. 9th
Life Groups Align: Week of March 6th through week of April 17th (Life Groups will have 8 weeks before we align, so plan ahead)
      * All Life Groups (Not Classes) will align by doing the same study during these six weeks.  It's a study on Biblical principles for finances.
Final Week: Week of May 8th

If you have any questions let me know.
Thank you for leading this past season!

mt

A healthy group is a reproducing group.  Keep raising up new leaders to make new groups to connect more people to Jesus!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wrapping Things Up!

Leaders!
Check out the video below.  It will take about 10 minutes, but it beats having to come to a meeting!
After watching the video, if you have any questions, be sure to email, comment, or call me.



Thank You Leaders for all you do!

mt

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sign Ups Are Almost Here!

The week of Dec. 5th is the last week of the Fall Groups Season here at FCC.  On Dec. 5th we'll be starting sign ups for the Winter / Spring Season.  
To prepare we need your help!
1. Update Your Group Page: Go to the group site, login, and add new members and remove members who no longer attend.  This is very important!  We need to keep this accurate so that we can effectively minister to our people.
2. Plan Ahead: You as a leader need to know what you will be studying as you launch the new season.  The new season officially Kicks Off the week of Jan. 9th.  Know this: We will have a 6 week All Life Group Study beginning the week of March 6th.  So be sure to plan accordingly.  I will talk more about this later...
3. Recruit More Leaders:  We need more groups for more people!  If you know someone in your group who is ready to step out and lead, encourage them to do so.  Have them contact me and we'll get them started.  You can also give them your group and you can step out and start a new group yourself!  

God is doing Great Things at FCC!  Thank you for being a part of carrying out the Mission!

Matt T.

Friday, October 29, 2010

6 Weeks Left!

Hey Leaders!
We're over half way through the fall group season!  We continue to hear great things.
Here are some reminders:
Follow Up - At this point in the season you've probably got a few people that have dropped off along the way.  That's normal.  Be sure to make the phone calls, send the letters, or shoot out the emails to let them know they are missed and encourage the to finish out the season
Serve - Serving is part of our group DNA.  Be sure to find a project that your group can do together.  Here are a few of options:
1. Thanksgiving Baskets - Help the community care ministry prepare and deliver baskets for families (Contact Jim Schnorrenberg)
2. Rake some Leaves
3. Adopt a family for Thanksgiving
4. Adopt a family for Christmas
Study - Beginning this Sunday, Oct. 31st, Charlie will preaching through a series called "How To Be Rich".  It's going to be a great study based on 1 Timothy 6:17-19.  I think it will be a great study for our groups.  So if you're looking for something I highly recommend it.  Study guides are available on the website by Fridays and will be in the bulletins Sunday.
Leaders - If you have someone in your group you would recommend as a leader, let me know.

If you need anything let me know!

mt

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Problems

I just heard this quote this morning: "Problems in the life of a believer are the pathway to God's presence." 
For most, when problems in life arise, we allow them to overtake us.  We get discouraged, our attitude stinks, and our outlook on life is poor.  Because of the problem, we take our eyes off of God and His purpose.  Instead of taking the path that leads us to God's presence, we take the path that leads us away from Him.
Often in your groups, members come and share their problems.  Your challenge as a leader is to refocus their eyes onto God.  How can you move them from the problem to His presence?

I was reading in the book of Job this morning.  Talk about a man with problems...  After the first round of problems came, lost all of his livestock, servants, and his own kids, he still remained faithful.
Read Job 1:20-22
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Lead your group into His presence!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Get off the Couch!

     Serving others is part of the DNA of our groups here at FCC.  There is an expectation that every group will complete at least one project during a group season.  Here's what other groups have done:

  • Mowed someone's yard who was ill
  • Did a project at PRC
  • Purchased a car for a young mother
  • Served at the Stone Canyon Campus setup
  • Performed basic repairs around the house for someone in need
Get your group off the couch and get out and share Jesus' love with someone who could use the help.  Maybe it's a neighbor of one of your group members, a co-worker, or a random person or organization you know that could use some help.  Plant the vision in your group, assign responsibilities, and make it happen.

What acts of service has your group done?

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

You Struggle With That!?

Great article.  Take the time to check it out.  There are also a lot of other great resources for group leaders on this site.

You Struggle With That!?

Study the Word
Pray Together
Serve Others
Raise Up Leaders
Reach Out to the Unconnected
Have Fun!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Preparation for Launch

     Training leaders can be a challenge, that's one lesson I've learned over the past couple of years.  You all are an interesting bunch!  Some leaders love to be taught and poured into.  They attend training meetings, meet with other leaders, and constantly look for ways they can be a better leader. 
     Others like to go to the leadership buffet line and only take what they need.  They will go to the web and find resources, they might pick up a leadership book, and they too want to be a better leader, but they seem to like the more hands off approach.  "I'll come to you for help when I need help" is more of their mantra.  It's kind of the doctor mentality.  If your doctor called you every week to ask if you had any ailments it would get annoying.  But if you get sick or injured, you know who to call.
     That is more of the approach we've taken with our leadership training here at FCC.  We let you know the expectations of a leader, we let you know what should be in the DNA of every group, then we let you go minister. 
     Next week we launch into a new season.  We're praying that God does great things through our groups this season as we study God's word and minister to God's people. 

I'm praying for each of you
- mt

Monday, August 2, 2010

Challenge

 I wanted to pass on a note that I received this morning:

Matt,
I can't even begin to express how incredible it was to see God working through our life group and everyone involved with the Stone Canyon project this weekend. It was amazing to see His church unfold right in front of us and the range of emotions that came over me once the service started on Sunday is indescribable. Your message in regards to how much God loves us was very fitting as well as you could see it on the faces of everyone involved at Stone Canyon.

That leads into the reason for this email. The Stone Canyon set up team is obviously going to need some help every weekend to set up and tear down. As you know, our group has committed to helping out on the 2nd Sunday of each month and will be assisting this month to learn the program. I would like to throw out a challenge to the other life group leaders to get their groups to step up and fill in the gaps to serve the other available Sundays. It would be a great way to show God how much we love Him…….

Would you please send this email out to the other leaders and let them know that they can contact me with any questions in regards to the set up to take some of the burden off of Bobby.

Thanks and have a blessed week!

Mike Loewe
Dr Pepper Snapple Group
National Account Executive - C&G

When you're finished changing, you're finished.
Benjamin Franklin
If you would like to talk to Mike, let me know and I'll get you his info.  I didn't want to post it on the blog...

Keep Leading!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

We can't do this alone

Last week at Youth Quake we had the opportunity once again to see God stir in the hearts of our students and adults.  As we would gather for Youth Group Time around the fire students were encouraged to share what God had done in their life that day.  Students would confess, rejoice, cry, hurt, and heal.  It's an awesome moment to see these young lives be drawn near to God.  Jared, our leader, was quick to ask "who's going to be there for them?"  Students around the circle would raise their hands and pledge to help. The message they heard was that they can't do this alone.

I had a young man in my office this morning that is struggling in life.  Bad influences, bad decisions, and past hurts have left him in confusion.  My question for him was, "who is speaking truth into your life?"  At this point there is no one he is engaged in an intentional relationship with to help him through life.  His next step is to get in a group because he's quickly learning that he can't do this alone.

Leaders, understand that you carry out an important role.  You provide a place for people to come who have been trying to do life alone.  A place for couples to come who have been trying to make it alone.  They are struggling, hurting, and looking for help and healing.  By leading a group you provide a place.  You provide intentional relationships where tough questions can be asked and truth can be found.

Thank you leaders for leading!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Do you have a safety net?


Below is a devotional thought by Rick Warren on the importance of groups.  It's a good image to put in our minds that as leaders we're net builders and menders.  Creating communities of people who are there for one another.



Do you have a safety net?
by Rick Warren


 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

As a pastor, I see situations daily that nobody should ever have to go through alone. Nobody should ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved one is in life-or-death surgery. No woman should ever have to wait alone for the lab report on a problem pregnancy. Nobody should ever have to wait for news from a battlefield alone. Nobody should ever have to stand at the edge of an open grave alone. Nobody should ever have to spend the first night alone when their spouse has just walked out.

Life's tough times and tragedies are inevitable - each of us will face them. But we don't need to go through them alone. We need God's safety net to help hold us up through these difficult times.

What is God's safety net? It is a group of other believers - a handful of people who are really committed to you. We call this kind of group a community. Here's God's plan for community: "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV). Community is God's answer to despair.

Romans 12:15 expresses a similar idea: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (NIV).

The first part of that verse is easy. When something good happens to someone, it's often easy to join in on the party.

But when someone is having a tough time, it can seem more difficult. But, really, it's simple. When you're going through a crisis, you don't want advice; you just want somebody to be there - to sit with you, hold your hand, put an arm around your shoulder, or cry with you.

As Paul tells us, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). Encouraging someone else doesn't always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement is just sitting in silence - waiting and weeping with a friend.

Do you have a safety net - a group of fellow Christians you know you can count on in life's toughest times? If not, go out today and begin building those friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable, and only a fool would go into them unprepared.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Accountability

     Accountability is a word that many in our culture run from.  We are a people who don't want to be accountable to anyone.  We want to live life our way.  We don't want others pointing fingers at us.  We don't like the idea of being watched.  Yet, if we want to grow and become the person God wants us to be, we have to have someone who can hold us accountable.
     Those who want to get healthy find a trainer.  Those who want to get smarter find a teacher.  Those who want to mature spiritually find a fellow believer or group of believers to help them grow.  As leaders of our groups and classes we have a responsibility to challenge our people.
     In our Sunday Morning bulletins at the end of the Group Study there is a new section labeled "Accountability".  I encourage you as leaders to use these questions of accountability in your group.  Whether you use the sermon study or not, you can still use the accountability questions. 

Here are the questions:
Accountability: (Have group members answer on a scale from 1 to 10)
  1. How is your relationship with God right now?
  2. Did you spend time with God by reading your Bible this past week?
  3. Have you spent time with God in prayer this past week?
  4. Have you treated others around you as you would want to be treated?

Thursday, June 10, 2010

What's next???

Summer groups are off and running!  This is our first time to do a Summer Season.  Numbers are lower, as we had predicted, since everyone is out and about over the summer.  We have seen a good number of first timers jump in though, so that's really cool! 
If your group isn't meeting over the summer, be sure to keep in touch with your groupies. 

What's next?  That's a good question.  Here's the answer: FALL!
The Fall season will be here soon and that means we need to prepare by raising up some leaders.  We still have close to 300 adults who have not plugged into a group.  (Remember, when I say "Group" I'm referring to both Life Groups and Classes)  But, honestly, if they all signed up we would have nowhere to put them.  We need more leaders!  We are striving to create a culture of Leaders raising up Leaders.

One of the first things Jesus did in his public ministry was to identify and develop future leaders who would advance his kingdom and mission (Mark 1:16-20; John 1:35-51). Paul modeled this as well, investing in emerging leaders like Timothy and Titus, among others.

Who is ready to get off the bottle?
Who in your group are you raising up to take the Lead?

Monday, April 26, 2010

The DNA of FCC Groups

DNA is something that everyone of us has.  It's your DNA that determines what you will look like and how you will function.  Our parents passed it on to us and we pass it on to our kids.
Groups here at FCC have a DNA too.  There are certain attributes that should be in every group and class.  Check out the list below and think about your own group.

Bible Study
  • It’s through the living word that lives are changed
  • We put too much pressure on ourselves to say the right thing as if it all depends on our words
  • Life change happens from God’s word

Prayer
  • Praying for one another gives each other a comfort
  • Take the time and write them down
  • Select someone as the prayer person
  • Email them out so your group knows you expect them to be praying through the week

Leader Development
  • We’re not looking to launch new groups, we want to launch new leaders
  • One thing we won’t do is ask you to split your group, we will ask who in your group could lead their own
  • It may be easiest for you to leave your group and leave it in the capable hands of a new leader so you can then go and lead a new group.
  • Who in your group are you training up to lead?

Service
  • Inward: Take care of each other
  • Calling those who miss
  • Help when there is a need
  • Minister when they are in the hospital
  • Line up meals when there is a new baby
  • Outward: Look for opportunities to serve others together
  • Once each season, your group needs to take on a service project

Outreach
  • 3 times a year we’re going to feed people into groups during sign up months.
  • But, don’t ever feel like you can’t invite others yourself

Fun
  • Have fun together!
  • Onsite groups, meet offsite once a month
  • Go to a ball game
  • Have a cookout
  • I believe the earlier church did more than just listen to the apostles, pray, and eat.  I think they enjoyed being together.

What attribute does your group do great at?  
What attribute does your group need to work on?

Monday, April 19, 2010

Leader Lunch

It's good to gather our leaders together!
Join us this Sunday, April 25th after 2nd service for our annual Spring Leader Lunch.
You, your co-leader, and your families are all invited.
RSVP by clicking on the link below:

Leader Lunch RSVP

I hope you will make every effort to join us!

mt

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Leader Update

Hey Leaders!
Our groups are rockin' it!  Even though our groups are "closed", which means we're not placing people in groups, you are still inviting people in.  We're seeing it in both groups and classes.  That's awesome!  Lives are being changed!  Keep shepherding your group.  If people are missing, be sure to make contact with them and let them know you missed them.
Our current season ends the week of May 2nd.  So plan accordingly.  If your study runs short, just use the sermon based studies for your final weeks.

Summer Season:
We are preparing for another season of groups for this summer.  The season will run from the week of June 6th to the week of July 25th.  This is our first try at a summer season and we're anxious to see what God does through it.  It's short (8 weeks), we know people are going everywhere during the summer, but let's give it a try! 

If you plan to lead a group this summer, please select the link below, fill out the form, and submit it for us.  We are also asking who will be attending the Stone Canyon Campus this fall.  Give that some thought and prayer.  We hope to see our Stone Canyon groups start forming during this Summer Season so we can hit it strong this fall.



Leader Lunch
Mark April 25th on your calendar for the next Leader Lunch.  You and your family are invited to join us right after 2nd service in the gathering area for lunch and time of appreciation, information, and prayer.  Make every effort to come join us. 


Serve Somewhere!
Serving together is an important part of Group Life! 
1. Easter:
Your group could serve as a team.  Parking crew, facility crew, greeters, ushers, shuttle drivers, cafe, etc.  We have holes in all areas.  Be a part of the biggest Sunday of the year by serving others along with the rest of your group.

2. Camp Work Day:
We are wanting to take a crew of volunteers to the Camp CYOKAMO work day on April 23 & 24.  Camp CYOKAMO is our church camp that all of our kids from 2nd grade and to Seniors will attend this summer. It's located just north of Joplin.  Transportation will be provided. You'll just need to cover 2 meals.  There are projects for everyone: Cleaning, painting, carpentry, roofing, cement, etc.  This can be a great time for a group to
get away and serve God together.  We'll head over Friday evening and return Saturday evening.  If your group is interested in going, let Matt T. know.

3. Pregnancy Resource Center of Owasso:
Current Needs:
- Infant Car Seats
- Newborn Girl Clothing
- Newborn Diapers
We are also looking for a volunteer to coordinate our silent auction for the fall banquet.  If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Jenny Rich at 272-6888.

4. Youth Quake Work Team
We are looking for a crew to join us at Youth Quake again this year to continue to the development of the campsites and to help around the camp.  This would be a great opportunity for a group to get away together to the mountains.  Serve together, have fun together, as well as connect with God together.  If you're interested or want more information, let Matt T. know.

5. Other service ideas
  • Neighborhood cookout - Invite the neighbors over as a group just to rub shoulders with them and begin conversations
  • Neighborhood Clean up
  • Serve a senior - plant their spring flowers, mow their grass, clean their windows, etc.
  • Adopt a family - know someone in need?  Adopt them as a group and show them God's love

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Spirit Led Groups

As we've been studying in the book of Acts on Sundays, we can't help but to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church.  As group leaders, we need to rely on Him to guide us knowing that He is the one that changes lives.



What about you?  Are you doing it all on your own?  What do you do that helps you rely on the Holy Spirit?

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Half Way Point

This week marks the halfway point for this season!  It's a great joy to me to hear stories from people attending groups.  Especially when they're bragging about their leader.  I appreciate each one of you for the time and effort you put in to leading your group.

In the next few weeks we'll start collecting information for the summer season.  So start planning now for what you plan to do.  It will be a short 8 week season running through June and July.

If you're an onsite group leader, be sure to plan some "Home Group" time.  It's important to get your group together once a month in someone's home to help grow your group stronger.  Our group set the 3rd Sunday of the month as our home Sunday. 

Save the Date: Sunday, April 25th - Leader Lunch after 2nd Service (for you and your family!)

Let me know if you need anything!

mt

Monday, February 22, 2010

Top 5 Reasons To (and not to!) Get An Apprentice

Great leaders create great leaders.  The following is taken from an article that speaks to this.  Check it out.  Who is your apprentice?


FiveCarter Moss | CCC/NewThing Small Group Catalyst
I love developing new leaders, something we call "apprenticeship" around here. Last weekend I co-led a skill with all my campus leaders on the single most impactful thing we can do in ministry (which is invest in people, as in apprenticeship or discipleship).  So that got me thinking again about all the great reasons why to have an apprentice.
Let me start with the Top 5 Wrong Reasons To Get An Apprentice:
5)  Instant scapegoat at your side for whenever you get criticized
4)  No more looking for rides to the airport
3)  Finally someone to do all the hard work so you can catch up on sleep
2)  Gets you out of having to show up all the time
1)  Helps you become the next Donald Trump
Now let's get on with the Top 5 GREAT Reasons To Get An Apprentice:
5)  It accomplishes what God wants most--carrying out His mission (Matthew 28, 2 Tim 2:2)
4)  It accomplishes what we want most--leaving a legacy that carries on beyond us
3)  It allows us to reproduce and start new things (you can go start something new, or they can!)
2)  It makes you a better leader (less "making it up on the fly" and more intentionality)
1)  It's just a lot more fun to do ministry alongside someone
What do you think?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

So, you really think you can do it alone...

Many Christians have this Lone Ranger mindset that says, "I can live out my Christian life alone."  They may attend church services, but they have no significant relationships.  They have no one that can ask them tough questions, challenge them, or even encourage them to grow in their faith.




Groups are vital to the spiritual health of believers.  That's why we hope to eventually get to 100% participation in groups.  This season we reached approx. 75% of the FCC membership involved in groups!  But we're not satisfied yet. 


Leader: Are you reproducing your self?  Are you raising up leaders in your group?  Great leaders raise up great leaders.  Who in your group can you start raising up?  

Monday, February 8, 2010

Making Disciples

What are we really doing?  As a group leader, what is my mission?  What am I trying to accomplish?  For some leaders, the goal is simply to fill a one hour time slot and survive.  For others, it's much more than that.  They might see it as an opportunity to transfer as much information as possible from them to their listeners.  Plus there's those that as long as there is food and fun, it's a success.  But are any of those our goal as a group leader?

Simply put, our goal is to Make Disciples.  That's what Jesus has called us to do (Matthew 28:19-20).  I believe that happens best in groups through relational learning.  Did you know that only 20% of us are auditory learners?  That means if all we do is teach in our groups, on average, only 20% are really getting the message.  Maybe that's why Jesus used relational learning as He grew His disciples.  He walked with them, asked them questions, and sent them out on mission.  Yes, He preached to the crowds, but He spent most of His time with the 12 pouring His life into theirs.  Then He challenges us to go and make disciples.

Only 2.4% of American Christians have ever led anyone to Jesus.  That's a sad statistic.  The American church hasn't been doing a good job of making disciples.  We've spent most of our time just distributing information.

As a leader, you're a critical part of the Disciple Making process here at FCC.  As leaders, we should be striving to make disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples...

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

When my group won't talk...

One of the struggles of leading a group is when people won't talk. A group time has not been successful if you, as the leader, are the only one that said anything. People learn best in the context of discussion.
As a leader there are a few things to watch for. Are you asking good questions? Avoid the yes and no questions, rather key on feeling questions, or "what's your opinion on..." Also, give your group members some time to think. A little silence is OK if your giving them time to come up with an answer.
So what do you do when people still won't talk? The following video speaks to this:




One way we're trying to help is found on the sermon based studies that we are producing each week. The first section for your group is "Breaking the Sound Barrier". It's few simple questions that everyone in the group can answer. It helps get the talking started and helps launch a great discussion.  Also, we try to have the sermon based studies posted here on the leader blog by Thursday of each week so you as a leader can see it ahead of time and be able to prepare.


Get them talking!


mt



Tuesday, January 5, 2010

How To's of Small Groups

As we launch a new season of Groups this week, it might be good to have a few reminders. Some of you have seen these or heard these before.  You can find this and other helps in the Leaders Playbook.

How To’s of Small Groups

Eight qualities or skills of a good Group Leader:

1. Think Backwards
  • Know what you want the group to walk away with
  • Helps you keep on track
2. Keep working on the basics
  • Arrive prepared
  • Good eye contact
  • Be able to say “I don’t know”
  • Allow group members to pass on a questions
3. Establish Boundaries
  • Boundaries let the group know what’s appropriate from the beginning
  • What’s the purpose of this group? (Relational Vs Study)
  • Other possible boundaries:
    • Allow others to finish before someone else speaks
    • Time Boundary (Start and End Times)
    • Prayer requests – Ourselves & 1 for outside world (Helps stay away from gossip)
4. Ask Good Questions
  • Avoid “Yes” or “No” questions
  • 7 C’s of good questions
    • Concise
    • Complete
    • Clear
    • Connected
    • Conversational
    • Contestable – Open ended
    • Challenging
  • “Feeling” questions discover convictions
5. Talk Less
  • Don’t fear silence
  • Not time for lecture
  • Members remember more about what they discuss than what they’re taught
6. Leave your group thinking
  • Don’t have to provide answers for every question
  • Can lead into next week
7. Flexible
  • Know when it’s time to ditch the lesson
  • Pray that God will help you be discerning of the problems of your group members
8. Show tangible signs of care
  • Small groups counteract the bigness of the ministry
  • You are the shepherd of a group of sheep
  • Cards, emails, visits, phone calls
Small Group Leaders Are The Back Bone Of Our Ministry