Losing Life

About

My Photo
Blog powered by TypePad

people who are perfecting "losing life"

  • Tommy Bowman
  • Judy Sturman
  • Kirsten Strand
  • Sherry Gossman
  • Dave Ferguson
  • Eric Bramlett

My Family

  • Mitch_in_the_trash

Taste of Small Groups

Img_27491 Everything's a competition.  Today, we had our "taste" of small groups. Every small group brought their favorite snack and shared with the whole church.  Of course, it soon became an "our snacks are better then your snacks" competition.  One group took it over the top, brought a grill and started grilling up hot dogs outside.

It was a BLAST....I am so proud of my leaders who will do anything to help others find a place of connection.

May 04, 2008 in Church Planting, Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (1)

First Small Group of Restore Community

Img_12561 Here it is...Restore Community's first small group.  It was awesome!

October 16, 2007 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (0)

Missional Small Groups

Small20groups_5 Love - Challenge - Transform - Reach

These are the activities of a missional small group.

Is your group accomplishing these activites?

If so, please share...

October 03, 2007 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here it is....

40 small groups by September 2009, 19 months after we launch a new church in Kansas City, MO.  That means 400 people grouped.

Does that seem aggressive to you?  Why or why not?

Perhaps it depends on your perspective.  If you were in India and a leader for the Indian Gospel League...this goal would be downright embarrassing.  They reach tens of thousands every month.

Should the goal be higher, lower...what do you think?

August 23, 2007 in Church Planting, Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (7)

An insanely agressive small group plan

  • My boss asked me to put together small group goals and plans for the first 18 months of the new church.

  • I debated over my plan.

  • I like to REACH my goals…I like to WIN.

  • So...should I set some goals that will be easy to reach. (easy is relative here)  There is no “easy” in church planting….I guess…I don’t really know yet.

  • Or, should I set some goals that will stretch us and make us really work hard?

  • Hmmm…..What would you do?

  • Since I am a naive, church planting newbee, I went for the super aggressive goal, of course.

  • Wanna know what it is?  I will tell you tomorrow. (that was so Vince Antonucci)

  • But I will tell you this.  As soon as I put it together, my boss said, “I remember now why I hired you.” Huh,and all along I thought he hired me just for the “life secret.”

August 22, 2007 in Church Planting, Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (6)

Designer Sex Discussion Guide

I just put the finishing touches on our Big Idea Small Group Discussion Guide for a series called Designer Sex.  The whole time I was writing it I was tying to imagine using it with my small group members.  I blush just thinking about it. With topics like frequency of sex in marriage, and lust....who wouldn't blush?  I think we are going to use it in our group...yikes.  Anyone out there brave enough to give it a try? - The discussion that is..... I better quite now before I get myself in trouble.

February 14, 2007 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (3)

Don't miss the conversation

90_day Okay...here's my plan.  I really want to finish the Bible in 90 days and I am falling behind.  However, if I read 24 pages a day from today on...I WILL finish the Bible in 90 days on December 12th.  I really want to meet my goal, and I can do anything for 12 days right?  I will have to get up earlier and lay off the Tivo....oh wait, my tivo will store 12 days worth of programming...so no problem there.  No sense in getting CRAZY!

GUESS WHAT?  You too can read the Bible in 90 days!  Only you will have it easier then me, because you can get weekly support and encouragement along the way with video extras.  We are starting the 90 day Bible group on Monday night, January 15th right here at the yellow box.  It is a weekly group that meets for.... well....about 90 days.

My friend Patrick O'Connell is leading the group.  He is one of the brightest, most articulate, and fun people I have met lately.  He has a great story of how he found his way back to God.  Then he decided to read the Bible.  So he bought a 90 day Bible as a Christmas present for himself and his wife and they read the Bible at the beginning of 2006.  Now Patrick is ready to support others in their journey of the 90 day Bible.  Learn more about Patrick on his blog. 

God talked to me lots of times in the last 90 days...don't miss the conversation!

December 01, 2006 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (4)

What toy reminds you of Troy?

Christmas We drew names last night in small group.  Each of us drew the name of someone else in the group for a different kind of gift exchange.  In this exchange we will buy a toy that reminds us of the person whose name we drew.  Like if your names are Barbie and Ken....which believe it or not, we do have a Barbie and Ken in our small group and YES they are married to each other, then you could buy a Barbie doll.  Then next week at group we will show our toy and share why this toy reminded us of this person.  The toys will then be donated to the Brady/Bardwell Gift Mart in east Aurora. 

Troy thinks that the person who draws his name should buy a GI JOE, because he is so buff and everything...it's either that or a weable.  You know the one, "weables wobble, but they don't fall down." 

What toy reminds you of Troy?

November 30, 2006 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (7)

8 new people

8 new people came to my small group two weeks ago. 4 of the 8 had never been in a small group before.  I asked them what reservations they had about coming.  They said:

  • Everyone would know the Bible...and I will be embarassed by how little I know.
  • Letting people get to know me is risky.
  • Schedule
  • Kids
  • Commitment - what if I don't like it?  I will feel bad about backing out.

But they came to small group anyway, in spite of these reservations...so I asked them, "Why did you come?"  They said:

  • Someone invited me - usually more then once.
  • To make friends
  • To get to know people outside of my work
  • So I will grow as a person
  • To learn more about God and the Bible

So now we are 19.  We divide into two groups within the same house. 

I haven't led a group in a while, but am leading this one now.  I am surprised by the responsibility I feel.  Leadership makes me want to pray more...

November 01, 2006 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (4)

Here we are

P1010044_2 Well...some of us anyway.  This is them, my small group that I am so proud of.  There in the middle are Rich and Mary.  Hiding behind her husband is Stacy. Then there is Mike and Jill...Mike started the whole small group for which he takes credit for every chance he gets. And Ro and Steve our newest members who are now hosting.  Kristine, our triathelete who likes the swimming and biking part but not the running.  And Troy, who has been leading us for two years.  That's us, for now anyway.  Next week that US will be minus 4 plus 6. 

October 12, 2006 in Small Groups | Permalink | Comments (0)

»

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

Archives

  • October 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008

Categories

  • Books
  • Church Planting
  • Family
  • Friends
  • God at Work
  • Leadership
  • Life in MO
  • Small Groups
  • Travel
  • Weblogs

Recent Posts

  • My Men
  • The power of four words, "you can do it"
  • Going to Libery
  • My Backyard!
  • Things 3-7
  • Small Group Exchange
  • Easter at Restore
  • Create a FIRST TEAM vibe
  • 6 Coaching Questions
  • A year of Counseling
Subscribe to this blog's feed