Losing Life

I got this e-mail....

"I want to thank you so much for introducing us to Brett's small group.  They were so welcoming and we feel like it is a perfect match for us.  We are looking forward to next week.  We can't thank you enough!!

Kudos to Brett's group.  Not sure what they did, but probably some of this applies:

• Be a group that wants new people - sounds basic, but think about it.  It is much easier to just want us few and no more.  Wanting new people is half the battle.
• Have some "fun" nights - social stuff helps people get to know one another
• Introduce.  use the first few minutes of group time to have everyone introduce themselves and share one thing about themselves.
• Call and E-mail follow up.  After the first visit, call the the new person and let them know you are glad they came.

There are a lot of new people at CCC these days.  Two of them came to my group last night.  I wonder if we did as good as Brett's group?

In case you like numbers

I got these numbers in an e-mail from Troy - our Naperville campus pastor, my boss and my extraordinary husband...

Naperville's two locations this weekend - our first weekend of fall ignite (our twice a year habit of upping the anti when it comes to inviting and including people on our journey towards God)

• We launched a second service downTOWN (Naperville North High School) - total attendance 350 - 88 more then the week before.
• Yellow box attendance 2,240 - 250 more then the week before
• Total Naperville attendance - 2,590 - the highest non-easter attendance ever.

How about we start some small groups? Rumor has it that is where the life change happens.

Messy Small Groups

Where can you look people in the eye and say:

• "How are we going to move from talking about it to living it?"
• "What are we going to do differently based on the stuff we are learning?"
• "What are our next steps towards growth as a Christ Follower?"

Small group ... you knew I was going to say that didn't you.  Of course.  Because I continue to believe that small groups are one of the primary vehicles God is using to transform lives.

But like all good things, occasionally they are hard and messy and just plain work.  And small groups have presented their share of messes!  Afterall, they are made up of messed up people trying care for each other God's way.  We bring hurts, hang-ups, baggage and bad breath....all to small group.

I wonder if Jesus' small group of 12 disciples sometimes drove him crazy. Afterall, at one point some of them betrayed him and denied him...yuck!

I'm thinking that "messy" is not the same thing as "doesn't work."  In spite of "messy" it worked for Jesus' 12 who built the early church and were the foundation for the whole Christ-following thing through which thousands and thousands and thousands of people (somewhere around 1.5 billion) found their way back to God.

Could it be that messy is one of the expected ingrediants of anything worth doing?

Leviticus

Just when I thought I could not read through another section on detailed laws and bodily discharge, there it is!!  The Day of Atonement!  Leviticus 16...this chapter alone will keep me going for a few more days of laws.   But if you must, jump ahead to Hebrews 10.  Read the two together.  This makes me love God.

The Bible in 90 days

One of my small group coaches says to me... "God gave us only one book to read and a whole life to read it and we can't seem to get through it."  Sounded a bit like a challenge.  Not one to back down from a challenge, I went out and bought my 90 day Bible.  That's right the entire Bible in 90 days.  Not the ONE YEAR variety, nope 90 days.  12 pages a day, takes about 45 minutes.  I just finished day 5 and find myself with the Israelites just crossing through the sea on dry ground. 

By Christmas I should be finishing up Revelation...

I feel change coming on...

Have you ever sat in church and thought, "What?  I have never heard THAT before."  or "Oh No...my heart is pumping harder then normal, I feel change coming on!"  or  "What would my friends say about this?" 

For the past few months I have been working with the big idea discussion guide writing team.   The discussion guide is written for small groups to go along with the weekend messages at church.   The guide is meant to challenge the small group to put into practice what we learn from God's word in the weekend message.

I've been thinking lately, if I consistently put into practice what I hear at church on the weekend...amazing things might happen.

Imagine, hearing a message at church, talking it over with your small group friends, and sharing what you plan to do as a result of the message....and then your small group friends say occasionally, "So are you doing it?"  Hmm...I think this pattern has the potential to change us, our small group members, our community and well...the world.

Are you using the big idea discussion guide in your small group?  If so, let me know how it is going.

Check them out.

small town (church) vibe

   One of my favorite things about Naperville and CCC is sometimes in a large town and a large church we have a small town and small church vibe.  Today was one of those days.  The Labor Day parade.  Everyone gets to be a star.  If you wanna be in the the parade you can...just sign up!  So we did and we sang and danced and advertised CCC Kid's City.  It was fun and reminded me of the neighborhood parade where you decorate your bike and wave to your friends.  And we had invite cards we handed out for our downtown location with special stickers that say "bring in for a free gift."  So what's the "free gift" you ask?  We don't know yet, but we will know by Sunday.

Wrigley Field

11 years living in Chicagoland and my first time at Wrigley Field.  It was arguably the best weather Chicago has to offer.  Cubs lost .... but from what I understand this completes the Wrigley Field experience.  We did see Barry Bonds hit a home run.