TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. PREFACE & PREWORK (to do individually before Week 1) BONUS WEEK. Willow s Story: A Movement of Faith

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 5 PREFACE & PREWORK (to do individually before Week 1) Willow s Story: A Movement of Faith 11 WEEK 1 Surrender: Prepare to Move with God 16 WEEK 2 Listen: Hear God Clearly 21 WEEK 3 Obey: Make Your Move 26 BONUS WEEK What s Your Story? Your Move In The Movement Willow Crystal Lake 2015

3 A NOTE FROM MARCUS BIESCHKE IT S YOUR MOVE! Amazing things are happening in and through our church, Willow Crystal Lake! And God is inviting you to make a move, to join Him on this amazing adventure. Because of His grace pouring in and through us, we ve enjoyed increasing growth and impact. And with that God-given growth has come God-produced pressure. We are experiencing huge space constraints in our current home at 220 Exchange Drive. It s obvious we cannot stay here. While this space was wonderful for the first season of our church s life, this space cannot contain everything that God wants to do through us. So God has provided us with a new permanent home in the heart of Crystal Lake. But to purchase our new home, we need everyone s help. And that s what this experience happening in the context of Acts 2 community is all about. When we process critical moves in biblical community we collectively sense God move through us. It s like a family meeting when important decisions need to be made. We re together deciding things today about our church s impact tomorrow. And how we decide to move is incredibly important to God. So thank you for investing yourselves in this community-rich, spiritual decision-making process. During YOUR MOVE, you will be asked to consider if God is inviting you to join us and play a role in our strategy to Move & Multiply to acquire our new home which will then become a hub for multiplied growth and impact in our region via new site launches. This is a bold vision as bold as the Gospel. So let s fully engage this experience, friends. And, for Christ s sake, let s make our next move echo into eternity! Moving with you, Marcus Bieschke, Lead Pastor, Willow Crystal Lake 1

4 A NOTE FOR NEW GROUPS Welcome to YOUR MOVE and Group Life, the small groups ministry at Willow Crystal Lake! Small groups are one of the most rewarding steps you can take in your spiritual journey because they provide an opportunity to connect with others and move together through a journey we were never meant to travel alone. Small groups can feel scary if you re not a seasoned leader or member. For example, the idea of sitting in a circle of people and sharing your life story can feel a bit overwhelming if you haven t had that experience before. It can often feel uncomfortable if you don t know what will happen in a new group. There are no hard and fast rules to apply to the situation, but there are some general guidelines for new small groups that will help set everyone s expectations and increase everyone s comfort level. Follow these six principles, and you ll be off to a great start! 1 STATE YOUR GOALS If you re a first-time host, your goal should not be to establish a healthy and vibrant small group. Much of that is out of your hands. Think of what you can do and state your goal. Perhaps it s open my home, invite ten friends, view all four video sessions, follow-up with next steps within WCL that s something attainable. If your group has already been meeting, stating group goals would be a good conversation to have together. Perhaps as a group you decide, We will fully engage with this study answering all the questions and completing all the exercises. Completely attainable! And it leaves God room to do all the other great things that He has control over. 2 HAVE FUN This is an official mandate! Have fun in your group! Bonds are created through fun and positive relational experiences. And that creates safety. If people feel safe, they ll share deeply and get as much out of the group as possible. If you re the leader or host, put fun on your to-do list. If you re having fun, other people will have fun too. 2

5 DO NOT NEGLECT CHECK-INS AND PRAYER REQUESTS Have you ever heard the phrase doing life together? The practices of Check-Ins and Prayer Requests are vital for new groups to do life together. Consider a group member who has an upsetting power struggle with her 16-year-old right before group. If she hasn t shared the burden of this relationship with the group, she might feel inclined to skip a meeting due to feeling too stressed and not wanting to bring her baggage to the group. On the other hand, if she has been checking in about this relationship and asking the group to pray for God s guidance in her parenting, she ll be even more likely to attend as it becomes a supportive, caring environment for her. SHARE YOUR STORIES Sharing a life story can seem like a daunting task to a new group member. But God compels us to know and be known. If your group knows where you have come from, they ll be better able to support and understand where you are now. They will be far more equipped to pray for where God is leading you in the future. Refer to the Peaks & Valleys Life Map exercise you did prior to Week One to assist you in telling your story. SHARE OWNERSHIP Groups that share responsibilities feel better to everyone involved. If the leader is taking care of preparing, hosting, bringing food, recording prayer requests, sending reminder s, etc., the leader is going to get overwhelmed and the group members are going to feel far less invested. Ask the group to pitch in they ll appreciate it more than you might think. SEED NEXT STEPS As this is a 3-week experience, having an optional 4th session, start seeding the idea early of having the group consider a follow-up study. Will this simply be a three and out small group experience, or would the group like to continue on with a follow-up study after the campaign, to further grow in knowing God and each other? Either way, Willow Crystal Lake s Group Life Team will help each group navigate next steps with either closure or new study resources. 3

6 MAXIMIZING GROUP TIME Each of the four sessions included in this study has been designed for a 90-minute meeting, which breaks out roughly this way: Casual Check-Ins and Snacks...10 minutes Conversation Starter...10 minutes Video...10 minutes Group Discussion...50 minutes Group Prayer...10 minutes If your group only meets for an hour, adjust the discussion time accordingly. As the host, you can help maximize group discussions by scanning the session s material prior to each meeting. Mark the questions you want to be sure to cover, and then come back to additional questions if time permits. Be respectful of your group s time by sticking to agreed-upon start and end times. Keep group discussions balanced by tempering talkers and drawing out quieter participants. And be sure to be honoring of all group members their spiritual background, their hopes and fears, their experience with the subject matter, and so forth. Finally, take time to check in with each of the participants on how you can best be praying for them through this spiritual process. Thanks for taking the risk and hosting a group during YOUR MOVE. We hope you have a memorable experience and that as God moves in your hearts, God will move through our church! We are praying for you. 4

7 PREFACE & PREWORK To do individually before week 1 WILLOW S STORY: A MOVEMENT OF FAITH GETTING STARTED So think about it. What do you want the next chapter to look like in your life? What do you want more of and what do you want less of? Don t get bogged down with specifics. Instead, focus on important life areas: faith, marriage, parenting, family, career, health, etc. Now think about great stories in Scripture. Whether it s God calling Abraham to go to a new land or Esther s timely courage to boldly stand up for her people, great stories are often about moving out into the unknown or daring to do the impossible for God. But we know that nothing is impossible for the God who can do far more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) and who calls us to have mountain-moving faith (Matthew 17:20). And all great stories all great movements start with someone somewhere making some bold move. This study is one giant dare. God is daring us to move. So we want to encourage one another to prepare to make our move by SURRENDERING to God, LISTENING to His guidance, and OBEYING His prompting. TAKE NOTE Two of the most powerful words Jesus ever spoke were Follow Me! The One who Himself began the movement of the Church, the Body of Christ, through one bold move after another invites us to make a move as well. To follow Jesus, you have to move. But we re not talking about some random action. Following Jesus means moving like Jesus. You cannot follow Jesus without moving the way Jesus moved. Fast-forward 2000 years. A hungry young student in a seminary classroom has his heart ignited by a passionate professor who, while sharing how the Kingdom Movement got started, dares this young man to follow Jesus indeed, to move 5

8 with Jesus by starting an Acts 2 local church. And out of a heart of full devotion, Bill Hybels and a committed band of students started Willow Creek Community Church in October of And for the last 40 years, Willow has been growing and impacting the world because thousands of men and women have dared to move like Jesus. This is our story. The movement continues through us and our hearts. Every heart that ever moved to follow God from Jesus heart, to Bill Hybels heart, to your heart has done so following a spiritual decision-making process we might call SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY. As Christ-followers, we are called to SURRENDER control to God s loving plan and purposes LISTEN to God s guidance through His promptings OBEY God s specific calls in our lives Following this process demands full engagement investing in this journey out of love for God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength. And while deciding to engage this process is something you must first decide to do as an individual, it hugely helps to go through this process in community. That s what YOUR MOVE is all about. So way to go for SURRENDERING, LISTENING, and OBEYING in a group context! If you take risks, if you give equal amounts of grace to one another, if you fully engage and complete this study, then you ll see God s Spirit move in and through you individually and as a group. Believe it. Friend, you are embarking on an enormous opportunity for spiritual growth to have God shape our hearts as individuals and families and as a community by trusting Him more deeply, by listening to Him more intently, and by obeying Him more courageously. As we look at 3 stories from the life of Peter together, we ll learn how to SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY. We ll learn how to move for God and feel God moving through us. 6

9 JOURNAL YOUR JOURNEY READ ACTS 2:1-24 AND ACTS 2:42-47 How did God first move to create this new community called the church? What attitudes and actions marked the heartbeat of this new community? Describe a way you still see God moving in our church today. How have you seen Him move in your life or in the lives of others? What would your life look like if you decided to really follow Jesus by making bold, sacrificial moves every day of your life? What would the church look like? What would have to happen to make that a reality? 7

10 How fully engaged in following Jesus have you been as defined on the previous page? What areas can you grow in? SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY is a process for spiritual decision-making. What challenges or stumbling blocks do you expect to encounter in the current process of SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY? How can you plan to intentionally address these challenges? EXERCISE: PEAKS & VALLEYS LIFE MAP Before your first group meeting, take time to write out your own Peaks & Valleys Life Map. On the next page, you ll find a horizontal line that represents time from your birth until today. Draw a line that represents your life from left to right. Draw it very high for Peak Experiences or positive life events that have affected who you are today in a significant way. Draw it very low for Low Points or circumstances that were painful or negative but nevertheless had a dramatic shaping influence in your life. Label these peaks and valleys and write in any other important experiences. For example, you may want to write, Got Married, Graduated College, Met Sam, or Lucy s Birth things that are important for telling the story of your life. Also, be 8

11 sure to note important encounters with God on this chart like, First Trusted Christ, Came to Willow, or Got Baptized. If you are comfortable, come next week prepared to briefly share the top three key turning points of your story with the group. [NOTE: A turning point is an event or episode (either positive or negative) that shifted the direction of your life in a substantial way] SAMPLE PEAKS AND VALLEYS 9

12 YOUR PEAKS AND VALLEYS Born Today 10

13 WEEK 1 SURRENDER: Prepare to Move with God GROUP CONNECTION Based on the Peaks & Valleys Life Map have 2 participants share their top three turning points, and why they were so pivotal in their life journey. CONVERSATION STARTER In a recent survey it was discovered that the top 10 hardest things to surrender in life are: smoking, alcohol, shopping, sugar, salt, nail biting, the Internet, coffee, TV, and fast food. For you, what would be the hardest item on this list to surrender and why? What would you gain if you did surrender one of these items? Saying no to one thing means you are then saying yes to another thing. When God calls us to say no to one thing, He then calls us to say yes to another thing (even when we don t know what that other thing may be). God s plan doesn t always make sense to us, but still we are asked to follow it. At times in our faith journey, we will be called to make moves that show our trust in God. What happens in these moments can shape our lives forever. Let s take a deeper dive into the surrendered life by watching the following video of our Lead Pastor, Marcus Bieschke. VIDEO God s plan doesn t always make sense to us, but still we are asked to follow it. At times in our faith journey, we will be called to make moves that show our trust in God. What happens in these moments can shape our lives forever. As you watch the video for Session 1, use the following outline to record anything that stands out to you: 11

14 Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch. Luke 5:4 What are DEEP WATER MOMENTS? Those moments before a miracle when God asks us to move to do something, to make an investment or sacrifice that might not even make sense to us, but that will result in God moving in some incredible way on our behalf. Every fully devoted Christ-follower can point to moments of disproportionate influence when God asks us to make bold, risky, and sacrificial moves. ~ Marcus Bieschke Peter SURRENDERED his judgment, experience, and assumptions as a fisherman to Christ s authority. As a result, God moved to demonstrate His power. Then Peter SURRENDERED fully to Christ s invitation to follow Him: Come, follow Me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:19-20 GROUP DISCUSSION What stuck out most to you about what Marcus said? Why? What are the areas in your life that are totally surrendered to God? What nets have you dropped to follow Christ? 12

15 What are the areas that are difficult to surrender to God? What obstacles are you encountering? Have you ever had a Deep Water Moment when God called you to do something you didn t yet fully understand? Describe it to the group. What did you learn about God in these Deep Water Moments? What did you learn about yourself? When it comes to your time, talent, or treasure, what is one area that you believe God may be calling you to surrender more of? 13

16 PRAYER Consider praying as a group with hands open as a symbol of your desire to surrender your entire lives to God. Ask God to give you the wisdom and strength to identify areas of needed surrender, while also asking Him to strengthen and unify our church during this small group process. NEXT STEPS Personally take these specific action steps this week to live out God s teaching. Time, Treasure, Talents Inventory Step 1: On one sheet of paper, make a list of all the assets you have: your time, treasure, and talents. Time: Where do you invest your time and dedicate your attention? Treasure: What are the tangible resources you have in your life? Talents: What is your unique set of knowledge, ability, and talent? Step 2: Dedicate time to pray over this list. Thank God for what He s given you. Pray a prayer of surrender, acknowledging that God s plan for your time, treasure, and talents is far above your own. Step 3: Reflect on these questions. Take notes or journal if that is helpful for you. What are the things that are easiest for you to surrender to God? What is most difficult for you to surrender to God? 14

17 Have you received any promptings from God in writing this list or in your prayer time? Note them here. Surrendering requires faith deep trust in God. Are you willing to follow God s promptings to grow your faith and trust? 15

18 WEEK 2 LISTEN: Hear God Clearly GROUP CONNECTION Based on the Peaks & Valleys Life Map, have two participants share their top three turning points, and why they were so pivotal in their life journey. Again, a turning point is an event or episode (either positive or negative) that shifted the direction of your life in a substantial way. Describe your experience with last week s NEXT STEPS exercise your TIME, TREASURE, TALENTS INVENTORY. Did you have any insights? What did God show you? CONVERSATION STARTER The National Day of Unplugging is a 24-hour period running from sundown to sundown and starts on the first Friday in March. The project is an outgrowth of The Sabbath Manifesto, an adaption of our ancestors ritual of carving out one day per week to unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors, and connect with loved ones. For you, what would be the hardest thing about participating in The National Day of Unplugging? 16

19 Why is it hard for us to unplug, slow down, and simply sit in stillness? Consider this week s topic. Has listening to direction from God or others ever been difficult for you? Why or why not? VIDEO We only have the option to follow God when we deliberately make time and space to listen to Him. To really know how God wants us to move, we have to really listen for His voice. In theory, listening is an easy task, but this is the hardest step for many of us. Keeping focus on God amidst our busy lives can be challenging, but the reward is far worth it. Let s jump in with a short challenge from Marcus now 17

20 As you watch the video for Session 2, use the following outline to record anything that stands out to you: About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. Acts 10:9 Peter created intentional space to be with and hear from God: 1. To be alone with God, he got away from distraction. 2. To hear from God, he set aside time. 3. He chose an environment that was meaningful for him. It s in the stillness that God instills the knowledge of His will in us. Stay in the stillness. Linger in the listen. ~ Marcus Bieschke Three principles of hearing from God: 1. Did you hear it from God and no one else? 2. Does your prompting align with Scripture? 3. Have you run it past a few people whose faith you trust? GROUP DISCUSSION Consider how well you usually listen as a part of your decision-making process. Is listening a challenge for you? What gets in the way most often? 18

21 Think about the three things Peter did to create intentional space to be with and hear from God. Which area can you focus on to grow in most? My sheep LISTEN to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. ~ Jesus Christ in John 10:27 Tell the group about a time you heard from God, whether it was a prompting, a revelation of insight, or something else. How did you confirm it? What impact did it have on your life? Before we ever make a move for God, it s crucial that we stay in the stillness to LISTEN to God. What are your best practices for intentionally listening to God? What would be the impact on our church if we made this a regular discipline of our spiritual lives? 19

22 PRAYER As a group, spend some time simply being still, gaining comfort to sit in silence with God. After a few moments, begin your prayer by reading Hebrews 4:16, Let us then approach God s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Then present God with bold prayers for your group and our church. NEXT STEPS Personally take these specific action steps this week to live out God s teaching. This week, focus on staying in the stillness by following Peter s example: 1. Get away from distraction to be alone with God. 2. Set aside time specifically to hear from God. 3. Choose an environment that is meaningful for you. Begin your time by thanking God for all He has given you and asking Him to fill the space you are in. Then quiet yourself and listen. In the busyness of our world and in our desire to jump to action, active listening can often feel like we re not doing enough. But listening isn t a passive activity; it s a proactive precursor to a bold move. Focus your energy on staying in the stillness, on lingering in the listen. Draw your attention to God. If you find it helpful, bring your Peaks and Valleys Life Map or Time, Treasure, Talents Inventory to pray over. Ask for God s guidance and direction in these areas of your life. When you have finished your time, take notes of what you heard from God or journal if you find that helpful. Feel free to share with a spouse, family member, or close friend to further process if you feel comfortable. 20

23 WEEK 3 OBEY: Make Your Move GROUP CONNECTION Based on the Peaks & Valleys Life Map, have two participants share their top three turning points, and why they were so pivotal in their life journey. Describe your time of listening from last week s NEXT STEPS exercise. Did you hear God s prompting? What was it like to be still and listen? CONVERSATION STARTER Almost everyone has a funny story about disobedience. Think of a pet that just wouldn t listen or a family rule that you always sidestepped. Share a few stories as a group. In his book, Sun Stand Still, Steven Furtick writes, Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience. That s true. In fact, in The Gospel of John, every miracle Jesus performs is preceded by a human act of trust and obedience. If you follow God s story throughout the Bible, you ll see very ordinary people doing extraordinary things by following God s lead and OBEYING His calls and commands no matter how big or small. In other words, moments before a miracle, it s your move. What move is God calling you to make? 21

24 Let s jump in with Marcus now VIDEO As you watch the video for Session 3, use the following outline to record anything that stands out to you: Lord, if it s You, Peter replied, tell me to come to You on the water. Matthew 14:28 Truly following Jesus requires truly moving like Him. Anytime we OBEY God, that s a bold move to God. When God calls you to make a bold move, expect to feel intense emotions like anxiety, fear, and joy. Moments before God moves, He calls us to move. Therefore, moments before a miracle, it s your move. ~ Marcus Bieschke Whenever you ve surrendered and listened to God s prompting, there are only two possible outcomes: Will you overcome your fears and anxiety by making a move and following Him stepping out of the boat? OR will you give in to fear and stay in the boat? The choice to trust God and make a move to OBEY Him isn t a one-time decision. Time and time again, we will be called to make moves of obedience in our lives. Listen to God s leading, then move to OBEY. 22

25 GROUP DISCUSSION What stands out to you most about Peter s act of obedience? What are some bold move stories of inspirational obedience you ve heard or witnessed? What happened in the person s life when they made a bold move and followed through on a prompting from God? What would your life look like if you moved to obey God s commands and calls more often? What specific things would be different in your life? Is the answer to any of Marcus questions still a no for you? 23

26 Have you fully engaged in the spiritual process of SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY? Do you have a clear prompting from God on how to move? Are you committed to taking a step of obedience? What is the more work you have to do? How can the group support you in this? 24

27 PRAYER Ask God to make it clear for each member in the group to know how they can best contribute to the ongoing mission and vision of the church. As God has designed the church to be the hope of the world, ask Him to empower and mobilize Willow Crystal Lake to truly be the manifested hope and life of McHenry County and beyond. GROUP PHOTO Take a photo of your group this week or next and send it to wclgrouplife@willowcreek.org and/or post it to social media using #WCLMove. We will put ed photos together in a creative way to demonstrate all that God is doing in His church. NEXT STEPS Personally take these specific action steps this week to live out God s teaching. Devote time to pray through this devotional prayer to God. Consider meditating on the Scripture passages included. Thank God for how He has spoken to you in these weeks and ask Him to help you submit to His will. God, You are my Provider. Everything I have is from You. You are the Giver of every possession, talent, or gift that I possess (James 1:17). And I trust You to supply and resupply for all of my needs (Philippians 4:19). You are my Protector. You guide me, and I take refuge in Your power and care (Psalm 46). You are my loving Father. I live in peace knowing that You watch over me and care intimately about my life (Matthew 6:25-34). This is the prompting I am hearing from You: Now, prayerfully commit to make your move by following God s prompting. Ask God for His peace and joy which come from following His will (John 15:9-11). 25

28 BONUS WEEK WHAT S YOUR STORY? Your Move in the Movement CONVERSATION STARTER Describe the process of making your commitment on Commitment Weekend. How do you feel now? (Peaceful? Anxious? Joyful? Confident? Regretful? Excited?) What do you think is the story God is wanting to tell through our church, as we continue to expand His redemptive impact? What is the story you think God is wanting to tell through your life? 26

29 Story is powerful. Great movies, books, poetry, songs, and even works of art tell great stories. They captivate us by drawing us into a larger story. Each one of us is in the process of living out our own life story. We re also a part of a larger story God s story. Every day we make choices and decisions that write the words of our part in God s story. Similarly, movements are powerful. And the Kingdom of God is a movement the most powerful movement in all of human history. But every great movement especially this one is made up of millions of little moves our moves. God designed the Body of Christ so that when you live in His power you put the move in movement. What s your move in God s movement? Let s hear from Marcus now VIDEO As you watch the video for this session, use the following outline to record anything that stands out to you: What kind of people ought you to be? 2 Peter 3:11 As God s people, who make up the movement of God s Kingdom, what should we be remembered for? Courageously trusting in God Boldly moving with and for Him Tirelessly persevering in struggle Relentlessly holding onto hope In our lives, some of the greatest lessons come from some of the greatest times of change. 27

30 When we commit to being habitual movers in God s movement, it shapes our character. It not only changes who we are, it changes the world around us. And it determines the story that will be told about us in future generations. ~ Marcus Bieschke We ve listened to God, moved in obedience to what He s asked, and now we get to see how He will move to use our gifts to bless our community! SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY is a spiritual decision-making process that can be practiced and used in every area of our lives. Let s use it. And let s never stop making our move for God! GROUP DISCUSSION Why is asking the question, What kind of person should I be? such a scary question? What type of person do you want to be remembered as? As a part of Willow Crystal Lake, what do you want our church to be remembered for? 28

31 Share your story of the past four weeks as it relates to the SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY process. What do you think you ll remember most about this process in years to come? What faith challenges did you experience through this process? How have you sensed God moving through you in these challenges? Moving forward, in what areas of your life do you want to use the SURRENDER LISTEN OBEY process? How can this group help you? NOTE: If you are a new group, be sure to collectively discuss the NEXT STEPS section on the following page. 29

32 NEXT STEPS Personally take these specific action steps this week to live out God s teaching. Continue moving together! Why don t you consider continuing on as a group? Don t feel the need to determine every detail of your group today. All you need to do is make sure you agree on at least one next step as a group. There are many options that would be easy for you to decide as a group right now. Have a celebration party in the next week or two. Schedule a family potluck with spouses, kids, food, and fun. Serve together as a group with one of our local partner ministries by contacting Julie Davis, our Outreach Pastor, at jadavis@willowcreek.org. Continue to meet next session with a new curriculum supplied by Willow Crystal Lake ( Dawn Szweda at dszweda@willowcreek.org for details). There are hundreds of study resources we can offer you to launch into your next study as you grow closer to God and each other. Have a quick discussion, take a vote if need be, and identify a concrete next step. That way, everyone knows and no one is guessing. Finally, there is no pressure. If you were in this group for only a season, feel complete freedom to say just that. We are all in different seasons and stages of life and have different needs and constrictions on our time. We at Willow Crystal Lake sincerely hope that your walk with God beautifully benefited from this study and the life-changing power of Acts 2-style, movement-oriented community. If there is any way our Group Life Ministry can support or resource you, please don t hesitate to let us know by ing us at wclgrouplife@willowcreek.org or logging on to 30

33 FAQs FOR THE H.O.S.T. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS WHAT IS A H.O.S.T.? A host is the person who coordinates and facilitates your group meetings. In addition to a host, we encourage you to select one or more group members to take turns leading your group discussions. Several other group-leading responsibilities can be rotated, including refreshments, prayer requests, or keeping up with those who miss a meeting. Shared ownership in the group helps everyone to grow. The four prerequisites for being a H.O.S.T. are simple: Heart for people Open a space Share a snack Turn on the DVD HOW MUCH OF MY TIME IS THIS GOING TO TAKE? The group will gather for two hours weekly or biweekly. Of course if you decide to share a meal together, this could extend your time. Outside of group time, you will simply need to look over the session in your study guide ahead of time. This should take no more than twenty or thirty minutes. WHERE DO I FIND NEW GROUP MEMBERS? Brainstorm a list of people that may be ready to join a group in your following networks: Family, Hobbies, Church, Work, and Friendships. List two people in each section and prayerfully select one person or couple from your list to then invite them to your first scheduled meeting. More than 50% will say, Yes! WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR CHILDREN DURING MEETINGS? If someone in your group has children old enough to supervise little ones, perhaps designate one room in the house where the older kids will hang out with or babysit the younger ones. Or consider having those with children chip in to hire a babysitter. The babysitter can keep the kids in a separate room of the house or in a home nearby. 31

34 WILL THERE BE HOMEWORK? IF SO, HOW MUCH? All group members are encouraged but not required to complete the NEXT STEPS section between meetings (about 30 minutes). Be sure to look over the week s session ahead of time, and take a few moments to pray in preparation for your gathering. This should take you less than a half hour per week. AM I GOING TO HAVE TO TALK OR CAN I JUST SIT AND LISTEN DURING MEETINGS? You, or someone else in the group, will need to facilitate the conversation. This requires making sure each question gets read aloud so the group can respond, and encouraging others to participate if no one is talking. DO I HAVE TO PRAY ALOUD? No. If you re not comfortable praying aloud, you can simply ask if someone in the group would be comfortable starting and ending the group by praying aloud. WHO ELSE IS GOING TO BE IN THE GROUP? This group is designed to be built by you, from the people you already know, and have connection with. Invite friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and of course those who you have met at church. HOW MANY WEEKS IS THIS GROUP GOING TO LAST? Three weeks. We encourage your group to consider adding a forth week as a recap, but this is optional. Also, in your final week, each group member may decide if he or she desires to continue together with another study. IF I DON T LIKE IT, CAN I LEAVE WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING ANGRY WITH ME? As the host, you will need to commit to stick it out for the three-week run. At the end of that time, you have no obligation to continue hosting or participating in the group. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING DURING MEETINGS? Your group will follow the guide for each week as laid out in the YOUR MOVE small group study. 32

35 TOP TEN TIPS FOR THE H.O.S.T. CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS AS YOU EMBARK ON YOUR ROLE AS HOST. Congratulations! As the host of your group, you have responded to the call to help gather the church for the sake of growth. Few other tasks in the family of God surpass the kingdom contribution you will be making. As you prepare to facilitate your group, whether for one week or the entire series, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. Remember you are not alone. God knows everything about you, and He knew you would be facilitating your group. All good hosts feel they are not ready. But God promises, I will never leave you; I will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5). Whether you are facilitating for one evening, several weeks, or a lifetime, you will be blessed as you serve. Don t try to do it alone. Pray for God to help you build a healthy team. If you can enlist a co-host to help you prepare for and guide the group experience, go for it. This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy group. All you have to do is ask people to help. You ll be surprised at the response. Be friendly and be yourself. God wants to use your unique gifts and temperament. Greeting people warmly at the door can set the mood for the whole gathering. Remember, people are taking as big a step to show up at your place as you are to host a small group. Don t try to do things exactly like another host; do them in a way that fits you. Admit when you don t have an answer and apologize when you make a mistake. Be authentic. Your group will love you for it and you ll sleep better at night. Prepare for your meeting ahead of time. Review the session and write down your responses to each question. Pray for your group members by name. Before your group arrives, take a few moments and pray for each member by name. You may want to review the prayer tracker each week as you do this. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of each person in your group. Expect God to lead you to whomever he wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God will surely lead. 33

36 When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question. Don t react too quickly to a bit of silence. If silence doesn t bother you, it won t bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response with a simple thanks or great answer. Then ask, How about somebody else? or Would someone who hasn t shared like to add anything? Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren t ready to say, pray, or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will get more comfortable over time. If certain members of your group are wallflowers who sit silently through every session, consider talking to them privately and encouraging them to participate. Assure them that they offer valuable insights, which will be greatly appreciated. Provide transitions between questions. Ask if anyone would like to read the paragraph or Bible passage. Don t call on anyone, but ask for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person who reads aloud. Break into smaller groups occasionally. Sharing in a smaller circle can improve the whole experience. If your group is large, consider doing part of the discussion time as smaller circles, then reconvene near the end. Rotate facilitators occasionally. You may be perfectly capable of hosting each time, but you will help others grow in their faith and gifts if you give them opportunities to host the group. Try to discern what is next. For some groups, the three-week session will be a great short-term engagement that will grow some friendships and equip them for the days ahead but they may not ever meet again as a group. People have committed to three weeks and should not be pressured to do anything beyond that. However, keep a prayerful heart about what God might be up to. Is He doing something in your group that should continue past the three weeks? Is there someone else in the group who might be the right person to lead the group into the future after these three weeks are over? What will your long-term role be? Will you continue to utilize your space to host? Will you become the group s leader in the future? Ask God what He is up to and ask the group to do the same. 34

37 Facilitate gently. When dealing with the subject of submitting our time, talent, treasure, don t force your members to share or commit beyond what they are comfortable with. Talks about treasure can be sensitive. As we are an intertwined community, this is also an individual process where God will call each person to give as they are able (2 Corinthians 8:3). And remember, generosity deals with more than just our treasure, but also our time and talents, so ensure you keep that balanced perspective as you facilitate each study. YOUR MOVE GROUP AGREEMENT Consider asking your group to sign this agreement together following Week 1 of the YOUR MOVE experience. During our three to four weeks together, we will focus on helping each other grow in holistic love of God and love of others. LOVE GOD HEART: We provide space at our gathering for everyone to check in at a heart level. We will make this depth of sharing safe by listening well and avoiding thoughtless answers, snap judgments, or quick fixes. SOUL: We never leave our gathering without having someone pray on behalf of the group and ask God to meet our needs. MIND: We engage in biblical teaching by watching the video together and engaging in discussion. STRENGTH: We strive to put what we learn each week into practice in our lives. We give others permission to speak wisdom lovingly into our lives that could help us grow. 35

38 YOUR MOVE GROUP AGREEMENT (cont.) LOVE OTHERS We commit to listening more than we talk. We commit to keeping confidential everything shared in this group. We balance grace with truth. We keep commitments we make with the group. We honor one another s time by beginning and ending on time and by calling the group host if we cannot attend. We focus more on others than on representing our own stories of accomplishment and experience. We avoid gossip, handling any conflicts by following Jesus guidelines for conflict resolution as found in Matthew 18: I commit to upholding the values stated in this agreement. Signature Date 36

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