Growth The Journey

Transcription

1 Spring 2018 Growth Group Important Dates Sunday, January 28 Membership Class Sunday, February 11 Kick-off of This Is Jesus teaching series Monday, February 12 Spring 2018 Growth Groups Begin Sunday, February 25 Baptism Week of March 26 GG Easter Outreach Week Saturday March 31 & Sunday April 1 Easter Services Week of April 23 Final Week of GG s GG Party! Growth Group Semester System Overview Spring Semester Summer Semester Fall Semester February April June August October December Growth The Journey The Journey exists to give the people of New York City the best opportunity to become fully developing followers of Jesus. CORE BELIEF: At The Journey, we believe our church must Grow and at the same time. As a result, The Journey has 2 Types of Church Meetings: Large Group: Sunday Services Small Group: They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. Acts 2:46-47

2 We do semester-based Growth Groups because... A. It allows for greater. Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other. - 1 Thessalonians 1:3 B. It gets into groups. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. - Acts 2:47 C. It creates new opportunities to. Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 D. It leads to long-term. Under God s direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. - Ephesians 4:16 2

3 The Journey Spring 2018 Growth Groups Growth Group Responsibilities WHAT DOES MY GROWTH GROUP DO? Meets together once a week Serves together once a month Reaches out together once a semester Plays together once a semester WHAT DOES A GROWTH GROUP LEADER DO? Pray for group members once a day. Lead the group once a week. Meet with Team Leader in a Growth Group Huddle once a semester. Form new groups from their current group once a semester. WHAT DOES A GROWTH GROUP COORDINATOR DO? Prepares to become a Growth Group Leader by serving as an apprentice who supports and assists the Group Leader Facilitates group discussion multiple times during the semester Prays for the group Each week the Coordinator sends 2 s to the group: 1. Record prayer requests and them to everyone in the group. 2. Send an attendance reminder to everyone in the group each week two days before the group is to meet (and before group events). 3

4 Four F s of Leading a Growth Group Based on how Jesus Led His Disciples 1. *Jesus Invited people to His group Come, follow me. Matthew 4:19 Who can I invite to be a part of my Growth Group? People in previous Growth Groups People I meet on Sunday People I meet when I'm serving People I meet at a Play Group People I know who do not go to church How do I tell people about my Growth Group? Serve at the GG Table on Sundays and hold a poster at the end of a service. /call/text anyone I know to invite them to my group. Post about my Growth Group on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. BE creative! What are other ways my group can fill up and be successful? People select a group because of location, day, time and topic (in that order) Secure a GG Coordinator for your Group List 4 people you can invite to join your Growth Group: *Challenge: 4

5 2. How do people sign up for my Growth group? Sunday Sign Ups from the services and the GG Info Table are sent to you on Mondays. Online Sign Ups/App Signups: you receive an automatic . *Jesus told His group exactly what they needed to know he explained everything to them. - Mark 4:34 Three types of communication. 1. As soon as someone signs up, them all the details for your Growth Group. Within a few days of someone signing up, call them to introduce yourself and try to meet them on Sunday. 2. your Group each week leading up to the First Meeting the day before the First Meeting. Call your Group Members the week of your First Meeting 3. 2 Weekly s i. Prayer Request ii. Meeting Reminder Challenge: 5

6 3. How can I prepare for my FIRST Growth Group Meeting? * Jesus prayed for His group. My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. John 17:9 Pray for your group and the individuals who sign up. o When someone signs up, immediately add them to your growth group list (keep an excel file with everyone s contact information). o Make a list of all the names of your group members and print a copy. o Place it in a place that you will see every day so you can pray for your Growth Group Members. Prepare for your first meeting & have a place for your group to meet. o Secure a meeting location NOW and let everyone know about it immediately. o Think through your itinerary (1 st Group Meeting Itinerary). Lead your group through the GG Covenant & Syllabus o GG Covenant o Share the Syllabus with your Group (before the first meeting by and at the first meeting). *Challenge: 6

7 4. * Jesus led and cared for His Group. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. - John 13:4-5 How can I lead a successful Growth Group EVERY TIME we meet? o Begin and end on time, every time. o Encourage everyone to participate in discussion: Ping Pong Ball. Pinball Machine... Don t let one person ruin it for everyone else. Ask open-ended questions. Provide the 2 C s : Care to GG Members & Communication to Staff. Serve at a Sunday service once a month this semester. Participate in one Growth Group Easter Outreach this spring. *Challenge: 7

8 Four F s Checklist: FILL-UP CHECK LIST: Secure a Coordinator for your Growth Group. Serve at the GG Info Table and ask people on Sunday to join my group. Invite friends, neighbors and co-workers to join my group. FOLLOW-UP CHECK LIST: every person who signs up for my group immediately with all of the important information: day/time/location, start date, syllabus, contact info, etc. Call everyone who signs up for my group at least once before the group begins. Send an reminder two days before my group begins. Continue following up with those who don t show up for Growth Group at least 2 weeks into the group (don t remove their name from the list until they request it). FOCUS CHECK LIST: Pray daily for those who have signed up for my group. Secure a place for my group to meet. Have the Syllabus and GG Covenant ready at the 1st group meeting. FACILITATE CHECK LIST: Send two weekly s to my Growth Group: Prayer Requests (day after group meets) and Group Reminder (day before next group meeting). Write down my group s Service and Outreach dates and communicate those dates to my group. Be faithful in leading my group to serve. Continually identify potential leaders from my group and give them the opportunity to serve/lead within my group. 8

9 How To Lead Like Jesus Jesus' Leadership Style: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 4 Steps To Lead My Group Like Jesus: 1. Develop the of a Servant Leader. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. Mark 10:43-44 for every person in my group. from every person in my group. 2. Develop the of a Servant Leader. Jesus replied, You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments. Matthew 22:37-40 of my group. in my group. 9

10 3. Develop the of a Servant Leader. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 for my group each week. with my group on Sundays. 4. Develop the Leader. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15 daily. daily. The Growth Group Leader Challenge: Don t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 10

11 The Journey Spring 2018 Growth Groups Itinerary for your 1 st Growth Group Meeting 1. First 15 Minutes: Allow people to arrive, talk, and snack 15 min. 2. Introductions: Have everyone introduce themselves and share what they do, where they are from and why they decided to join the group 10 min. 3. Ice Breakers (See some favorite ideas below): Two Truths and a Lie: Have everyone tell 3 things about themselves (2 being true and 1 being false). Have everyone else try to guess which one is false. A Penny for Your Thoughts: Bring a small bag of pennies from a variety of years to growth group. Everyone takes a penny as they pass the bag around, and they share a fond memory from the year that they chose. Have members put their penny back if they choose a year that they didn t live through. If you don t have many pennies, any other coins will do. Little Known Facts: Ask each person in the group to think of two interesting, unusual, or humorous facts about themselves that no one else would know. Everyone takes a turn sharing their little known facts with the group. Be prepared for some wacky revelations! The Name Game: Tell the story behind your name are you named after someone, does your name mean something special, etc. 4. Introduce Your Group Study: Hand out GG Syllabus, Bookmarks, share the book topic. Answer any questions 5-10 minutes. 5. Growth Group Covenant: Read through the Growth Group Covenant carefully with the group. Explain the points as you read each one. Answer any questions. If anyone tries to be difficult and disagreeable, offer to talk with them individually at the end of the meeting 5-15 min. 6. Explain and ask for volunteers for the different roles within the group: Play Coordinator, Food Coordinator, etc. 5 minutes. 7. Share prayer requests and pray together 10 minutes. 8. Talk and eat 15 minutes. 11

12 Sample Syllabus Spring 2018 Growth Group The Journey Spring 2018 Growth Group The Freedom Factor Welcome to your Spring 2018 Growth Group. Our group will meet every 7:30PM beginning Wednesday, February 14 th through Wednesday April 25 th. We are reading the book The Freedom Factor by Bruce Wilkinson. As we read this book, it is my prayer that we will set aside time to speak to God daily. We will also spend a part of our growth group meeting time to pray as the body of Christ. GG Week # 1: Wednesday, February 14: - Introductions, Group Orientation, Growth Group Covenants GG Week # 2: Wednesday, February 21: Discuss Chapters 1 & 2 The Prison in Our Hearts & The Shocking Secret GG Week # 3: Wednesday, February 28: Discuss Chapter 3 & 4 Trespasses & Torments & The Slide of Unforgiveness GG Week # 4: Wednesday, March 7: Discuss Chapter 5 Before the Light GG Week # 5: Wednesday, March 14: Discuss Chapter 6 The Lies that Bind GG Week # 6: Wednesday, March 22: Discuss Chapter 7 Now & Forever GG Week # 7: Wednesday, March 28: **This is Growth Group SE week** GG Week # 8: Wednesday, April 4: Discuss Chapter 8 Forgiving Others GG Week # 9: Wednesday, April 11: Discuss Chapter 9 & 10 Forgiving Yourself: part one & Forgiving Yourself: part two GG Week # 10: Wednesday, April 18: Discuss Chapter 11 The Freedom Factor GG Week # 11: Wednesday, April 25: Growth Group Fun Event *Every Growth Group is assigned service opportunities during the semester. SUNDAY SERVING DATES: EASTER OUTREACH DATE: GG FUN EVENT DATE: 12

13 The Journey Spring 2018 Growth Group Covenant Welcome to your Spring 2018 Growth Group at The Journey. Congratulations on your desire to grow deeper in your relationship with God through this weekly study and the relationships that will begin in this Growth Group. As a member of this group, you will be asked to enter into a covenant with the other members to make this Growth Group a priority. To be a part of the group, you are asked to make the following commitments: 1. I will make this group a priority by attending each week, keeping up with my assignments and participating in group discussion. 2. I will regularly attend The Journey services and contribute to the ministry of the church through my attendance, giving, service and inviting of others. 3. I will strive to build authentic relationships with those in this group by showing care, providing encouragement and praying for their needs. 4. I will intentionally share my faith with those around me by reaching out to lost and unchurched friends by praying, giving a verbal witness, and inviting them to The Journey. 5. I will serve together with my group once a month during the semester and will participate in Easter Outreach Project and play together with my group at least once. 6. I will explore honestly my next steps for spiritual growth. Sign Your Name Date Print Your Name 13

14 Spring 2018 Growth Group Sunday Serving Schedule Village Names Service Time Date #1 Date #2 Date #3 Marc 11:00am 2/18 3/25 4/29 Brandie/Donna 11:00am 2/18 3/25 4/29 Seth 1:00pm 2/18 3/25 4/29 Bobby 1:00pm 2/18 3/25 4/29 Tiffany/Martina 6:00pm 2/18 3/25 4/29 Leslie/Reid 6:00pm 2/18 3/25 4/29 Shelley 11:00am 2/25 4/1 5/6 Melanie/Danielle 11:00am 2/25 4/1 5/6 Beth 1:00pm 2/25 4/1 5/6 Allie/Lindsey 1:00pm 2/25 4/1 5/6 Jeff/Calvin 6:00pm 2/25 4/1 5/6 Lindsay/Laurie 6:00pm 2/25 4/1 5/6 Kasey/Annabell 11:00am 3/11 4/8 5/13 Eric/Stephen 11:00am 3/11 4/8 5/13 Hiram/Kellie 1:00pm 3/11 4/8 5/13 Kerrick/Lorie/Cathy/Alistair 1:00pm 3/11 4/8 5/13 Stephanie 6:00pm 3/11 4/8 5/13 Laura 6:00pm 3/11 4/8 5/13 Dara/Jennifer 11:00am 3/18 4/15 5/20 George 11:00am 3/18 4/15 5/20 Taylor/Brendan 1:00pm 3/18 4/15 5/20 Sophia/Megan 1:00pm 3/18 4/15 5/20 Brandon/Melinda 6:00pm 3/18 4/15 5/20 Courtney/Rae 6:00pm 3/18 4/15 5/20 Wayne/Star 11:00am 3/25 4/22 5/27 Kaleena 11:00am 3/25 4/22 5/27 Diamond/Brandon 1:00pm 3/25 4/22 5/27 Tracey 1:00pm 3/25 4/22 5/27 Silvia 6:00pm 3/25 4/22 5/27 Zac/Katie 6:00pm 3/25 4/22 5/27 14

15 Spring 2018 Growth Group Sunday Serving Schedule UWS Names Service Time Date #1 Date #2 Date #3 Date #4 Leigh-Ann 11:00am 2/18 3/18 4/8 5/6 Brian/Madison 1:00pm 2/18 3/18 4/8 5/6 Jeremy/Kayla 11:00am 2/25 3/25 4/15 5/13 Belkyss/Ruby 1:00pm 2/25 3/25 4/15 5/13 Anthony/Nikki 11:00am 3/4 4/1 4/22 5/20 Brionna/Rheaume 1:00pm 3/4 4/1 4/22 5/20 Joe/Kelly 11:00am 3/11 4/1 4/29 5/27 Juliana 1:00pm 3/11 4/1 4/29 5/27 Cindy/Nicole 1:00pm 3/11 4/8 4/29 5/27 UES Names Date #1 Date #2 Date #3 Date #4 Natalie/Arlene 2/18 3/18 4/15 5/13 Jim/Denise 2/18 3/18 4/15 5/13 Ismael 2/25 3/25 4/22 5/20 Andy/David 2/25 3/25 4/22 5/20 Tee/Eva 3/4 4/1 4/29 5/20 Dee Dee/Anna 3/4 4/1 4/29 5/27 Raffi 3/11 4/8 5/6 5/27 Ben 3/11 4/8 5/6 5/27 15

16 Spring 2018 Easter Outreach Schedule Monday, March 26 7:00pm Village 14 th Street & 6 th Ave. Jeremy/Kayla Seth Brandie/Donna Tuesday, March 27 7:00pm Upper East Side 86th Street & 3rd Avenue Tiffany/Martina Hiram/Kellie Ismael Tuesday, March 27 7:00pm Village 14th Street & 6 th Ave. Shelley Beth Allie/Lindsey Brian/Madison Brionna/Rheaume Wednesday, March 28 7:00pm Upper West Side 96th Street & Broadway Anthony/Nikki Juliana Wednesday, March 28 7:00pm Verdi Square 72 nd Street & Broadway Brandon/Melinda Dee Dee/Anna Wednesday, March 28 7:00pm Village 14th Street & 6 th Ave. Kasey/Annabell Andy/David Eric/Stephen Lindsay/Laurie Wayne/Star Marc Belkyss/Ruby David Jim/Denise Bobby Melanie/Danielle Leigh-Ann Stephanie Tee/Eva Joe/Kelly Kerrick/Lorie/Cathy/Alistair Dara/Jennifer Sophia/Megan Jeff/Calvin Leslie/Reid Brendan/Taylor Tracey 16

17 Thursday, March 29 7:00pm Village 14th Street & 6 th Ave. Courntey/Rae Raffi Silvia Zac/Katie Laura Saturday, March 31 12:00pm Village 14th Street & 6 th Ave. Natalie/Arlene Kaleena Diamond/Brandon Ben/Amy Cindy/Nicole George 17

18 The Journey Spring 2018 Growth Group Leader/Coordinator Covenant Thank you for serving as a Growth Group Leader/Coordinator at The Journey. As a Growth Group Leader/Coordinator you will be viewed by those in your group as a leader in the church. As a result, we ask that you enter into covenant with the other Growth Group Leaders/Coordinators by making the following commitments: 1. I will embody and reflect the values and principles of The Journey and will follow the leadership of the Staff Team. 2. I will faithfully attend The Journey on Sundays and: Participate in the church by becoming a member and giving in a measurable way. Leading my group in serving together once a month. 3. I will make my Growth Group a priority by: Faithfully attending my Growth Group. Preparing beforehand for my group each week. Inviting and welcoming others to join my group. Identifying New Leaders in my Growth Group. Serving and inviting my group to serve on Sundays and at the Easter Outreach. 4. I understand that I am responsible for the care of my Growth Group. As a result, I will: Pray for the individuals in my group. Follow up with each person in my group. Lead my group in providing care for one another. 5. I will strive to create an environment of growth in my group by: Involving as many people as possible in group discussion. Creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. Beginning and ending on time. 6. I will intentionally share my faith with those around me by: Reaching out to lost and unchurched friends and inviting them to The Journey. Encouraging my Growth Group Members to reach out to lost and unchurched friends and inviting them to The Journey. Sign Your Name Date Print Your Name 18