An Interesting Question...

I read this short snippet on SmallGroups.com recently, about 'EGR' or 'Extra Grace Required' people:

Read the article HERE!

What do you think? Do we need to change how we think/talk about this area of Group Life? Post a comment below to tell me...

Who Do You Love?

Oswald Chambers writes, "How many of us are set upon Jesus Christ slaking our thirst when we ought to be satisfying Him? We should be pouring out now, spending to the last limit, not drawing on Him to satisfy us."

This morning, these words made my jaw drop. They seem so obvious when I think about it, but the fact is that I so often believe that I'm 'maturing' because I seek to be satisfied by Christ rather than other things in life. Yet here I am challenged to step back and examine myself; am I wholly devoted to Him?

In the same entry, Chambers goes on to say, "Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him." For a second time today, I am caught off guard by the profound truth in these words. I remember as a young man being reminded that loving Christ is not measured by doing and that my service to Him should always be guided by His leading and prompting, but I feel as though those words fell on deaf ears.

So, what does devotion look like? Is it praying every day? Memorizing scripture? Tithing to the church? Attending a Bible study? Or does devotion take on more subtle forms, like a quiet and deliberate focus on who Christ is as we make choices that honor Him each moment of each day? Can devotion be serving? I believe the answer is, 'YES!', provided that service results from a heart yielded to Jesus first and foremost.

And that is the crux of the matter; am I yielded, surrendered, to Him? Have I this day died to self and chosen to live for Him? Without having done so anything I do 'for Him' is in truth done for the sake of doing it.

How about you? Do you think of Jesus as one to satisfy your thirst, or one to pour yourself out for? Are you devoted to Him, or to doing things 'for Him'? These are questions worth asking ourselves and how we answer will steer our life and ministry.

2012: The year I'll be blogging more!

I'm baaaaaack! Seriously, though, I plan to post more frequently this year, based on some positive feedback I just received from a few of our Life Group Leaders!

What can you look forward to? Weekly ideas for additional group discussion questions, openers, socials and service projects! ALSO, 'Get To Know' posts about our leaders, allowing you to learn more about your peers in this ministry.

There's even more yet to come, but keep checking back here to find out what!

GO! Team

This week at Desert Springs we announced the formation of a new vehicle for Outreach and Service Projects: The GO! Team.
The most exciting aspect of this team, I feel, is the opportunity it provides us in the Life Groups Ministry to put feet to the gospel in new ways!

As of today, all of our Life Group Leaders are on the contact list for the GO! Team, which means they will each receive an e-mail when a new outreach or service opportunity is available. My goal here is to see every one of our Life Groups get out there and participate in one or more outreach or service projects per year.

Some of the plans already lined up include helping with a meal at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission; giving blood at an upcoming Blood Drive with the Community Blood Bank; or distributing food with Meals on Wheels at the Joslyn Center.

IF YOU would like to get involved, contact Laura Keener (lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org) today! She'd also love some suggestions for future projects.

Many more opportunities will come in the future, and I know that this is a great direction for Desert Springs to be going!

Remain

John 15:4 says, "Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

An interesting choice of words, to be sure. Jesus instructs us to remain; some translations use the term abide, or dwell. These terms all appear somewhat passive, which would seem to contradict the busy, frantic pace of doing that many believers (yours truly included) fill their days and nights with.

As I read this passage today, the question had to be asked: Am I remaining in Christ? I feel as though much of my Christian life has been spent reaching for Jesus, striving to be like Him, rushing to do more for Him, pressing forward to get closer, etc. But here, Jesus explains that only by remaining, abiding, dwelling in Him will we live a life that results in fruit.

Could it be that we've had it backwards? Is all of the doing, pushing, striving, working, telling, going... pointless? It sure looks that way, if we aren't remaining in Him. The Psalmist wrote, "Cease striving and know that I am God." I cannot accomplish anything for His kingdom by working hard first, then giving Him my attention 'when I have the time'. Not only am I not too busy each day to do so, but I cannot afford to miss it, if I am to do His will.

Praise God for this powerful reminder! I need first to abide, to dwell, to live in Him, and then the fruit will follow. He will reveal to me what He wants me to accomplish, even as I sit quietly and wait for His instruction, reading and thinking about scripture, praying and asking Him to speak.

How about you? Are you remaining in Him? Do you dwell often in His presence? Are you making excuses not to?

Deep-end-ence

As I drove to the church early yesterday morning, I was feeling pretty tired. We'd had family in town for the weekend, and that meant lots of 'adventures' with our kids and their cousins. Good times, but definitely enough to wear this middle-aged dad out!

In addition to our busy weekend, I had difficulty sleeping on Saturday night, so I headed into work on Sunday morning running on fumes. I began to pray, "Lord, help me; I really need You this morning." Then, I stopped myself short.

See, I realized halfway through my opening sentence that I was about to express a misguided idea that I've carried around for many years. My need of God, my dependence on Him, is not momentary, circumstantial or changing. It's only my perception of that need that shifts.

Now, I realize that God knows my heart and understands my intentions when I pray "I really need You", but those words still belie a way of thinking that I believe I need to change. I ought to be praying every morning, "Lord, help me; I really need You. I need to overcome sin today. I need to face fears. I need to reach out to others. I need to die to myself. I need to do Your will. I need to breathe, to eat, to sleep, and I can do none of those without You."

Realizing this, I'm making it a personal goal to tell God every day how much I depend on Him.

How about you? Have you recognized your need before God today? Maybe you need to do it right now; take a moment and recognize your total and desperate need for Him. You'll be glad you did!

What Is Love?

This week we celebrate Valentine's Day and I think that creates the perfect opportunity for Life Groups to do something special! Here are a couple of ideas:

1. ENCOURAGEMENT TIME - I know I've shared this one before, but it's especially appropriate here. Find an item you can pass around the room, which will designate who is being encouraged at that moment (for fun, make it something Valentine's related, like a heart-shaped pillow, box of candy, etc.) Then give the group a few minutes to share something encouraging or affirming about that person. IMPORTANT: make sure they address the individual, rather than make statements about them to the group (example: Joe, I think you have a great attitude! NOT: I feel that Joe has a great attitude)

2. CARDS OF LOVE - Have each person in your group bring a blank Valentine's Day card, preferably something appropriate for a friend, putting their own name on the envelope. While you fellowship, pass the cards and envelopes around to everyone in the group, allowing time for each person to write something kind or encouraging to the person who brought that card. BONUS OPTION: When all the cards have returned to their owners, have each person select one or two sentiments from inside that they especially liked and share them with the group!

3. PRAYER CHAIN - Just spend time hearing prayer needs and praises from each person individually and then praying for them as a group! Go around the circle and take more time than usual for this if you like - make it the centerpiece of the evening!

4. LOVE IS... Pass out 3x5 index cards to everyone in your group. Then allow time for them all to write on their cards, finishing the statement, "Love Is..." Encourage them to write Bible verses, 'One Another' statements or even Worship song lyrics. down in addition to their own thoughts, then share with the group when you are done.

These are just a few ideas of my own - mix it up, be creative and above all - love one another!

Ministry Update

We've had a very successful round of sign ups in the past four weeks, and I'd like to share the results:

Total number in groups: 158
Number of groups: 14
Percentage of average weekly attendance: 34.5

We are VERY close to reaching our participation goal for the year, and in fact there are two or three groups that still have a fair amount of room to add new people!

Pray for the following:

1. Young couples to join the Medinas group on Tuesdays in Palm Desert. This group offers childcare and is located within a couple of miles of the church!

2. Mid-life folks to join the Andersons group on Mondays in La Quinta. They still have room for about 4 to 6 more people.

3. Ron Rowell is a new leader whom I'm connecting with this week; we will be talking about who his group would best suit, so pray that we can fill it up soon!

God is definitely moving - He deserves all of the praise!

Extra Credit: Even MORE questions for your group time!

Happy Thanksgiving! As you meet this week, consider the idea of sharing things you are all thankful for.

This week's 'Extra Credit' questions are:

1. Have you ever had an investment go badly, or had someone else abuse a gift you gave them? What happened? How did you feel?

2. Remaining connected to the Body and to Christ is a key part of using your Gifts well; what are some ways you can be sure you are doing so?

Remember, these questions are optional, bonus content for your group meeting; you are always free to come up with others yourself if you like!

Friendship, friendship!

'I am a friend of God...' Those are the words in the chorus of a popular song sung by our worship choir, and truer words were never, er, sung!

I came across this little cartoon on the web today; the headline read, 'The real reason Dinosaurs went extinct'! I have a feeling that Noah wasn't even on facebook (or the internet, for that matter), but I'm grateful when I think that our 'friendship' with God is not contingent on something so trivial!

Romans 5:8 is one of my all-time favorite Bible verses and a real life-verse for me. 'God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Just after that, in verse 10, Paul writes 'For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!'

It's a powerful reminder to us that we were God's enemies, and have now been declared friends, even children, of God. As a result, we are to share, out of gratitude, the love of Christ which caused this transformation in us.

This is one of the many things that Life Groups are all about; that sharing of friendship and the transformational love of Christ. We share it when we gather around a table and talk about the week, consuming treats as we do; we share it when we open his Word and discuss the verses for the evening; we share it when we pray for each other; we share it when we reach out to each other in love, meeting needs and sharing burdens.

My question to you today is, what are you doing in your Life Group, moreover in your life, to share your Friend?

EXTRA CREDIT: Even More Questions for your Group Guide!

This week's EXTRA CREDIT offers up a few questions about the idea of prayer, PLUS a BONUS: an alternate idea for your ENTIRE evening!

Here are the questions:
1. If you could ask for ANYTHING in prayer, what would it be? Have you ever asked for that? Why or why not?

2. Do you think of yourself as an effective communicator? Do you think that matters in prayer? Explain.

And here is the alternative meeting idea: Instead of your regular Life Group meeting routine (sharing, discussion, prayer, etc.), have an evening of prayer! Spend time in each of the four varieties of prayer together:
1. Adoration (prayers of praise & worship for who God is)
2. Confession (confess sin and ask God for forgiveness)
3. Thanksgiving (thank God for what He's given you and done in your lives)
4. Seeking (Ask God to help you grow as believers in various areas of your lives)

OR find other ways to make prayer the center of the evening; mix it up!

Give Us Barrabas!

John chapter 18 describes Jesus' arrest and trial, such as it was, before Pontius Pilate. In verse 39, Pilate offers to release Jesus as part of a Passover tradition, to which the crowd famously replies, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!"

I was reading this passage today and noticed something I had never thought about before.

Sometimes I choose Barabbas.

In the depths of my heart, in the flesh that is cursed to live out this tentative existence, in my old self, I shake my fist defiantly not at a Roman governor, but at God Himself and scream with all the wrath I can muster, "GIVE ME BARABBAS!"

This truth slapped me across the face as I read; every time I choose my way instead of His, every moment I spend in disobedience, each minute devoted to prideful, self-absorbed rebellion, I cry out "Give me BARABBAS!"

It's no coincidence that Barabbas was imprisoned for leading a rebellion; in my mind, he will forever more be it's poster boy.

So this morning, I pray, "Father, give me a heart to obey You; a heart that seeks to know and do Your will above all else, as Christ did. May You be glorified by my words, deeds, actions; by my life itself.

Think about it: are you calling for Barabbas' release in your heart right now, at this moment? How do you need to turn away from sin today? I pray that God will reveal it to you and give you resolve to obey Him, by faith.

EUREKA! I have an idea...

As the economy continues to be poor and life throws many challenges our way, prayer time in Life Group can become focused on struggles and difficulties. Lately we've been noticing that our prayer time has focused increasingly on requests and negative events in our lives, so one creative member of our group came up with an idea...

Each week, at the beginning of prayer time, we put a vase in the center of the room and pass a bag of marbles around. Everyone takes turns putting marbles into the vase, sharing a praise or answer to prayer for each one, until everyone has had a chance to share. After this, we spend time sharing needs and requests, praying for each other as we do.

This has helped keep what could be a downside of group life positive and encouraging, while also providing a visual representation of God's work in our lives!

What kind of creative prayer exercises does your group use? Share in the comments below!

Recommended Reading: Creating Community

Over the summer I read several great books about the Christian life, ministry and more; this one, however is all about groups!

Co-authored by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits, 'Creating Community' is an easy read but draws deep from the experiences of its two authors to pass on ideas and principles in order to help develop a 'small group culture' at your church.

In chapter 1, Willits writes, "We are a culture craving relationship. In the midst of our crowded existence, many of us are living lonely lives. We live and work in a sea of humanity, but we end up missing out on the benefits of regular, meaningful relationships.'

And that's just the beginning! If you are interested, like me, in helping develop a small group culture at your church, then I highly recommend picking up a copy of 'Creating Community' today.

Extra Credit: Even MORE questions for your group time!

It's BACK! 'Extra Credit' is a weekly blog feature where I put a few extra question ideas up for you to use as you see fit. Feel free to take or leave these for your group meeting this week...

1. This is a very light opening question: 'What is your favorite kind of fruit? Least favorite?' This could be good if you have a new group that doesn't know each other at all yet...

2. Romans 12:1 talks about our old nature and new nature in terms of being transformed. What do you think of when you hear the word 'Transformed'? What do you think 'renewing of your mind' means?

Enjoy!

Speaking Out

I was honored this past Sunday to deliver my first message to our entire congregation as Pastor Mark and his wife were away for the weekend. I spoke on 'Group Mentality', examining Acts 2:42-47 and sharing with everyone what Life Groups are and three qualities that should characterize them, drawn directly from the early church.

What qualities, you ask? Well, if you were present on Sunday, you already know! If not, you can listen to or view the message on our website.

Incidentally, we post the sermon online every week, so don't hesitate to get over there when you've been away and hear what Pastor Mark is speaking on!

Hello, I'm a Life Group!

Recently I was on vacation in the Bay Area with my family, which presented me with a unique opportunity. See, while the Golden Gate Bridge and Monterey Bay Aquarium are definitely remarkable and worth seeing, I march to a different beat

You may already be aware of my somewhat fanatical love for a certain company named Apple? Well, their headquarters are not far from San Francisco, and they have a store on campus that sells t-shirts, hats, etc. Needless to say, I felt compelled to make a pilgrimage to 'The Mother Ship' (they even have shirts that call it that!).

I browsed the mousepads, mugs, pens, etc. until I found an item that I felt was just right for me: a shirt that says 'Hello, I'm a Mac!' It's pictured here:


Unfortunately, on my return home, I discovered that I had grabbed the wrong size shirt! As these items are not available in any other Apple Store on the planet, I called the 'Company Store' as they call it, and inquired about sending my shirt in for exchange. The associate on the phone said it was no problem, and this morning I found my new shirt in a box outside my house.

I was so excited, I opened the box, ironed the wrinkles out of my precious garment, and put it on immediately. I'm sporting it even as I type these words...

My point? Apple's customer service and product quality is highly regarded in the business community and they have developed a unique culture of loyal users and consumers in the computing world. They are so good at this, in fact, that I couldn't wait another minute to put my t-shirt on! In addition, the prospect of owning a shirt that expresses my excitement for Apple and their products was enough to warrant an extra stop during our family vacation.

In the 1980's, Ford Motor Company ran an ad campaign with the slogan, "Quality is Job 1". I think Apple could say, "Service is Job 1". As a Pastor of groups first and media second, I believe it's safe to say our slogan for Life Groups could be "Caring is Job 1"!

But the real question is: do we care? Are we showing Christ's love to those in our groups and around us? Are we developing a culture that causes people to stop and ask, "How can I help this person right now?", "Can I pray for you?", or, "Is my comfort more important than this person's need?"

I'd like to think so, but it's a question worth asking again and again. Do we care? Do we truly, passionately, wholeheartedly care in ways that make a tangible, practical and relational difference?

If we created a t-shirt that said, "Hello, I'm a Life Group!", would others be so excited about what Christ is doing through this ministry that their vacation plans were changed, their boxes ripped open and the shirts put on without hesitation? I hope so...

Bright Ideas: 10 Commandments

I met briefly with a Life Group Leader today who shared with me that he's feeling led to have his group study the 10 Commandments. I told him I thought this was a great idea!

While we emphasize following the Sunday sermon series in our groups, I've always granted leaders freedom to select something unique for their flock if they felt the need. This frees leaders up and allows for variety that is absolutely necessary to keep group life fresh.

As we prepare to launch the Fall session, what are you planning to study with your group? Will you use our Group Guide, following the sermon series, study a book of the Bible or possibly select a video series to do?

Speaking of video series, the conversation I had with that leader reminded me of a very cool video I came across about the 10 Commandments:

The Ten Commandments - motion (kinetic) typography from Vit Ryznar on Vimeo.

An Experiment...

I've been a fan of social media (facebook, Twitter, etc.) for quite a while now and while I'm not exactly a facebook junkie or an avid 'Tweeter' I do like to share things I'm thinking or reading about from time to time with the rest of the internets.

Lately, I've been wondering how I might use this tool to enhance ministry, and I've come up with an idea...

This Fall, anyone at Desert Springs will be able to send me questions that come to mind while listening to the Sunday Message, which I will then post to a new Life Groups Twitter feed and facebook group! This will allow anyone following either of those accounts to view a wider variety of questions that could potentially be used in Life Groups, and possibly even start some conversations about them online!

I hope you'll plan to participate with us in this grand experiment and that it will be an encouragement to you!

Summer's End

What a Summer it's been... I've gone on a couple of trips with my family, read some excellent books, enjoyed a few great ministry experiences and seen my kids grow in new and exciting ways.

I've also said farewell to a couple of friends who left this world behind, cried with others who are struggling with hurts that are relational, financial, physical, emotional and spiritual and watched as disasters and wickedness take their toll on our world.

In all of that, I've been reminded quite poignantly that my life on this earth is a vapor and that how I invest my time into those whom God has placed in front of me is so very very important.

One of the books I read this summer is 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan. Without belaboring the point, Chan writes about God's great love for us first, then asks us to carefully consider what our proper response to that ought to be. Are we living a real, authentic, practical daily life that honors Him? Are we caring for the sick, poor, orphaned, addicted, disillusioned and broken?

-- Are we too comfortable? Am I?

Those are the kinds of questions I find myself asking as a new season of ministry is about to begin at Desert Springs. I believe that God is stirring up some new things in me; I'm not satisfied with my level of 'commitment' any more. I want to learn new ways that I can serve Him as I serve others, and I am firm in my conviction that the kind of relationships that can develop through Life Groups are where that will happen.

I'm excited to find the answers and to respond to God's leading this year, and I hope you are too!

See you out there...