Hi all, we are now at the end of term 1 and getting ready for the Easter & school holiday break. We hope that you & your small group are increasing and growing in God. I will be in touch soon to let you know what we are doing in Term 2. Please be aware of the small group leaders meeting 1-2:30pm at Grace This Sunday April 1 with lunch to start outside the café’ and a session in the School Library lecture theatre (this will include a computer training session for those that need Connection Power guidance)
Last Sunday Dale T spoke on ‘We are all Hosts in our own home’ Dale suggested the concept that as we are hosts in our home, so too are we in our local Church. We often go to great pains we to make that experience a pleasant one for our personal visitors, so too in our preparations in our Church home.
Discuss in the group: How can we do this better personally & corporately?
We need to remember that God has made us all individuals and it’s better to get an ‘A’ in being you; than a fail in replicating someone else. Let your Hosting be an extension of who you are.
Of course we are at all times promoting the centrality of Jesus and how we might be pleasing to him; this is to be the focus of our lives. Practically we can do things that will make others feel at ease.
• Preparing our house for visitors Q. what do you do for your visitors?
• Feeding and nurturing Q. How do you do this physically & spiritually?
Dale explained the ‘hosts’ concept as a way of helping the visitor and the new person to Grace feel welcomed and cared for. In entertaining others we would like people to be hosting officially and unofficially – that is you don’t have to be on the hosting team to do this ministry! (But it would help – So see Kevin or Verna Plum asap!)
Dale alluded to a scripture where Jesus said 'the greatest amongst them would be the servant' we understand from this that service is a integral part of Kingdom life and a key area of discipleship. That may mean that we shift our mindset to ‘How can I welcome others’ - this enables us to become both the messenger & the message; we speak the importance of Welcoming and acceptance and then we demonstrate it.
Some questions for the small group:
Q. How do we find engaging with those who are different from us?
Q. Why are ‘first impressions’ so important?
Q. Perhaps ask some non-church goers – what would help them to feel relaxed in attending church – then ask them to come!
Have a great meeting & Easter break! This would be a great time to invite others to ‘come and see’
Blessings and salutations! Ps Rhett
Monday, March 26, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Series: The Main thing - session 4 Feb 26
This was the final session of the 'Main thing' series, but I hope you understand that the discussion and the focus will continue throughout the year.
Dale discussed the importance of the word of God to guide our evangelism, remember its ‘His words in our mouths’ that has power, it helps if we are walking in the Lordship of Christ personally and practically, so we can share from a place of integrity.
Q what areas of our personal life can you think of that would impact our testimony?
Dale mentioned the danger of the 'smorgasbord' gospel, picking and choosing truth to share, so as not to offend people, but the gospel needs no amendment or revision, Let us share it in an appropriate and sensitive manner, but let truth do its work in the hearers, as the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin.
Q what scripture would you share with someone about sin in there lives? how would you deal with them regarding this?
We looked at a revision of some key session points during this series including: 'We are joining the conversation not starting it'; 'Being ready with a pre-prepared testimony'; and 'our worship must be followed by our work'
Discuss in the group some other key understanding you have learned
One man said that sin is the cosmic act of treason, but we have a saviour who has paid this price and redeemed us from the penalty - this is good news!
Q can you share some experiences of your attempts to share 'good news' with others?
Q Jonah said that 'salvation is of the Lord' - but what part do we play in our own salvation and the salvation of others?
1 Cor 12:3 'No one can say Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit' What importance does the Lordship of Christ play in the believers life?
Eph 3:18 'we may comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height & depth of God's love' - Understanding the enormity of God's love for us compels us to share it with others. We sow and water the seed and watch God brings the increase, our prayers and our witness are part the process God uses to bring people to himself.
We see this demonstrated in Acts 16:14 as Paul’s witness and Lydia’s open heart, worked together with God who gave the increase, and this resulted in her decision to follow the Lord.
This is how we bring people into the ‘narrative’ of God’s story.
Dale spoke of the preeminence of love 1 Corinthians 13 guides us in this area.
Q Are we walking in love by not sharing the Lord with those who are perishing?
Mark 2:15 describes a scene where Jesus was interacting with sinners and people far from God. The religious teachers were upset Q. Why were they outraged? Q. What did Jesus response to them show them about God's heart?
Have a great time in small groups next week!
appreciate you all - Ps Rhett
Dale discussed the importance of the word of God to guide our evangelism, remember its ‘His words in our mouths’ that has power, it helps if we are walking in the Lordship of Christ personally and practically, so we can share from a place of integrity.
Q what areas of our personal life can you think of that would impact our testimony?
Dale mentioned the danger of the 'smorgasbord' gospel, picking and choosing truth to share, so as not to offend people, but the gospel needs no amendment or revision, Let us share it in an appropriate and sensitive manner, but let truth do its work in the hearers, as the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin.
Q what scripture would you share with someone about sin in there lives? how would you deal with them regarding this?
We looked at a revision of some key session points during this series including: 'We are joining the conversation not starting it'; 'Being ready with a pre-prepared testimony'; and 'our worship must be followed by our work'
Discuss in the group some other key understanding you have learned
One man said that sin is the cosmic act of treason, but we have a saviour who has paid this price and redeemed us from the penalty - this is good news!
Q can you share some experiences of your attempts to share 'good news' with others?
Q Jonah said that 'salvation is of the Lord' - but what part do we play in our own salvation and the salvation of others?
1 Cor 12:3 'No one can say Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit' What importance does the Lordship of Christ play in the believers life?
Eph 3:18 'we may comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height & depth of God's love' - Understanding the enormity of God's love for us compels us to share it with others. We sow and water the seed and watch God brings the increase, our prayers and our witness are part the process God uses to bring people to himself.
We see this demonstrated in Acts 16:14 as Paul’s witness and Lydia’s open heart, worked together with God who gave the increase, and this resulted in her decision to follow the Lord.
This is how we bring people into the ‘narrative’ of God’s story.
Dale spoke of the preeminence of love 1 Corinthians 13 guides us in this area.
Q Are we walking in love by not sharing the Lord with those who are perishing?
Mark 2:15 describes a scene where Jesus was interacting with sinners and people far from God. The religious teachers were upset Q. Why were they outraged? Q. What did Jesus response to them show them about God's heart?
Have a great time in small groups next week!
appreciate you all - Ps Rhett
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