It's About Reaching Out
For many of us, Christmas is a time of great joy spent giving to and loving those around us. For many others, the season is full of sadness and pain as we try to reconcile the reality of our lives -- especially broken families and loneliness -- with what is supposed to be a time of celebration and joy. Where are all of these hurting people? They may be people we work with, live next door to, pass by in the mall while out shopping for presents, or they may be family members. For those who believe in Christ and want to serve him, Christmas is a wonderful time to share His love by reaching out to those we know are hurting this season and reconnecting with those who we have lost touch with. We can show the truth of our faith by reaching out to others and reaching out is yet another way we can get this Christmas right.
1. Has there ever been a time in your life when you have been lonely? What would you have liked someone to have done for you?
2. Is there anyone in your life who you need to re-connect with? From the Bible, what can we tell is God's opinion on healthy relationships?
3. The meaning of Christmas changes as we grow from children into adults. How do you see this Christmas compared to when you were young?
4. The meaning of Christmas changes even further as we grow from young believers into mature believers. In what ways can reaching out to others evidence of spiritual maturity?
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Curriculum
Here are your curriculum choices for January, February and March of 2009.
1. Sermon Based
2. Fireproof Your Marriage
3. Parental Guidance Required
4. The Gospel of John (DVD Driven)
5. Financial Peace University
Call or email on what you would like to do!
1. Sermon Based
2. Fireproof Your Marriage
3. Parental Guidance Required
4. The Gospel of John (DVD Driven)
5. Financial Peace University
Call or email on what you would like to do!
Get This Christmas Right - Week 1
Here is some extra stuff that is available for your lesson...
Bigger and "mo better" have become the American way leading some to spend their entire lives chasing "stuff." Greed is a cycle that never ends: desire, buy, desire something new.
For some this cycle is not a major issue, but for others it leads to lives that lack meaning. During the Christmas season, those who are not usually tempted can easily find themselves lost as every commercial, magazine ad, and radio jingle encourages us to buy, buy, buy. So, how do we break the cycle? Self-less giving is God's answer to greed and materialism. Jesus provided the ultimate example of this type of giving when he sacrificed his life for each one of us. If we can learn to give to others throughout the Christmas season, we can choose to lose the race for more "stuff" and find the real meaning of the season -- the birth of Jesus Christ.
Can you remember all the presents you recevied last year at Christmas? If there was one special present that was something you truly wanted, how long did it make you happy?
Think back throughout your lifetime, can you remember can instances where you have given sacrificially or been the recipient of self-less giving? During the Christmas season, many of us feel pressured to find the a present for everyone on our list, often so we can simply check them off of our list. How is sacrificial givining different than what we are encouraged to do during the holidays? Does it feel different?
Bigger and "mo better" have become the American way leading some to spend their entire lives chasing "stuff." Greed is a cycle that never ends: desire, buy, desire something new.
For some this cycle is not a major issue, but for others it leads to lives that lack meaning. During the Christmas season, those who are not usually tempted can easily find themselves lost as every commercial, magazine ad, and radio jingle encourages us to buy, buy, buy. So, how do we break the cycle? Self-less giving is God's answer to greed and materialism. Jesus provided the ultimate example of this type of giving when he sacrificed his life for each one of us. If we can learn to give to others throughout the Christmas season, we can choose to lose the race for more "stuff" and find the real meaning of the season -- the birth of Jesus Christ.
Can you remember all the presents you recevied last year at Christmas? If there was one special present that was something you truly wanted, how long did it make you happy?
Think back throughout your lifetime, can you remember can instances where you have given sacrificially or been the recipient of self-less giving? During the Christmas season, many of us feel pressured to find the a present for everyone on our list, often so we can simply check them off of our list. How is sacrificial givining different than what we are encouraged to do during the holidays? Does it feel different?
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
How can we help you?
We want to know how you are doing. If you would like to let us know, take a moment to print out the Support Request, fill it out and drop it in a Drop Box or by the church office. We want to better support you as one of our Small Group Leaders.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Attendance
We have had an awesome 9 weeks with Small Groups! Our attendance has been fantastic with all of our small groups.
Just as a reminder, we do not stop just because Driven by Purpose has finished. Please continue to meet and use the Sermon Based Curriculum that you can find here or in the church foyer. There will be new stuff coming for you in January.
Also, please don't forget to post your attendance every time that your group meets.
Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
Just as a reminder, we do not stop just because Driven by Purpose has finished. Please continue to meet and use the Sermon Based Curriculum that you can find here or in the church foyer. There will be new stuff coming for you in January.
Also, please don't forget to post your attendance every time that your group meets.
Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Curriculum choice in January
I am looking into offering the curriculum for the movie "Fireproof" as a choice for groups that want to study something on marriage. I would encourage everyone to see the movie soon! More info to come in December.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Where do you find Sermon Based Curriculum?
The Sermon Based Curriculum can always be found on the blog or at the church at the Small Groups table in the church Foyer.
Remember, you will be using Sermon Based Curriculum for the rest of 2008 as we discussed in the training sessions. If you were using some other curriculum before we started the Purpose driven Life, then you can continue that until the end of 2008. We will do our best to write it and have it available to you every Wednesday before the Sunday message.
Beginning in 2009, we are all going to be doing one of these 6 things as our Small Group Curriculum choices; Sermon Based, Financial Peace University, Marriage, Parenting, Book of the Bible, our pick. I hope to have the first quarter ready soon so you can begin to pick what you will do in January.
Remember, you will be using Sermon Based Curriculum for the rest of 2008 as we discussed in the training sessions. If you were using some other curriculum before we started the Purpose driven Life, then you can continue that until the end of 2008. We will do our best to write it and have it available to you every Wednesday before the Sunday message.
Beginning in 2009, we are all going to be doing one of these 6 things as our Small Group Curriculum choices; Sermon Based, Financial Peace University, Marriage, Parenting, Book of the Bible, our pick. I hope to have the first quarter ready soon so you can begin to pick what you will do in January.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Next Curriculum
We are coming to our last lesson on the Purpose Driven Life soon. After this, you will be using Sermon Based Curriculum for the rest of the year. After The Purpose Driven Life, there will be two weeks of a "generic" message and then we will kick off a Christmas series! So be on the look out for some Christmas joy!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Why Small Groups?
At the Bayou, we believe in the power of community and living life together. Real growth happens in our Small Groups. Our Small Groups are based off of Acts 2:42-47.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Small Groups meet throughout the week. Our Small Groups meet in homes, coffee shops, workplaces, etc. They also meet at various times.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Small Groups meet throughout the week. Our Small Groups meet in homes, coffee shops, workplaces, etc. They also meet at various times.
Small Group Leader Application
If you are interested in leading a Small Group, please print out the leader application and drop it by the church office.
Small Group Curriculum
Hello everyone!
I hope you find the blog beneficial to you as a Small Group leader. I will post your curriculum by the title every week. You will need to click on the page and print it. I will also attempt to post any other information that you may need. Please feel free to look around and give me some feedback.
I hope you find the blog beneficial to you as a Small Group leader. I will post your curriculum by the title every week. You will need to click on the page and print it. I will also attempt to post any other information that you may need. Please feel free to look around and give me some feedback.
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