Questions for week Oct 28th - Nov 3rd

Breaking the Spirit of Fear

1) What do you think is something God would like you to do in the next year? What are some of the fears you will face if you try to do this?

2) Fear literally has the power to cause you to be physically ill.  When you are dealing with fear, what have been some of your physical symptoms? (high heart rate, loss of appetite, etc.)  What advice would you give someone dealing with those same symptoms?

3) What are some Bible passages you could use to encourage someone who is dealing with paralyzing fear?

4) Read 2 Timothy 1:7 in a couple different translations.  How does that verse land on you?

5) What has been the greatest lesson you have learned from dealing with and overcoming fear in your life?  

Don't forget to fill out the Life Group Leader Report Form here.

Questions for week October 21st - 27th

Life group questions for this week are below.  Please don't forget to click here to read the last post I posted about 2 opportunities your groups have to serve together.  We need help with these two things and if your group plans to take part please let me know asap so I can know whether or not I need to make other arrangements.  

Thanks my friends!!
Tina


Escaping the Web of Worry

1) When we worry we can project a bad attitude, hot tempers and stress on others.  What ways do you try to reign in those actions toward those closest to you?

2) Our past can legitimately cause us to worry. How has your past experiences caused you to encounter worry in the present?

3) Which of the Three Ways to Escape the Web of Worry listed below do you need to begin doing?

-Be intentional about when to slow down 

-Fight to keep perspective and live one day at a time

-Never forget about God's imcredible faithfulness

4) If someone came to you and confided that they are bound by worry, what advice would you give him or her?

Please don't forget to fill out the Life Group Leader Report form here.

Tis the Season

Hello Leaders,

I wanted to let you know about two opportunities we have for your Life Groups to serve together.

#1.  Every year we participate in Alachua's Fall Festival on Main Street.  This year's event is on November 11th which is also the same day as our Men of Honor Banquet.   So myself and the staff will be tied up setting up and preparing for that after service.

With that said, I have asked Xene and Richard to oversee the first part of the Fall Festival and I am needing one more couple to oversee the last half of the day.  The event is from 11am-5pm.

I am also hoping that some of your life groups can take a time slot to work the event together.  The times available are:

11am-1pm
1pm-3pm
3pm-5pm

Please let me know as soon as possible if this is something you feel your groups can do.

#2.  Another opportunity we have to serve is Alachua's Shop Dine and Stroll.  We have never participated in this but have always wanted to.  Shop Dine and Stroll are Friday nights during the holiday season where the businesses stay open later, there will be free carriage rides and music on Main Street.

We would like to set up in front of the Epicenter with Free Coffee and Hot Chocolate and we will be giving away Christmas CD's promoting our Christmas series CAROLS.

We would like for the Life Groups to come together and take one of the evenings.  The dates available are:
Nov 16th
Dec 7th
Dec 14th

Again, if this is something your group would like to come together and do please let me know as soon as possible.

Tis the season!!

Tina

Questions for week Oct 14th-20th

The Haunted

Facing Failure

1) It is great when we have done well and experience success, but how does it effect you when you "drop the ball" or the circumstances did not allow success?

2) How has some of your greatest failures effect your life?

3) Of the 4 misconceptions about failure (Failure is avoidable. Failure is objective. Failure is the enemy.  Failure is irreversible.)  Which one(s) have you falsely believed?  What has led you to that false misconception?

4) How does this statement land on you... 'When you have given yourself permission to fail, you have immediately given yourself permission to excel'?

5) Which lesson on failure is the most difficult for your to do?  Which one is the easiest for you to do?

-Bring your feelings under the authority of your heavenly father.

-Trust the timing of God. 

-Never lose sight of what matters most.

Click here to fill out your Life Group Leader Report.

How to Train Your Co-Leaders

Before we jump into how to train your co-leaders I wanted to give you an important question to ask when you are looking for co-leaders, Is this person or couple able to eventually lead a group of their own or are they just good helpers?  There is a BIG difference.  We all need those great people who are fantastic assistants but our co-leaders are those who will one day be leading a group of their own.

Also, another tip when looking for your co-leaders who are married, make sure that each spouse is good with one day leading a group.  Sometimes there is one spouse who is on board and ready to go while the other is hesitant.  If both are not good with it then we need to hold off until they can serve together as leaders.

Here are some ways to train your co-leaders:

1. Be the example and model to your co-leader how and what a Life Group leader does.  People learn quite well just by watching.

2. Allow your co-leader to take the lead in various areas.  To not overwhelm them, let them first just coordinate a meeting.  Then at the next meeting let them take the lead on the discussion time.  Let them get a feel for all the aspects that leading a group entails and then when you feel they are ready, let them take the lead for everything at a meeting (planning, coordinating, leading discussion, etc.).

3.  Make sure you share with them the importance of filling out the Life Group Report Form. This last step is vital for the leadership to know the health of the group, who is attending, who is not attending, who was invited and when the next meeting is. Sometimes people get invited into a group (which is great) but we may be trying to find them a group not knowing they have already plugged in. The Report Forms helps us know these things.

4.  Go over with them the Life Group Manual.  In doing so you will be sharing with them the purpose and vision of life groups.  If you need more copies please let Xene know.

5.  Make sure to encourage your co-leaders when you see them doing well.  It lets them know they are on the right path and will be a confidence booster for them.

6. Make sure you let them know the weak areas you see.  If good communication with the group, or keeping the meeting on a proper time schedule, or lack of preparation for the discussion time are areas you see they may struggle with, take some time with them to encourage them in this area.  Share with them how you communicate, or stay on schedule or prepare for the discussion time.  They will not learn and grow through their weak areas unless someone brings it to their attention and helps them with it.

7. Teach them how to find other co-leaders.  Once they themselves are leading a group they will need to begin training co-leaders too.  Let them know what qualities and characteristics they need to look for.  Referencing the post found here will help.

8.  And last but not least, If they are not a member of CCA, encourage them to attend the next Membership Night.  

As we teach and train new co-leaders, and they themselves become leaders who are teaching and training new co-leaders, we are multiplying ourselves.  By multiplying ourselves, we are multiplying our ministry!!

Questions for week Oct 7th-13th

The Ghost of Guilt

1) What about Sunday's message spoke to you the most and why?

2) How have you seen guilt affect you in your life?

3) Have you ever experienced a time where you felt the freedom from guilt? What avenue did you take to get free from the guilt?

4) How will this message change the way you deal with guilt in the future?

Make sure to fill out the Life Group Leader Report form here.

How to Recognize Potential Co-Leaders

Here are a few things that will help you when looking for your next co-leader(s).  It is very exciting that our life groups are so full, but that also means that we are to the point that if we don't train new co-leaders to become leaders we will no longer be able to add new people in groups.  And we have requests EVERY week for people who are interested in joining a group!!  So here are a few tips that I think will help you...

How to recognize a potential co-leader:

1. Look for group members who take Life Group seriously.

2. Look for gifted people.

3. Pray for new co-leader(s).  In Luke 6:12-16 we read where Jesus prayed all night before calling his 12 disciples.

4. Observe people who are on the same teams (Guest Services, Usher, Sound, etc.) as you.  If you see someone who performs their tasks well, works well with others, is always on time, these people are leaders and would make great co-leaders.

5. Look for people who you can see God at work in their life, who are emotionally stable and caring.

6. And look for people who have a teachable spirit and are willing to learn.

When you have determined you have found a person or couple that would be awesome life group co-leaders (and then leaders) your next step is to get with Tina or Xene and let them know whom you are thinking about asking. Sometimes we are aware of things that may exclude them from a leadership role at this time (They may be struggling with major issues, etc.).

Once you receive approval then it is time to talk to them. Let them know you see they possess leadership qualities needed to be a Life Group Leader and ask them if they would consider being a co-leader.

Here are a few responses you may receive from them and some great ways to address their concerns.

Typical objections to co-leading:

1. “I just don’t have the time.”-  Share with them that God has given them an ability to lead and to be used by Him is a great honor and privilege.  Cast the vision for the life change that can occur as they rise to the occasion and accept the challenge of co-leading a group with you (or another leader).  If they are already in a group then they are already setting aside time in their schedules to meet so let them know that being a co-leader or leader really doesn’t require much more time than that.  Just scheduling out your meetings and planning what to do and bring.  Let them know that they are not carrying the entire load of leading the group.   You (or whomever their leader is) are sharing the responsibility.  Once they co-lead for a while they will get a feel for it and realize that it is not the burden they think it is going to be.  And actually it is quite a fulfilling adventure!! 

2.  “I don’t have the gift of leadership.”-  Again, encourage them by reminding them that leadership is influence.  And they are already influencing someone whether they know it or not.  Let them know you see great leadership qualities in them (and share a few of them that you recognize) and let them know that you will make sure that they will receive the appropriate training they need to be effective.

3.  “I am not the leadership type.”  At this point you need to simply explore what the person really means by “leadership type”.  Perhaps their definition of leadership is incorrect.  They may view leaders and leadership as just people who are in charge and in control as opposed to someone who can facilitate life change by caring for, shepherding, discipling and loving others.

Sometimes all people need is for someone to believe in them.  Let them know that you do!

Thank you leaders for ALL you do!!  Please let Tina or Xene know if they can assist you in any way with identifying your next co-leader(s)!!