Thought you might appreciate a little more info about GroupLife Midwest 2012, our upcoming life group leader training and development event.  Here are three things you need to know:

First, we love it that you’ve stepped out and opened your home and heart to lead a group!  We all know that the best environment for life-change is around coffee tables and dining room tables, in circles not in rows.  And you are making that happen every time you meet!  We love it…and we’re so thankful for you.

Second, you may not think of it this way…but as a life group leader there is a real sense in which you play the role of a shepherd, responsible for a little flock.  And much like the shepherds that Jesus talked about, it’s only right that deep down you’ll want to take care of your sheep in a way that hears the Master say, “Well done!  Great job!”

Third, we have the sense that we’re responsible to work hard to help you develop into the kind of life group leader that hears, “Well done!”  And that is why we’re really encouraging you:

• to attend GroupLife Midwest 2012
• to invite group members that share in the role of leading your group
• and to sign up those who will come with you.

GroupLife Midwest 2012 is coming up quickly!  Here’s a little bit more about it:

Friday, February 3rd, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (general session)

Saturday, February 4th, 9:00 to 2:00 p.m.

You can find out about each of the speakers  and their breakout topics right here.  You can also sign up other members of your group who really need to come with you to the event.

Conferences with speaker lineups like this regularly cost over $100 per person anywhere else.  Seriously.  But for you, it’s FREE!  Even lunch is free for Parkview attendees.

Don’t miss this training and development opportunity!  We really want every Parkview leader to take advantage of it.  And you can sign up right here.

It’s been great to see many of you stopping by the Community Life Booth (Orland) and the Guest Information Booth (Lockport)!  Keep it up!  We love connecting.

Many of you are asking what’s coming up for Parkview Life Groups in early 2012.  Here are two very important details you’ll want to keep in mind:

GroupLife Midwest 2012: We are really hoping that every life group leader, co-leader, host, and even anyone who helps make your group happen is planning to join us for GroupLife Midwest 2012.  You can read more about it and sign up to attend right here.

It is not a stretch to say, we expect you to be there for this event.  As a group leader or co-leader, you’ve taken on a responsibility (regardless of how you got into it) and should want to do the best job possible.  One of the things that keeps popping up in our conversation on the community life team is that whatever we ultimately want to happen in the lives of group members…has to happen in your life first.  This event will really help you jump-start your year.

This is such a cool opportunity we’ve even opened it up to area churches.  You can read more about it and sign up right here.

Next Sermon Alignment Study: We know many of you love doing studies that go along with the weekend message series.  Beginning February 11-12 there is a 5 week study that goes along with what you’ll be hearing on the weekend.

I’ll update you on the name of the study as soon as it’s available.  I can tell you it’s based on Jesus teaching in the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that follows the Beatitudes (“You’ve heard it said, but I say…” ).

Important Note: The study that begins on February 11-12 is an optional study.  Most years we’ll have one study (usually in the fall) that we’ll encourage most groups to join.  For example, in 2010 we did 40 Days of Purpose and in 2011 we did WEiRD: Because Normal Isn’t Working (’11 was a little out of the ordinary, because we also provided a study that accompanied Cannonball).

I want to invite you to make plans today to join us for GroupLife Midwest 2012: Staging Ground for the Leadership Expedition!  February 3 & 4, 2012 at the Orland campus of Parkview Christian Church.

We’ve lined up a great speaker (Steve Gladen, Small Group Pastor at Saddleback) and an all-star cast of breakout speakers (that is no exaggeration…these are some of the best known small group experts in the country):

• Bill Donahue
• Rick Howerton
• Mindy Caliguire
• Garry Poole
• Eddie Mosley
• Casey Tygrett
• Jason Anhalt

Friday night, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  February 3-4, 2012.

You can find out more, register for the event and choose breakouts right here.

Love this simple encouragement from my friend Bill Search, Small Group Pastor at Southeast Christian Church and author of Simple Small Groups.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

As your life group approaches Thanksgiving, there are several things you can do to help your group survive the holidays.

Now, you might be thinking, “That sounds pretty serious!  Survive the holidays?  Isn’t that being a little dramatic?”

I think it’s not overly dramatic at all.

Why?  It’s just too easy to finish a study right before Thanksgiving and say to each other, “See you in January!”  You wouldn’t think it…but the holidays (from Thanksgiving through New Year’s) are 4 or 5 pretty precarious weeks.  In my experience, this period is second only to the summer in grouplife mortality.

4 Keys to Surviving the Holidays

There is a solution.  And it’s not to just keep meeting!  After all, people are travelling.  There are family commitments and office parties.  There is just a lot going on.  But there are four things you can do to help your group survive.  Here they are:

1. Choose the study you will do next before you break…and try to do at least 1 or 2 sessions by December 8th or so.  For example, this year Thanksgiving is on November 24th.  Assuming you don’t meet the week of Thanksgiving, you could meet the following week and that would make a big difference.  I’ve listed several options right here.
2. Plan a Christmas party for your group! Rather than breaking before Thanksgiving, why not have a potluck dinner or a Christmas dessert night?  Do an ornament exchange or a White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Whatever you do, find a fun reason to meet.
3. Figure out a way to serve together in December! Whether your group serves Thanksgiving dinner at a local homeless shelter, sings Christmas carols at a nearby retirement home, or serves as greeters or ushers for a Christmas Eve service, there is something about stepping up to do something for someone else…that brings a group together.
4. Pull out your calendars and schedule your first January meeting.  This might seem like overkill, but if you’ll all agree on the date of your first meeting in January, your group is much more likely to survive!

As your life group gets ready for the final session of Cannonball, we wanted to recommend a few studies that might make a great next step.  Remember, although there will almost always be a church-wide study (like 40 Days of Purpose or WEiRD) every year, we want you to use the other 40+ weeks of the year to choose studies that meet the particular needs and interests of your group.

Here are a few recommended studies:

• The Purpose of Christmas, by Rick Warren.  If you liked the Purpose Driven Life and 40 Days of Purpose…you’ll probably find this short 3 session study fits nicely right after Thanksgiving.  You can order your materials right here.
• Mirror Image, from Liquid.  This is a DVD-driven study of several of the Jesus’ best known parables (including The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan.  Although some Life Groups picked up this study last year, if yours missed it, this is a great discussion.  You can order your copy right here.
• Guardrails: Avoiding Regrets in Your Life and Taking Responsibility for Your Life are two new DVD-driven studies featuring Andy Stanley, the well known pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta.  You can read my review of Guardrails right here and Taking Responsibility for Your Life right here.
• If you’re looking for a Bible book study (like the Gospel of John or Philippians), you can’t go wrong with something from Zondervan’s New Community Series.  You’ll find an extensive selection right here.  If you prefer a DVD-driven study, two new studies from Margaret Feinberg might work for you.  Pursuing God’s Beauty: Stories from the Gospel of John and Pursuing God’s Love: Stories from the Book of Genesis are both very good.

Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Have a question?  Email Me! I can probably help you find just the right study.

Here we go with some thoughts about week three of Cannonball!  Hope your group is having a great experience as you wrestle with what it means to be “all in and making waves!”

Here are some keys to a great experience:

First, be sure and help your group start on time and end on time.  If you’ve been struggling to end on time, it may be that you’re starting late.  It also may be that you need to cut a question or two from the Climbing the Ladder or Toes Over the Edge sections.

Second, if you have more than 7 or 8 members, consider sub-grouping for the Diving in Deep section.  Whether you divide into men in the dining room and women in living room or some other method…it will make it possible for more people to participate.

Third, if you have members that miss a meeting, be sure and let them know that the small group videos are available online on the Parkview website.

Here are a few tips for session three:

1. Remember, the Climbing the Ladder and Toes Over the Edge questions are optional.  If you’ve been running out of time, start with the video and use the question at the end of the video to jump start the discussion.
2. Be sure and read the introduction paragraph and then read Matthew 28:16-20 aloud.  You might even explain to your group that Jesus had already been crucified, rose on the 3rd day, and then was with His followers for 40 days.  This happens at the end of those 40 days.
3. The words mission and vision are often confused or used interchangeably…but they mean different things.  Mission is what we exist to do.  As Christ followers, we find our mission in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”  Vision has to do with where God is taking us?
4. Read the paragraph at the top of page 34 and then Matthew 16:13-28 aloud.  The three questions in this section can lead to a great discussion if you are honest about your own struggles.  Honestly answering them first will help your members engage.  Remember, the depth and length of your answers will set the stage.
5. Ripple Effect: Be sure and give time to the discussion here.  Take a few minutes to have your members turn to pages 7 to 15 of their booklet and talk about the parts of the Parkview vision printed there.

How was your study last week?  Good?  Hope so.  While this is a challenging topic, these scripture passages will produce some life-changing discussions.

Here are some keys to the experience:

• Remember, the life group study materials can be found in the packet that everyone received in the mail last week.  Session Two’s study can be found on pages 29-30..
• Don’t forget to tell your members about the daily personal devotionals.  Week two devotionals begin on page 27.
• Did you have members who missed the first session?  Let them know that the small group videos are available online at www.parkviewchurch.com/cb_life_groups

Here are a few tips for session two:

1. Climbing the Ladder: Remember…this section is intended to be a warm-up opportunity.  If you model for your group the kind of answer you’re looking for, your members will very often follow your model in length and depth.
2. Toes Over the Edge: Lead your group to discuss the 3 questions in your study guide and then watch the video for this session.  Note that there’s a 4th question at the end of the DVD segment.
3. Diving in Deep: Read Mark 9:33-35 out loud to set up this discussion.  You might ask, “Would anyone like to read Mark 9:33-35 out loud?”  Remember, many people are very shy about reading out loud.  Let your members volunteer!
4. Q3 Diving in Deep: This question refers to being a servant.  Another important instance of this teaching is found in John 13:1-17 and happened just before Jesus served his disciples the last supper.  If you have time, you might look up and read this passage as well.
5. A second passage referred to in this section is 2 Timothy 2:1-2.  Q1 on page 30 offers a great opportunity for your members to share where they are in their journey.  A good follow-up question that isn’t in your study guide is, “Can you see yourself in more than one role in the passage (i.e., learning and teaching)?”  ”Who are you learning from?”  ”Who are you teaching?”
6. Ripple Effect: This section offers an opportunity to look over the initiatives on pages 7-15 of the booklet and then ask members to share which ideas are most important to them.  As the host, be sure you’ve already looked them over and be ready to talk about your interests.
7. Closing in prayer: Regardless of your normal pattern for group meetings, it’s a good idea to give your members an opportunity to pray about their potential impact on their families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and beyond.

Welcome to Cannonball!  As a Life Group host you’ll actually be an important source of encouragement and information for your members.

You don’t have to know a lot.  It’s mostly knowing how to get your members started.

Here are some keys to the experience:

• The life group study materials can be found in the packet that everyone received in the mail this week.  There is a session overview on pages 21-22.
• There are daily devotionals that begin on Monday, October 24th.  You’ll find the first 5 days on pages 23-24.
• There are 4 life group sessions.  If you start the week of October 23rd you’ll finish the Cannonball study the week before Thanksgiving.
• There is a DVD that goes along with the study.  You can pick up your DVD at the Community Life Booth (Orland) or Guest Information (Lockport) this weekend.  The videos will also be online at www.parkviewcannonball.com beginning Saturday evening, October 22nd.

Here are a few tips for Session One:

1. Toes Over the Edge: Most groups can jump right to the Toes Over the Edge section of the first session.  Remember, the two questions here are just to get your members warmed up!
2. Watch the session 1 on the DVD after you’ve talked about the first 2 questions.  The 3rd question is on the DVD.
3. Diving in Deep: Read Matthew 6:19-21 and 6:24 aloud.  Remember, unless you’ve asked someone else to read the verse (or are very confident they’re okay with reading aloud), it’s a good idea to read the verses yourself.
4. Matthew 6:25-34 is another very good passage for a look at Jesus’ teaching about money and trust.
5. Luke 9:57-62 is the second major passage of this session.  Ask: Have you ever offered a deal to God?
6. Ask: How is following Jesus more like a cannonball than wading into the water?
7. Ask: How is the following that Jesus requires different than joining a club or playing on a team?
8. Ripple Effect: Important Note: This is a great section to do in smaller groups.  If you have more than 7 members, consider sub-grouping for this section.  Remember, men with men and women with women.  Read the first two paragraphs aloud.  Then, have your members write in their answers before sharing them out loud.  Share your answer, then  Ask: Would anyone be willing to share what you wrote with the rest of the group?
9. Share prayer requests and close with prayer. Although group members will often tell you that they want to have prayer time together, “so we can hear everyone’s prayer requests,” it is almost always better to remain in smaller groups for prayer.  Help your members stay focused by saying something like, “Is there something you’d like the group to pray about for you personally?”

As you finish your meeting this week, be sure and point out that the next set of daily devotionals begin on page 27.  If anyone got a late start, they can use the weekend to get caught up!

Big things coming!  Whether you’ve been hosting a group for 5 weeks or 5 years, if you’re a Parkview Life Group host there are a few very important things you need to know about Cannonball:

1. Pastor Tim really appreciates all you do to help connect people at Parkview.  You are playing a very important role, an essential role.  Life-change happens best in life-on-life environments.
2. The Cannonball message series that begins this weekend (October 22-23) is going to be both exciting and challenging.  Don’t miss a single week!
3. If your group is open to new people, stop what you’re doing right now and go online and change your study to Cannonball! See below for detailed instructions on how to do that.
4. The Cannonball life group study material was mailed to everyone who regularly attends Parkview.  If some of your group members don’t attend Parkview, you’ll need to pick up extra copies for them at the exits this weekend.
5. Stop off at the Community Life Booth (Orland) or the Guest Information Desk (Lockport) to pick up your DVD and the special Cannonball Host Tip Sheet.

Here’s How to Change Your Life Group Info in the Group Finder

1. Log in right here.
2. Click the “Your Group” link
3. Click your group name (right under the heading that says, “You lead…”)
4. Click the “Dashboard” Tab above.
5. Click the “View Settings” link in the right sidebar.
6. Click the “Edit Details” link in the right sidebar.
7. Change your “description” to Cannonball (and whatever else describes your group).
8. Very Important: Scroll down to the “Custom Fields” section and click the Cannonball checkbox (and uncheck anything else that’s there).  This is what makes your group appear in the Cannonball search.
9. Very Important: Scroll further down and make sure you’ve checked “searchable” if you’re open to new people joining.
10. Very Important: Scroll all the way to the bottom and click “Save Changes.”  If you don’t save changes, nothing will be saved.  Actually, you might be saved…but not your work.