As you get ready for WEiRD session five, here are a few tips and ideas to help you have a great experience:

• Be sure and watch the DVD first.  It helps you know where the discussion goes and you can make sure it works at the same time!
• Be aware that this session is the final session of WEiRD.  Our next study is very important and we really hope that every Parkview life group will join us for it.  You might have questions.  Your group members might have questions.  You’ll find a lot of answers right here and right here.  Still have concerns or questions? Email Me for more information.

Here are a few tips for Session Four:

• It’s a good idea to have your group members jot down a note or two during the video.  Then they’ll have something to share when you ask, “What was one idea that really grabbed your attention?”
• Q3a: You might have everyone in your group write “world” on one end of the first line in your study guide and “God” at the other end.  Now have them put an x where they’d say they are in terms of the percentage.
• Q3b: Read Romans 12:1-2 (from The Message paraphrase) said, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Ask: Do you see yourself being “so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking?”  Where?
• Q4: Colossians 3:1-3 in Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, The Message, says, “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”  Focusing on “earthly things” becomes “shuffling along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.”  Ask: How does that change the question?  Where do you see yourself “absorbed with the things right in front of you?”

As you get ready for session four of WEiRD, here are a few ideas to help your group have a great experience:

• Watch the DVD in advance.  You want to make sure it works, but it’s also really important for you as the host to look ahead and think about the members of your group.
• Did you ask your members to bring something to share last week?  One of the best things you can do as the host is to begin sharing what it takes to pull off a great meeting.  Greeting at the door, bringing a snack to share, collecting the prayer requests, emailing the group, and taking a turn leading the discussion are all ways that members can help make it happen!
• Mention that Pastor Tim’s new series (remember…it’s a surprise) begins on October 22-23 and there is a life group study that goes along with it.  I will have a separate article on this soon.

Here are a few tips for session four:

• Before you start the DVD, suggest to your members that they may want to jot down a note or two as they watch the segment (with the Get Started questions in mind).
• Remember, the larger your group becomes, the harder it is to have one conversation.  Unless you are intentional, it will be difficult to keep your conversation from devolving into several one-off discussions.
• Q1-2: It may seem counter-intuitive, but one way to keep your members focused on one conversation is to sub-group intentionally for certain questions.  For example, if you have more than 6 or 7 in your group, consider having your members turn to the person next to them and sharing the answer to these questions.
• Q3a: This is a good question to think about as a group.  Read Psalm 90:12 aloud and then ask the first of the two questions.  Don’t rush.  Sometimes 20 seconds of silence can seem like an eternity, but be the very thing your members need in order to engage.
• Q3b: Consider inserting an additional question here.  Ask: Think about your life.  What are the most important situations you are going through right now? Ask: Does everyone have at least one situation in mind?
• Q3c: Now ask the next question in your workbook.  Ask: What impact would radically slowing down have on the major situations you’re going through in your life?
• Q4: In Genesis 2:1-2 you’ll find the account of what God did upon completing His work in creation.  Exodus 20:8-11 is the commandment most commonly referred to concerning the Sabbath.  Matthew 12:1-14 is a very helpful illustration of Jesus’ teaching on the Sabbath.  Mark 1:21-35 records what some refer to as “the busiest day in Jesus’ ministry.”  Note what Jesus did when the day ended.  John 6:1-15 is the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000.  Note what Jesus did right afterwards.
• Q5-6: You might consider asking your group members to pair up or get into groups of three or four for these questions.  ”For our prayer time, let’s share what needs to go on our “to-don’t” list and then pray for each other.”

As you get ready for session three of WEiRD, here are a few ideas to help your group have a good experience:

• Watch the DVD in advance.  I know I say this every week, but it is important.
• Pull in another member of two to help you greet everyone when the rest of your members arrive.
• You might want to send out a quick email to your members and ask them each to bring something to share (if you haven’t already done this).  Some chips and salsa.  Maybe a plate of hemp-free brownies.  Something to drink.  Members who make a commitment to bring something to share are much more likely to show up for the meeting.

Here are a few tips for session three:

1. Before you start the DVD, suggest to your members that they may want to jot down a note or two as they watch the segment (with the Get Started questions in mind).
2. Get Personal Q1: Like we’ve been saying, when you ask a question like this one, it’s a good idea to be able to share something yourself.  And…it’s totally okay to say, “I struggle with this” or “I almost did this but just couldn’t quite pull it off!”  After you’ve shared, invite the rest of group to join in by asking, “How about someone else?  What did you do to “get WEiRD” with your money this past week?
3. Q2: Pay attention to the body language of your group members.  It’s good for you to be ready to lead with an answer to a tough question, but it is also okay for you to allow a little silence as your members think about what to say.
4. Q3: Two great passages to add to the conversation around this question is Matthew 18:21-35 (forgiveness) and Matthew 7:1-5 (point of view and judgement).
5. Q4: This question offers a great opportunity for a visual exercise.  Have your group members draw a line on their study guide and write Jesus/Servant on one end of the line and Too Good to Serve on the other.  Ask, “Where do you see your own attitude?  Where would you put yourself on the line?  Why? (Two great passages: Matthew 20:20-28 and Philippians 2:3-8)
6. Q5: Read John 14:1-6.  In His answer to Thomas, Jesus is reaffirming that He is the way to God and the initial obvious connection is to Thomas’ question itself (We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?).  A second very important understanding is that Jesus is the way to God in the present.  That is, Jesus is not just the way to the Father’s House.  He is also the way to God now.  Living the way Jesus lived leads to relationships that are healthy, whole, and other-centered.

As you get ready for session two of WEiRD, here are a few ideas to help your group have a good experience.

• Watch the DVD in advance.  Although the ideas in this study are simple, you’ll want to watch the DVD in advance so you can think ahead about the examples that are used.  You also want to watch it in advance so you can be sure that the DVD player you’ll be using works!
• Next, just like week one, it’s a great idea to pull in a member or two to get to your house early!  When you do that it makes it easier to make everyone feel at home.
• Keep in mind that it’s important to start on time.  It’s okay to start even if everyone isn’t there yet!  In fact, if you wait for everyone to arrive (and consequently are late starting), it reinforces the idea that it’s alright to be late and the group will wait to begin.

Here are a few tips for session two:

1. The Get Started section is really important.  At the same time, it’s not intended to be a “go around the circle” set of questions.  Instead, think of these questions as a way to prime the pump.  One key is that you should be ready to answer the first question or two yourself.  And, as you’re thinking about your answer, be ready to share in a way that models for the group how they should answer.  If you want everyone to jump in with “one idea that really grabbed your attention,” take about 30 seconds to share your thought.
2. The Get Personal section is just that: an opportunity to get personal.  And your group members really will pay attention to the length and the depth of what you share.  Think in advance about how you would answer Q1.  This is equally true for questions 2 and 3.
3. Question 4: Matthew 6:25-33 is part of the the most famous sermon ever given: The Sermon on the Mount.  Be sure and have a modern translation (New International, New Living, etc.)  handy so you can read the passage out loud.  And remember, it’s never a good idea to call on someone you don’t know really well to read out loud.  Public speaking is often the #1 fear that many people have.  In fact, it ranks higher than the fear of death in most surveys!
4. Question 4 Bonus: The NIV translation says that “the pagans run after these things.” The NLT says, “these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers.” The Message says, “People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things.”  When you think about your own pursuits, how would you describe your own attitudes toward the pursuit of your daily needs?  Why?
5. Question 5: “All these things” refers to the necessities of life (“what you eat, what you drink, and what you wear”).  It’s helpful to have a good study Bible.  A great online resource is SonicLight.com.
6. Question 6: It might be really helpful to set up question 6 by asking your group how they would define “generous.”  Next, ask your group to recall the most generous thing anyone ever did for them?”  Now…you’re ready to ask question 6!

The key to helping your members learn to pray together is to make it as easy to begin as possible.  When you’re getting ready to close with prayer, remind your members that prayer is really talking to God.  It doesn’t require big words or special words.  Among other things, it’s just letting God know what you’re thankful for (expressing gratitude) and what your needs are (expressing dependence).

As you get ready for Session 1 of WEiRD…here’s a little bit of help to get you off to a good start.

• Watch the DVD in advance.  It’s not long and watching it first will give you a little taste of where the session is going.  It will also let you make sure your DVD works!  And you’ll know for sure how to work your DVD player!  All good things.
• Get your house cleaned early.  If you’ve got everything ready well in advance, you’ll be much more relaxed and can pay attention to your guests.
• If at all possible, invite one or two of your members to come over early.  That way, they can help you greet people at the door.
• Have nametags and a marker available near the front door.  Put yours on first…that way your guests see it’s expected and they’ll follow right along.

Here are seven tips for the Session 1:

1. Pass out copies of the study guide as your group gets ready to start the meeting.
2. Use the Let’s Get to Know Each Other! section…to get to know each other!
3. Although praying out loud is hard for many of us, it’s a good idea to start each session with prayer.  It can be as simple as, “God (Heavenly Father, Father in Heaven, etc.) we are hear tonight to learn about Your purpose for us.  Guide us as we study together.  Amen.”
4. It’s a good idea to be ready to answer the very first question yourself.  Keep in mind that your answer will set the tone and the length for everyone else.
5. Be sure and save time to go over the Life Group Agreement on page 13.  These simple ideas will help make the rest of your sessions much better.
6. As you finish up your first session, it’s a great idea to ask everyone if they know someone they’d like to invite to join the group the next week.  Especially when a group is brand new, the easiest time to add new members is right at the beginning!

Most important?  Relax and let God do what He wants to do.  Remember, He’s been preparing your members (and you) for a long, long time.