Big Push!

This month we have been doing a BIG push to help people get connected with in a small group environment. I believe this is crucial both to our church's growth AND our growth as individuals. Here are a few of the initiatives we are launching this month:

STARTING POINT GROUPS
They meet on campus on either Wednesday night or Sunday morning for 6-weeks. I'll be teaching either live or via DVD for about 15-20 minutes and then smaller groups will form to discuss the teaching for about 45 minutes. At the end of the 6-weeks we can help you find a long-term group OR those starting point groups may wish to stay together and meet off campus.

MEN'S GROUPS
On Monday, January 29th, a men's group studying, "Wild At Heart" will begin meeting. This is an awesome study and an awesome opportunity for guys to hang-out and connect

AREA BIBLE STUDIES (Students)
Since we've got students coming from all over our county and from different high schools, we're starting an Area Bible Study (ABS) in the northwest part of our county. The first meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 24th. This will be our pilot ABS but could begin an entire new approach to helping students connect. Contact Beth with questions.

As I have studied the Bible and other churches, prayed, and thought about this, I believe getting in a group is paramount to spiritual success and sustained growth as a church and a believer. In a group the truth of Christ is applied and experienced in a way that cannot happen on Sunday morning. Yesterday, I visited a guy in the local jail that part of our family. He was amazed that his small group had come to see him!! He had heard us teach and talk about grace, acceptance, and support BUT his group allowed him to experience it!! That experience is what we need.

Too many of us have grown up thinking that having Bible knowledge is equal to spiritual maturity ... we have a natural tendency to be a hearer and not a doer of the Word. Knowing the Bible is easier than doing the Bible.
However, in group life the Word of God is not only discussed and explained, it is applied ... it becomes personal; it becomes real to your life; it results in life change; and when lives are changed God is glorified and seen in us ... and that is what it is all about!

John 3:30

Simply Strategic Stuff

We had a great mini-staff retreat on Thursday. We got to hang out, pray together, and dream about where God is leading Rock Bridge ... and I have to say I am pumped and as excited as ever!!
Here are the highlights:

1) We want to start acting and thinking like a church of 1500. If we wait until we become a church of 1500 BEFORE we act & think like it, we'll never make it to 1500. Why? Because we are still doing certain things that worked for a church of 500 but are not working now that we are a church of 900-1000.

2) We talked about how we go about making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and what we can do better. Our goal is to define a process for people to move through versus keeping people busy with church programs that don't have a guiding purpose/philosophy other than filling up their calendars.

3) Here's a summary of the process we discussed (B-R-I-D-G-E):

Build & Bring -- build relationships with people and bring them to a Christ-centered environment
Relevant Environments -- the best environment to bring someone so they can experience God's love (examples: Wink on Sundays, Fall Festival, Kidz Korner, Youth/Area 51, etc.)
Involve -- involve people in a small group and a ministry team
Give -- giving time and treasure strategically & sacrificially
Expand -- Expanding God's kingdom (planting churches; helping people; doing missions)

This process isn't confusing ... it's simple and it helps everyone understand what the next step for them to take is. It's still a work in progress ... but we think it works!!

Got Group?

We had a great meeting today with our current small group leaders. I am so pumped about the direction this ministry is taking with our new Associate Pastor, Aaron Gable, leading the charge.

Over the past few months I have become convinced that an effective small group ministry will (quicker than anything else) take us to the next level spiritually and numerically as a church. In fact, I don't think Rock Bridge can grow much more without being great in groups!!
What does this mean for us in the coming weeks?

--We've all got to understand the value and importance of small groups in our personal lives and in our church's life -- groups are just as important as our Sunday services in terms of their strategic impact

--Training for our current group leader/facilitators so they are onboard and up to speed so that all our groups have a consistent level of excellence and produce similiar environments for people to grow in their faith and connect with other people.

--Recruiting more people to lead more small groups

Bible translations

Some folks have asked me what translation/version of the Bible I use on Sundays. I use the NIV (New International Version). The NIV is an accurate translation that attempts to capture the literal meaning of the Greek/Hebrew and communicate the thought & meaning of the text. It is also easier to read.

For studying I also use the NKJV or the NASB.
For Bible reading and devotional stuff, the NLT is pretty good.

Hurry Up & Wait

In the military we'd spend a lot of time meeting, briefing, planning, and getting ready and ... then we'd wait and wait and wait some more for the opportunity or situation we planned/prepared for to arise.

I think a similiar principle works with God, both in our personal walk with Him and in our churches. God-sized vision, lots of prayer and planning and then we have to wait on God's timing and trust in His sovereignty. Tough lesson for an impatient guy like me who simply likes to "git r' done."

However, it's in those times waiting and trusting that after my initial frustration passes, that my faith deepens and the sufficiency of Christ for all things becomes more apparent.

I compare it to surfing ... you get your equipment, you might even take a lesson, talk to some guys who surf, and then you swim out into the deep ... but only God can make waves.

I thank God for sending Rock Bridge a wave a few years ago and everyday I pray we're getting better at surfing it ... but I must always remember that He is the one who makes and sends the waves.

Ya'll have a great day!