Group Life Conference 2008

The 2008 Group Life Conference concluded today at Willow, and as usual, it was an amazing time of both challenge and renewal.  Both the general sessions and the more intimate breakout sessions pushed us as leaders to re-imagine both how and why we are currently leading a small groups ministry in our church.  

One of the dangers of a attending a conference like this is that it can be overwhelming trying to process all that you've seen and heard.  One friend said he felt like he'd been in the matrix while here, and that he will never be able to look at his "small group world" the same.  That is both a good and terrifying thing.

I'm going to post some notes and thoughts from the conference in the next few days.  This first post is actually from the last session, and speaks to the possibility of evangelism being a purpose and result of heathy group life.  I'd love to hear your comments...

Principles for community bringing transformation

1.  Redefine your evangelism starting point as God's response to a broken world.  Exodus 3:6-10 (God has heard the cries of His people)  People are crying out all around us.  Sin brings death, death brings tears... we must respond.  Help me respond, help me hear.  That is much different from:  "Listen to how I want to help you and change you."

2.  Identify God's response to the brokenness of your own life.  It's easy to think that we have been fixed.  What is God doing in your life?  What is he working out in you today?  If you don't know that, evangelism slides to information only.  Forget evangelism and forget transformation.  Our church and small groups are full of people who are filled with pain and they are waiting for us to respond.

3.  Identify and love the brokenness in your group.  When we identify the hurts and brokenness among us we can use that as a launching pad for ministry.  See the brokenness as a launching point.

4.  Re-establish evangelism priority.  The church exist for those who are not a part of it.  

That last point is especially important to me.  It has been ringing in my ears for several years now, and today was a good day to hear it again.  

More later....

Are you any different?

Still writing from Willow...  Here's a question that I've been chewing on throughout this conference:  Are we moving forward?  Now, just to get everyone caught up, the whole point of this conference is to challenge church leaders to raise the hood and do a complete diagnostic on the workings and function of the local church.  If we don't how can we know if we are actually helping people to "move forward" in their faith journey.  

It's kinda odd to me that we go for annual physicals (at least we should), we have our teeth cleaned and examined regularly (again, we should), and most of us work to keep our cars in working order.  So why in the world would it seem odd that it's important to make sure that we are healthy in our churches.  Sadly enough, most of our churches are content to just keep doing things the way we've always done it.  Even churches that "live outside the box" can stuck in the rut of routine.

Of course, if we are not willing to do a personal spiritual examination, why in the world would we want to do a church "check-up?"  

Now, back to my question:  Are you any different in your spiritual walk today than you were 6 months ago?  1 year ago? 5 years ago?  If not, why?  If not, what is your plan?

I'm thankful for a church, like Ridgeview, that continues to push the envelop on some things, but I confess to you that we don't do a good enough job of asking tough questions of ourselves as leaders and of each other as church members/attenders.  Our world will change because our country experiences change.  Our country will experience change because our state has experienced change.  Our state will experience change when our city experiences change. And yes, our city will change when MY street is changed because of the love of Christ.  

Yep, the time is short and the challenges are huge.  It's time for a check up... I don't want to keep doing the same thing expecting different results.  

Quick thoughts...

I'm sitting in the vast atrium of Willow Creek Community Church in the 'burbs of Chicago.  This is one of those places that "does it" for me.  I make an annual trec up here just about every fall for the Group Life Conference, and this year I'm also attending the Reveal Conference immediately preceding GL.  Now, don't get me wrong, I come for the challenge and sharpening of my leadership skills.  I want to know how to do what I do better.  But I will also confess that this trip serves as a "retreat" for me as well.  It's a great opportunity to dream.  A great location to learn.  And a great opportunity to refocus on the call that God has placed on my life.  

Willow gets bad press occasionally, but for me, I am thankful for the enormous positive Kingdom impact that has come from this determined and focused church.

Seasons change...

I stepped out of the office a few minutes ago to run a quick errand, and for some reason the fact that leaves were falling from the trees caught me totally by surprise.   I know that my favorite student pastor will made fun of me for talking about falling leaves (that younger generation), but it just seemed to be one of those moments when God says, "hey, slow down and take a look... and learn."

The seasons, and how they change, have always fascinated me.  In some ways the "change" is subtle, in other ways, it roars.  I couldn't help but think back on my own life the past 18 months, and how the "seasons" have changed.  Our battle with Pam's cancer last year seemed dark in cold in some ways, but in other ways, there was a certain "renewal" that came from it.  In January, when our family grew by one, there was a sense that old was passing and new was beginning.  While the past 9 months haven't been a bed of roses, Ben has been a blessing to not only Pam and I , but our whole extended family.  He's an amazing young man who is seeing seasons change in his own life. 

So, what season do you find yourself in today?  I've been a little tired and dare I say, even frustrated lately.  Not entirely sure why.  What those falling leaves reminded me of is that God is in control.  We are always moving in to and out of seasons.  In order for new life to emerge, the old must pass.  

Resources for families

This past Sunday, RCC completed a month long series on the family.  We really believed that God was leading us to address some family issues that continue to plague our community (most communities, actually).  Pastor Ridley did a great job every week of encouraging and equipping us to deal with issues that really ring with the complexities of everyday family life.  Below is a list of resources that we felt would be beneficial to anyone who is a part of a family.... pretty much all of us.  Obviously, the first place to start is with scripture.  Knowing The Word and practicing its teachings will take each of us a long way down the road to more healthy families.

The Five Love Languages by Chapman

Five Love Languages of Children by Chapman

Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Chapman

Building Better Families by Kelly

The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Lencioni

Teaching Your Children How to Pray by Osborne

To Own a Dragon by Miller

Bringing Up Boys by Dobson

Wild at Heart by Eldridge

This is not an exhaustive list.  In fact, should you choose read read any or all of these books, you will undoubtedly read some things that you don't fully agree with.  That's ok... just be open to the Holy Spirit's promptings to look at your family and your role in it in a slightly different light.

Praying step by step

Staff meeting is always something that I look forward to... as odd as that sounds.  We have an awesome team, and leading leaders is something that I think I've grown in to over the years.  (Props to the team at FBC Smyrna)  Anyway, we spent some time yesterday morning thinking through the economy and its impact on our community and how we can respond as a church.  Obviously, we will also be impacted by the economic turmoil of the day.  As we concluded our discussion and clarified our purposes individually and ministry areas, we divided into two teams and prayed/walked through several blocks of downtown Franklin.  As we gathered back in the office, it was amazing to hear the comments of our staff.  We had prayed that God would let us see our community (we should all pray that prayer every day) as He sees it, and the "walk" helped each of us in that area. 

As I turned a corner during my walk, I saw one of my favorite sites in all of Franklin.  The HUGE Oak tree at the corner of Bridge and Hillsboro was a reminder that God is forever.  That tree has stood at the corner for several hundred years.  It has withstood storms, pollution, auto accidents, insect attacks, etc.  And still it stands.  God has not been taken by surprise by our current economy.  God is not threatened by our questions.  God is God and He will continue to be faithful.  He will stand.   The other interesting observation came as I looked past the tree... the street sign at the corner, just behind the tree is Bridge Street.  We have a huge responsibility AND opportunity to direct people to the one is THE bridge to God.  Christ makes a way for us to embrace and be embraced by God our Father and Creator.  Christ is the bridge that spans the depth and width of our sin to connect us with mystery of God's love.  

When have you walked and prayed through your neighborhood?  I hope you will take the challenge that our staff has accepted to walk and pray.  Ask God to "give you eyes" to see things the way He sees them.  I think you will be surprised at what you see.