LifeGroup (cont'd)

"It's raining outside, therefore it must be Tuesday and time for small group." That is the running joke among our group. It seems like more Tuesdays than not, it rains. No one really cares, but it is uncanny that right around the 7 o'clock hour, the cold wet stuff starts coming down and my peeps start coming through my front door.

We had another great time together. Not only are we going through a book together that is really speaking to each of us, but we set time aside tonight specifically to pray together. Tonight was the third of four 'special' gatherings. During the first week of IMPACT, we were challenged to fellowship together (a.k.a hang out), celebrate communion together, pray together, and to serve together. A month ago we all went to Dave and Buster's and got our fill of video games and skee ball. I spent $20 and through all my toil and display of useless skill, I walked out with Spree candy. (It' all good- I'm not competitive. I only really cared when I left the candy in the car and it melted.) Two weeks ago we had communion together and a time of worship time led by one of our very own.

Tonight we prayed for almost 45 minutes for our pastor, our church, missionaries over seas, and the concerns in our own lives. The person leading prayer had looked up several Scripture verses, some of which reminded us that the Holy Spirit prays for us, we should pray without ceasing, and God does hear our prayers. I especially loved hearing people pray that wouldn't normally have done so.

In another two weeks, we will be serving together. Maybe it will be within Southbrook, maybe through one of the organizations we partner with, or who knows, maybe something totally unexpected. It doesn't ultimately matter what we do. God will give the person leading that project a great opportunity. My group will serve side by side and get to know each other's hearts even more in the process. It is amazing how quickly you become unified and of one mind when you are working toward a common goal.

We are going to continue these special activities every couple of weeks and I can't wait to see how God continues to grow and shape our group.

I encourage every believer to find and invest in a smaller group of people. This LifeGroup (people living life together) has so much to offer- friendship, encouragement, comfort, accountability, etc. I was one of those people that warmed a seat in my church every Sunday for many years. God has used my involvement in my LifeGroup to challenge and refine me and I hope that never changes.

The IMPACT of my LifeGroup

We can all look back over our lives, the recent or the long ago, and pick out choices, decisions, events, etc. that have influenced us and the person that we are today. In my own life, I've had positive and negative experiences that I look back on and now realize that they have affected me in a way that left me changed.

• my parent's divorce
• choosing a relationship with Jesus vs. religion when I was 19
• moving from MI to NC (to name a few)

This Sunday at church, we looked back over the last 10 years of the church and Pastor Rob challenged the people of Southbrook to join a LifeGroup (a.k.a- small group, home group- basically a smaller group of people to do life with). I emailed the group leaders to get feedback on the LifeGroup fair that happened at the end of service and I asked them for stories of life change because of their group.

I realized that I have a story- I have been changed forever because of my LifeGroup:

When I moved here from Michigan after graduating college, I left a great church behind- at least, I think it was great. I don't actually know for sure, because I never got involved or met anyone. I sat in service every Sunday, enjoyed the worship and teaching, but then went home. I would stand around and have a donut and coffee, but only ever talked to my mom and sister. I don't actually know what I had missed. I told myself that I was too busy going to college full time and working full time to get involved. Yeah, I did have a lot going on, but they were just really good excuses for my priorities being out of whack.

I found Southbrook after checking out a couple of other churches. That 'at home' feeling settled in on my second visit, after talking to a First Impressions volunteer. I prayed about letting it be different this time. The fresh start was still there for me, I knew there was more than just the weekend service.

Something many of my Charlotte friends don't know about me is that I used to be very shy and introverted. I prayed so hard for God to give me the guts to try and meet some people at what would become my church home for the past five and a half years. I was introduced to a gal my age, who was actually on staff, and she invited me to her home group. I went, after psyching myself into it. I literally had to give myself a pep talk in the car just so I would go up to the front door (not to mention I was late from getting lost).

That first night was just the beginning of a group that would grow and change over the next few years...

Summer of Jesus | Week 2

– lots of stuff, it’s a big one!

(Summer of Jesus is my home group's study. It will definitely take us longer than just the summer to get through. I am sharing parts of what we discuss and mostly my thoughts and observations. I am not a scholar or Bible teacher, just a regular person, studying the Word with other Christ-followers, and trying to apply Jesus' teachings to my own life)

Fishermen- Matt 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11

Matthew
· Jesus called the men in the midst of their regular lives. He didn’t come convince or paint a picture for them, he just said “come.”
· Jesus used common people to come along side him, they had no special skills that made them qualified. I am not specially skilled or qualified, just willing to be used.

Mark

· James and John had to leave their father and their jobs/security. Could Jesus ask me to leave something good in order to get something better? Where the men were was good, but they were able to ultimately grow closer to Jesus because they were obedient to his calling.

Luke

· People were listening to the Word being preached (crowds were pressing in, possibly to their own discomfort.) One of Kelly's biggest takeaways from her Peru missions trip is the fact that the people would walk for a day(s), possibly in the rain, stand/sit in filth, just to hear the Word preached. We complain about having to get up at 9 to come to our nice, cushy worship service on Sunday morning. We take for granted the 5 Bibles we have sitting on our shelves.
· Jesus asked Peter (Simon) to use what he had, his boats, to help him in preaching. What do I have that can be used to help in Jesus' mission?
· Jesus had to press Peter to go further to get the “catch” Jesus had for him. I should expect my pastor to push and challenge me.
· Peter hesitates even though he is given a direct command, but is eventually obedient. Peter was already working hard. Even though he was hard at work, Peter offered to do more if that is what Jesus wanted. I sometimes rest, thinking that I have done enough, but I need to have Peter's attitude of offering to do more. He is humbled at Jesus’ faithfulness and struck with awe.

The First Disciples - John 1:35-51

· John was with his disciples, spending time with them, investing in them. I am so busy sometimes, I forget that it takes time to reach people for Jesus. Relationships take time and energy.
· John has a leadership role and faithfully executes that by pointing his followers to Jesus. He was replicating himself by way of his disciples.
· Jesus looked around to see who was following him; He asks them what they are looking for?
· “Are you on the right track?” “What do you want from Jesus/God/the church/the leader?”
· Jesus tells them to “come and see.”
· The men thought “What do I need to do to be near where You are?” They continued to spend time with Jesus. What am I willing to do to be where Jesus is?
· Andrew went and found his brother (who was close to him) first and brought him. I am blessed that the people in my immediate family are already believers. I hope that my heart would be burdened for them if they were not.
· When you meet Jesus, you will be changed (like Simon being called Peter after he met Jesus.)
· Jesus finds Phillip (He draws people to himself). Believers bring non-believers to Him. I live in a Christian bubble. Who do I know that I could invite to church/to know Jesus?
· Phillip was a new believer who sought to bring in other new people RIGHT AWAY. Phillip looked to bring Nathaniel.
· Nathaniel’s initial response is doubt and skepticism. Jesus handled him and his question! He can take it. (v.46)
· Jesus knows us and our heart/character before we ever attempt to come near him. (v.47)
· Jesus saw the men right where they were. Could Jesus use me to be a ‘Phillip’ to a ‘Nathaniel’?
· Jesus does question their belief in him. “Do you have real faith in me?” What if he or has he asked me at some point to affirm my faith in him?
· He promises that we will see the great things of heaven!
· Jesus had prior contact with the men before he called them to be full-time disciples. There was some kind of initial surface relationship to build on. There was a ‘check it out’ mentality.

· The Gospel of John is focused on his ministry to his disciples, and focuses on contacts with individuals and on private conversations.
· The Gospels are not biographies; there was a larger pool of info that the writers had to draw from. They chose what to include based on what served the specific purpose God had for them (Matthew- written to the Jews, shows that Jesus is the Messiah, Mark- written to foreign Gentiles (non-Jews) living outside their immediate area to show God’s Son in action (the miracles), Luke- written to Gentiles to show that Jesus is the savior of all mankind, and John- written to all people focusing more on what Jesus said, not what he did.

Water Into Wine- John 2:1-11

· The wedding was a common event that was used to give Jesus glory.
· Jesus starts by stating that the current problem was not necessarily theirs to deal with. Do we have to decide what is truly our issue to get involved with?
· Mary was certain that Jesus would “fix” things. Proud mama, I think.
· The best wine was reserved ‘til last- Jesus was revealed later. God’s best for us is yet to be revealed!