Prayer Request

Hi friends,

 

Would you please pray with me and as your groups that God would raise up leadership for our college aged students.  We are in the beginning conversations of developing a mentoring ministry, as well, and I deeply covet your prayers.

 

Thanks,

 

Aaron

Leadership in Discipleship

Hi friends,

 

We are getting ready for Passion Play and I so very much appreciate the prayers you are offering and the prayers you are leading your groups through.  We are all working hard and working smart, and then painfully aware of how absolutely, completely dependent we are on God's Holy Spirit to do all the work we cannot do that makes all the difference.

 

I was recently reading from Seth Godin, the world's most read blogger and a speaker coming to Leadercast (just over 50 tickets left!; don't forget that if you bring a non-Christian friend, we cover your friend's ticket!), about underdog leaders.  Godin writes, "Leadership almost always involves thinking and acting like the underdog.  That's because leaders work to change things and the people who are winning rarely do." 

 

When I put on my theologian's cap for a moment, I like what Godin is saying.  Christians are called to a victorious mission--indeed, one whose destiny is already assured because of the Ascension of Christ--but we are also called to build for a Kingdom that always requires help beyond ourselves.  The Holy Spirit is always drawing us into deeper relationship, greater love, more faithful friendship, more effective leadership.  As a result, we are always working to change things; we are never in the position where we are in perpetual state of winning.  We are always working for change and always relying on God's Spirit to do that work. 

 

Thanks, friends, for being in that precarious spot of working for change and relying on the Spirit to do the work of change.  It's a wonderfully impossible place to be and when you get a glimpse of God's Spirit doing something that resembles but so far surpasses what you were trying to do, it's a reminder of why we were created.

 

It is a pleasure to serve with you.

 

Grace and peace,

 

Aaron

Small Group Design

Hi Friends,

 

Thanks for your continued leadership and ministry in group ministry at the church.  It is wonderful having praises and good news to share from your groups on a weekly basis.  I love hearing the stories of your groups, so please keep them coming.

 

A thought for you today: Your small group is perfectly designed to get the results it is getting.  It is perfectly designed to be the size it is, to have the conversations it has, to meet where it does, to cover the subjects it covers.  I have talked with some of you who want your group to change--to become bigger, to become more biblically based, to become friendlier to new people, to attract new people...  Your group changes by design.  Here are two suggestions in making changes that come from Frans Johansson.

 

1. Design the group for someone else.  Imagine that someone completely new was attending.  How would your group change?  Johansson says we would design a beach house differently for ourselves than we would for Picasso.  What does Picasso's small group look like?  :)

 

2. Create Constraints.  Create a barrier for your group.  Maybe it's that you have to find a new location; maybe the main speaker can't share for a few weeks; maybe you need to meet at a new time.  Once in constraints, find out what changes just happened to give your group new ideas, leadership, and energy.  Constraints always force us to develop new abilities.

 

Frans is a speaker at this year's Leadercast.  I would love to see some of you here.  Remember: if you are inviting a pre-Christian to attend with you, I will cover the cost of their ticket.  You can just give it to them.  We believe in relational evangelism and want to give you opportunities to broach new conversations with your pre-Christian friends.

 

I continue praying for your groups and your leadership.  Please let me know how I can pray for and serve you.

 

Grace and peace,

 

Aaron

Three Simple Rules

Hi friends,

 

Thanks for your continued leadership.  You are prayed for in your efforts in group ministry and discipleship.  I wanted to share something simple with you with our heritage in small groups back to John Wesley.  Wesley was a tremendous organizer and believer of mutual discipleship.  He organized societies or classes that have some reflection to small groups in contemporary churches.  Wesley encouraged his groups to live by three simple rules:

 

1. Do no harm to another person;

2. Do good to other people;

3. Stay in love with God.

 

Obviously each of these rules is related to each other, but distinct as well.  I am curious: In the leadership you give to your home, group, ministry, work, or elsewhere, which rule seems most important?  Would you please let me know your thoughts? 

 

Also, please continue talking about the Leadercast coming to Brockville that we are hosting at Centennial Road.  It's a great opportunity to invite a friend to an event that will introduce them to the church facility and maybe spark a conversation about something spiritual, in a setting for any and all faith commitments.  If you know someone you'd like to invite and purchase them a ticket, your ticket will be free.  (Tickets are $40, which includes lunch.)  I have five tickets to give away like this.  Also, if you know someone who should attend for their personal development, but cannot afford a ticket, let me know. 

 

I love serving with all of you.  It is wonderful being part of a team working to reach people for Christ and disciple people in Jesus Christ.

 

Grace and peace,

 

Aaron