Leading Your Community Group Through Gaining Ground

This Sunday, March 24th, we are kicking off both a new Community Group trimester and a new sermon series, "Gaining Ground." 

We've asked all of Community Groups to participate in discussing this sermon series together in their groups. This is a significant series for our us as we look ahead to where God is leading us as a church.

Here are a few details to help you be prepared for a new trimester and discussing this series:

Preparing To Lead Your Group Through Gaining Ground

• Pickup and use the Gaining Ground Booklet (Preview HERE)

All sermon notes and group discussion questions are included in this booklet as well as other content related to our Gaining Ground generosity initiative.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Week 1 and Week 2 Discussion Questions were printed in the wrong order. Please use the discussion questions on page 32 for Week 1 and the discussion questions on page 28 for week 2.

• Pray Daily

Both ask God, "What would you have me to do?" and be praying that God may use this series to help each person in your group refocus their lives on their part to play in making more and better followers of Jesus.

• Worship Together at Night of Worship (3/24) and the Salt Road Rally (4/7)

Set your calendars and invite your group members to sit with you for our Night of Worship services this Sunday 3/24 at 4:30pm or 6:30pm and to join you for our Salt Road Rally in Webster on April 7th at 5pm.

• Plan A Party For Week 4 (April 14th-20th)

The final week of the series ends with a celebration Sunday as we make commitments together as a church toward our Gaining Ground generosity initiative. Instead of doing sermon discussion for the final week, we are encouraging all groups to throw a party together to celebrate what God is doing in the life of our church and in the lives of our group members. 

Preparing to Lead Your Group Through the Spring Trimester

• Review the Beginning of Trimester Agreement (Download HERE)

The beginning of each new trimester provides a great opportunity to remind your group of why we meet (To Apply the Bible, Build Relationships, & Care for Each Other) and review how we can make the most of our group experience.

• Share your Group Volunteer Schedule (Download Template HERE)

Bring a preassigned volunteer schedule week 1, give people a chance to review it, and revise as necessary. The healthiest community groups share all of responsibilities of leading group each week.

• Set Growth Goals (See examples HERE)

One of the best ways to encourage spiritual growth is to commit together with your group members 1 specific area you need to grow, and then encouraging each other throughout the trimester to follow through.

Questions?

Contact your Group Coach or search this website. We'd love to be a resource to you!

Jason DeGraaff

Community Groups Pastor

Life Is Better Connected

4 Group Reminders As We Wrap Up the Winter Trimester

Here are 4 quick reminders as we wrap up the Winter Community Group Trimester.

1. Group Trimester Dates

• Winter Trimester Wrap-Up: March 9

• Spring Trimester Dates: March 24 - May 25 (9 Weeks)

2. Celebrate Communion In Group

• We are encouraging all Community Groups to take some time in group the last few weeks of the trimester to celebrate Communion with their group.

• This is a great way to celebrate the Gospel together just like the early church, breaking bread and remembering Christ's sacrifice together as we meet in each other's homes.

• Find communion instructions HERE 

3. Growth Goals Accountability

• Forget about your growth goals? Help keep each other accountable for the goals you talked about by asking each other about your progress in the last few weeks of the trimester.

4. Sermon Discussion All-Play

• Beginning Week 1 of the Spring Group Trimester (March 24th), we are asking all Community Groups to discuss our sermon series "Gaining Ground." 

• This will be an important series to unify our church together in our mission to make more and better disciples in Rochester.

• All Northridge attendees will be receiving a booklet for this series that includes our sermon discussion questions; similar to our "Portraits of a King" series from this fall.

Additional Resources

Do You Have A Plan For That?

When it come to applying the Bible in group, how do you help you and your group members to not just identify Bible application, but actually apply it?

4 Sure Ways To Burn Out As A Group Leader

Are any of these true of you? How you lead now may end up in you not leading later. How can you avoid burn out as a Group Leader?

The Top 2 Things Group Members Wish Were Different About Your Group

What do your group members wish was different about your group? What can you do to address these concerns? 

Past Re:Group Training Talks and Breakouts

Northridge Discipleship & Counseling Training (March 2 - May 18)This ten week training will teach you how to compassionately and skillfully use God's word to help people grow and change for God's glory, whether through casual conversations, mentoring, leading a group, discipleship, or counseling.

Questions?

Contact your Group Coach or check out our Leaders website to find answers to your questions.

Jason DeGraaff

Community Groups Pastor

Life is better connected!

10 Christmas Social and Serving Ideas

Does your group have anything planned for the holidays? If not, this may help.

10 GROUP CHRISTMAS IDEAS

• Have a gingerbread house building contest with hot cocoa and Christmas music.

• Watch a Christmas movie like "Elf," "It's A Wonderful Life," or "The Nativity."

• Make and give away Christmas cookies.

• Go caroling.

• Get outdoors - skiing, sledding, hiking, or have a snowball fight.

• Go ice skating downtown.

• Bring your kids to see Santa at the mall and grab a meal together.

• Attend a Christmas concert.

• Sit together at the Christmas Eve service

• Serve together (See ideas below).

Connect with your co-leaders and set a date on your calendar this week; then you can start brainstorming with your group what your Christmas celebrations might look like.

Looking for a Service Opportunity for your group?

What's Coming Up for our Community Group Year?

Here are 3 quick reminders as we prepare for our fall Community Group trimester beginning on September 16th:

1. RE:GROUP 

Group Leader Kick-off Training. Sunday Night, September 9th, 5:00PM-7:15PM

• Our Group Leader Kickoff Training events have received a name, "RE:GROUP".  We'll refer to these events as "RE:GROUP" going forward. 

• You will be receiving an RSVP email shortly.

• WHO SHOULD WE INVITE? Do you have any potential group leaders you'd like to invite to Kick-off? Email or text your coach their names so we can send them the RSVP invite email.

2. Fall Group Trimester Dates: 

September 16th - November 17th

3. Is your Group changing? 

• Let your group coach know if your group has any changes as we move toward the fall:

  • New/Different Leaders?

  • New Night?

  • New Location?

  • New Campus?

  • Multiplication?

  • Roster Updates?

• We'd be happy to update your groups profile online and help you think through these changes. You can also make these changes on our Groups Database: Group Vitals.

What questions do you have as we approach the fall? Please let us know.

We hope you are enjoying the summer break and getting a chance to cool off on this 91 degree day!

Additional Resources:

Why Summer Is Danger For You and Your Group

10 Simple Ideas To Connect With Your Group This Summer

4 Phases of Healthy Multiplication (Breakout Audio/Notes)

Do You Have A Question?

We would love to be of assistance to you.  Reply to this email or check outNorthridgeLeaders.com to find Group Trimester dates, curriculum options, leader tips, group forms, sermon discussion questions, past leader training content, and much more!

 Jason DeGraaff

Community Groups Pastor

Life is better connected!

A New Video Resource For You and Your Group

As a Community Group Leader at Northridge we wanted you to be the first to know and have access to an amazing new resource for you, your family, and your group.

Watch this video from me and Drew Karschner to learn more.

Have any questions? Let us know.

Thanks for all you do to help your group members grow deeper in their relationship with God and each other.

We believe this resource will be a valuable tool to help us each grow in our faith!

Jason DeGraaff
Community Groups Pastor
Life is Better Connected