Growth Groups

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Leader Guide to Growth Group Homework
For the week of June 1, 2008
(This guide gives you some helpful hints in preparing and leading your group in discussion  – for a more extended guide listen to the audio resource)

• Discuss Plans for the Fall & fill out Feedback Forms  - Find out from your group members if they know yet what their plans are for being part of the group in the Fall.  Have your group fill out their Feedback Forms.  Let them know how important their honest feedback is for you as leader and host.  Make sure you allow plenty of time to complete the forms.  Collect them at the end of the meeting and review them with your host.  Deliver them to the office by June 8 by dropping them off at the Growth Group drop box in your venue or mailing them in.  You also may want to discuss any plans for a summer social with your group.
• New Fall Growth Group Leaders—Let your group know that because of our growth we’re praying that we can raise up leaders and hosts for 40 + new Growth Groups.

This is our final week of the Spring Quarter.  Along with an abbreviated study, you will take some time to reflect on your group experience and then have communion together. Your group will also fill out Feedback Forms about your group experience and your plans for the Fall.  Growth Groups will take a summer break and resume the week of September 14.  Have a great summer!
Note: The first question under “My Story” could be a great way to start your group and discuss plans for the summer.  The two questions in the “Remembering God’s Commitment” are designed to get the group sharing about their Growth Group experience this past year and segue into communion.  Watch your time to ensure you are able to spend time in the “remembering” section.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE IN A SUMMER STUDY, NCU HAS SEVERAL CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.  YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THE CLASSES OFFERED ON THE BACK PAGE OF THIS HOMEWORK. WATCH THE BULLETIN AND HOT SHEET FOR MORE DETAILS.                      

MY STORY
Summer is just around the corner! Do you have any special plans, activities or prayer requests for the next few months? Have everyone answer on this one.  Write down plans and prayer requests.  It would be great to follow this up with any returning members in the Fall.

This week we looked at the “Craziness of Commitment.” Was there a particular point, comment, or verse that caught your attention, challenged you or confused you?

DIGGING DEEPER
God tells us He won’t put us in a situation that will force us to be unfaithful to Him (I Corinthians 10:13). But even knowing this doesn’t mean it will be easy.  How might the following verses help us remain confident even when our commitment is being challenged?

Ephesians 3:16-19
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. [NIV]
God’s love is bigger than I could imagine even when it may seem like it’s not.

Psalm 89:9-13
9 You rule over the surging sea;
       when its waves mount up, you still them. 
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
       with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. 
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
       you founded the world and all that is in it. 
12 You created the north and the south;
       Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. 
13 Your arm is endued with power;
       your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. [NIV]
God is in control, even when it seems like He is not.

1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. [NIV]
We are actually blessed if we suffer because of our commitment to Christ. 

Are there any other verses you would add to this list?

Which one is most important for you to remember, and why?

REMEMBERING GOD’S COMMITMENT TO US
An essential piece of working through the challenges and roadblocks we encounter in our commitment to follow Christ is teaming up and living life with others.  Looking back at this past year how has your Growth Group experience encouraged, challenged or helped you remain faithful in your pursuit to follow Jesus? Make sure you hear from everyone on this.

One of the keys in remaining faithful with our commitment to follow Jesus is keeping our eyes on who God is and His commitment to love us.  God knows we can forget this at times.  That’s why Jesus told the disciples at the Last Supper to repeatedly come together and take communion.  It would remind them of His commitment, love and faithfulness to them which were revealed in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

This week your Growth Group will conclude by doing as the disciples did, and taking communion together.  To prepare for this, read the following verses reflecting on Jesus’ commitment and work in your life as you follow Him.

Communion

1.  Explain that we want to end the year by remembering and celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection.
2.  Read the verses below.  You can ask for people’s responses to them, or just comment on them yourself.  Use the Corinthians passage to take you into communion.
3.  Pass the bread, thank the Lord for it, and eat together.  Pass the cup, thank the Lord for it, and drink together.
4.  Move into prayer time, thanking Jesus for His commitment to love us and how He is working in our lives as people shared in your group.

Psalm 103:8-14
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
       slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
       nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
       or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
       he remembers that we are dust. [NIV]

 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. [NIV]

Close in Praise Song (optional)

Have everyone fill out a Feedback Forms if you didn’t last week.

Dessert Time

MONDAYS – June 9-30
His Call to Follow - Monday, June 9 – One Night Only
Instructor Chris Brown
$5 per Person

Ambassadors for Christ: Essential Skills - Monday, June 16 & 23 - Two Nights
Instructor Alan Shlemon - $25 Person; $45/two

Jewish Background of the Gospels - Mondays, June 9 and 16
Instructor Rabbi Barney Kasdan - $15 Person; $25/two

Dealing with Difficult People - Mondays, June 9, 16, 23 & 30
Instructor Jennie Jordan - $25 Person; $40/two

Bible Basics - Mondays, June 9, 16, 23 & 30
Instructor John LeBlanc - $25 Person; $40/two

Men & Women:  What They Really Want - Mondays, June 16, 23 & 30
Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend - $15 Person

THURSDAYS – June 12-July 3
Today's Israel - A Biblical Perspective - Thursday, June 12 - One Night Only
Instructor Rabbi Barney Kasdan - $7 Person; $10/two

Irreconcilable Differences:  Grounds for a Great Marriage – Thurs., June 12 & 19
Instructor Ned Mervich - $15 Person; $25/two

Pathlight: Perspectives Exposure - Thursdays, June 12, 19, 26 & July 3
Instructor Casey Yorman - $25 Person; $40/two

Video Production Part I - Thursdays, June 19, 26, July 3, 17, 24 & 31
Instructor Jefferson Drexler - $30 Person; $55/two

COMING IN AUGUST – August 4-25
Digging into Genesis – Rabbi Barney Kasdan
Dealing w/Difficult People II – Jennie Jordan
Digging Deeper into the Bible – John LeBlanc