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Growth Group Homework For The
                                        Weekend Of Service

For the week of October 26, 2008
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This past weekend we mobilized our entire church family with the mission of showing God's love and impacting our community for Jesus. The time in your group this week will be spent looking back on the weekend to share stories of what was experienced, how you saw God work, and what you learned about yourself and serving others.
NOTE: To Those Who Were Unable To Participate In A Project- Even if you weren't able to participate in a project during the weekend, know that your presence in your group this week will be important to your group in reflecting on how God worked and praying for our community.

LOOKING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
1. What were one or two highlights for you at your work project(s)?

2. Looking back at your Weekend of Service experience, can you think of any ways God encouraged you, challenged you, or taught you something new about what it means to serve Him and/or others?
 
How could what you learned last weekend encourage you to think or live differently in the following areas?
  
     > Schedule             > Working with others
     > Attitude               > Serving others
     > Expectations       > Other

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1. Last week we prayed in our Growth Groups that our efforts from the weekend would create opportunities to show God's love and tell people about Jesus in the weeks, months and years to come.

At your project site did you have the opportunity to interact with anyone about the reason for the Weekend of Service, or to tell your story, etc.? If so, explain.

Since the event, have you had the opportunity to tell a friend, relative or co-worker about the Weekend of Service? If you did, what was their response?

2. How does the Weekend of Service line up with what Jesus taught in Matthew 5:13-16?
 
Matthew 5:13-16
    "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
    [14] "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. _^[NIV]

What could be some possible hindrances to the Weekend of Service not having a lasting impact?

3. As followers of Jesus, we are counted on to do something with what we know.  Beyond the Weekend of Service, how can we continue to "live out" the following passages and remain effective as a church in our community?
 
Ephesians 2:10 
        For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. _^[NIV]

1 Timothy 6:17-19
    Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. [18] Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. [19] In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. _^[NIV]

Philippians 2:3
    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. _^[NIV]

PRAYING FOR EFFECTIVENESS
God gives us the privilege and opportunity to pray for effectiveness in bringing others closer to Him.
Take a few minutes and pray for ...
 
... those you served - that they may see God's love and take steps to know Him.
  
... the specific organizations we partnered with in serving - that they may continue to be effective in meeting community needs.
  
... North Coast - that we may continue to grow in our effectiveness in reaching our community for Jesus and be a place where people want to grow and bring their friends.
  
... yourself - that you may know how to serve others with the attitude of Christ and have opportunities to tell others about Him.