Overcoming Guilt and Shame

Talking about guilt and shame can very heavy and difficult to discuss.

One of our Group Leader Essentials is modeling authenticity. The more vulnerable we can be, the more open our group members will be.

Our prayer is that group discussion and prayer times would give many in our church a safe place to share their hurts, guilt, and shame. But many will not feel safe enough to share anything below surface struggles.

Offer to be available to talk with group members privately if they would like to discuss their situation in a safer environment. Discussing deep guilt and pain in front of more than one person may be too difficult.

If someone shares a difficult situation with you that needs more guidance, please reach out to your Community Group Coach or Campus Pastor.

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Resource on leading your group to share authentically:

• How open should we expect our group members to actually be with each other?

• Where is the line between sharing openly and sharing too much?

• What barriers keep us from being real?

• How do we create an atmosphere where people feel safe enough to share what is really going on?

In this talk Jason DeGraaff and Brad Files address these questions and share how as group leaders we can live out Group Leader Essential #4 - Modeling Authenticity.

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Dangerous Prayers

This is our last week in our prayer series, and the last week of our Winter Community Group trimester before a 2-week break. Groups begin again the week of April 14th.

Here are 4 ideas for your prayer time this week:

1.     Confession: Share something you’ve been struggling with that you have not told others about. Ask for prayer for this.

2.     Read Psalm 139:23-24. Read this passage in your prayer time and pray those 3 prayers: Search me, Test me, Lead me.

3.     Private and Communal Prayers: Have each person spend 5 minutes in personal prayer, then spend 5-15 minutes praying all together.

4.     Prayer Partners for Community Group Break: Write your prayers on a 3x5 card or sticky note, then exchange cards with a prayer partner for the 2-week group break ahead. Connect with your partner at least 1x a week during the break.

The Seven Trumpets

This is the final week of the Community Group season.

As your group prepares for summer, take some time to do 3 things:

1. Review and set growth goals for the summer.

2. Put Summer Social dates on the calendar. (HERE are some ideas)

3. Ask your Group members for feedback about your group. (What do you like about our group? What would you change for next year?)

Swallowed by Mercy

THis is the last WEEK of the winter GROUP TRIMESTER. WE’D ENCOURAGE YOUR GROUP TO CELEBRATE COMMUNION TOGETHER AS WE FOCUS ON GOD’S MERCY IN THIS SERMON SERIES.

2019.03.03 - Aaron Hixson - "Swallowed By Mercy" Rock Bottom. You've been there, or you know someone who is there. It's nobody's definition of a good time. Yet, almost anyone will say that their lowest experience is one that left them changed - often for the better. This week, we're taking a dive into Jonah's lowest moment, and what God did in his heart when all seemed lost. Jonah 2

Redemption At A Cost

2018.10.21 - Drew Karschner - "Redemption at a Cost" Part 6 of 6 of the "Portraits of a King" Series Sin can be fun, exciting, and provide the thrill that we desire. That is often why we choose it. Yet sin can give us tunnel vision where we see the thrill, but miss the pain and cost that follows. David didn’t understand that until Nathan called him out, and David has had to deal with the cost of his decisions. David realized sin is never worth the price we must pay for it. 2 Samuel 12