Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering. I’ve made my choice; the verdict is in and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There is no turning back. I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes, with God’s people, on God’s planet, for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

Radicalis is many things: a way of life, a decision, a new paradigm, a returning to the raw things. It means “getting back to the root of things…”

That is what this is: a year-long, weekly curiculuum that trains, teaches and equips believers to get back to the root of things — back to Christianity like the Christ did it…

We’ll look at Jesus, His message, model and methods, and apply them to our lives today.

And the result? Radical Christians radically transforming the world back into what it was meant to be.

DOWNLOADS

*The material is presented as pdf and mp3 formats. You will need suitable progams to read/listen to the material. To save this content to your computer, please ‘right click’ (PC) or ‘control-click’ (Mac), and ‘save as…’.

Get Connected!

We believe that every committed attendee of KBC can now find the vital connection they need.

Comprehensive Community	Connection for Busy Lives	Activity-based Relationships
A “grow-together” meeting Meet regularly Meet in homes	A “touch-base together” meeting Meet regularly Meet at location that suits lifestyle	A “do-it-together” time Meet as required Meet anywhere
Includes: Community, Celebration, Cultivation, Care, Communication	Includes: Mutual accountability/prayer	Includes: Activities like sport, recreation, Street-teams etc.

WAYS TO GET CONNECTED
Fill in a group sign-on slip from the Welcome Desk, and hand it in. KBC Staff will then work with you and our group leaders to get you connected.
Alternately, you can contact Trish Hegarty via the KBC Office during the week.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

1. What type of group should I join?
   • We prefer that KBC regulars become part of a GROWTH Group. These are our most comprehensive expression of true biblical community and form the backbone of KBC’s community.
   • However, if time or circumstance makes this impractical, then perhaps a Life Group would be more suited to you. Life Groups are less-structured but provide ways for busy people to catch up and pray on the way to work, or when their schedule permits.
   • If you just want to join a bunch of people in an activity such as sport, outreach or recreation, then a Special Interest Group would suit you better. Contact our church office to find out what Special Interest groups are currently running.
   • Read below to find out more about our three types of groups.
2. What if my schedule means I can’t make it to an existing group?
   • Please be patient while we source leaders for a new group in your area (based on demand).
3. Can I lead or host a new group at my home?
   • We are always on the look out for new leaders. However we cant guarantee that there would be sufficient demand to populate a group your area. Please talk to us, though, and we will discuss options with you. Each type of group has varying levels of training required for the leader.
   • However, if you have a group of friends that want to meet as a Life or GROWTH Group, then there should be no problem!

IN DETAIL

GROWTH GROUPS
These intentional communities are the backbone of KBC’s community and care. There are around one hundred GROWTH Groups meeting all around Brisbane which are led by trained and competent leaders who ensure the group follows these purposes:

LIFE GROUPS
For those who just cannot make it to a weekly GROWTH Group, Life Groups offer a low-impact way to stay connected to a few friends. Some might meet for breakfast on the way to work, others might form a play group. We just ask that members keep each other accountable and are praying for each other. Some Life Groups are open to lots of newcomers, some are a safe place for a very few to offer support. The key is that they fit in with your life and feed into you appropriately.

Perhaps you can form a Life Group yourself with a few friends. Please just let us know at the office so we know that you are watching each other’s back.

If you would like to join an existing Life Group, let us know. As more groups come online we can keep you updated of new options.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
These groups are based around common interest, and form small communities which are great for doing life together. Currently there are groups for things like Cycling, 4 Wheel Driving, and Street Teams. They meet as required, and always have room for more. Contact us at the church office for more detail.

• Why do we need Life Groups?
• What is a Life Group?
• What is the difference between a Life Group and a GROWTH Group?
• What is not a Life Group?
• How do I join a Life Group?
• How do I start a Life Group?
• Are Life Groups open or private?
• What training do Life Group leaders get?
• What is expected of a Life Group leader from KBC?

Why do we need Life Groups?
Everyone needs to connect and be supported by others, particularly those with similar interests or circumstances. For some it’s not practical to get to a more structured, evening GROWTH Group. They can, however, meet with friends on the way to work, or during playground time for the kids. Life Groups are a low-impact way for people to connect and watch each others back without the necessity for preparation.

What is a Life Group?
A Life Group is a regular gathering where members can share and/or do activities. They are aware of each other’s needs, and offer a degree of support and prayer where needed.

What is the difference between a Life Group and a GROWTH Group?
A GROWTH Group is KBC’s primary vehicle for biblical community. They are regular gatherings where members enjoy a culture of Community, Celebration, Care, Cultivation, and Communication. Leaders are comprehensively trained and report regularly on the progress of the group. Life Groups are less formal and less structured groups, where connection is the primary purpose. Life Groups are not obliged to have a study or worship component, however we ask that members take time to pray for each other, and are watching each others back. See the grid below to help differentiate GROWTH Groups and Life Groups.

Life Groups v GROWTH Groups

What is not a Life Group?
Groups that do activities such as sport and recreation, but have no regular prayer for each other, or a sense of true community would not be regarded as Life Groups. These Special Interest Groups are based solely on joining people of common interest without any obligation or accoutability to each other.

How do I join a Life Group?
Friends can invite people to their existing group, or start a new one. As more groups spring up, KBC staff can help people looking for a group to locate or start a group that suits them. We can not, however, guarantee that an existing group will be available that meets everyone’s specific criteria.

How do I start a Life Group?
Simply find some friends of common interest that want to meet, and download the simple briefing sheet for new Life Group leaders. Let KBC staff know who is attending, and simply update them with any drop-outs or new members details as they occur.

Are Life Groups open or private?
Some groups are open to receiving new members, some are active in their outreach, while others are made up of a few supportive friends who have met quietly for years to offer private support and connection. This is entirely at the group’s discretion.

What training do Life Group leaders get?
A simple briefing sheet will be provided to outline the very few requirements of leaders. Life Group leaders are able to undertake further formal training in group skills and leadership alongside other group leaders if they so desire.

What is expected of a Life Group leader from KBC?
Life Group leaders are not necessarily trained representatives of KBC to the extent that GROWTH Group leaders are. It is expected that they agree with the vision and purposes of KBC and are supportive of KBC’s core beliefs and practices. The reporting requirement of Life Group leaders is to advise KBC staff of who is currently attending their group, and whether any new members join or existing members leave the group.

NEW for 2012!

Up to 1000 KBC’ers meet every week in our GROWTH Groups, and these will remain our main method of building community. But not everyone’s life situation allows them to meet for two hours every week at the same time.

But everyone has moments where they can touch base with a few friends to make sure someone knows how they are going. Mums can catch up at a play-group, business people can share a coffee on the way to the office, athletes can chat while they run. We all have these moments available in our lives. Likewise, some people are wanting to host a casual group, but feel that running a GROWTH Group is too large of a commitment.

So, for 2012 we are presenting KBC with a lighter, more flexible way to connect … Life Groups.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE GROUPS

At a Life Group, you may just get round a table for 30 min. and ask an accountability question. Or you may chat for an hour or more without needing to prepare much. You can then pray together before you go, and get on with your day! The idea is to fit in with what you are already doing, and/or meet where you are already going. Its all about connecting and having someone watch your back.

Life groups can not give the same depth of community and care that is afforded by GROWTH Groups where the leader is highly trained and the meetings more structured. But maybe all you have is 30 mins.! So lets make the most of it.

Life groups will kick-off in February 2012

Life Groups v GROWTH Groups

Want to start a Life Group?
Email trish.hegarty@kbc.org.au (or call the office), and let her know what you have in mind, and who you might be able to invite.

Want to be part of a Life Group?
Email trish.hegarty@kbc.org.au (or call the office), and we will begin matching people with groups as they come online. Be patient though, its all new!

Ever thought “I’m better than this!”?

You know what I mean, don’t you? You feel yourself react to a situation you have previously overcome, or you can’t find answers that normally come easily. Or you just feel below your best and can’t explain why.

Or, have you ever gotten to the end of a season where you have prepared, trained, studied and practiced, but it feels like 1 step forward, 2 steps back? Why do we sometimes behave or perform in ways that in earlier days would have been below our standard? Why do we cease to be the best of who we are?

I saw this played out starkly in my own life just yesterday, and I apologize in advance for again drawing on an illustration from cycling. I have been entered to do the cycling leg of a Tri-Athlon in February. My swimming and running teammates are strong in their field, and I don’t want to let them down, even though it is supposedly “all for fun”. I have been training and have a goal for the speed I want to achieve. To reach that goal, I figured that at certain dates along the way I should to have progressed in my speed by measurable amounts.

So I went out on my benchmarking ride yesterday with an expectation that I would be faster than my measurement from 6 weeks earlier. But I wasn’t faster, and what’s worse, I wasn’t even able to get close to my previous best! I had trained hard, eaten well (sort of), done everything that could be expected… but I had gotten slower!

So I did what every wannabe athlete does, I blamed the coach. But being the assertive type, he put it straight back onto me saying “Why we’re you trying to be your fasted when you had just worked your hardest at training the previous day?”

Now, I know the principle of extend-and-relax… you push beyond your limits, then rest for a period so your body or soul can re-build what has been destroyed through the exertion. I know that if we continually push ourselves without periods of rest, then eventually we break-down with a sudden fall.

Continuous Effort Not Only LIMITS Us, It LOWERS Us

What most of us don’t realize is that when we push ourselves mentally or physically for an extended period, we don’t just reach some consistent level of performance and stay there indefinitely. We might feel like we are able to hold our ground, knowing that we need to if we are to prevent our worlds falling apart around us.

But in actual fact we are already on a slide downwards. We simply can’t hold our ground indefinitely without seasons of rest, whether they be an hour, a day, a week or a month. I thought that even though I had done some heavy training the previous day, that I could go out again and at least stay close to the level that I had built up over the previous weeks. But my body said, “No way!”. I had greatly decreased my capacity temporarily by not resting first and allowing the re-creation process to do its work.

And it IS temporary. The real you can come back, better than before … if you allow God to re-build and re-create you.

All Gain Has A Cost

Many at KBC, especially us leaders, have had challenging years. From floods, to sickness, to heart-ache, and even the more positive challenges like personal break-through and increased fruitfulness. But it ALL comes at a price … either physically, spiritually mentally or emotionally. 2011 has made a withdrawal from your account, and you need God to make a deposit!

It is time to take a break and be re-created! You may not be able to take a holiday, and you may not be able to get away from family pressure … but you simply must find a way to allow God to sit you down in His green pastures to restore your soul (Psalm 23). Ask your family and friends to help you out with this. Explain to them your need, and see if you can work out a plan where everyone gets their shot at unwinding. Its too important to ignore.

Most Of Us Live Too Close To The Limit

You may be aware of what happens if you go beyond your limit. None of us want to suffer physical or emotional break-down. So we do what we can to stay away from that line. But most of us are way too close for comfort … and we do it thinking that as long as we don’t cross the line, we can keep going. You can, but in an ever-decreasing way.

That’s not living, its existing. And it is definitely not God’s design, or His best for you. He wants to bring you back to life (John 10:10), He wants you to be the real you, not just a shadow. Living close to our limit for too long will result in a steady decline, not a status quo.

Please rest this Christmas season. Take time out with God and family to re-charge your batteries. We will all still be here when you get back, and 2012 will be a season of abundant fruit … but only if we are abiding in the Vine (John 15:1–8)

I will be praying for you, that God’s grace will fill your soul and meet your deepest needs.

Blessings,
Pat Hegarty

Welcome to The Journey

The Journey is a new church-wide alignment series, covering services and GROWTH Groups. Through this series we are hoping that corporately, we will experience God through the Scriptures, desiring and knowing how to play our part within the ongoing story of God’s mission.

The Journey will run for four Sundays, starting July 24, 2011.

This series is based upon the 4 session DVD project “The Journey”, released by The Bible Society.
These sessions are:

• Session One: Pilgrim—explores what is the Bible.
• Session Two: Lost—explores what kind of story we’re in.
• Session Three: Bearings—explores why God’s Word is worth trusting.
• Session Four: Travel—explores how to faithfully enter God’s epic story.

We will supply all the GROWTH Group leaders with a copy of The Journey DVD, and you can access a PDF version of the Leader and Participant guides below.

Please ensure you collect your DVDs from the KBC Office. You can also download this document, which expands on both the participant and leader materials below.

Preview The Journey

People get down on what they aren’t up on.

Where there is change and uncertainty, there is usually complaining—even if everyone agrees that the change is necessary. Which they usually don’t.

Just look at the situation Moses found himself in. He was releasing slaves from bondage, and they still complained about it constantly, preferring to go back into chains. Imagine it, they preferred to be abused than to face uncertainty! That’s how unsettling change can be. So, before KBC begins contemplating a season of increased transitional pressure, it pays for you as a leader to be ready for the potential tensions that come as things begin to change.

So what do you do when the people start vocalising strong opinions that are potentially ill-informed? What do you say when people disagree with new direction and you find yourself agreeing with them? What is an appropriate response when everyone in the room assumes that what you do or don’t say represents the policy and beliefs of KBC? It’s hard to be in that chair!

Be a Peacemaker
Making peace is very different from keeping the peace. Making peace requires some engagement, correction and leadership. Silence is seldom the right leadership response to a negative conversation, because it infers your agreement. You need to speak up and declare your position or response. That response may be that you will pass on a person’s concerns or help them do it personally, or you may correct wrong assumptions, or you may agree and take responsibility for raising the concern as your own. KBC’s leadership is always wanting to hear and serve the people of our fellowship, that’s why they are here!

However, the role of peace-maker requires that a potentially divisive or damaging issue find a conclusion. Declare KBC’s position where you know it (or commit to find out if you don’t). You are looking for a resolution where possible, not an environment where the issue can continue to be raised and fester. It can be very helpful to make a statement like, “OK, you have raised your concerns and we have agreed on how to move forward—are we now done with this?”. It gives you permission to halt any further unnecessary feeding of the issue.

Dump up — Encourage Down
We all have our opinions and frustrations. But where we decide to air them can have huge ramifications. The best rule-of-thumb for the sharing of frustration is to do it “up-line”. Those who oversee us often have access to broader information, and can offer corrective explanation or understanding to us when we feel the burden of our circumstance. And besides that, its just part of their role to listen-to and support you, and in doing so relieve you of some pressure. It won’t break them! We dump up, and we encourage down, feeding only life into those we care for.

If you dump your frustrations downwards the results are very different. Firstly you have modeled a wrong practice by spreading negativity without seeking a resolution. Secondly, you have multiplied the problem by giving them permission to do the same. And if the situation is based on opinions that are false, that’s REALLY bad! Thirdly, it hurts those who look up to you because some of those we lead aren’t able to cope with the idea that the world of Christian leadership contains a degree of imperfection. Many immature believers have walked away from churches when they are unnecessarily over-exposed to cracks in leadership. We should not be people who cover-up truth, but we should be wise in the process of delivering truth.

Build Bridges
Negative opinions and arguments lead us to pigeon-hole people. We put them in boxes, the walls being the opinions and traits we believe they possess. We label them, and once in their box we can imagine all sorts of other evils, vilifying them beyond reason. This of course results in us isolating people. We keep a distance from those we judge and want them to stay away from us. It’s a combination pain-avoidance for ourselves, and punishment for them. But isolating ourselves and others destroys the body rather than giving it hope to grow and change.

Its hard to communicate with those we disagree with. But rather than building walls, we need to be mature enough to build bridges. Where possible we should eradicate any line that separates and instead build a step or mechanism of openness and communication. We need to keep talking! Don’t let issues fester—help those you lead to take a constructive step of openness and understanding.

These three principles are simple, but are great tools in moving forward together in God’s purpose. As Paul says: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3). It takes effort to bring peace, it seldom happens in the absence of intentional leadership. You are an authorised peace-maker for KBC, may God bless you and give you wisdom in that role.

Osama may be gone, but reli­giously motiv­ated viol­ence still shakes the world. Many people rightly won­der if the real issue traces back to reli­gious texts them­selves. Per­haps ter­ror is in the mind of God? The Bible — espe­cially the Old Test­a­ment — is replete with divinely sanc­tioned viol­ence. So, what are we to make of this? How do God’s justice and mercy relate? How can any­one trust this seem­ingly bi-​​polar God, for­cing one minute and for­giv­ing the next? How do we integ­rate Joshua con­quer­ing Jericho with Jesus for­giv­ing Jer­u­s­alem? We’ve done the message, but now you can continue the discussion in your GROWTH Groups. So get the resources, and join the dis­cus­sion as we explore how God’s got the whole world in His hands, both the right hand of power and the left of grace, together in the full­ness of love.

Video Resources

• Watch the message here.
• Download the mp3 here.

Group Resources

• Full Message Transcript (with images)[PDF file]
• Message Outline (PDF file)
• GROWTH Group Discussion Guide

How do you measure the success of your meetings? Do you even try? Is it even valid to measure such a thing as the “success” of a meeting?

If we define “success” as our ability to meet a worthy goal, then yes, we can and should measure it. Romans 12:8 reminds those who lead to do so with ALL diligence. That means we inspect our work to ensure it has been effective and complete. It’s not to give ourselves a pass/fail, and then have to deal with the guilt or pride that may come with it. But rather to be as faithful as possible with the people God has placed under our care.

A valid goal should include things like:

• The ability to have some control over the outcome
• A way to measure a win
• It provides steps towards the longer term vision of the person or group.

In the STEP 4 course, we went into great detail as to the goals of GROWTH Groups, so I wont re-cover that ground other than to say that the environment of the group is one where life-change takes place. It is supposed to be a transformational setting where truth meets life. So any goal you may have should be one that is aimed at the application of truth.

But you may think, “But how do I fit in sharing? And what about prayer? And some days the group just goes a different direction to what I planned … one question or comment just leads to another!”

It’s true, sometimes God (or some over-assertive group member) just has other plans for the night. But over the weeks and months, a leader should (under God) be able to discern the right direction for the group members, and it is our responsibility to stay on track. Where possible, be intentional about where each segment of the night goes … direct prayer towards the topic at hand; guide conversation towards the real point of the night. All roads should lead to your goal … even if a few twists and turns are encountered on the way.

For the leader, the biggest challenge is usually to identify the “one thing” to focus on. Start by asking yourself questions like “What do I want the group members to change or do?”. Then form a concise statement around that.

Valid impact points might be:
• To make a plan to remove identified blockages to spiritual hunger.
• To pray fervently for group members to receive grace in their area of deepest need.
• To personally apply a principle from this week’s sermon

Notice that each point has an action component. Success can be measured, it is either done or it isn’t. Occasionally there will be a goal of “understanding” where time constraints mean that the members can only learn something specific that will lead to action later.

But this should not be the norm or the rule … GROWTH Groups are not Bible Studies where our minds are purely expanded. The truth should lead to transformation. Information can be obtained from books or podcasts, and done in isolation … the group environment provides a unique setting where community can activate and challenge.

Invalid impact points might include:
• To have the group members surrender their lives totally to God.
(We cant control people’s hearts, our goal can only be to invite them to life and create an environment where surrender is encouraged)
• To have members commit to leading someone to Christ in the next month.
(Again, we cant control the outcome so it becomes a hope, not a goal)
• To have everyone understand the magnitude of God’s love.
(Again, this is an issue of the heart that requires God’s help [Eph. 3:16–19]. We can have a goal to pray for it, but not for the members to embrace it)

There is a lot of power in developing an impact point for your meetings … especially if you have a clear picture of where the group should be heading. Do you have that? If not, check out this article on taking small steps toward your groups preferred future.

Finding focus for your meetings is much easier when you know what the next step for your group is. Of course, you can only know that if you know the direction you are heading.

Our goal as leaders is to do what Jesus did, to invite people to God’s version of an abundant life as defined in the Spiritual DNA. That means we describe that life; we are on the journey to living more of that life personally; we long to have others join us; and we have an idea of how to get there.

There are three parts to the process of leading this way:

1. Constantly build a vision of a preferred future
We need to show people what life looks like. If we don’t have it ourselves (its ok to be honest!), then we should seek out examples of those who do. Show testimonies on DVD, get in guest speakers, read biographies … find ways to show examples of what the normal Christian life from the New Testament looks like.
By doing this you are giving people a vision worth aiming for … a reason to “live”

2. Make it plain that staying in the present is unthinkable
Show people constantly that to stay in our mess permanently is an unthinkable option. People refuse to advance because its too hard, its not worth it, or they are just too satisfied with their current state. Jesus would say things like “A tree that bears no fruit gets cut-off”. The listeners would think …“I don’t want to get cut off! The fruitful life sounds much better, I need to get going and bear fruit, how do I do that?”

3. Provide easy steps of progress
These easy steps become the impact point of our meetings. They become the “it” that we just do! They must be small enough to be able to be taken, and simple enough to be applied immediately. The steps might include:

• Adopt one new spiritual discipline that cultivates the spiritual hunger in each persons’ life
• Teach into the various forms of worship, then experiment with them together
• Identify one person that we will pray for daily to be drawn to Christ, and whom we will bless practically.

On a personal note … as a leader of people, I find it hardest to carry out the 3 steps above if I am not on a journey to a more abundant life myself. If I stagnate, so do the people around me, and I bet it’s the same for you. Are you passionate for more of God? Do you long to find more empowerment and freedom, to have greater compassion for others, and the desire to lead others to Christ?

If not, then take your first steps by re-envisioning yourself. Read the stories of radical and fruitful Christians, hang around those on a journey of life, ask God to reveal more about His nature and grace to your heart. As a leader, our first responsibility is to lead ourselves well. Don’t die to self so much that you actually die … God wants you alive and thriving! “Guard your heart, for out of it spring all the issues of life”. (Proverbs 4:23)

In 2011, our first church-wide alignment season is called “Connect One”. We ask all groups to participate in a one-session group study on their normal meeting night, and all those who are physically able to join us on the morning of Yes We Care (May 28th) as we reach out and serve our community. These alignment seasons are vital in church life as it gives us the opportunity to focus on the same issue that we believe God would have us prioritise. It also allows us to synergise our efforts and accomplish a greater good than we would as individual groups.

Leaders, please confirm your involvement in Yes We Care by filling in this online form

Its Very Simple
We heard your feedback throughout last year in regard to our church-wide alignment seasons. You want them simple, relevant to our local context, and you want them to be “us”. How does one simple group-study, and one half day of service to your neighbours sound? C’mon, it sounds great — admit it!

At your Huddle night (17 May) you as group leader will receive instructions for the following week, and also the simple hand-out style group studies for your group members for your meeting of the week of 23–28 May. You will also receive a group-leaders guide to help you facilitate the discussion. The study should only take 45–60 minutes, leaving you time to worship and pray as normal at your meeting.

Involvement in “Yes We Care” only requires a few hours on the morning of May 28th. Everyone will be briefed in advance of what they should bring in regard to implements etc.



Confirm Now Your Involvement as a Group Leader
We have placed a very simple form online here where you can confirm your involvement in Yes We Care, or if needed to expalin why your group cannot participate. We understand that some groups are made up of predominantly elderly or even disabled members. But either way, please advise whether you are to be involved or not as the organisers need to know how many groups and leaders are available. You will also be asked if you are available to pay a preliminary visit to a house to ascertain what jobs and tools will be needed. Click here to let us know your availability.



There is a text message coming!
In the next ten days, a church-wide text message (SMS) will be broadcast to all KBC’ers who are on our database. It will ask the receiver to text straight back with a yes or no response to their involvement in Yes We Care. We will then know how many people we can assign on the day of the event.

For Your Diary

Huddle (May 17) — All group leaders will meet togetherin the sanctuary for briefing and resources for the following week. You may have noticed there will actually be two Huddle nights for you in 2011, rather than the orignally specified one. Sorry!
Sunday (22 May) — Dave Benson will preach on the Connect-One vision
Your Group Meeting (23–28 May) — Where you facilitate through the alignment-based material
Yes We Care (28 May) — Meet for BBQ Breakfast. Then out for the morning
Sunday (29 May) — Yes We Care Celebration Service

We are running Yes We Care differently this year, with the launch of Yes We Care Connect One — Home.

Please take a moment to connect with your GROWTH Group, and then fill out the form below to register your interest. We will contact you before any assignments or details are given — this is a preliminary registration process.

Thanks for taking your time to register, and we look forward to partnering with you to impact our city!

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Good leadership multiplies itself. Rather than having a goal of running a group meeting that attracts and keeps people amused (how’s that working out for you?), the leader’s goal should be to provide a pathway of development for the group members. That may mean that some are nurtured through a rough period, that’s a journey. But for the most part, our group members are NOT in a crisis, they are just in the midst of doing life, and responding to the various responsibilities of work and relationships. When it comes to group nights, they may treat it as “me time”, a chance to receive without responsibility. But true community is always a two-way street. We can’t determine to just turn up in a room full of people each week so we can suck the life out of it! We should be prepared to give of who we are, and receive from who our friends really are.

A constant challenge for our group leaders is how to have their members engage and contribute on the night. There is one tactic that can work a treat to address this — it’s called the “burden of command”. Military officers use this in times of conflict. They find a potentially troublesome and un-engaged soldier, and they give them a key responsibility that, if not performed, will have effects on the whole troop. Now they can’t just slack off, or everyone pays a price … they feel the “burden of command”.

We apply this in the GROWTH group context by allocating a key part of the meeting to members of the group, having them on-roster so it is not an every-week thing. This year provides you a great opportunity to use the “burden of command” to great effect. Our daily reading plan and SOAR guide gives a great tool for spiritual development. I suggest that every group allocate time where a member or two brings a SOAR study from the previous weeks reading. The group leaders “prep” time (rather than doing a study) should be to chat with the person prior to the meeting and discuss the “Application and Response” issues and ensure there is a good discussion question or two to finish.

And here is the burden of command … if there is no SOAR study, there is no meeting! Don’t try to fill the gap with your own study, just graciously call that part of the night off. Sure, have some fellowship time if you like, but make sure that if there is no SOAR study, that everyone goes home early. That way you are not penalising failure, but you are not rewarding it either.

Tips for How to Prepare a SOAR Study

• Click here to subscribe to KBC’s SOAR study email, where a pastor gives their thoughts on a passage from the KBC reading plan.
• Click here for full instruction on preparing a study
• Click here for a SOAR summary page, where you fill in your own comments and questions

Find all the resources for the Logos Message “God’s Two Books: Integrating Science & Scripture” here.

• Study Guide (pdf reproducible)
• Streaming Video/Audio download
• More Information about the talk

These are the basics, the non-negotiables… the bare essentials that ensure you can run and guide a healthy GROWTH Group. Even the most skilled tradesperson needs the right tools, and with these in your toolkit, you can be sure the crucial building blocks are in place.

1. A clear idea of what a healthy group looks like.
Believe it or not, this is where many group failures begin, although it doesn’t become obvious until later when the group members start feeling bored, or weigh up if its worth showing up each week. The lack of direction and purpose for the group, results in people asking “why are we here again?”. In accordance with the long-held and proven “5C’s”, we have stated that a group wins when:

• We cultivate healthy, contributing relationships – through open, honest sharing (Community).
• We remember the reason we meet – acknowledging and thanking God for His attributes and works (Celebration).
• We promote applicable GROWTH toward the DNA – finding ways to apply truth to life (Cultivation).
• We let no-one stand alone – by being aware of needs, and ensuring they are met (Care)
• We multiply the influence of the group – by adopting an outreach project, and equipping members to grow others as they have been grown (Communication).

Detail on these wins and how to apply them can be found in the separate Hub article called “What Does a Successful GROWTH Group look like”. At different stages of group life, these five wins will ebb and flow in emphasis. The end goal of these purposes is that the group members are shepherded on a journey towards a multiplying lifestyle.

2. A safe/comfortable meeting place
Group gatherings need to be a pleasant experience in a practical sense. Few people have the perfect house, and there never seems to be enough room, but we can do a few simple things to make the space we have more relaxing and less distracting. Here are a few ideas:

• Work together as a family to get the dinner plates washed-up and the house in order.
• Avoid over-harsh lighting
• Have worship music playing as people arrive
• Use a reliable sound system to run worship music, using a play-list, DVD, or CD
• Have enough chairs for group members
• Have a child-supervising roster and a room allocated for young children, so kids can be amused without unnecessarily distracting the group time.

3. Group agreement
This is the single most powerful tool to ensure your group environment is healthy and hospitable. Group agreements define the “rules of engagement” for the group, relating to: attendance; behaviour; participation; group goals; etc.. Spend a few minutes over a number of weeks asking questions and getting feedback on what group members would like to see in the group. If a group has input into how the group should operate, there is great buy-in and consistency in how it is applied over time. A group agreement template can be download from the Hub that provides some key elements of a group agreement.

4. Session Planner
Also available to download from the Hub, the planner helps you be clear on: what you are trying to achieve for the meeting; who is responsible for each task, and how the flow and timing of the night should go (subject to God’s intervention!). Structured to include the 5 wins, the planner is a simple but powerful tool.

These are the tools. As for leadership skills, such as: facilitating great discussions, leading a ministry time, re-centring the heart; and building passion in the group … they will come in future articles. You can also learn about them by participating in the STEP 4 – Passing It On course.

Unplugged: Ima­ging God in a High Tech World

In the begin­ning God planted a garden and He put us in it: “Fill the earth and sub­due it! Tend and care for this planet as I tend and care for you.” When we garden God’s way, we mir­ror His image to all cre­ation. “And God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”

The call to cul­tiv­ate lies behind cul­ture, while the com­mis­sion to sub­due the world requires study and tech­nique — the found­a­tion for sci­ence and tech­no­logy. It’s no coin­cid­ence that the Bib­lical story starts in a garden and ends in a land­scaped city. Sci­ence and tech­no­logy are part of God’s plan to bless the world and reflect His image. And to vary­ing degrees, as God sees the tools we use and the cul­ture we’ve made, He still pro­nounces it “very good.”

The issue is how we jour­ney from the garden to the city. On that tra­gic day when we ate the for­bid­den fruit, tech­no­logy became both a bless­ing and a curse. Would our sci­ence care for or con­sume this garden planet? Do our devices draw us into God’s pres­ence, or depress our desire for His King­dom? Would our tech­niques to form and trans­form the world mag­nify or mutil­ate the image of God in us?

How would Jesus live in this kind of world? If we’re ser­i­ously about fol­low­ing Jesus and seek­ing first His King­dom, then how should we live in an elec­tronic environment?

How do we image God in a high tech world? It’s time to get unplugged.

Download the Growth Group Study notes here.

October 17 thru November 21

KBC will be undertaking a major campaign during October and November called “One Month To Live”. It focusses on re-assessing life-priorities and ensuring our lives are investing in those things that really matter. The program has been run in the US with huge success, and even entire towns have combined to participate. The material incorporates sermons, daily readings and group content to help enforce the concepts.

With similar levels of impact as 40 Days of Purpose, we are using this program to facilitate the following important functions:

• To inspire and equip KBC’ers to re-calibrate their life-balance
• As an outreach to the community and possibly the businesses in our area
• As a catalyst for launching and populating KBC groups
• To familiarise the church with the impact of KBC’s own GROWTH Plan

We are asking all KBC GROWTH Groups to play a part by:

• Participating in the material as a group
• Opening the group to new potential members
• Be open & prepared to multiply their groups if possible and required
• Invite friends and family who would not normally attend a “church” event

Cost for the material is $15 per participant. KBC will be purchasing Group Kits which include DVD’s and books for 12, and if you require more or less than 12 for your group we will obviously work in. The study material is included in the book itself. For more information, check out their site at www.onemonthtolive.com.

Registration will be done as groups. Please let us know whether your group is participating in the event, and how many books you require for your group. Inform your group members to NOT register personally.

More information will be available here as the launch date approaches.

“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1)

APPLYING TRUTH TO LIFE
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to take a look at the practical work of preparing a GROWTH Group study. As a part of a GROWTH Group meeting, studies can help us learn to apply truth to life. If you’re the designated leader of the group, ultimately it is your responsibility to guide the members of the group through the stages of group life, and much of that navigation is done in the group meetings themselves. The skill of conducting great meetings is one that combines many factors, none of them overwhelming in themselves, yet all significant in their application.

Over the next 5 weeks, we will equip you to prepare a study based on scripture, that will inform and empower those in the meeting. To help you with this process, we have supplied a guide (Preparing a Bible Study) that you can use to record your notes and questions.

Before commencing the process of putting together a study, it is beneficial to remind yourself of exactly who will be in the room when it is delivered. Author John Ortberg coined the helpful phrase “You have to put the hay where the horses can eat it”. He was making the point that truth is always wonderful, but it isn’t transformational until it can be grasped, understood and applied. Likewise, if the group is one that learns best through visual, auditory or experiential means, then some forethought must go into determining how to present the truth in ways it can be most effectively absorbed by them. In this regard, you may need to consider the use of DVD teachings, music, practical exercises or conventional spoken methods in the delivery of the study.

1. TEACHING GOAL
One of the most challenging yet beneficial facets of study preparation is the task of defining the goal of the teaching. Preferably, you should be able to define that goal in one sentence. It may be something like: “To have the group internalise the value of people so they will be motivated to reach out”, or: “To understand and apply God’s forgiveness”. Note that “Filling up the teaching time” is not really an acceptable goal! The goal should have an element of measurable transformation attached to it, whether the change is in belief, character or action.

The key to setting a goal that is more than just a random line in the sand is to apply SERVE skill number one: See Ahead to a preferred future. More than anyone else in the group, the leader will be aware of how the group is positioned along the stages of the group’s development continuum. This will assist you in determining whether the group is more in need of learning aimed at belief, practice, outreach, community or spiritual development.

In the absence of some strategic initiative on the leader’s part (albeit clothed in a degree of consultation) the group can quickly descend into a situation we might call Curriculum Gridlock. This often appears when someone in the group asks: “What should we study next?” As innocent as that question can be, it opens the door for each person to passionately suggest a theme of interest that suits their current phase of curiosity. A no-win situation then results since the potential denial of a request will bring tension, especially if you have no real reason to not comply; or, if you do comply, then the study series will potentially serve no strategic purpose for the overall direction of the group. If that logic sounds harsh, consider the consequences of what is not being accomplished for the Kingdom because just one group of people have bogged down in admirable, but probably unproductive material. Romans 12:8 states that if we are leaders, we are to lead diligently. That needn’t be an onerous responsibility, but it will require us to be intentional. Where possible we are to facilitate the journey of the group towards multiplication.

Therefore, when considering which material to use for your study material, always take the time to dwell on where the group is at, where they are to be going, and what steps might help to bridge that gap. Then you can articulate your goal by answering two questions:
1) What would you like the group to do or change?
2) Why?

At times you will simply use externally produced material for your study component, however there will certainly be seasons where you will require some personally developed, Bible-based studies that reflect what you believe to be God’s reasonable direction for the group. To aid you in that process we suggest you use a tool called SOAR (yes, another acronym!) to guide you in forming a scripturally sound study session.

Scripture
Observation
Application
Response

Next week we’ll examine S for Scripture…

Written by Pat Hegarty, from STEP 4 — Passing It On.
STEP 4 Resources — ©2009 Kenmore Baptist Church. For more information on STEP 4, and the Pathways Spiritual Development program, visit us here