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Remember When Our Daughter Had Spinal Cord Surgery?
It is hard to believe an entire year has gone by since our most difficult season ever as a family. But it was a full year ago, and God has blessed us immeasurably. The timeless lesson here is to trust God fully, and use every ounce of your strength to honor that trust in every way…
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups (Full Version)
My readers provided some very positive feedback about my previous series “The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups” so here are all five blog entries in one, single location. The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Share everybody’s personal information. When I friend you on Facebook, it doesn’t mean I want to buy Pampered Chef…
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Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (5 of 5)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Assume childcare is no big deal. The absolute dumbest thing you can do is claim small groups (or any other meeting for that matter) are essential and vital to your mission, and follow up with the phrase “childcare will not be provided.” Childcare is a really big…
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Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (4 of 5)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Make your small group into its own church. Your small group is the front line of your church disciple making strategy; it is not a separate entity. If you really believe your church is on the wrong track unless you do certain things against the church’s wishes…
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Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (3 of 5)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Micromanage your small group attendees. If you’ve ever said “We want life changing discussion to take place, and I’m glad tonight was the night you understood God wanted you to deal with some things, but we’re on a schedule and snack time just started” then you’re doing…
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Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (2 of 5)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: Don’t base your small group on spiritual information, but rather transformation. DON’T: Base a small group solely on a teaching topic or resource. When I was in High School, I got in trouble more often in boring lectures than I did with more interactive environments. The topic was irrelevant:…
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Do’s And Don’ts of Small Groups (1 of 5)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Small Groups: DON’T: Share everybody’s personal information. When I friend you on Facebook, it doesn’t mean I want to buy Pampered Chef from you, sell Mary Kay, or join your online business. And I really don’t want your friends to contact me either for a presentation, 15 minute video, or to…
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The Dangerous Power of Vulnerability
I don’t believe Jesus Christ unleashed the church on a dying world to work together as emotionally isolated and lonely souls bottling up our hurts and struggles. That just seems so counterintuitive. But then again, vulnerability indicates weakness, and weakness isn’t good. Right? Being vulnerable is a risky necessity to building trust with other believers…