I have a hard time thinking ahead – especially in the summer. But I am regularly encouraged to do so because when I/we think and plan ahead, good things can result!
The Segue Team (planning, implementing and overseeing the budding small group ministry) is recommending that we as a church go through a series of messages in the fall based on Crazy Love, a book by Francis Chan. Many of us have already read the book; some have even gone through a small group discussion of it. Suffice it to say that those who are familiar with the book are very excited to have our entire congregation work through the thoughts presented there.
This video gives you a taste of Francis Chan and his heart for ministry and the church.
Welcome Video from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.
Beginning on our kickoff Sunday, we will begin to focus our attention during the worship services to the ideas presented in the book. Our prayer is that this series of messages will really challenge us to take seriously God’s call on our lives and to ask, “Where are we at in following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?” Or, to ask it in a way more in keeping with the book, “How fully in love with God are we?”
More importantly, we will also be kicking off a number of small groups to “bring the message home.” We want the message and the ideas to literally be wrestled with in each one of our lives and in each one of our homes. These small groups will meet until Thanksgiving. In the winter of 2011, we will be offering more small groups focusing on a variety of different subjects.
So, what’s next? I need some help in thinking ahead! When we have done church-wide studies in the past, we have usually used materials supplied by others – including worship helps, visual ideas, etc. This time, we’re going it alone! To do this well, I/we need some help in brainstorming.
We’re looking for creative people who will be able to join together either June 29 from 9:00 – 10:30 at church or July 1 from 7:00 – 8:30 at my new house. In these meetings, I will present the overall vision for the study and begin to elicit some creative ways that we can visually draw our congregation in to the message. This may involve decorations in the Worship Center or Gathering Place, but could also be videos during worship, movie clips for during the sermon, thought-provoking items in the Gathering Place prior to worship, or…the skies the limit.
Following these two initial meetings, we will also gather on July 13th at 6:00 at the church to begin to draw the ideas together. We’ll have a potluck meal and enjoy some time together dreaming and planning.
If you are interested in helping, please let me know soon!
