We were made to know oneness. That is why loneliness is so painful. In the story of the Creation in the book of Genesis, a little refrain keeps recurring: “And God said…and it was so…and God saw that it was good.” The writer is emphasizing that everything that exists...

The five B.L.E.S.S. practices are the everyday ways that you are to love your neighbor and change the world. You will discover that these practices are grounded in the Old Testament but lived out by Jesus. They are: B: Begin with Prayer L: Listen E: Eat S: Serve S:...

We have all heard the expression “tip of the iceberg.” Icebergs form as the result of an accumulation of snow over hundreds of years. The bulk of the iceberg (about ⅞ of the mass) is below the surface of the water; only ⅛ of the iceberg is visible. Icebergs are white...

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Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the...

https://youtu.be/zCYlv0yrexE

There is no pain like the pain of loneliness. Lee Strobel wrote about the time Chicago Tribune columnist Marla Paul confessed in print a few years ago: I am lonely. “This loneliness saddens me,” she wrote. “How did it happen I could be forty-two years old and not have...

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This is our problem of methodology today. Well-intended ceremonies, programs, organizations, commissions, and crusades of human ingenuity are trying valiantly to do a job that can only be done by people in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not to depreciate these...

Create a new group. If your group has been subgrouping for quite a while, it may be time to release group members and create a new group. If evangelism is a high priority in your group, this can be a wonderful way for your original group to become two groups that can...

Often the word evangelism brings to mind a dynamic person speaking to large crowds about Jesus and giving an invitation for salvation. Some evangelists do speak to large, public crowds, but the truth is there are many approaches to evangelism and many different...

One of the most ironic remarks about the Bible I hear from time to time is when someone says that it’s a book about pious, stained-glass characters who do not reflect the real world. I always know that means they haven’t read it. Have you ever noticed how many...

Break into smaller discussion groups. During your group meeting, perhaps after you have all had a chance to catch up, divide into groups of three or four people. This fulfills three goals: It gives group members (especially the quiet ones) a chance for more prolonged...

Once you have learned and remembered someone’s name, your relationship has moved from stranger to acquaintance. That’s a crucial first step. However, Jesus didn’t tell us to become acquaintances with our neighbors; he called us to love them, and that means we need to...

One of the saddest experiences of my childhood happened on my tenth birthday. Invitations to the celebration were mailed days in advance to eight friends. It was going to be my best birthday ever. They all came to my house right after school. We played football and...

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The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship. It was true then and it’s true now that a healthy group will be focused on balancing those purposes. They...

https://youtu.be/wY0iEPua_jY

In certain stores you will find a section of merchandise available at greatly reduced prices. The tip-off is a particular tag you will see on all the items in that area. Each tag carries the same words: as is. This is a euphemistic way of saying, “These are damaged...

We are to worship God, not because his ego needs it, but because without worship, our experience and enjoyment of God are not complete. We worship God not so much because he needs it, but because we do. I need to worship. I need to worship because without it I can...

Every now and then, we need a tune up. We need to take our bodies to the doctor for a physical. We need to talk to a friend about our marriage. Our employers have us do year-end evaluations. Our cars need a tune up. And so do our small groups. This six week study will...

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EVENT IS 9AM -12PM PST LIVE EACH DAY. This year's annual "Lobby Gathering" small group training & networking event will be held online. About this Event Upon registration, attendees will receive exclusive access to our online event page that will feature various...

The debate over Sunday school versus small groups continues. Each side debates the merits of their system while pointing out the flaws in the other system. A common question is: “Does your church have Sunday school or small groups?” which is often a veiled way of...