ChristChurchSmallGroups.com

ChristChurchFW.com

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:55:00 +0000

This weekend Christ Church launched its brand new website at www.ChristChurchFW.com. There's tons of great content on the site as well a numerous ways you can connect with Christ Church including:

So take a few minutes and check www.ChristChurchFW.com. And then do us a favor and share the site with your friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, and word of mouth.

2011/2012 Connection Groups

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Our 2011/2012 season of Connection Groups launches the week of September 11th. Sign-ups begin Sunday, August 14th. This year we have 50 Connection Groups to choose from. Some of the curriculums groups are studying include:

Connection Groups are a great place to connect with people and connect with God. Each group embraces four simple practices: Eat Together, Learn Together, Pray Together, and Help Together. There are five ways you can sign-up for a group:

1. Online (Browse Groups Here)

2. Sunday Morning in the Foyer

3. The Connect Card in the Weekly Bulletin

4. Call the Christ Church Office at 817-292-9292

5. Call a Connection Group Host Directly

For more information about Connection Groups, feel free to call Christ Church at 817-292-9292.

Spring 2011 Connection Group Semester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:39:00 +0000

Our Connection Groups Spring 2011 semester begins soon. This semester our groups are studying a variety of topics including books of the Bible, prayer, marriage, parenting, life purpose, influence, community, Jesus, and more. Our meeting dates this semester are the week of:

January 30th
February 13th
February 27th
March 13th
March 27th
April 10th
May 1st

If you want to learn more about Connection Groups or browse our groups, click here. Or, if you want to lead your own Connection Group click here. Make plans now to be a part of a group where you can connect with friends, God, and opportunities to make a difference.

Workplace Small Groups

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:25:00 +0000

Sometimes we think small groups are limited to the comfort of our home. But every semester we have hosts who choose to lead a group on their job. For many leaders, a workplace group gives them the opportunity to engage in spiritual discussions with spiritual explorers, connect with Christ followers at work, and cultivate stronger connections with co-workers.

Throughout the years of small group ministry at Christ Church, workplace groups have always played a valuable role. We've seen groups hosted at:

Public School
Insurance Agencies
Car Dealerships
Radio Shack Headquarters
MillerCoors
Local Businesses

So what about you? Maybe God wants to use you to start a small group on your job. Interested? Call Stephen Blandino at 817-292-9292 or email me at sblandino@christchurchfw.com. We'll help you get started, provide you with some practical training, and give you the curriculum to get the ball rolling.

You Are: What God Has to Say About You

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:52:00 +0000

This fall Christ Church is doing a brand new study in our Connection Groups titled, You Are: What God Has to Say About You. This 6-session curriculum looks at six different passages of Scripture. You'll learn:

You Are Chosen

You Are Salt

You Are Light

You Are The Body of Christ

You Are The Branches

You Are Blessed

It's going to be a fantastic study as we set aside what our culture says about us and listen to what God has to say. If you would like to facilitate a Connection Group this fall, contact Pastor Stephen at 817-292-9292 for more information. If you've never led a group, you can click here for more details.

Want to Facilitate a Connection Group this Fall?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:53:00 +0000

We are preparing to launch a new semester of Connection Groups very soon. Connection Groups are an amazing place to connect with people, walk out your faith in Christ, and be involved in ministry. Each semester we hear over 100 answers to prayer in Connection Groups at Christ Church as well as powerful testimonies of God changing lives.

Maybe you've been a part of a Connection Group in the past. If so, I'd like to challenge you to take a new step of faith. Rather than joining a group, I'd like you to consider facilitating your own group. It's really not that difficult and the payoff can be huge. Not sure if it's for you? Consider this:

Do you have a heart for people and a heart for God?
Can you open your home, a workplace, or meet at a Starbucks once every couple of weeks?
Can you serve a few refreshments?
Do you have a few friends that you could invite to join you?

If you answered yes to those questions, then you might be surprised at how God will use you to facilitate your own Connection Group. And here's the good news: we'll provide you with some practical training, easy-to-use curriculum (no teaching...just asking questions), and get you started in the right direction.

Interested? Want to learn more? Contact Pastor Stephen Blandino at Christ Church at 817-292-9292 or click here for more information. Our leader training is Sunday, August 15th and our new semester begins the week of Sunday, September 12th. Take a step of faith and watch God work.

What If...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:48:00 +0000

On Wednesday, June 23rd, we're launching a 6-week class titled, "What If: 4 Questions Every Small Group Leader Should Ask." The class will meet in room 120 at Christ Church and I'd like to invite you to be a part of it. We'll be using a brand new video curriculum featuring Alan Danielson. Together we'll examine four crucial questions to stimulate small group health:

What if we cared?
What if we were honest?
What if we failed?
What if we got off the couch?

Make plans to join us at 7:00 PM sharp in room 120. Snacks, lots of discussion, and great training.

Spring 2010 Connection Groups

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:23:00 +0000

The spring 2010 Connection Groups are up and running. After a huge success last semester with 776 people enrolled in Financial Peace University and a nearly $1.2 million dollar collective financial turn around in only 13 weeks for the families that participated, we are returning to our regular Connection Group model: Eat Together, Learn Together, Pray Together, Help Together.

If you haven't signed up for a Connection Group, it's not too late to do so. Click here to view this semester's Connection Groups. Or, if you need help finding a group, call us at Christ Church at 817-292-9292. This semester we are studying a brand new curriculum titled, Risk: Living Above the Normal. We'll be looking at Hebrews 11 as we learn to take bold risks to advance the Kingdom of God.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University - Coming this Fall to Christ Church

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:56:00 +0000

The new fall 2009 Connection Group semester will be launching soon. This year our groups are doing something we've never done before. For ONE semester only, we are brining all of our Connection Groups ON-CAMPUS and will meet WEEKLY for 13-weeks. Why are we doing this? Because all of our groups will be studying Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. FPU is a 13-week biblically based small group curriculum featuring a weekly video teaching with Dave Ramsey followed by group discussion. FPU addresses a wide spectrum of financial issues including savings, communicating about money, aggressive debt elimination, investing, college funding, purchasing decisions, real estate, and more. The average family that participates in Financial Peace University eliminates $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 during the 13-week course. Group members can sign-up online at www.DaveRamseyFW.com.

We have 59 small group facilitators lined up to facilitate groups this fall. In addition, we are offering on-campus FPU Connection Groups at seven times:

Sundays at 9:15 AM (Beginning August 30th)
Sundays at 1:00 PM (Beginning August 30th)
Sundays at 5:00 PM (Beginning August 30th)
Mondays at 6:30 PM (Beginning August 24th)
Wednesdays at 6:45 PM (Beginning August 26th)
Thursdays at 6:00 PM (Beginning August 27th)
Saturdays at 9:00 AM (Beginning August 29th)

The cost for the 13-week FPU course is $99.00 per family and includes the FPU curriculum kit (workbook, cash envelope system, all 13 sessions on CD, and Dave's book, Financial Peace). A payment plan is available as well as a limited number of scholarships. You can sign-up online at www.DaveRamseyFW.com, via the church office, or before and after Sunday services in the main foyer.

Connection Groups Vision Banquet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Well another semester of Connection Groups is behind us. I appreciate so much the work of our hosts and coaches to invest in people and help others experience Biblical community. As the semester closes, I'd like to invite all of our current and former Connection Group hosts and coaches to the Connection Group Vision Banquet on Sunday, May 31st at 5:00 PM. We'll be serving a special dinner to honor our hosts and will be sharing an exciting vision for the fall of 2009. We have something completely new that we will launch with our Connection Groups this fall--it's like nothing we've done before and I'm looking forward to sharing the details with you. So make plans to join us on May 31st. To make reservations, contact Buff Moncus at 817-292-9292 or at bmoncus@christchurch-ag.org. Free childcare will be provided for nursery - 6th grade.

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:13:00 +0000

Here's the final post in the Eat, Learn, Pray, Help series. Reviewing the practices identified in Acts 2:42-47, we are challenged to:

Eat Together - "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."
Learn Together - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."
Pray Together - "They devoted themselves to...prayer."

But there's one more practice that is essential to cultivating Biblical community--Help Together. Acts 2:45 says, "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." A very real part of community in the early church was helping one another and serving people in need. This is essential to keep your group from becoming totally inward focus. Here's a few thoughts on how your group can Help Together to make a difference:

1. Talk About It - Often times the act of serving one another is overlooked because we simply do not bring it up during our group meetings. This can be a valuable part of your discussion and prayer time.

2. Serve the Needs of Group Members - There have been several occasions in the past that my Connection Group has visited group members in the hospital, provided a meal on the day of a funeral after a member lost a loved one, given an offering to a family in need, and provided meals during and after an extended sickness. This is a very practical way to show your group that you care.

3. Volunteer in the Community - Work as a group together to serve a need in the community. There are plenty of serving opportunities with organizations such as a Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Safe Haven of Tarrant County, Christian Community Assistance, and others.

4. Participate in a Connection Group Service Project - Our next project is coming up this Saturday, March 28th from 9:00 AM - Noon at Southwest High School. We'll be washing windows, cleaning trophy cases, and doing landscaping as an expression of God's love to a local campus. Make plans to join us. Childcare for nursery - 6th grade will be available at Christ Church. Call Christ Church at 817-292-9292 to sign up today.

5. Sponsor a Missions Project - I recently had one small group leader come to me with over $800 to sponsor a global missions project. His group decided they wanted to work together to meet a specific need they learned about during a Sunday morning service. What might your group be willing to sponsor?

Talk with your group about how you can serve. It will change everyone's perspective and become a great way to make a difference.

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:32:00 +0000

The 3rd practice of the Connection Groups model is "pray together" based on Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves...to prayer." I am deeply convinced this is extremely important in your regular group meetings. In the last year, we have averaged roughly 116 answered prayers per semester in our Connection Groups. These are documented answered prayers that were submitted by our Hosts. The fact that prayers are being answered tells me that our groups are engaging in the "pray together" practice of Connection Groups. So here's a few ideas on how to elevate your focus on prayer:

1. Photo Reminders - Take a photo of each group member and exchange photos each time your group meets. During and between meetings members pray for the person whose photo they received.

2. Assign a Prayer Leader - If you spend the majority of your time thinking about how to cultivate the discussion of your group lesson, consider delegating the prayer portion of your meeting to another group member. Let them know you want them to make the prayer time meaningful and creative. Tell them they will have the final third of each meeting to facilitate the prayer time.

3. Written Prayer - Search online or in the Psalms for a meaningful written prayer that you can share with the group.

4. Follow a Prayer Outline - Consider taking some time to pray through the aspects of a prayer outline as a group such as A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) or P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield). This can add some quality variety to the prayer time.

For additional ideas on cultivating a great prayer time, listen to a brief teaching titled, "Growing Your Group Through Prayer."

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:25:00 +0000

The early church experienced Biblical community by embracing four practices. They would eat together, learn together, pray together, and help together. Let's focus on the second practice--"eat together." Acts 2:42 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..." Each time a Connection Group meets, there is a portion of the meeting designed to facilitate learning together as we study a curriculum. Here's 5 ways to add a fresh spark to your group discussion and make the impact of the lesson last:

1. Use the Translations - Sometimes a different translation of the Bible can provide fresh perspective on a common verse. As you prepare, consider looking at what another translation says, even if it's not the translation used in the curriculum. The New Living Translation or The Message can often communicate the truth in a powerful way.

2. Pick the Right Questions - The curriculum we use offers connect questions (introduces the topic), grow questions (takes the study deeper), and serve questions (focuses on application and serving others). Only pick the best questions--the right questions will be different for each group. If there's seven questions, but only five of them are really meaningful to you, focus on those. Also, if you come across a hard question, make it a priority. The hard questions are designed to take the study deeper--depth requires mind-stretching thought. For members that complain the study is not deep enough, the hard questions will be most helpful.

3. Ask, "What is God Doing?" - After spending some time in study and before you pray together, consider asking your group if they would share what God is currently doing in their life. Take volunteers and assure the group that it doesn't have to be anything complicated. Often the simple lessons are the most life-transforming. You might even go first by saying, "Let me take 60 seconds to tell you what God has been doing in my life." Then after you share, ask, "Would somebody else like to take a minute to share what God has been teaching you or doing in you?" If your answer to the question is transparent, others will more likely open up as well. Sometimes the "learn together" part of your meeting can be really rich when others here real-life examples of how God works.

4. Give an Assignment - In preparation for the next session, you might ask your group to complete a simple assignment such as reading a particular chapter, memorizing a verse, reading an article online, or listening to a specific song. If you email the reminder along with a link to a relevant site, it will help the process.

5. Provide a Summary - Consider emailing a summary of your lesson a couple days after you meet. This will provide reinforcement for what the group is learning together. You might even follow-up in your next meeting by asking how others have applied what they've learned.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. I share some additional insights in the following brief audio link, "5 Ways to Cultivate Great Discussion." What ideas have you found helpful for making the "Learn Together" part of your group meaningful?

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:20:00 +0000

The Connection Groups Model is focused on 4 practices--eat together, learn together, pray together, and help together--based on Acts 2:42-47. The first practice--eat together--is articulated in the phrase, "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts..." So what is it about "eating together" that contributes to biblical community? In a world where technology makes connecting easier than ever, so much "connecting" is nothing more than surface-level interactions the lack heart, emotion, and genuine concern. That's what makes connecting over a meal so different. Around the dinner table you experience face-to-face conversation, laughter, emotion, and depth of discussion--all with limited disruptions. And it's the easiest way to connect meaningfully with others. While satisfying your physical hunger you satisfy relational emptiness.

This is why we emphasize over and over a challenge to connect at least once during a Connection Group semester around a meal outside of your regular group meeting. Group meetings typically have a set agenda. But when you can spend a couple hours enjoying a meal together without an agenda, relationships deepen, transparency increases, and the stage is set for deeper community. How? Because the depth of relationship outside group meetings has a direct bearing on the quality of discussions inside group meetings. While we use the phrase, "eat together," the truth is it can be any fun activity together where the group gets to know one another in a greater way. So what have been your group's best "eat together" activities in the last couple semesters? Take a moment and post a comment to share ideas that other group hosts can benefit from.

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:42:00 +0000

Okay, if you're a Connection Group host you've heard us say it a hundred times. And if you're a group member, there's a good chance you've heard your host talk about. It's our Connection Group Model that encourages 4 important practices embraced by the early church in Acts 2:42-47:

Eat Together - "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts..."
Learn Together - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."
Pray Together - "They devoted themselves...to prayer."
Help Together - "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."

As a result, the early church experienced true, authentic, life-transforming community. Think about that--because they took time to eat, learn, pray, and help together, they enjoyed the power of community. Relationships grew, needs were met, people were cared for, faith grew, and the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved. Sometimes we think of a Connection Group as nothing more than a 2-hour meeting once every couple of weeks to meet some friends and go through a curriculum. But true community is much more than that. True community emerges when a small group of people embrace the four practices described in Acts 2. I'll talk more about each practice in the next few days. In the mean time, take a moment to comment --which practice is your greatest strength? Which is your greatest weakness? How have these 4 practices contributed to a true sense of community in your group?

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Christ Church Small Groups

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:11:00 +0000

Welcome to Christ Church Small Groups. Christ Church in Ft. Worth, Texas offers five types of small groups including:

New Arrivals Group - Small groups for new comers to Christ Church.
Connection Groups - Off-campus small groups meeting in homes & workplaces.
4Word Groups - On-campus small groups organized around generations & topical studies.
Renewal Groups - On-campus support groups.
Interest Groups - Off-campus groups organized around common interests.

Christ Church Small Groups is designed to be a place where coaches, leaders, and members can connect, share ideas and testimonies, ask questions, and find relevant tips and training. And if you're exploring small groups, it's a great place to discover what groups are about and how you can get connected. So whether you're a coach, leader, member, or explorer, subscribe to the blog and take the journey with us.

Stephen