Mission Group Start Guide

Transcription

1 Mission Group Start Guide

2 PURPOSE Mission Groups serve a three-fold purpose: 1. They are designed to be an experience where those who don t know Jesus can get connected to relationships and the basics of the Gospel, all in the context of a safe-environment. 2. They are designed to be an experience where Christ-followers can get connected to people in need of the love of Christ and discipleship, both in the context of the group and in new Ponds that the group creates through Mission Points. 3. They are designed to be an experience where relationships can authentically grow and thrive; where the individuals of the Go Church community can meet together and provide love, support and accountability. WHAT YOU NEED There are both people and location needs when leading a Mission Group. In order to run a multiplying group, you are in need of at least two people: Mission Group Leader: The primary responsibility in the Mission Group. Leading a Mission Group Mission Group Apprentice: Each leader should have an apprentice that they are equipping to lead their own Mission Group. Name of Individual Name of Individual There are two other people needs for a Mission Group. These needs can be met by the Leader or Apprentice, or they are tasks that can be assigned to another team member: Celebrations Capturer: This individual is responsible for capturing celebration-worthy moments (either through picture or video) and sharing it with the Go Church community. Mission Point Director: Each team should have a Mission Point (see below) and someone who is responsible for making sure that the group gets out to connect in that location. Name of Individual Name of Individual There are also several place needs in a Mission Group: Meeting Location: Every group should have a location where they regularly meet. Mission Point: A Mission Point is a Pond (a location or group of people) in which the Mission Group is regularly serving and building relationships. Name of Location Name of Mission Point

3 WHAT YOU DO Every group will be different, but ultimately what they do is rooted in who they are: Driven by the Gospel: Every group should include some time to dig into the God s Word together as well as time for individuals to share how God s Word is shaping their life. Multiplying: Every group should be an experience where relationships can thrive. Group leaders should seek to guide their group s individuals into their next phase of growth. Living on Mission: Every group should be discovering ways to connect nonbelievers to the Gospel and to healthy, Christ-centered relationships. This includes finding ways to serve and build relationships throughout the broader community. Committed to Celebration: What we celebrate is what we become, so every group should be learning to celebrate the important things. Take time in your group to celebrate God and the victories that He is bringing into your life. As said, this may be a bit different in each group. Some groups may choose to do things such as an extended study time, worship, or service project. As a leader, it s your responsibility to set the course for the group and keep them on mission. Keep in mind the primary purpose of having this group (connecting in relationship to those who are outside the church community) and design your group accordingly. We ask all of our Mission Groups to: GUIDELINES Keep the Focus on the Mission: Mission Groups are designed around the idea of living on Mission. For this reason, Mission Groups aren t primarily about Christ-followers - they re about those who aren t connected to Christ yet! When you get together, meet with this in mind. Serve Quarterly: One of the key ways to connect with non-christians in our community is to find a Mission Point and to meet needs there regularly. We ask that all groups find a way to serve in their Mission Point at least on a quarterly basis (if not more!). Celebrate Monthly: We want to celebrate as a community, but that means that we need to hear from your group what s worth celebrating. We ask that each group provide a celebration-worthy moment each month (check out the Celebration Guide for more on this). Multiply Yearly: The Go Church community is committed to multiplication. If your group is living on mission it will grow, and growing groups need a way to multiply. We build a natural multiplication time into every year (during summer) for groups and we ask that your group has a plan on how to multiply by then! That s it! The reality is that you ll face difficulties and issues along the way, but when that happens we re there for you. Feel free to contact us at any time about group difficulties: Jim Redmile jredmile@gochurchsh.org Joshua McGrew jmcgrew@gochurchsh.org I commit to leading a Go Church Mission Group, following the guidelines to the best of my ability and spreading the DNA of Jesus to those within my group: Name of Individual Date

4 1 Connecting The goal of this session is to connect with those in your Mission Group and to begin building a relationship with them. Tonight, keep it light, enjoy each other, and get to know each other a little better! Spend the first 15 minutes getting to know the names of those in your group. Ask some basic questions to break the ice. Ideas include: What brought you to Spring Hill? How did you get connected to the Go Church? What s your favorite form of entertainment? You might also spend some time answering some silly questions like: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? If you had to watch the same movie every day for the next year, what would it be? Where is one place that you would like to travel in your lifetime? Remember: Just have fun! Week ONE: Mission and Vision Watch the Week One: DNA Mission and Vision Video* 1 Mission: What We Do Say: When we begin a relationship with Jesus, He is not calling us to stand on the sidelines. He has given us a phenomenal commission as a church. The greatest and most difficult thing we get to do with Jesus is to go and make disciples. Read: Matthew 28:18-20 Why is this mission so important? What are the specific actions that Jesus calls us to in this mission? In your own words, what is a disciple? Say: As a church we want to make Jesus proud and give this mission everything we have and then some. We want to be a church that not only multiplies by making disciples, but by making additional church communities (Go Churches).

5 What impact should this mission have on your life? What steps would you need to take to be a disciple that makes disciples? What steps would we need to have in place to be a church that plants churches? 1 Vision: Why We Do Mission Say: Mission is important because it describes what we are supposed to be doing as disciples of Jesus; but mission is just work if something isn t driving it - something in the background that gets each of us excited about the mission. For the Go Church, the thing that excites us is: we are invited to be a part of something far bigger than ourselves and created by God to join Him in making all things new. Read: Revelation 21:5 What does it mean to join God in making all things new? Why do you think God would allow us to join with Him in making all things new? Say: The Bible calls the act of making things new redemption. God has redeemed each of us, and He is working towards the redemption of this world. How has God redeemed you (made you new)? How do you see God at work redeeming things in this world? As a group, brainstorm a list of areas where you see God at work. With each of those items, talk about how we, as a God s people, can join Him there in the act of redemption. Prayer Time As a group, spend some time in prayer. Some key things to pray about during this session: Ask God to reveal to you the intentional relationships you need for His mission to Go and Make Disciples. Ask God to reveal to you the creative role you have to play in joining God in making all things new. *All videos can be found on our website: under the DNA tab or on our Youtube channel.

6 Intro Week TWO: Driven by the Gospel The goal of this session is to discuss the power of the Gospel found in the Bible and how it drives us and gives us the map to living life with purpose. Spend some time at the beginning of this session in reviewing the events in the lives of those in the group. This week, where have you seen God at work in making things new? Watch the DNA Driven by the Gospel Video* The Gospel Message Say: The Gospel is the heartbeat behind why we follow Jesus. It is the good news of His life, death, resurrection and invitation to a relationship. Read: Mark 10:45; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23; Philippians 2:6-11 How would you explain the Gospel to someone else? Why is the Gospel the central truth of what it means to follow Jesus? What are some words from the Bible that have changed your life? 1 Driven by the Gospel Say: Because the Gospel is central to the life of every Christ-follower, we want it to be the force that drives us. Our mission, vision, and actions as a church community should be driven by the same abundant love that Jesus showed to each of us. Read: Acts 20:24; Romans 1:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:8; Galatians 2:20 Galatians 2:20 describes Paul s perspective of what the Gospel had done in His life. What impact has the Gospel had on your life? When you hear the phrase, driven by the Gospel, what does that mean to you? Why was Paul (in Acts 20 and 2 Timothy) so ready to lay down His life for the Gospel?

7 Personally, what would it look like to be driven by the Gospel? What would have to change in your life to be driven by the Gospel? What does a church look like that is driven by the Love of Christ? Devoted to the Gospel Say: We are not only driven by the Gospel message, but as a community we want to be devoted to the Gospel. We want to study it together, talk over it together, and live it together. Read: Acts 2:42; Acts 2 talks about the believers devoting themselves to the Apostle s teaching. What might it mean to be devoted to the Gospel? How is knowing the whole story of the Bible important to the Gospel? Why is reading the Bible in community so important? Prayer Time As a group, spend some time in prayer. Some key things to pray about during this session: Pray the Lord s Prayer together (Luke 11). Pray that everything we ever do would be motivated by Christ s love. Pray that we would be a church known for being devoted to the Gospel. Next Step Make sure that everyone in your group has access to the Go Church, Spring Hill Bible reading plan. This can be found on our website ( and at our physical meeting location. *All videos can be found on our website: under the DNA tab or on our Youtube channel.

8 Intro Week THREE: Living on Mission The goal of this week is to discuss what it means to live on mission and what exactly this mission group we are all apart of does. Spend some time at the beginning of this session reviewing the events in the lives of those in the group. This week, how have you been discovering your role in the multiplication mission of God? Who is pouring into you? Who are you pouring into? Watch the DNA Living on Mission Video* 2 Living on Mission Say: Jesus gained an audience for Truth by meeting real needs. He met people s hurts, wants and desires head-on and was able to then speak into their lives. We want to be a church known for our impact in the community, for following in Jesus path, and having a true impact in the lives around us. Read: John 20:21 In what ways do you feel sent on mission? In what ways do you need to GO on mission? What is your biggest struggle with living on mission? In what ways can our church be living on mission? Living on Mission Say: Our Mission groups are created to feel like growing families, devoted to the gospel, always getting ready to multiply and serving in a mission point. A mission point is a location in our community where your group strategically and repetitively serves for the purpose of sharing the Gospel and making disciples. In your own words, what is the purpose of a mission point? Say: The rest of this evening, we will be identifying a mission point and brainstorming ways that we can

9 serve others in the location: 1. Choose a Mission Point. Looking around our community, what are some locations that we could repetitively serve that could serve as a mission point (e.g. a local school, park, or even a specific neighborhood)? 2. Recognize the Needs. When we are meeting realistic needs, people are more likely to respond to truth and relationship. As a group, brainstorm a list of needs that you see in the location that you have chosen. 3. Plan your First Mission. Knowing the needs, what are the next steps that your group can take to meeting one of those needs in this location? (Note: Be specific. Include dates, supplies, etc.) 4. Take Ownership. An important part of every project is someone owning, or taking responsibility for it. Who in the group would like to take ownership of this first mission project? Say: It s important for us to remember that relationships are only formed through frequency of contact. This means, we can t do one missional activity and be done - we have to do this with FREQUENCY! Prayer Time As a group, spend some time in prayer. Some key things to pray about during this session: Pray that He would help you see the places in your life you could be more intentional about living on mission. Pray that He would open doors with amazing opportunities and options for mission points. Pray the He would soften the hearts of the people in our community for the message of the Gospel. Next Step Become involved in a Mission Group. Determine a Mission Point with your team and find a way to serve the community and connect to those who need Jesus Christ. *All videos can be found on our website: under the DNA tab or on our Youtube channel.

10 Into Week FOUR: Multiplication Spend some time at the beginning of this session in reviewing last week s content. What have you discovered in God s Word this week? How have you seen God s Word driving or shaping your life? As we have seen in our mission (Matt. 28:18-20), our purpose is to go and make disciples. In this session, we re focusing on that second mandate - making disciples - and our role in the multiplication mission of God. Watch the DNA Multiplication Video* Discipleship Say: In our first session, we talked about how we are called to go and make disciples. A disciple is someone who is learning and being equipped to live like someone else. In our case, we are disciples of Jesus Christ - learning to live and love just as He has lived and loved. Read: John 14:6-7, 15 In your own words: what is a disciple? Who have you been discipled by in your life (think beyond the Church to other realms - sports, business, education, etc.)? What made that mentors investment significant? What does Jesus mean when He says that He is the way? When we choose to become disciples of Jesus, what does that mean we should be doing? How might our lives change? The Discipleship Path Say: There is no doubt that Jesus enlists us to be disciple-makers. Often, we fail to live up to these expectations because of a lack of confidence, competence (ability) or concern. Overcoming these hang-ups is often the first step towards participating in the ministry of multiplication that we have been tasked with! Why is multiplication a part of our DNA and how does discipleship meet that need? What holds you back from entering into a discipleship relationship with others? How might you

11 overcome what is standing in your way? How do you feel that you can be used by God in the ministry of multiplication? How has He used you previously? The Discipleship Path Say: Discipleship doesn t happen by accident. It happens when someone intentionally makes the investment of time and energy into another persons life. It happens most effectively when you have a plan or a strategy to follow. In the video, we learned about the three discipleship paths that Go Church has to help individuals become students of Jesus. They are (1) D1:Discover, (2) D2: DNA, and (3) D3: Disciple-making. Where in the discipleship path are you: discovery, DNA or disciple-making? What is your next step in the discipleship path? Spend some time discussing the discipleship path and answering any questions that participants have about getting involved on the discipleship path. What are the steps that you will take this week to begin intentionally multiplying Jesus? Prayer Time As a group, spend some time in prayer. Some key things to pray about during this session: That God helps each of us to discern the people in our lives that are ripe for discipleship. That the Church effectively equips Christ-followers for intentional discipleship. Next Step Take the next step by getting involved in the discipleship path, either as a Mentor or as an Apprentice. Choose the phase of discipleship that you need to grow in (D1, D2, or D3) and either (1) ask a disciple-maker to mentor you or (2) contact our Discipleship Coordinator to discover a relationship with a disciple-maker. *All videos can be found on our website: under the DNA tab or on our Youtube channel.

12 Intro Watch the DNA S.E.R.V.E. Video* Week FIVE: S.E.R.V.E. Spend some time at the beginning of this session reviewing last week s content. What was your experience in thinking of yourself as a missionary in the community this week? Did you see things differently or notice things that you have overlooked before? The goal of this session is two-fold: 1. To understand the role of service in the body of Christ 2. To understand how we are each individually designed for that service. The Body of Christ Say: Throughout the New Testament, the Church is compared to many things: a building, a flock, a bride. One of the most interesting descriptions is that of a body. Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 How does the Church function as the body of Christ? In our bodies, why is it important that each part play its own unique role? How does this idea align with the Church body? S - Spiritual Gifts Say: In this session, we will look at five aspects of every person s life that makes each us of uniquely designed to serve in the body of Christ. All of these aspects can be found in the acronym S.E.R.V.E. The S stands for Spiritual Gifts. These are gifts or abilities that God gives to us or enhances in us when His Spirit becomes a part of our lives. Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6-8 What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? Which spiritual gifts are present in your life? (for more information on this, see the Extra Time sec-

13 tion at the end of this session) How might you use your spiritual gifting in service to the body of Christ? E - Experiences Say: The second part of our S.E.R.V.E. personality are our Experiences. Each of us has a lifetime full of experiences. Some are positive and others are negative, but these experiences are a unique part of how we have been shaped for ministry. What is a positive experience that you ve had that God can use as you serve? What is a negative experience that you ve had that God can use as you serve? R - Relational Styles Say: The R in S.E.R.V.E. stand for Relational Styles. Each of us communicates and relates to other people in different ways. Some of us are introverted (focused inward), while others are extroverted (focused outward). In addition, each of us has a unique makeup of personality traits that shape how we serve and work alongside others. Would you describe yourself as introverted or extroverted? What are some personality traits that you have that may shape how you serve? V - Vocational Skills Say: The fourth part of S.E.R.V.E. is our Vocational Skills. All of us have been trained and equipped in a variety of vocations throughout our lives. The training and skills we have received from our jobs (and even hobbies) can often be translated into meaningful service. Which of your vocational or hobby skills do you feel could be used to serve others? How? E - Enthusiasms Say: The final part of our S.E.R.V.E. personalities are our Enthusiasms. Our passions are a natural outflow of our personalities and they help us determine what sort of ministry would excite us most. How can what we are passionate about help us to find how and where to serve? How can one of the things you re enthusiastic about be used to minister to others?

14 Prayer Time As a group, spend some time in prayer. Some key things to pray about during this session: That God helps the Go Church to truly live as His Body on this earth. That God helps each of us discover the best ways that we can be a part of that body. Next Steps The next step to S.E.R.V.E. is getting involved with a S.E.R.V.E. team at Go Church. Ask you mission group leader or a Serve Coordinator how you can get involved and start serving! Extra Time If you have extra time in your group: Complete a Spiritual Gifts test. For a short, simple gifts test, pass out and complete the survey included with this packet. You can find a more complete survey online at: *All videos can be found on our website: under the DNA tab or on our Youtube channel.

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16 Week SIX: Celebrate Intro Ultimately, we are designed to celebrate! To celebrate both who God is and what He is doing through us. This session focuses on discovering what those celebration worthy moments are and how we can celebrate them as a community. Spend some time at the beginning of this session in reviewing the events in the lives of those in the group. How have you seen God use your S.E.R.V.E. personality this week? Watch the DNA Celebrate Video* 1 Celebration! Say: What we celebrate is what we become. If that s the case, then it s essential that we celebrate the right things! What do you regularly celebrate with your family? How do you recognize what is worth celebrating? As a group, create a list of things that we should be celebrating. After creating the list, organize those things from greatest important to least importance. Celebrate God Say: We can find lasting joy when we celebrate that God is making all things new. He is the ultimate reason for celebration. Read: Isaiah 25:1; Psalm 63:3-4; Psalm 105:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31 What are some qualities of God that inspire you to celebrate Him? What is your favorite way to celebrate or worship God? How can we be a church known for celebrating what God is doing?

17 Celebrate What God is Doing Through Us Say: In addition to worshipping God, it s essential that we worship when we see His mission being fulfilled. A second part of celebration is celebrating what God is doing through us. Name a few things that God has done in your own life that makes Him worth celebrating. What are some creative ways we can celebrate when we see each other living out this content we have been talking about for the last six weeks? Spend some time sharing stories about how you might have already been accomplishing some of this content and celebrate it (might I suggest a nice round of applause or perhaps a dance party?)! Prayer Time As a group, spend some time in prayer. Some key things to pray about during this session: Thank God for all that He is and has done. Thank God for the people He has brought into your life during this adventure so far. Thank God for blessing us with this new church. Next Step Get involved in our weekly Celebration Service! Share with us celebratory moments in your Mission Group and in your personal life by (1) taking a picture, (2) capturing a video, or (3) writing a testimony and sending it to: gosocial@gochurchsh.org *All videos can be found on our website: under the DNA tab or on our Youtube channel.