Crosswalk Church Helping people find hope in Jesus Christ. https://crosswalktn.com Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000 Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com 5 Ideas for Effective Prayer in Your Group https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2023/09/14/5-ideas-for-effective-prayer-in-your-group Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:16:16 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2023/09/14/5-ideas-for-effective-prayer-in-your-group

5 Ideas for Effective Prayer in Your Group

Including prayer in each of your sessions is an invaluable practice that helps those in your group:

  • Learn how to pray,
  • It focuses your group's priority on being in God’s will and growing in faith,
  • And it strengthens the bonds that are forming among the members of your group (yourself included).

Below are some suggested methods to make this time meaningful, and to assist you in leading your group—you're welcome to not use any of these, or a different idea that best suits your particular group dynamic.

  1. Spontaneous Prayer: Encourage group members to offer short prayers for one another as they are led to speak. This allows for a free-flowing, Spirit-led time of prayer, that you can then conclude with a general (or specific) prayer.
  2. Exchange & Pray: A Weeklong Commitment: Provide index cards for each member to write down a specific prayer request, and optionally, a comforting Bible verse or inspirational quote. After everyone has written their request, collect the cards and shuffle them before redistributing them randomly. Each member then prays aloud for the request on the card they've received during the meeting. Then encourage everyone to take their card home and continue praying for that person/couple and their prayer request throughout the week. You can even encourage them to reach out and connect with them during the week as well. This not only creates a strong intercessory environment but also keeps the group spiritually connected between meetings.
  3. Leader-Led Unified Prayer: Collect individual prayer requests and weave them into one comprehensive prayer led by you or another designated group member. This approach creates a sense of unity as all requests are lifted up together.
  4. Silent Reflection: Allow for your group members to share their prayer requests or praises aloud with the group, and then provide a quiet moment for individual members to lift up prayer requests in silence, followed by a group prayer that captures all the prayer requests and praises that were raised.
  5. Varying the Prayer Moments: To keep your group meetings dynamic and to highlight the importance of constant communication with God, consider varying the timing of your prayer segments. Here are a few ways to implement this approach:
    1. Beginning of the Meeting: Start with a prayer of thanksgiving and guidance. This sets a positive tone and invites divine inspiration into your discussions and interactions.
    2. Middle of the Meeting: Use this opportunity for a 'pause-and-pray' moment, especially if a particularly challenging or meaningful topic comes up. It can serve as a spiritual reset and deepen the focus of the meeting.
    3. Closing: End your meeting by sharing prayer requests and praying over them. This moment of closure helps solidify the sense of community and shared spiritual journey.

By intentionally placing prayer moments throughout your meeting, you're emphasizing the continual need for spiritual focus, unity, and guidance. It also keeps the spiritual rhythm of the meeting unpredictable, which can enhance engagement.

]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2023/09/14/5-ideas-for-effective-prayer-in-your-group#comments 0 6 Ways You Can Turn Your Connect Group Into A Life-Changing Experience the ultimate goal of studying the Bible together is to point the group to Christ. It’s not about biblical knowledge in itself but...]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/24/6-ways-you-can-turn-your-connect-group-into-a-life-changing-experience Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/24/6-ways-you-can-turn-your-connect-group-into-a-life-changing-experience
There are some qualities that every Connect Group must have to prosper and multiply:
  • Quality biblical content with a Christ-centered focus
  • A sense of community
  • A rich experience of Christ
  • Life change
  • Outward impact on the world

1. Quality Biblical Content

God has revealed Himself to us in His Word, and the ultimate goal of studying the Bible together is to point the group to Christ. It’s not about biblical knowledge in itself but about using the Bible as a map that leads us to Jesus.

Every Connect Group needs to experience Christ, not just learn more about the Bible. In no way do we want to move away from the Bible — it is the Word of God — but as you study Scripture, you want to help your group see Jesus in the material you study. Your group should be looking to discover how the text relates to and points to the gospel of Christ and His redemptive work.

2. Community

Community is the sense within the group that the members are a team, bonded as friends, and committed to each other’s well-being and spiritual growth. This doesn’t happen all at once. Rather, the sign of a healthy, growing group, is one that has an increasing sense of community.

Over the semester, individuals may rejoice together or share in sorrow together. A group moves from being “Todd’s group” or "the men's/women's group" to “our group” as members begin to take ownership. One of your roles as a leader is to help facilitate this, but community is not primarily a leadership issue. It’s a oneness that becomes apparent when individuals come to value others in the group.

3. A Rich Experience of Christ

As a leader, your role is to stimulate group members to encounter and experience Christ for themselves. One of the biggest obstacles for Connect Group leaders is feeling the need to have all the answers — to have the “map” memorized.

Leaders don’t need to have all the answers — and in fact, you won't. Saying "That's a good question...I don't know, but I'll try to find out" is completely okay — but you do need to experience Christ for yourself and know how to point others to Him. This comes from knowing people’s greatest needs, having an understanding of how real change happens and being skilled at asking good questions that engage the heart.

Each person in your group should taste, see and personally encounter Christ as you come to the Bible.

4. Life Change

The most successful Connect Groups are about life change. Each week, the members of your group will show up in various cycles of life — coming from great days, middling days, and those days when life just seems hard. Their conditions may be obvious or not so obvious.

As a leader, allow the Bible to expose brokenness and help the group follow the passage as it points toward a solution in Jesus Christ. This is how life change happens. If a group stops short of being a catalyst for life change, it has fallen short of all God intends for it.

5. Outward Impact

One thing that’s so easy to neglect while leading a Connect Group is communicating God’s purpose for the world and how we fit into the picture. Simply consuming content is not the only ingredient needed for growth. Rather, knowing how God can use your Connect Group in His plan is a critical ingredient. Catching His heart for people around the world is motivating.

His love moves us to action. You’re not here just for theory, debate, or platitudes. You exist to glorify God and be used by Him. Sometimes, when you share your faith, there’s an overwhelming sense that “God can use me!”

How do you build vision in your group? Here are some suggestions.

Highlight sections from a visionary book or magazine like:
  • “The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert E. Coleman.
  • “Tell It Often, Tell It Well” by Mark McCloskey.
  • “Disciple Are Made, Not Born” by Walter A. Henrichsen.
  • “Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret” by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor.
  • “In the Gap” by Wilfredo de Jesús.
  • “Spiritual Leadership” by J. Oswald Sanders.
  • "The Four Priorities" by John Tolson and Larry Krieder

Another element for your Connect Group is training. Share practical, helpful, specific ideas on how to live and minister to others. How do you have a quiet time? How do you study the Bible? Can you share Christ comfortably with a friend? How do you answer someone’s questions about Christianity? Can you share your testimony in three minutes? How do you help a new Christian grow?

Use the Operation World Prayer website and a map to show what God is doing around the world.

Or discuss a passage from the Bible about engaging in active service for Christ.

6. Prayer

Prayer is an expression of your dependence on God. By praying with your group, you’ll help people see their need for Him. Most Connect Groups have time set aside for prayer, but often it’s a quick sharing of requests for the week.

Sometimes you need to ask things like:
  • “How has God answered prayer this week?” 
  • “What are you trusting Him for?” 
When people in your group see God’s answers to prayer, they get pumped! When you pray together, a powerful bond forms in the group.

It’s also important to pray for other people, issues and events outside your small group. Here are some other things to consider for prayer:
  • Application of the Bible study topic.
  • The group’s outward impact in light of the study.
  • Expression of worship (songs, Psalms, etc.).
  • Upcoming events.
  • Personal ministry development.
  • Laborers for the harvest.
  • Ministry leaders.
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/24/6-ways-you-can-turn-your-connect-group-into-a-life-changing-experience#comments 0 9 Steps for a Successful First Connect Group Meeting https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/23/9-steps-for-a-successful-first-connect-group-meeting Tue, 23 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/23/9-steps-for-a-successful-first-connect-group-meeting
As you get ready for your first group meeting, please know that I am available if you have any questions, or if I can provide any guidance. I want leading a group to be a great experience for you, so don’t hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do for you.  

In today’s update, I want to share with you...

9 Steps for a Successful First Group Meeting

1. Personally contact every potential group member before the meeting.

This week, before your group meets for the first time, is a great time to touch base with everyone who has signed up for your group. If you see them regularly (at church, work, etc.), seek them out individually to have a friendly conversation. Remind them of the group and tell them you are looking forward to seeing them. If you won’t see them ahead of time, a phone call is more effective than a note. Send everyone an email or text the day before to remind them of the time and location. You can also let them know any last-minute information that they may need to know before your first group meeting. Be sure to check out the dates/events for your group by clicking the button below and then the "Events" tab:
See My Group Page
Filling out your events as a syllabus for your group members will help everything stay organized. If you need help with this, please feel free to email or call me.

2. Prepare a Welcoming Environment

Make sure each week that your group is comfortable: seating, lighting, temperature. Here's some things to consider as you gear up for your group:
  • If you're in a group that can, make sure that people are facing each other.
  • Can everyone easily see everyone else in the group?
  • Is there a comfortable place to sit for anyone who attends?
  • Providing good snacks the first meeting is always great.

3. Be there early.

Being early gives you an opportunity to welcome everyone to the group as well as the ability to introduce people to each other. Be sure to work hard to remember each person's name.

4. Be enthusiastic, regardless of the turnout.

If only one or two people show up, remaining positive is extremely important. That could be exactly God's plan for both you and them. Also encourage them to invite anyone else they know who might be interested, and let them know that you'll do the same. Tell them that you're really looking forward to this Connect Group semester as well as growing in faith alongside them.

5. Have a plan for your first meeting.

Having a plan is key. One simple thing that you can do to prepare for your first group is to plan a FUN icebreaker. If you're drawing a blank, I've put together a list of 19 icebreakers to use throughout the semester. Click the button below to read that post, and feel free to use any of them you like, or come up with your own!
19 Connect Group Icebreakers

6. Make a detailed schedule.

Give yourself extra time for flexibility so you can end on time. You don't want the first group to run long. Here's a simple schedule for your first meeting:
  • Introduce yourself. Be personable and real. (5 minutes)
  • Pray. You do it. Keep it short. (2 minutes)
  • Have the  group members introduce themselves. (10 minutes)
  • Icebreaker. (20 minutes. For a list of icebreakers click here.)
  • Communicate the purpose of your group time and discuss group norms (confidentiality, respect, etc.). (5 minutes)
  • Content. (30 minutes)
  • Introduce future material and cover details. (5 minutes)
  • Pray. Do it yourself or ask for a volunteer. (5 minute)

If you have a Wednesday group, this will leave about 8-10 minutes of flexibility for any one item. If you have a Sunday group, then this schedule will run right up until it's time to let people out for the worship service.

7. Don't put people on the spot.

Don’t force someone for their testimony or make anyone pray out loud.

8. Be real.

Share some of your own spiritual journey with the group and your ups and downs along the way. Don’t try to impress them with your spirituality or knowledge of theology.

9. Encourage people to come each week.

Talk about how regular attendance allows everyone to develop a sense of unity.

After your first group meeting:

  • Thank God for your group and the meeting.
  • Try to see or talk with each member at least once before the next meeting to get to know them better and get feedback. 
  • For the first few weeks, send a personal reminder a day before the meeting. Planning Center will automatically remind people of the meeting, but being personable and organized as a leader helps to ensure consistent attendance and a great semester.

Next Steps:

  • I always love updates from leaders - so if you would, please send me a quick update after your first meeting. I'd love to hear how it all went.
  • And as always, feel free to email me or call me if you have any questions or specific prayer requests.
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/23/9-steps-for-a-successful-first-connect-group-meeting#comments 0 How to Inspire Change in Your Connect Group Members https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/14/how-to-inspire-change-in-your-connect-group-members Sun, 14 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/14/how-to-inspire-change-in-your-connect-group-members
How to Inspire Change in Your Connect Group Members
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/14/how-to-inspire-change-in-your-connect-group-members#comments 0 A Connect Group That Reaches Out believers in a Connect Group should receive, grow and give.Turning the corner from getting to giving is often a difficult step. It’s far easier for people to stay in focus inwardly...]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/13/a-connect-group-that-reaches-out Sat, 13 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/13/a-connect-group-that-reaches-out

Receive, Grow, and Give

It’s important as a Connect Group leader to be committed to helping the people in your group learn to care for and be involved in the lives of people outside the group — including people who don’t follow Jesus. Ideally, believers in a Connect Group should receive, grow and give.

Turning the corner from getting to giving is often a difficult step. It’s far easier for people to stay in focus inwardly on themselves. However, a Christian cannot love God without caring about others.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
- 1 John 4:7-8 NLT
The best kind of Connect Group is the one that reflects the priority of loving and caring for people. Here are some ways you can help your group start reaching out.

See the Spiritual Needs of People Around You

Encouraging each other to be sensitive to the needs of others is a big part of our becoming like Jesus (sanctification). Here are some ways for your group to do that:

  • Learn what the Bible says about peoples’ spiritual needs. 
    • Key passage to study: Romans 1:18-3:20.
  • As a group, develop compassion for others by studying God’s compassion for people who don’t know Him. 
    • Key passages to study: Matthew 9:35-38; Luke 15; Romans 5:6-8; Luke 13:31-34; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 19:1-9.
  • Expose your group to peoples’ needs.
    • Use examples from everyday experiences such as articles, media, culture, news events and so on.
    • Have someone who works with people in need in your community come to your group to share about the realities right next store.

Create Opportunities to Meet People's Needs

Regardless of where they are in their faith, people can come together by giving to others.

Take into account where your Connect Group members are in their faith when you plan an activity to help them go from getting to giving. Start with a simple activity to help build a caring attitude about those outside of the group.

  • Host a dinner as a Connect Group and invite friends from all different spiritual backgrounds.
  • Volunteer with a ministry at New Hope (like the mission or outreach teams).
  • Bring food or collect supplies or money for someone who’s discouraged or in need physically, financially or spiritually.
  • Make time to pray together each week for people in your lives who are in need.
  • Invite a friend who is curious or open to faith to an event where they can learn more about Christ.

Set the Example in Your Own Life

Like many things in life, compassion is often contagious. If reaching out to others is part of your life, your group members will learn from your example.

Take individuals in the group with you while you do ministry and they will often come back personally motivated to do the same kind of ministry.

  • If you volunteer, take some group members with you and serve together.
  • If you are going on a mission trip, challenge your group members to come along.
  • If you frequently have spiritual conversations with a specific friend, invite a group member to join you next time you hang out. (Check with that friend first to see if it’s OK to bring someone else.)

Remember That Knowing God is the Best Gift

Connect Groups can reach out to the people around them in many ways, but none is more important than reaching out with the good news of the gospel. The greatest need any person has is to be reconciled to God, so the best gift we can offer people is to introduce them to Christ.

Equip your Connect Group members to share their faith. Teach them how to share the gospel using a simple tool like the Knowing God Personally Guide.

Sharing the good news of forgiveness through Jesus and serving others is essential to following Christ. A group that pursues loving God will naturally love and pursue people as a result.

Next Steps

Reflect
  • What helped you turn the corner from getting to giving in your Christian life?
  • How would you say you are presently doing in this area?
  • How can you help your group start giving?

Act
  • Set aside time in your next Connect Group meeting to talk about peoples’ spiritual needs. You could study one or more of the Bible passages mentioned earlier in the article.
  • Taking into account the maturity level of your group and its purpose, what are some creative ways your group can reach out together? Choose a simple activity and invite your group members to participate.

Pray
  • For the physical and spiritual needs of your community.
  • For people in each group member’s life with physical and spiritual needs.
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/13/a-connect-group-that-reaches-out#comments 0 A Gospel-Centered Connect Group Life-changing Connect Group environments are less about how-to's and more about experiencing Christ. They are not focused on building head knowledge but on changing hearts and minds. The community that's created in your group should not only equip your members for service but also expose sin and call people to adore Christ. Christ-centered communities transform lives from the inside out....]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/12/a-gospel-centered-connect-group Fri, 12 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/12/a-gospel-centered-connect-group

A Vision for Gospel-Centered Connect Groups

Life-changing Connect Group environments are less about how-to's and more about experiencing Christ. They are not focused on building head knowledge but on changing hearts and minds. The community that's created in your group should not only equip your members for service but also expose sin and call people to adore Christ. Christ-centered communities transform lives from the inside out.

The Biblical and Theological Basis for Connect Groups

The apostle Paul describes a transformational community in Colossae as he gives thanks to God for an explosion of the gospel in their midst. He says:
"We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News." 
- Colossians 1:3-6 (NLT)
Paul thanks God for the contagious faith in Christ and love for fellow Christians that springs organically from the gospel. The Colossian church’s ongoing belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ resulted in the fruit of changed lives. They experienced transformation in their community because of the power of the gospel and their continuing captivation with the hope that comes from Christ.

The gospel is not just what non-Christians need to begin a relationship with God. The gospel is also the way individuals and communities grow spiritually. Timothy Keller, author and former pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, writes:
The gospel is not just the “A-B-C” but the “A-Z” of the Christian life. The gospel is not just the way to enter the kingdom [of God], but it is the way to address every problem and is the way to grow at every step. ... It tells us that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted than [we] ever dared hope — at the same time. In fact, if the gospel is true, the more you see your sin, the more certain you are that you were saved by sheer grace and [the] more precious and electrifying that grace is to you.
- Timothy Keller

How Gospel-Centered Connect Groups Lead to Transformation

If we desire to see heart transformation in our Connect Groups, we must do something more fundamental than equipping people to share the gospel (though we cannot neglect equipping). We must help them experience the gospel. We need the electrifying grace of the gospel to grip the hearts of people in our Connect Groups because it is the gospel that continuously transforms people.

When experiencing Jesus is the central focus of a Connect Group, people from any spiritual backgrounds can all benefit greatly. If the gospel is the A-Z and not just the A-B-C, then what individual Christians, the Christian community, and those who do not yet have a relationship with God ultimately need is the person of Jesus Christ.

In a Christ-centered community, individual Christians are invited to open up honestly about their lives and see how the Bible applies to their lives. As individuals enter into one another’s lives and the Bible, trust and care will subsequently develop among group members. When group members share in a journey of applying the gospel to their lives, they begin to experience Jesus’ love for one another.

When Jesus becomes more real to your Connect Group members, imagine how they might genuinely talk about Christ to their friends who do not know Him. Imagine that dialogue continuing over time until it becomes natural to invite those friends to their open, Christ-centered Connect Group.

Imagine a person from a fractured family finding a warm spiritual family. Imagine a person who is turned off by self-righteous Christians hearing Christians honestly sharing their struggles. Imagine a person who needs more than one conversation to come to Christ being able to come back each week. This is the environment of a Christ-centered community.

Building a Gospel-Centered Connect Group

The million-dollar question that we're answering here is this: "Practically, how do you develop this kind of community in your group?"

The Purpose of Connect Groups

The purpose of a Connect Group is an extension of the mission of New Hope:
New Hope Church exists to help people find hope in Jesus Christ.
Connect Groups exist to help people experience Christ’s presence and power as a growing community that expresses Christ’s compassion toward each other both inside and outside the group. First and foremost, communities need to experience Jesus Christ together. Experiencing Jesus happens through continuous practice of and belief in the gospel — both seeing our sin problem and marveling at how Jesus paid for our sins.

The structure of Connect Groups does not guarantee that group members will experience Christ. However, when experiencing the wonder of Christ is the focus, Connect Groups can create an environment where this can take place both individually and in relationship with others.

When group members experience Christ in community with others, it becomes natural for them to express His love to one another. And when hearts adore Christ, people are compelled to express His love to those who have not yet experienced it.

5 Characteristics of Gospel-Centered Groups

1. They are open to people from a variety of spiritual backgrounds.
Because the searching non-Christian and the maturing Christian both have the same ultimate need - the Gospel of Jesus Christ - Connect Groups that are ultimately focused on Christ can be nurturing for people at a variety of spiritual stages.

2. The encourage biblical discovery.
The Word of God is the most effective instrument to reveal Christ to us. Connect Groups should provide an environment for discovering God's truth together through open discussion.

3. They thrive on honesty and vulnerability.
Surface-level answered or self-righteous attitudes kill opportunities to see our own helplessness and Christ's worthiness. However, honesty about our need for and hope in Jesus is compelling and leads to compassion and strong relationships.

4. They involve investing in one another and in relationships outside the group.
Great Connect Group leaders invest in their group members. Group members invest in relationships outside the group in the hope of drawing more people into relationship with God.

5. They are committed to multiplying.
Connect Groups never close registration. They are always open to people who are looking to join. It's important to also note that Connect Groups are not an end in themself. It is a foundation from which group members extend God's kingdom within their spheres of influence. When group members invite more people to groups with momentum, those groups multiply. Challenge your group members weekly to be inviting people to join the group with them.

The Results

At New Hope, we believe God will use gospel-centered Connect Groups in significant ways. Because non-Christians can come and develop relationships, when they do come to Christ, they stay connected. Connect Groups can easily be a vital part of the process in new Christians coming to faith.

Additionally, people learn to apply the gospel of Christ deeply in their hearts, changing their lives more than focusing on behavior alone ever could. As people apply the gospel to their hearts, they experience more heart-level connection with one another.

Ultimately, as a result of gospel-centered Connect Groups, people feel enriched and inwardly compelled to share the gospel of Jesus because Jesus has become so real to them.
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/12/a-gospel-centered-connect-group#comments 0 6 Steps to Building Community in Your Connect Group https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/06/6-steps-to-building-community-in-your-connect-group Sat, 06 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/06/6-steps-to-building-community-in-your-connect-group
Relationships are the glue that hold Connect Groups together. Creating an environment where people can deepen their relationship with one another is a big part of leading a healthy Connect Group.

Here are five great tips on how to develop community within your Connect Group over the course of the semester.

1. Ask for input.

Ask questions like: "What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Does anyone else have any input?"

2. Be real with your group.

Laugh, share the things you struggle with as well as your victories and share your life and love for the Lord. Let the people in your group be your friends. You don't have to spill your deepest, darkest secrets, but let them know you're a real person who is in the process of becoming like Christ.

3. Maintain confidentiality.

If someone shares something confidentially, honor their request and don't share it outside of the group. Ask your group to do the same.

4. Work through conflict.

Tension in a group is a possibility. Agree to work through any disagreements together early on in your group. You may have to act as a mediator to make sure points of view are heard.

5. Regularly plan group time for members to tell each other about their lives.

In the initial stages of your Connect Group, an icebreaker is a good way to let people share experiences from their lives.

Developing Relationships Outside Your Connect Group

Here are 5 basic ideas for activities that you can do together with your group members outside of your meetings:
  1. Go to lunch/dinner
  2. Attend church together (or even better, sit together in church)
  3. Go to a concert/event
  4. Volunteer on a team together
  5. Celebrate a major life event together
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/06/6-steps-to-building-community-in-your-connect-group#comments 0 5 Keys to Creating an Engaging Connect Group Environment https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/05/5-keys-to-creating-an-engaging-connect-group-environment Fri, 05 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/05/5-keys-to-creating-an-engaging-connect-group-environment
An important element in every Connect Group is the mood or tone. The group environment can enhance (or sometimes hurt) your group members’ experiences. A comfortable environment can help your members feel not only more physically relaxed but also more comfortable sharing personal things.

Creating an Engaging Environment

1. Arrange the seating so everyone can easily see one another.

Sitting in a circle at the same level will help. Also, be aware of the distance separating each member. Try to sit close enough so each person has eye contact and can hear one another easily, but not so close that people feel uncomfortable or that their personal space is being invaded.

2. Take steps to minimize distractions and interruptions.

Sitting in a circle at the same level will help. Also, be aware of the distance separating each member. Try to sit close enough so each person has eye contact and can hear one another easily, but not so close that people feel uncomfortable or that their personal space is being invaded.

3. Provide snacks (especially the first few weeks).

In addition to just being awesome in general, snacks help warm up the group and give people something to do at the beginning of the meeting. After your group gets going, you can have members take turn bringing snacks - or even appoint a snack coordinator to organize it all for you.

4. Make sure you have good lighting.

Good lights help create a good, warm feeling. No one should have to be looking out of a bright window or endure flickering lights. If there's not enough light, however, sleep-deprived group members or people exhausted after a long day at work may have trouble staying awake.

5. Have extra Bibles.

Some members may forget to bring one or won't have one in a translation that works well for the group. If you need extra Bibles for your group, let Austin Duncan know so we can be sure to provide them for your group.
In addition to the physical environment, make sure you create a positive interpersonal environment. As a Connect Group leader, make sure you welcome everyone who comes and let them know that you are genuinely glad they are there. In the discussion, you set the tone and can facilitate people talking with each other instead of looking to you for answers. Make sure people feel like they are part of a conversation, not attending a sermon.

Developing the right environment helps establish a sense of belonging. The environment will influence how people feel about your group, how well they learn, and sometimes, even if they will come back.

Next Steps:

Think about the atmosphere you‘ll be creating in your Connect Group and determine what you need to do to prepare for your group.

  • What can you do to communicate to the people who come that this is a safe and welcoming place?
  • How can you help people be comfortable?
  • How can you minimize distractions?
  • What conditions will enhance learning?
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/05/5-keys-to-creating-an-engaging-connect-group-environment#comments 0 19 Connect Group Icebreakers https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/04/19-connect-group-icebreakers Thu, 04 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/04/19-connect-group-icebreakers

Why Icebreakers?

Leading a Connect Group means that you're also leading a group of people who want to grow in their faith. What an incredible and exciting opportunity. But before you can lead others in things like Bible study, prayer, and talking about their faith with others, you need to build community within the group. That’s where icebreakers come in.

Icebreakers are essential in creating an environment for everything else you want to do. They make it easier for people to begin getting to know each other. Someone new to your group might presume, for example, that everyone else already knows each other well, whether that is true or not.

Without icebreakers, a Connect Group has the potential to be an intimidating environment.

If you're in a hurry, use these links to jump to a specific section:
The Effect of Icebreakers
Icebreaker Questions
Icebreaker Games
More on Leading a Connect Group

The Effect of Icebreakers

Icebreakers are a simple and fun way to begin helping people bond. Without a sense of belonging and friendship, your Connect Group won't be as effective as it could.

It’s also important to use icebreaker activities that are easy to learn, non-threatening, and fun. Since bonding is the goal, they should have an element of bonding. When you choose an icebreaker for your small group, think about the people who will be present.

  • What are their personalities like?
  • Are they friends with one another?
  • How will people respond to a game or to being asked questions?

It’s good to know who you’re serving so you can find the best icebreakers for them. 
If you need help getting to know the people of your group a little better, feel free to reach out to anyone on staff and we'll be happy to provide some insight.

It is also helpful to think about which icebreakers work best during different seasons in the life of the small group. In the beginning stages of a small group, it is helpful to do more get-to-know you games and questions so people feel known. As time progresses, changing up the icebreakers will bring new energy to the group. You can always ask your small group members what types of icebreakers they enjoy most as well and plan from there.

Below are 21 possible icebreakers for your Connect Group. Some options are more helpful for a group that’s in the early stages of the semester while others are useful for continuing to build relationships later in the semester. Use your best judgment about which icebreakers will work best for your group.

The icebreakers included here are mostly based on having a group size of around 10 people. While your Connect Group may be slightly larger or smaller than that, that's completely okay. Just keep that in mind as a factor that in when choosing an appropriate icebreaker. The size of your group will directly impact the time you need to allow.

Icebreaker Questions

Icebreaker questions are simply different ways of getting the people in your Connect Group to talk about themselves. This is an easy way to encourage friendships to form in your group as you help everyone get to know each other.

1. Best/Worst

Description: Best/worst is a simple icebreaker to implement in your small group. Ask each person to share their best and worst moments from the previous week. The entire icebreaker should not take longer than 10-15 minutes depending on how large your group is. This is an easy one to use and gives you good feedback on how the people in your group are doing in a general sense.

Ideal group size: Any size group.

Great for: Any group. The longer the group has been meeting, the more honest the answers will be. If you use this with a group of people who do not know each other well, the answers may be short and surface-level. Persevere, and people will become more comfortable with each other.

Tips: If people are not engaging with the question, you can prompt them with follow-up questions to help them remember what they did during the week. It can also help if you initiate the icebreaker by answering the question first, giving everyone else time to think about their answers.

2. Most Unique

Description: Go around the room and have each person share something that makes him or her unique or unusual, such as “I’ve never left the state I was born in” or “I am one of 10 kids.” The more unique the facts, the more fun the icebreaker becomes.

Ideal group size: Up to 15 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: Give examples of unique or unusual facts, and be willing to share your answer first. This activity often creates starting points for conversations between members.

3. Two Truths and a Lie

Description: Have each person make three statements about him or herself: two true statements and one lie. For example: “I’ve never broken a bone. I have five sisters. I was born in Poland.” The group tries to guess which statement is the lie. This icebreaker should not take longer than 10-15 minutes.

Ideal group size: This game can be time consuming, so it’s better with 10 people or fewer. Consider breaking up a big group into a few smaller ones.*

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: The key to making this icebreaker fun is for people to come up with odd/interesting facts about themselves. The more seemingly random the better. Give people a few minutes before starting the icebreaker to come up with the facts about themselves. The lie becomes harder to spot when only a portion of it is false. For example: “I have five sisters” could be the lie if the person only has three sisters.

*Keep the pace going by setting a time limit per player.

4. Get To Know You Questions

Description: Most people will not know each other well in a group that’s just forming. Using this icebreaker helps create friendship and community within the group. Simply ask one of these questions and give everyone a predetermined amount of time to answer.

Your goal is not to answer all of these questions, but we have provided them to give you options.

  • What do you do for fun?
  • What would be your ideal vacation?
  • What is the most memorable activity you did with your family as a child?
  • What quality do you appreciate most in a friend?
  • What is one characteristic you received from your parents you want to keep and one you wish you could change?
  • What is a good thing happening in your life right now? What makes it good?
  • If you knew you could not fail and money were no object, what would you like to do in the next five years?
  • What would you like said about you at your funeral?
  • When, if ever, did God become more than a word to you, and how did that happen?

Ideal group size: Up to 15 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: If you want to use this icebreaker for your first small group, plan on spending most of the time answering the questions you have chosen from the list.

Give your group space to be open with one another. If the questions above do not fit your group, come up with your own. The important thing is for people to share about themselves and practice listening well.

5. House on Fire

Description: Ask the members of your group to imagine the following scenario: “Your house is on fire, and everyone is safe. You have 30 seconds to run through the house and collect three or four articles you want to save. What would you grab? Why?”

After everyone has done this, the group can discuss what they learned about the things they value.

Ideal group size: Up to 20 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: If you decide to discuss your group members’ answers to the question, allow extra time. You can also come back and discuss the answers in a later meeting. This would be a great icebreaker to use to launch a study about identity or values.

6. Make-Believe

Description: Ask the members of your group one of these questions: If you could ...

  • Go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
  • Talk to anyone in the world (alive or dead), who would it be? Why?
  • Wish one thing and have it come true this year, what would it be? Why?

Ideal group size: Up to 10 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: This icebreaker may take longer than others, depending on how much people want to share. Plan on 15-20 minutes for this icebreaker.

7. Deserted Island

Description: Ask the group: “You’ve been exiled to a deserted island for a year. You are told you may take three things you want, apart from the essentials. What would you take and why?”

Ideal group size: Up to 15 people.

Great for: Any group.

Tips: This icebreaker is fun when people think of quirky answers. Encourage your group to think outside the box. This icebreaker should not take longer than 10 minutes, and the answers should be relatively short.

8. Heroes

Description: Ask each group member to name three people, past or present, he or she admires. Why?

Or ask: “If you could interview anyone in history, who would you choose and why? What one or two questions would you ask?”

Ideal group size: Up to 10 people.

Great for: Any group.

Tips: People will have interesting answers for these questions. It would be best to utilize this icebreaker for a small group that is focussed on bonding. Members of your group will most likely talk about people who have impacted their lives personally, so it may take longer than other icebreakers.

9. The M&M Challenge

Description: Pass a bag of M&M’s around and tell everyone to take a few but not to eat them.

Ask each person to share something for every M&M. For example, for every red M&M, share a TV show you like; for every blue M&M, share a place you would love to travel; and for every yellow M&M, share something you appreciate about a friend. Let people eat the M&M’s as they share.

Ideal group size: Up to 15 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: This icebreaker can become as creative as you want it to be. Come up with any question that works well with your group. If your group needs to bond more, come up with a few questions that bring deeper answers to the surface. If your group needs to laugh together, come up with funny questions. This icebreaker will be a favorite because your group members will get to eat M&M’s.

Icebreaker Games

Games are a fantastic tool to help the members of your Connect Group bond with one another. Never underestimate the power of laughing with people. Games will quickly create a sense of community within your group.

10. Personal Scavenger Hunt

Description: Have group members take five minutes to find the following items in their wallets or purses: Something that ...

  • You’ve had a long time.
  • You’re proud of.
  • Reveals a lot about you.
  • Reminds you of a fun time.
  • Concerns or worries you.

Have each person share the first item. Encourage people to expand on their item and why it fits the topic prompt. For example, if they have an item that reminds them of a fun time, have them share the memory. Go around again sharing the second item and so on until you have gone through each prompt.

Ideal group size: Up to 15 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: It can be hard to tell how long this icebreaker will take. Some people will expand on their answers, others will not. If the activity is taking too long, you can stop the sharing portion and pick up the icebreaker again during the next week’s meeting.

If people do not have purses or wallets to look through, ask them to find pictures on their phones that might fit the prompts. Or ask them to recall what is in their wallets or purses if they do not have them physically.

11. You Write the Question 

Description: Give each person a 3x5 card. Pick a topic and ask them to write down questions about that topic that anyone in the group could answer. For example, if you choose “friendship” as a topic, they can write down questions like “What do you value most in a friend?” or “Who was your best friend growing up and why?”

Pile all the cards face down in the middle of the group and let people draw one. Some topic ideas include jobs, life goals, funny stories, hobbies, family, fears, dating issues, significant relationships and relationship with God. Go around the room until everyone has had a chance to draw and answer a question.

Ideal group size: Up to 15 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: If there are similar questions written on more than one of the 3x5 cards, have the group come up with a new question on the spot for the person drawing the second one (or third, etc.). This will keep people engaged in the game and give everyone something to do.

12. Starburst Exchange 

Description: Buy a large bag of Starburst (or some other candy) and give each person the same amount (try 10). Start by stating something you’ve never done that you think everyone else has done.

For example, you might say, “I’ve never had a birthday party,” or some other true statement about yourself that you think everyone else has surely done. Then everyone who has had a birthday party pays you one Starburst. You pay everyone who has not had a party.

Keep playing until everyone has a turn or until someone runs out of Starburst. Obviously, the idea is to end up with the most.

Ideal group size: Up to 20 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: Like the M&M’s challenge, people will like this icebreaker because it involves candy. Bring more for people to eat during the study too. Plan on this icebreaker taking 20-30 minutes, depending on your group size. You can shorten it by not waiting until someone runs out of candy to stop.

Feel free to mix up the candy, but since pieces are passing back and forth, people will probably prefer something wrapped.

13. Chart Your Life

Description: Give your group members pens and paper. Ask them to draw a line representing the movement of their lives between high times and low ones.

Invite people to think back as far as they can and mark significant moments along the line they have drawn. Ask them to consider the high points and low points, moments of inspiration, moments of despair, leveling-off times, and where they are now.

The charts will probably be a mixture of straight, slanted, jagged and curved lines. At the different points of their lines, have people either draw something or write a phrase to represent that season of their life. Ask people to make at least five different points on their chart to represent significant moments in their lives.

After everyone has drawn their lines, have people share what they’ve drawn and what it means with the group.

Ideal group size: Up to 10 people.

Great for: Groups that know each other but want to go deeper.

Tips: This one may take longer than many other activities. It might be good to have people draw their charts beforehand to bring with them. If people are willing to share honestly, this can be a great activity to help your group bond. Ask your group to share only one to three points on their graphs to save time, or have people share their whole graphs in smaller groups.

14. Telephone Pictionary

Description: Each person in the small group receives a piece of computer paper and a pen. Everyone writes a funny or unusual sentence at the top of their paper. Then, each person hands their piece of paper to the person on their left. Now everyone will have a new piece of paper. Each person draws out a picture of the sentence. They fold the paper so only the picture is seen. The paper gets passed to the left again. This next person will write out a sentence that describes the picture and fold the paper so only the sentence is seen. The game alternates between people drawing and writing out what they see as they continue passing each paper to the left.

The icebreaker ends when each person receives their original paper. Let everyone share their original sentence and the final sentence or picture.

Ideal group size: 5 to 15 people.

Great for: Any group.

Tips: This is a popular icebreaker. It usually produces lots of laughs as everyone shares their papers at the end of the activity. Plan on this game taking 15-20 minutes.

15. Line Up

Description: This game requires your group to line up in any type of determined order without speaking to one another. For example, ask your group to line up in order of their birthdays, starting with the earliest in the year. Or have them line up in descending birth order, from oldest to youngest. The prompt could be anything, as long as there is something they can order themselves by. The game is engaging because they have to figure out how to line up correctly without talking.

Ideal group size: Up to 20 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: This game gives insight into how people operate. You will learn how the people in your group solve problems, who takes a leadership role and who does not, and how different personalities respond to the game. This icebreaker can be used to launch a study about leadership or how to respond to obstacles— or topics like that. It can also be used to help your group discover how they behave as a group and how they can grow as a group. It’s a great self-awareness tool.

16. I Have Never

Description: Set up chairs in a wide circle. Count the number of people at your study and ensure you have one chair less than the total of people. The game is played by having one person stand in the middle of the circle of chairs. This person states something true about themselves. The statement always starts with “I have never,” and then the person states something they have never done. For example, if the person in the middle says, “I have never been to Hawaii,” everyone in a chair who has been to Hawaii must get up and find another seat at least two seats from their own. The person who ends up without a seat must then go in the middle.

Ideal group size: 10 or more people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: Try this icebreaker during warm weather and place chairs outside so there is more room to run. This icebreaker works best in a large, open space. This game is great for helping people get to know one another. Encourage group members to share their names before sharing their statements.

17. Charades

Description: Break up your small group into two teams. Give a topic for the charades game (movies, sports, celebrities, books, etc.). Each person writes four to five charade ideas that relate to the topic on slips of paper. The teams take turns having someone from each team act out as many charades as they can from the slips of paper within a set time limit. The team that has the most correct answers wins the game.

Ideal group size: 10 or more people.

Great for: Any point in the semester.

Tips: Have someone volunteer to be the timer each time someone acts out the charades. Plan on this game taking 15-20 minutes.

18. Did You Know?

Description: Ask each group member to give you one interesting or unusual fact about themselves before the group meets. Try to discover information that sets each person apart from the others, such as “I have a tugboat named after me,” “I once wrecked the same quarter panel of my car four times,” or “I have a twin.”

Then make a sheet with one fact from each person and a blank space to enter someone’s name beside this fact. Give everyone in the group a sheet and have them find out whose name goes in each blank.

When they find the right person, they must also learn one other fact about that person. This does not need to be written on the paper, it just encourages conversation. At the end, introduce everyone in the group in the order on the list. Give the person who found all the answers first a prize.

Ideal group size: 10-25 people.

Great for: Newly formed groups.

Tips: This icebreaker will work best with people who do not yet know one another well. Plan on this icebreaker taking 20 minutes. Consider turning on music so people cannot hear each other’s answers.

19. Jenga Questions

Description: You will need a Jenga game. Cut out small pieces of paper that fit the length of each Jenga block and tape them to each Jenga piece. Then have each group member take a few blocks and write a question on each slip of paper. These questions can vary between light-hearted and deep, but let each person decide what question they want to use. (Examples: How many siblings do you have? If you could see any singer in concert, who would you see? What is your middle name?) Assemble the Jenga game.

Split your small group into two teams and have each person take a turn removing pieces from the Jenga game. Each time a block is moved, the person must answer the question on the slip of paper. Continue playing until one team wins the game.

Ideal group size: Up to 20 people.

Great for: Early in the semester.

Tips: This game is fun with more people. This activity should take 15-20 minutes. Prompt your group to listen when each person answers the question on their block; otherwise, the game may get loud as people strategize together. It is fun to see the types of questions people write.

More on Leading a Connect Group

We’re so glad you’ve taken the step of faith to lead a Connect Group here at New Hope, and we hope these icebreakers will be helpful. Whether it is an engaging question, an innovative game, or a unique activity, the icebreaker you utilize in your small group will create lasting memories for the people you have been called to invest in.

]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/04/19-connect-group-icebreakers#comments 0 Cultivating Camaraderie https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/03/cultivating-camaraderie Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/03/cultivating-camaraderie
At the beginning of the semester, chances are that your Connect Group members may not know each other well. Meeting new people can be one of the most uncomfortable things a person can experience, except maybe flunking a test or being overdrawn at the bank. If individuals are anxious about simply attending the group, it will be difficult to get them to study God's Word and to keep coming back. On the other hand, once the group is comfortable with each other, the relationships within the group will help stimulate the study of God's Word.

Initially, as a leader, you are the secret ingredient to building cohesiveness among your group members. If you wait for the group to come together on its own, it usually won't. You will often need to take steps to create the kind of atmosphere in which committed relationships can flourish. There are six ways you can help ways you can help create a sense of community and build camaraderie among Connect Group members.

1. Be an Involved and Caring Leader

Your Connect Group members will typically catch and model the attitude of the leader. If the leader is interested in everyone in the group, looks forward to being with them, and genuinely cares about helping the group learn and grow, the members will pick up on his or her attitude - it's contagious. Here are a few ways a leader can demonstrate a caring heart:
  • Pay Attention. People want to know they are being listened to when they're speaking. Don't look ahead in your lesson or stare out the window.
  • Be Responsive. When a members gives an answer or shares an insight opinion don't just nod and go on to the next person. Instead compliment the person or ask a follow-up question to show your interest.
  • Value Others' Opinions. Everyone's input and opinions have value. Don't judge what they share and avoid giving pat answers or quick fixes to their problems. For example, if someone says they are struggling with missing a recently departed loved one, don't just fire back with "Well, you know you have all you need in God." No one wants pat answers. One of the best ways to show you value someone's opinions is to ask a follow-up question. You could ask this person, "How have you been doing lately?" or "What are your favorite things about them?" or let them know that you're praying for them, care for them, and that you're here for them during this time.
  • Encourage interaction by asking for their input. What do they think? Do they agree? Disagree? Does anyone else have any input?
  • Be real with your Connect Group. Laugh with them, share your struggles and victories, and share your life and love for the Lord. Let them be your friends. You don't have to spill your deepest secrets, but let them know you, too, are a real person who's in the process of becoming like Christ.
  • Maintain confidentiality. If someone shares something confidentially, honor their request and don't share it outside of the group. Ask the rest of the group to do the same. If the group violates this principle, it will seriously deter others from sharing about their lives.
  • Work through conflict. Tension in a Connect Group discussion can happen. Agree to work through any disagreements. You may have to act as a mediator to make sure all points of view are heard.

2. Regularly Plan Time for Members to Tell Each Other About Their Lives

At the beginning of the Connect Group semester, an icebreaker is a great way to let people share experiences from their lives. If you need help thinking up some icebreakers throughout the semester, click the button below for a list 19 different icebreakers.
19 Connect Group Icebreakers
August 4th, 2022
Icebreakers are essential in creating an environment for everything else you want to do. They make it easier for people to begin getting to know each other. Someone new to your group might presume, for example, that everyone else already knows each other well, whether that is true or not....

3. Maximize Group Interaction

Prepare questions which will help the group interact with each other and God's Word. Provide opportunities for the members to state their observations and thoughts about what they're learning from the Bible. As your members interact with each other it will help facilitate self-discovered learning.

4. Show Tangible Concern for Those In Your Group

At the end of the group you could ask if anyone has a need for which they would like the group to pray. Perhaps it is a need that you, or the group, could help meet. When people begin to share about their lives, it draws a group together. As group members pray for one another, their care for one another grows as well. (New Christians may be hesitant and apprehensive at first, but a group will most likely pray more as its members grow and feel more comfortable with one another. Click the article below to read a post on how to teach a group to pray.)
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5. Do something together as a group outside of the normal meeting time.

Group activities are great for building unity in the group. Even something as simple as going to Starbucks or sitting together during church can help bond a group together. Involving a group in some kind of outreach can also unify a group. Click the article below to read more about outreach in your Connect Group.
A Connect Group That Reaches Out
August 13th, 2022
It’s important as a Connect Group leader to be committed to helping the people in your group learn to care for and be involved in the lives of people outside the group — including people who don’t follow Jesus. Ideally, believers in a Connect Group should receive, grow and give.Turning the corner from getting to giving is often a difficult step. It’s far easier for people to stay in focus inwardly...

6. Do activities with individual group members outside your group time.

As your members become more comfortable with you outside of your Connect Group, they'll be more open and honest inside the group. For more ideas on building relationships with your group members outside your group, click the article below.
Developing Relationships
August 2nd, 2022
Developing Relationships......
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/03/cultivating-camaraderie#comments 0 Developing Relationships https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/02/developing-relationships Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/02/developing-relationships
Developing Relationships
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/02/developing-relationships#comments 0 Jesus, Paul, and Their "Connect Groups" https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/01/jesus-paul-and-their-connect-groups Mon, 01 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/01/jesus-paul-and-their-connect-groups
Jesus, Paul, & Their "Connect Groups"
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2022/08/01/jesus-paul-and-their-connect-groups#comments 0 Updates: October 2021 "Jeremiah 3:15 says: 'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.'New Hope has been incredibly blessed by God with shepherds that pursue God’s heart and work tirelessly to keep us, His sheep, fed ...]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/10/06/updates-october-2021 Wed, 06 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/10/06/updates-october-2021
Hello New Hope!

Pastor Appreciation Month

October is pastor appreciation month. Lori Floyd, our deacon over the Finance Team, put together this special note for the month.
"Jeremiah 3:15 says: 'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.'
New Hope has been incredibly blessed by God with shepherds that pursue God’s heart and work tirelessly to keep us, His sheep, fed with the Word and cared for in so many ways.  Please take the opportunity during the month of October to show each of our staff ministry leaders how much you appreciate their hearts for God and us. During this month there will be baskets in the gallery, one for each staff leader.  Feel free to leave a note of thanks, or other token of your appreciation, for each of them as the Spirit leads.  Thank you for supporting and loving those that love and care for us.
Sincerely,
Lori"

Welcome to Karyn Perry!

I’m excited to welcome Karyn Perry and her family to the New Hope Community Church staff. Karyn will manage the church office, assist the senior pastor in administration, and handle scheduling and maintenance for New Hope’s facility. She will be in the office Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Here is her contact information for your New Hope related questions:
e-mail: karyn@newhopechurchtn.org
office phone: 615-373-1590

Below: Karyn is pictured with her husband, Marcus, and two sons, Gideon and Asher.

Appalachian Food Drive Items Due

We have been collecting items for the Appalachian Food Drive. If you are planning to buy groceries or have items to contribute they need to be delivered to the church gallery before Saturday, October 9.

Blocktober is Coming!

On Sunday, October 31st we will have a church lunch, games for kids, and candy immediately following the worship service! We will also have the Tennessee Titans football games on the bog screen. Most of this will take place under a big tent next to New Hope’s new playground so this event will happen RAIN or SHINE.

At the conclusion of the worship service we will all go outside and have a huge picnic. So dress accordingly.

The purpose of this event is for every New Hope member to INVITE a friend or family to attend church with you that day. Lunch will be provided. Games will be provided. NFL football will be provided…Fun is provided!

There are Blocktober invite cards in the church gallery for you to take and give to a friend or family as an invitation.

P.S. You can donate halloween candy for this event. Just drop it off at the church office during the month of October.

New Hope's Online Bulletin and Information

As you walk around New Hope’s facility you will notice these cards (pictured above) on the wall. All you need to do is open the camera app on your phone and then hold your phone over the card so the lens can pick up the entire card. The “Scan Me” portion should highlight and give you an option to open up a link in your web browser. This browser will send you to New Hope’s latest financial information, news, and events.

A New Hope Newsletter is Coming in November!

I’m also excited to let you know that in November we will begin distributing a monthly New Hope Newsletter that will keep you up to speed on what is happening throughout the congregation and in leadership. We will have devotional thoughts from pastors and updates on ministries. I’ll have more updates on this in the near future.

Blessings,
Pastor Josh
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/10/06/updates-october-2021#comments 0 Devotional: Falling in Love with Reading the Bible https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/09/13/devotional-falling-in-love-with-reading-the-bible Mon, 13 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/09/13/devotional-falling-in-love-with-reading-the-bible
Yesterday we had over 100 people come forward to declare they were ready to step up and change the world for Jesus Christ. Based on the message of Revelation 3:14-22, many declared they did not want to be lukewarm in a world that is desperate to see Christians who are either hot (bring healing) or cold (refreshing). So where do you begin?

Let's Start with the Basics

Many people are intimidated with the idea of reading Scripture on a daily basis. But the best way to live a passionate life for Jesus Christ and change the world in His Name is to fall in love with His Word. There are plenty of Bible reading plans out there these days, and if you already follow one I want to encourage you to keep going. However, if you do not have a reading plan I thought I would share with you how I am currently reading through the Bible.
I hear people say all the time that they don’t like to read. I know this was once true of me until I figured out reading is an exercise of the mind, and any kind of exercise is not fun when you are out of shape. We need to put our minds through basic training, realizing the first few days or even weeks will be challenging.

Most people will read something for a day or two and then become bored and quit, but nothing is easy when you start doing something new because the body likes to do things the way it has always done things. The key to breaking through this challenge is to discover why you are doing what you’re doing.

Reading the Bible out of obligation rarely works. It just becomes another chore and nobody likes chores. But what if you read the Bible as the life-giving source that it is? What if it clicked in your heart and mind that the people in Scripture were real and had amazing encounters with the Living God? And the best part, the same can be true for you!

Read Philippians 3:12-21 and marvel at how Paul fell in love with Jesus because of his upward heavenly call!

Developing a Routine

I have developed an intentional routine when it comes to reading the Bible.

I have a print out that lists each book of the Bible, 66 books in all. Here is a word document that I use. Let me give you the steps I go though. (Note: Find what works for you!)

  1. I pick one book from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
  2. I commit to reading at least one chapter from each book, each day.
  3. If I want to read more than one chapter, I do!
  4. Once I complete an entire book I write down the date I finished it next to the book.
  5. When I have extra time I will add one chapter of Psalm and one of Proverbs.
  6. If you come across a verse that really stands out to you write it down. Record the thoughts that came to your mind as you read it.
Note: I am currently reading Amos (OT) and Mark (NT).

"For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

Get yourself a good study Bible and read a little about the Author, Date, Purpose, and Theme of the book.
Click here if you’d like to purchase the Study Bible I use.
The best step you can take right now is the FIRST ONE…get started today.

Blessings,
Pastor Josh
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/09/13/devotional-falling-in-love-with-reading-the-bible#comments 0 Updates: August 2021 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/08/23/updates-august-2021 Mon, 23 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/08/23/updates-august-2021

New Hope QR Code Now Available

You may (or may not) have noticed we have displayed a QR code on the big screen in the sanctuary the past two weeks. Pretty soon you will see this QR code on a card in the back of pews and in the church gallery. This code will give you access to the church bulletin, financial numbers, website, and app. All you need to do is open the camera on your phone and hold it over the code. An option to open New Hope’s information should display in a new window.

If you are trying to use the QR code on the big screen in the sanctuary you may need to zoom in your camera just a little for the code to be picked up.

Livestream Audio Issues Are Being Corrected

A month ago we began having issues with the sanctuary sound board. When we built the Livestream Studio at New Hope the one piece of equipment we did not upgrade was the main sound console of the sanctuary. All sound is run through the sanctuary console. It controls what you hear in the sanctuary and also runs a signal to the Livestream Studio for the sound to be mixed for the online audience. Simply put, we have been operating our current console at 100% capacity for over a year now. The demand we place on it, combined with its age, have caused glitches and other issues.

A new and improved sound console was purchased a month ago and was delivered over the weekend. This new console is fully capable of handling our in-house and online needs. If all goes according to plan we should have the Livestream sound issues cleared up before the end of the month.

New Part-Time Administrative/Facilities Coordinator

The elders of New Hope have hired a new part-time Administrative/Facilities Director to assist me (Pastor Josh) in the day to day operations of the church. Karyn Perry and her family are moving to Williamson County and will be joining the church staff in mid to late September. Karyn currently works in the same administrative position at her church in California. She and her husband, Marcus, have two toddler boys, Gideon (4) and Asher (2).

She will be managing New Hope’s contracts with outside vendors and overseeing the day-to-day operations of New Hope’s facility and congregation. This will involve oversight of the church’s maintenance, calendar, membership directory, and more. In addition, she will work alongside me to manage my work calendar, appointment schedule, email and phone calls.

Connect Groups Start Soon

Fall Connect Groups start in two weeks!
Click here to sign up for a Connect Group Today
Have a great week,
Pastor Josh
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/08/23/updates-august-2021#comments 0 Devotional: Don't Take to Heart... Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 Ecclesiastes is considered a book of wisdom. Written from the viewpoint of a “preacher” who has discovered that everything he thought would bring him happiness is vanity. Not vanity in the way of pride, but vanity in the ...]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/08/16/devotional-don-t-take-to-heart Mon, 16 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/08/16/devotional-don-t-take-to-heart
Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22
Ecclesiastes is considered a book of wisdom. Written from the viewpoint of a “preacher” who has discovered that everything he thought would bring him happiness is vanity. Not vanity in the way of pride, but vanity in the way of being worthless.

  • Money
  • Possessions
  • Self-Indulgence
  • Fame
  • Pursuit of Happiness

Apart from God it is all worthless.

And then I stumbled across this little gem of wisdom in chapter 7:21-22. It almost felt like God did a mic drop on me when I read it. In fact, it stopped me in my tracks. Go to the top of this blog and read it again…I’ll wait.

I think most people struggle with hearing negative comments about themselves. For every 99 positive comments I receive I will always pay more attention to the one negative. I can try to be a people pleaser and make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time, but the simple truth is not everyone is going to like me (or you) no matter what. This passage of Scripture in Ecclesiastes tells us not to “sweat it.”

In fact, the passage hit me between the eyes when it basically says, “Don’t sweat it, after all, you say negative things about people too.” I must confess, I do! I mean, I try not to but I am human. But God gives us a gentle reminder not to take things people say about us so seriously because we also have a tendency to let words fly out of our mouths in a rather flippant manner.

If you hear that someone has been saying some things about you behind your back, forgive them. Chances are you have spoken some unflattering words behind someone else’s back, and if they ever found out you’d want them to forgive you.

Thank you God for this piece of wisdom today from Your Word…AND for reminding us that you know all and see all that is going on in our hearts.

Blessings,
Pastor Josh
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/08/16/devotional-don-t-take-to-heart#comments 0 Updates: July 2021 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/07/31/updates-july-2021 Sat, 31 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/07/31/updates-july-2021

Town Hall Voting Results

Last weeks Town Hall Meeting vote gave approval to the new fiscal year budget. New elders John Harbor and Bill Scott were affirmed, and new deacons Mel Alba and Calvin Hart were affirmed.

Staff Updates

The approval of the new budget makes official some staff promotions that are set to take place.
Austin Duncan is slated to become an Associate Pastor of New Hope Community Church, overseeing our Connect Groups, New Hope 101, and a new Discipleship Pathway he is developing for members of New Hope. Austin will also be a part of the preaching rotation filling in for me when needed.
Lauren Cochran has been the Children’s Director of New Hope for four years and will now add Create Hope Studios Director to her responsibilities. For more information on Create Hope Studios click the button below:
Create Hope studios
Sutton and Madison Porth have officially joined the church fellowship. Sutton is our new Worship and Livestream Director. He will be leading the team for the first time this Sunday, July 4th.

Blessings,

Pastor Josh Huisman
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/07/31/updates-july-2021#comments 0 2021 Elder and Deacon Nominations Town Hall Meeting. This meeting will involve the membership of the church receiving and voting on the proposed budget for the new fiscal year, and we will also vote on two elder and two deacon nominees for the upcoming year.The two men who have been nominated for church elder this year are Bill Scott and John Harbor. He and his wife, Dena, have b...]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/06/22/2021-elder-and-deacon-nominations Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/06/22/2021-elder-and-deacon-nominations
This Sunday we will have our end of the fiscal year Town Hall Meeting. This meeting will involve the membership of the church receiving and voting on the proposed budget for the new fiscal year, and we will also vote on two elder and two deacon nominees for the upcoming year.
The two men who have been nominated for church elder this year are Bill Scott and John Harbor.

Elder Nominations

Bill Scott

He and his wife, Dena, have been a part of New Hope’s fellowship for many years. Bill has served as a deacon in the past and has also served one three year term as an elder.

John Harbor

He and his wife, Jan, have been a part of the New Hope fellowship for 8 years. John is actively involved in local mission opportunities and he has served on volunteer teams at New Hope. He is currently leading a Connect Group on ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren.

Deacon Nominations

Calvin Hart

Calvin has faithfully served under current deacon Russ Bolton on the security team for over three years. As Russ rolls off the team this year for a sabbatical, Calvin has been nominated to take over the leadership responsibilities.

Mel Alba

Mel and his wife, Jennifer, brought their family to New Hope several years ago. Mel has served on a couple of the volunteer teams at the church and has been a faithful attendee of the worship services and connect groups of New Hope. Mel has a heart for reaching people with the gospel of Jesus and we look forward to working with him on upcoming outreach events in the future.
We will need at least two-thirds of New Hope’s active members to be present for the Town Hall voting on Sunday so the vote will be official on both the budget and nominees. Please make plans to join us this Sunday so your vote can be counted.

Blessings,
Pastor Josh
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/06/22/2021-elder-and-deacon-nominations#comments 0 Updates: June 2021 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/06/17/updates-june-2021 Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/06/17/updates-june-2021

Church Staff Announcement

Last evening Pete Wells and I met with the parents and students of the youth ministry to announce a change that will be taking place. At the end of July Pete will be stepping off the staff at New Hope to pursue a new ministry call. Pete has served as our youth director for four years and we are so thankful for how God has used him during his time at the church. He has also played a pivotal role in building the full production capabilities of New Hope in both Livestream and Audio recording.
Over the past year Pete has felt the call of God to advance in ministry, take on more pastoral responsibilities, and attend seminary. He would like to do this in an environment that holds to Reformed Baptist or Presbyterian (PCA) Church theology. We wish him well and pray God’s blessings over he and Becca as they begin this new ministry journey.

This ministry leadership change will bring about a restructuring of our student ministries that will begin in July. Starting Wednesday, July 7 the middle school students (Grades 6 – 8) will be separated from the high school students (Grades 9 -12), each group will have their own leadership, planning, curriculum, and meeting space. Pete will continue to lead the high school students through the end of July, while the middle school will be lead by adult volunteers. We will immediately begin looking for a new part time church staff leader for the middle school and a new part time church staff leader for the high school. I will keep the parents and students updated on our progress in those areas.

Please join me in prayer for the future of New Hope Community Church’s Student Ministries, and also for Pete as his time at New Hope comes to an end next month. We know God has wonderful things in store for him.

The New Playground is Installed

The new playground at New Hope is now fully installed and ready for use. In the weeks ahead the old playground will be disassembled and the fencing will be completely removed to prepare the way for the next phase of New Hope’s outdoor renovation work. Special thanks to Todd Craver (elder) and Sean McDonald (deacon) for their hard work in getting this project completed in a timely manner.
New Hope Playground, June 17, 2021
Blessings to all of you,
Pastor Josh
]]> https://crosswalktn.com/blog/2021/06/17/updates-june-2021#comments 0