Here’s questions for your groups from this week’s message:
1. Who or what comes to mind when you think of radical love?
2. Do you think you have what it takes to show others radical love?
3. What are two things that keep you from loving radically?
4. What can you start doing tonight to work on those two things?
tomorrow? this week?
5. Write the names of three people you know who need radical love.
Consider praying for these people everyday this week; pray that God will show you how He can use you to show radical love to them.
Registration
We’re encouraging everyone to register online. There will also be tables to register at inside and outside of the church building on Sunday. The registration tables will also provide and receive the release forms
The Crossroads release form is necessary for every human being older than an infant.
The City of Manteca release is necessary for anyone on the trees, hedges, and hydrants.
The City of Modesto release is necessary for anyone on the Tuolomne River project.
Shirts
We will have lime-green Takin’ It To The Streets shirts for sale for $5 to those who register (those who cannot afford it will be given a shirt) (youth sized M and L, and adult sized S, M, L, XL, XXL). Only registrants may buy a shirt … and they will attract a lot of attention in the community as we serve “en masse” among press.
On 10.11
We intend to have most people pre-registered before coming to church … and then deal with new folks as quickly as we can. Whoever is registered and checked in prior to 9am, that is great … we will deal with late comers at approximately 9:25 when we are done meeting together in the main room. We must begin on time to send as many people out as soon as we can for the limited time we have on the projects.
EVERY person MUST check in on 10.11.09 to double check that their release form(s) is(are) in, and then receive a stamp or mark on their hand (with exceptions given a matching red sticker for their shirt).
We intend to have coffee and danish from 8-8:30 (and then taken away at 8:30) in the adult and youth rooms.
FAQ’s
What about parking?
We’ll encourage carpooling to Crossroads, and then parking as safely and closely as possible near their respective project. Each project leader will provide some specific information for their project site in print on 10.11. At Woodward Park there is one main parking lot that will be insufficient, but there are surrounding streets in close proximity (and two entrances into the fenced area to the east and the west).
What do we do with our children?
We won’t be providing any childcare that day, for several reasons. One reason is that several projects are kid-friendly and welcome to strollers and wagons … and some parents will “participate” by being near the action (and be part of the team that just chats with those who pass by). If you look on the descriptors of the projects, each specifies which are open to younger children. We do believe many families will enjoy working together on the same project.
What if I need to leave early?
We’ll miss you, but you were part of the day and will share in the celebration and victory!
What about the bbq?
The projects will conclude at noon, and the bbq at Woodward Park will begin at 12:30 … allowing you to maybe drop your tools at home and travel over to the park. We’ll conclude by 2pm after we eat, enjoy some worship together with a live band, and share some of what went on that morning.
Woodward Park is on Woodward Road (an east/west road almost parallel to Hwy 120, just east of Main Street), and we will be in the fenced basin at the east end of the park). You can’t miss a crowd up to 1,000 people, but it IS a big park and there may be other things going on on the soccer fields that day.
What do I bring to the bbq?
Your own chairs, picnic blanket, umbrella for shade and sunscreen?
The free lunch is hopefully provided by donors will include hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks. Just an old-fashioned picnic for 1,000 people.
What about first aid?
We’re trying to identify certified folks for each project site to be ready for initial first aid, and everyone has cell phones today that could reach “10.11 central” for emergency contact information.
Can we bring guests, neighbors, relatives?
Sure! Get them to pre-register online … or here early. If they aren’t hear by 8:30, it might not be a fun!
What does all of this cost?
The shirt cost is $5 if you can afford it, and we’re scrambling for donations to cover the meal for lunch, and we’re trusting the Lord to supply for the normal offering to cover our ongoing responsibilities … and anything over budget that day will help with any costs we may incur (and remaining funds will go to 2nd Saturday).
What if we find Bio-hazard stuff that day on our project sites?
We’ll have trash grabbers and a plan at each site.
What is our rain plan?
Our plan to get wet and be thankful since our land needs rain. We’ll get done what we can with who we have. If it is a severe electrical storm like September 12th … most sites would most likely shut down, and the 10.11 Central and project site leaders would issue that decision.
What is next, and what if we don’t finish the task that day?
If it is the trees … we would send as many people as we can back to Moffat Road after lunch.
Most other site work would carry over to 2nd Saturday, and smaller teams of those on the projects may decide to return as a time they choose. 2nd Saturday is a tremendous opportunity to show the heart of a servant in serving people in our community. Plan to participate, and get detailed information at crossroadsgrace.org/2ndsat.
John Piper in a recent message gave seven reasons why a sermon is not enough (and why growth groups are so important)…here they are:
- The impulse to avoid painful growth by disappearing safely into the crowd in corporate worship is very strong.
- The tendency toward passivity in listening to a sermon is part of our human weakness.
- Listeners in a big group can more easily evade redemptive crises. If tears well up in your eyes in a small group, wise friends will gently find out why. But in a large gathering, you can just walk away from it.
- Listeners in a large group tend to neglect efforts of personal application. The sermon may touch a nerve of conviction, but without someone to press in, it can easily be avoided.
- Opportunity for questions leading to growth is missing. Sermons are not dialogue. Nor should they be. But asking questions is a key to understanding and growth. Small groups are great occasions for this.
- Accountability for follow-through on good resolves is missing. But if someone knows what you intended to do, the resolve is stronger.
- Prayer support for a specific need or conviction or resolve goes wanting. O how many blessings we do not have because we are not surrounded by a band of friends who pray for us.
What you are doing matters!
It is an exciting week! We have almost 700 people signed up for groups and groups start this week!
Thank you for leading a group – you guys are amazing! There is so much spiritual potential for those 700 people and you guys are part of seeing that potential realized! As the apostle Paul wrote, “lead with all diligence!” Go for it!!
A few things to bring to your attention:
- Remember to contact your people this week before group meets – you’ll have better attendance!
- Remember you can download the discussion guide and covenant here: www.fuelinglife.org/downloads
- Also, you can download “The Everything You Need to Know Guide to Leading Groups” here: http://fuelinglife.org/ignition-training/
- There are two reading plan errors! Somehow we invented some chapters of the Bible! We’re not heretics (at least not on purpose), so please let your attendees know…there’s no such thing as 1 Thessalonians 6 or Hebrews 14-16!! Have a great week reading Scripture!
Blessings!
Ed
“The Word of the Yahweh is perfect, reviving the soul.” Psalm 19:7
Loneliness. Discouragement. Heart-ache. Financial Pressures. These are things we face everyday.
Imagine being a missionary in a foreign country!
Complete reliance on Christ. Amazing answers to prayer. Seeing people coming to Christ. God provides again and again.
These are things missionary experience all the time in the midst of struggles!
It’s fantastic to hear the stories of struggle and victory of missionaries - we get to praise God more and it builds our faith and increases our vision.
Here’s your opportunity to hear them.
We’d love to see you growth group adopt a missionary for 12 weeks. Which simply means praying for them and having someone in your group contact them every couple of weeks for prayer updates.
We have beautiful frames of missionaries we support that you can display at your meetings as a reminder. If you would like to adopt a missionary, contact Liz Austin liz@crossroadsgrace.org
