Author: Dan Conway

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

Happy Thanksgiving week!  With the holiday in the later part of the week, and the InterFaith Thanksgiving Service on Monday night, many of you are not meeting this week.  But for those of you who are meeting, the sermon-based discussion guide for Sundays message “Coming Home” is below.

11-18-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- Coming Home

Leader Tips:

#1  As we have come to the end of the “Fall Semester” of our small groups, this will be the last sermon based discussion guide until the “Winter Semester” starts back up again in mid-January.    Of course, if your group members are not so busy in the Christmas season that they would like to continue meeting weekly until Christmas week, you are free to do so.  One such group is choosing to begin an advent study next week!  If you would like to follow in this direction, let me know and I can help you find a short term study as well.  For other groups, a Christmas fellowship meal in early December seems a fitting conclusion for the season and one which best suits the group schedule-wise.

#2    No Discipleship Leader’s Breakfast this week because of Thanksgiving week.  Look to Tuesday November 27^th for the next one.

#3    Don’t forget to read up in your “Sticky Church” book for the end of the semester small group meeting that will be either Monday December 3^rd or Wednesday December 5^th. 

#4    Upcoming Events:

• The annual church conference with our district superintendent is Sunday November 18^th at 6pm. We will be approving the budget for 2019 and the slate of nominations for leadership in 2019 as well as receiving various ministry reports about the past year and the one to come.  It is an open meeting, all are welcome.
• The Interfaith Thanksgiving service is Monday, November 19^th at 7pm at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Sienna Plantation with our own Dr. C. Chappell Temple delivering the message!
• Decorate the church day- Sunday November 25^th at 3pm.  All are welcome to come help put up the Christmas trees and wreathes and other decorations in the sanctuary and Gathering Hall.
• Want to grow and branch out into prayer practices of various kinds?  On Saturday, December 1, from 8:30am-noon, Pastor Michelle and guest clergy persons will be leading various breakout sessions on how we can prayerfully connect with God in traditional and various creative ways.  Children and families are welcome too!  Register online at www.christchurchsl.org/prayergift.
• Advent Programs- lots of great special events coming up starting on Sunday December 2^nd with the 6pm Lessons & Carols service.  See bulletin today orwww.christchurchsl.org/advent for more information.

 

Even though the Small Groups fall semester is ending, I am planning to continue staying connected with you all through email in the weeks ahead.  So please continue checking your email for discipleship ministry announcements!    I am thankful for the ways that you all are growing closer to Christ and to one another. Thank you all for your service in another great semester of sharing Christian faith together in community at Christ Church.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

Today, we had special guest Dr. Paul Wright of Jerusalem University College share the morning message “Why the Twelve?” based on Mark 3:13-19.  Please send a friendly email to your group members this week reminding them of your upcoming meeting plans and being sure to attach the discussion guide and include the link to the sermon videos online- www.christchurchsl.org/sermons.  Below are Leader Tips about this week and the end this fall semester of Small Groups at Christ Church.

11-11-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- Why the 12

Leader Tips:

#1   If you have people in your group who are new to the sermon-based small group experience and filled out an anonymous survey form at the beginning of the semester, I need to connect with you for a follow up anonymous survey as well which is a little different.  I will be communicating in a separate email directly to those who this applies to with the survey.  Thanks for working with me this semester on this important data for my Doctoral studies program!

#2   Discipleship Leader’s breakfast is Tuesday at 8am.  I’ll be sharing about how to read scripture carefully and to make use of study resources for researching questions about Biblical texts.  All leaders in discipleship ministries are welcome!  Bring your smart phone and know your app store password if you would like to buy some resource apps!  You may wish to bring an ipad or laptop computer if you have one as well.

#3   Small Group Leader’s End of the semester Gathering- Please reply with your availability for a Small Group leader’s meeting on either Monday December 3^rd 7-8:30pm OR Wednesday December 5^th 7-8:30pm.  This will be a time of gaining feedback about the fall semester, reviewing portions of the book “Sticky Church” about sermon-based small groups and planning for the Winter/Spring semesters.  Note: this particular meeting is just for small group leaders using the sermon based discussion format.

#4  Upcoming Events:

• Next Sunday’s message– “Coming Home,” based on Jeremiah 29:4-14 on November 18^th.
• The annual church conference with our district superintendent is Sunday November 18^th at 6pm. We will be approving the budget for 2019 and the slate of nominations for leadership in 2019 as well as receiving various ministry reports about the past year and the one to come.  It is an open meeting, all are welcome.
• The Interfaith Thanksgiving service is Monday, November 19^th at 7pm at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Sienna Plantation with our own Dr. C. Chappell Temple delivering the message!
• Decorate the church day- Sunday November 25^th at 3pm.  All are welcome to come help put up the Christmas trees and wreathes and other decorations in the sanctuary and Gathering Hall.
• Want to grow and branch out into prayer practices of various kinds?  On Saturday, December 1, from 8:30am-noon, Pastor Michelle and guest clergy persons will be leading various breakout sessions on how we can prayerfully connect with God in traditional and various creative ways.  Children and families are welcome too!  Register online at www.christchurchsl.org/prayergift.
• Advent Programs- lots of great special events coming up starting on Sunday December 2^nd with the 6pm Lessons & Carols service.  See insert from bulletin today, more info coming soon!

 

Thank you all for continuing to support the Discipleship Ministries of Christ Church with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness!  I look forward to meeting with you to talk about your small groups this semester!  Please let me know if you are available at either of the dates listed above.

Your Co-laborer In Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

 

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

Today we had a meaningful service of All Saint’s Sunday at Christ Church.  Attached is the discussion guide for the message “Eternity in Their Hearts” based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-14.  Please attach it to a friendly meeting reminder email to your group members and include a link to the online sermon videos in case they missed it- www.christchurchsl.org/sermons.

11-04-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- eternity in our hearts

Leader Tips:

#1   Discussions This Week– The liturgical holiday of All Saint’s Sunday, depending on the person and their recent history of loved ones who may have passed away, can be an emotional experience.  In such cases the emotions can sometimes be hard, sometimes good, and sometimes both.  This could be an occasion in which the vulnerability within the group deepens.  As facilitator you may wish to offer people time and opportunity to open up about their personal feelings and experiences.  Also remember you have the pastors of the church to support you and your group members in the ministry.  If people seem to be going into too much vulnerability for the context, as the leader you may provide a conversational way out in referring to the pastors who would be happy to meet with them for further conversation.

#2   At our Discipleship Leader’s Breakfast this Tuesday at 8am in Jacob’s Well, I will sharing a more in-depth presentation of Kwanglim Methodist, the largest Methodist Church in the World which I visited in Seoul, S. Korea this past summer.  All of you are welcome!

#3  The end of the Fall Semester for Small Groups- As we mentioned at the beginning of the fall, a small group lasts about 10-12 weeks, once in the fall and a couple of times in the winter/spring.  We are soon coming up on the end of the Spring semester (around thanksgiving).  You may wish to discuss with your group soon, when your last meeting will be this fall.  A Christmas fellowship event is a fun extra alternative type of meeting in December if your group would enjoy it!  Please let me know when your last regular meeting will be when you can.  I have a different “post-participation” anonymous survey for the new people to fill out which I would like to give you for that time.

#4  Upcoming Events–  Some of the upcoming events are still the same as listed from last week.  You can read them below and share them with your group as you see fit.

Keep on keeping on Saints of Christ Church!  I’ll be holding your groups and spiritual conversations this week in prayer that God would bless the fellowship with His presence and peace as the eternal things of the heart are shared from one to another.

Blessings!

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

       Attached is the discussion guide for this week’s message “Come Like Kids” based on Mark 10:13-16, and at the 10:55 service, Psalm 126 as well.  Please send a friendly reminder email to your group members and include the discussion guide as well as a link to the sermon videos in case they missed them- www.christchurchsl.org/sermons.  

 10-28-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- childrens sabbath coming like kids

Leader Tips:

#1- Next weekend we celebrate All Saint’s Day as we remember those who came before us who have had a significant impact upon our lives and faith.  The scripture will be Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (a passage that may remind you of a song by The Byrds!). There will be a brief service of dedicating the paver stones just outside the sanctuary building immediately following the 10:55 service. 

#2- The following weekend, Nov 11, we will have a special guest preacher- Dr. Paul Wright, president of Jerusalem University College, the group which has coordinated Christ Church’s study field trips to the Holy Land.  Note: the professor who has actually led our groups is Dr. Jack Beck, not Dr. Wright.  However, Dr. Beck will also be with us this Spring on Palm Sunday!

#3-  I have distributed copies of the book “Sticky Church” to some of you and plan to connect with the rest of you this week.  Please read it when you can in preparation for an end of the fall semester Small Group Leader’s Meeting at an area restaurant with a back room some time after thanksgiving- time, date and location TBD.   

#4– I am continuing to lead our Discipleship Leader’s Breakfasts in Jacob’s Well on Tuesdays at 8am.  We just finished the series on “The Mind of The Master” by Dr. Robert Coleman last Tuesday which focused on aspects of the life of Jesus from which He drew strength for His ministry.  This Tuesday I will be talking about my experience in South Korea and Singapore this past summer.  You are all invited!

#5- In case it comes up, we should acknowledge that there are some qualities of children that is actually good that we grow out of!  There is a difference between being child-like and childish, I believe the child-like part is being humble, being authentic, at times uninhibited (in a good way) and having imaginations filled with wonder and possibility.  The tantrums we should probably try to avoid as adults- 1 Corinthians 13:11.

#6- Other upcoming dates to be aware of-

• The annual church conference with our district superintendent is Sunday November 18^th at 6pm. We will be approving the budget for 2019 and the slate of nominations for leadership in 2019 as well as receiving various ministry reports about the past year and the one to come.  It is an open meeting, all are welcome.
• The Interfaith Thanksgiving service is Monday, November 19^th at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Sienna Plantation with our own Dr. C. Chappell Temple delivering the message!

 Thanks for your participation in Small Group ministry as we all strive to grow in Christ together.  I’ll be praying for you and your faith discussions this week. 

Your Co-Laborer in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

    Attached is the discussion guide for this week’s message “The Lost Love” based on Revelation 2:1-7.  Please write a friendly meeting reminder email to you group members and attach discussion guide.  Please be sure to include the link to the sermon videos- www.christchurchsl.org/sermons. 

Discussion Guide- 10-21-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- The Lost Love

Leader Tips:

#1- On Tuesday morning at 8am, I meet with any leaders of discipleship ministry groups at Christ Church in the Jacob’s Well area for an hour of Bible teaching, discussion, and prayer and afterwards, speak with leaders who wish to talk about ministry related issues with their group.  You are all welcome to join us as we discuss the life and ministry of Jesus and the practices which he drew strength, based on the book The Mind of Christ, by Dr. Robert E. Coleman.

#2- I have a book for you! Sticky Church, by Larry Osborne is a great book about sermon based small groups.  Please stop by or let me know the best way to get you a copy.  Also, some time shortly after thanksgiving, I’d like to get together to discuss the book with you and other small group matters you wish to talk about.  Please email me your suggestions for a time to meet and a restaurant with a back room that accommodate up to 24 people.

#3- Thanks for your help with the surveys for new people!  You are welcome to scan and email filled out forms or drop them by the office as you have opportunity.  I am attaching the survey again here, in case you expecting any new people this week.

survey- pre-participation survey v1c

#4-  We have a new group starting this Friday, 6-7:30pm, at church for Parents of Young Children (with at least one child 5 years old or less in the home).  Please be in prayer for this new group starting this week.  If you know of others who would enjoy this small group opportunity with free child care, please do invite them and ask them to contact me.  We do have to reserve the appropriate number of childcare workers in advance so at least 2 days notice is appreciated.

#5- In case people are curious about what sermons are coming up, here are the next two weeks.  It is ok to read ahead!

• Oct 28, “Coming Like Kids” Mark 10:13-16
• Nov 4, “Eternity in Their Hearts” Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (All Saints’ Day)

Thank you all for being a part of the small group discipleship ministry of Christ Church.  I pray your discussions go well as you talk about how to stay in love with God together!

Your Co-laborer in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

    Since the regular Sunday group leader email was so short in the Sunday email, I have a mid-week announcements email for you!

Leader Tips:

#1        Thank you for being a Neighborhood Small Group leader and taking the time to lead sermon based discussions each week.  In appreciation of and in support of your service as a leader, I have purchased for you a copy of the best book I have come across on sermon based small groups- it is called Sticky Church.  I hope to give you a copy when I can, or you can stop my office anytime to pick one up.  This book will help you understand why and how other churches have followed this model of discipleship, how they have succeeded, and may also stimulate other ideas about how we approach this ministry at Christ Church.  If you are not much of a reader, don’t worry, it is an entertaining and thought provoking 158 pages, written by a pastor who can “put the cookies on the lower shelf” in a way that is accessible to everyone!

#2        Let’s find a date and place to have an end of the Fall semester small group leaders’ meeting.  I believe you all will enjoy talking with other Christ Church members who do what you do each week and share common stories, questions and answers too!  I envision gathering at a restaurant with a back room (quieter for group conversation) for lunch or dinner sometime after Thanksgiving and before mid-December.  Please reply when you can with your day and time preferences and restaurant suggestions as well.

#3              Is your group looking for service opportunities or missions projects for the group to sponsor this fall season?  Here are a couple of options to consider:

1. Children’s Upward Basketball League at Christ Church- One day of the group serving in concessions & other individual volunteer roles

  According to Pastor Andrew, you can pick a Saturday in early December or January or February to serve as a small group in the FLC big kitchen in the concessions/hospitality ministry for our many guest families in the program.  There is also a need for individual volunteers in the coaching and refereeing areas this season as well (Dec-Feb).  Just email andrewh@christchurchsl.org if you can help with either one.

1. The Ministry of Clean Water in Haiti

   Attached is a flyer about sponsoring water filters for the people of Haiti this Sunday (Oct 21).  So far we have 13 filters sponsored but hope to reach 100.  Please share the flyer with your group and encourage people to check out the Haiti ministry table in the Gathering Hall this final Sunday.  If your group has already met this week, you may wish to email the content of #3 to your group prior to Sunday.

flier- WATER FILTER Sunday school 

Thanks for being a part of the discipleship ministries of Christ Church!

Your Co-laborer in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

 

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

    Sorry for the late hour of this email, it was a full afternoon and there were technical difficulties with our email server to work through.  What a great celebration of 35 years of ministry together today!  Attached is the discussion guide for today’s message “A Church For The Ages.”  Also attached is the anonymous survey for new participants that, if they are open to it, I would like all new people to complete before or right at the beginning of their first meeting.  Please get any filled-out forms to me when you can and I will add them to the pile!

     Please include the attachments in a brief friendly email meeting reminder which you send to your group.  Then the group members can reply to all to each other during the week to coordinate meeting details or share prayer requests during the week.  Usually I send “leader tips” that are primarily for the small group leaders to know.  However, the hour is somewhat late, so no leader tips this week other than- pray, read the Word closely, listen to people attentively, and respond to the promptings of the Spirit as best you can discern to facilitate a life giving, truth telling, loving conversation in community!

Here is the guide- 10-14-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- A Church For The Ages

Your Co-laborer in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

Please send your group members an encouraging meeting reminder email with the discussion guide for this week which is attached to this email. Please be sure to include the link for the video of this week’s message “Will You Care For Those Around You?”  at www.christchurchsl.org/sermons.  The title and topic this week is very relevant for you in small group ministry!  Thank you for helping to care for people each week!

Here’s the link to the guide- 10-7-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- baptism- will you care for those around you

Link for new people’s survey- pre-participation survey v1c

Leader Tips:

#1  Reminder- Special Sunday Oct 14- One Worship Service at 10am- 35^th Anniversary of Christ Church Sugar Land!  Tickets for the catered meal afterward in the Family Life Center are still available at the church office or www.christchurchsl.org/anniversary through Monday, October 8^th.  You may wish to get a table as a group!  If you do, please bring a table covering and whatever kind of centerpiece you would like for your table Sunday morning before worship 8am-9:30am.

#2  New Surveys for New People– As part of my doctoral paper, I am attaching an anonymous survey for all new people to do before they get involved in the small group ministry.  Please keep some printed copies on hand for any new people you have and encourage them to fill it out at the beginning of their first meeting and return to you.  I will then get them from you and keep them in a combined folder.  The surveys are not required from new people, but are very appreciated for my research!  FYI- the new Sugar Creek Monday night group begins tomorrow night, no worries Kevin and Rick- I’ll bring some copies and pens!

#3   Discipleship Leader’s Breakfasts– Tuesdays 8-9am in Jacob’s Well.  So far we have covered topics centering around where Jesus drew strength from for his life and ministry such as Prayer, the Holy Spirit, and God’s Word.  This week we will look at the meaning of the gospel message.  All leaders in discipleship ministry at Christ Church are welcome!

#4   Prayer and Discipleship Ministry- One thing I have learned in my doctoral studies and in the New Room conference in Tennessee is that revival and renewal begin with a foundation of prayer.  So please continue to pray for your small group members as well as for the new people and new small groups that are coming together.  As leaders we are blessed with an excellent vantage point to see God’s Word and the Holy Spirit at work in the people around us.  What a privilege to participate in God’s grace that is changing lives!  Thanks for serving the Lord with Christ Church!

Your Co-laborer in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders of Christ Church,

Attached is the sermon based discussion guide for this week’s message “Will You Serve Him as Lord?” Please forward the guide to your group members for them to have prior to the meeting and print out enough copies to have on hand for all at the meeting this week.  Please also include the link to sermon videos in case they missed them- www.christchurchsl.org/sermons.

9-30-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- baptism- will you serve him as your lord

    Leader Tips:

#1  New Small Groups– It looks like a new Monday night Sugar Creek small group will begin Monday October 8^th and two other small groups that needed additional people are receiving them through our fall sign ups!  Two other potential new small groups are still pending- a Friday night Parents of Young Children small group with free nursery care at the church and a Young Adult (20-34 yr old) Singles small group.  If you know of any people who would be interested in either of these groups, please let me know so that I can invite them!

#2  Survey Forms For All New People to Do at Beginning of First Meeting- I am also attaching a pdf file of a survey form that is JUST for the new people to the group who have not participated before.  This is a different form than was used before and is crucial for the next stage in my doctoral thesis project on sermon-based small groups. Please keep several print outs hand this fall, especially this week and next week in case you have new people join your group who are willing to do the survey.  It is not required for participation, but highly encouraged!  It is an anonymous survey with no names (just last 4 digits of social security number to identify with the follow up survey in a couple months).  It is an easy 11 question survey with a numerical response scale and should only take about 3-4 minutes to do.  Completed forms can be kept in an envelope and given to me at a later time to combine with anonymous forms from other groups as well.  Thanks for your help on this- if you have any questions- just text me at 832-360-8295.

#3  Discipleship Leader’s Breakfast– If you are available on Tuesdays at 8am, please join me in Jacob’s Well for a time of Biblical teaching about how the meaning of the gospel was a resource of strength for Jesus in ministry, and for the opportunity for discussion and prayer with your peers in discipleship ministry!

#4  35^th Anniversary Service and Luncheon Oct 14- There will be one merged worship service on Oct 14^th in celebration of Christ Church’s 35^th anniversary!  Tickets for a catered lunch in the Family Life Center are available for sale in the Gathering Hall on Sunday, in the office during the week or online at www.christchurchsl.org/anniversary.  Why don’t you all come as a small group and get a whole table?  The table decorations are to be done by various groups of the church- a plastic table covering will do and whatever themed elements you would like to present as a centerpiece.

Thanks for being in Discipleship Ministry together at Christ Church.  God is doing a new thing here this Fall!  Keep up the prayers for renewal and awakening in His Spirit!

Your Co-laborer In Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Small Group Leaders,

Attached is the sermon based discussion guide for today’s messages on “Do you trust God?”  Please forward the discussion guide and link to the sermon videos, www.christchurchsl.org/sermons, to your group members.

9-23-18 Sermon Discussion Guide- baptism- do you trust God

Leader Tips:

#1  This is the 3^rd Sunday in our series, “Remembering Your Baptism”.  In case you or others in your group missed it, we gave out blue baptism reminder bracelets in worship today.  There may be extras available in the church office in case you would like to have one.

#2  The Discipleship Leader’s Breakfasts continue this Tuesday at 8am in Jacob’s Well.  All with a role of service in the discipleship ministries of Christ Church are invited.  I typically lead a time of interactive Bible teaching from 8-8:35, followed by open discussion and closing prayer from 8:35-8:50.  The final 10 minutes are reserved for follow up dialogue with other discipleship leaders or connecting with me about theological or ministry related questions.  So far, we have been focusing on learning about how Jesus’ life and ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit.  This Tuesday, we will be looking to the prayer life of Jesus as a source of strength as well.

#3  The New Room conference in Brentwood, TN was terrific this past week!  2,200 Anglicans, Methodists and Wesleyans of various branches worshiped, prayed and learned together about revivals, discipleship and collectively seeking a new movement of the Spirit in today’s world.  It was very inspiring and hopeful!  One of the things I learned was that J. Edwin Orr once wrote, “History is silent about revivals that did not begin in prayer.”  So we know where to begin for renewal and growth in the Spirit at Christ Church!

#4  New Small Groups are still in process. Please be in prayer for them as well.  I am trying to find enough people to make for a Monday night group in Sugar Creek and a new Sunday night group for adults with young children in a home near the church, with child care offered at church.  There are other groups I am exploring as well, but those are two prayer points to share with you all for now.

I am praying for a great meeting this week for you all!  Please reach out to me via email or phone if you would like to meet sometime for support in your group ministry.  Or just come join us on Tuesday morning at 8am!

Blessings!

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church