Seacoast Church - Greg Surratt - Make Room - Print Curriculum by Lifetogether Ministries

Greg Surratt and Josh Surratt Founding Pastor and Teaching Pastor Seacoast Church

Table of Contents

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, and 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Contents

Appendix

Small Group Leaders

About The Authors

Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Permission for use is given to Seacoast Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC in all forms of distribution.

Foreword by Chris Hodges 5 Introduction to Make Room 6 Using this Workbook 8 Outline for Each Session 9 SESSION ONE – Make Room for God 14 SESSION TWO – Make Room for Relationships 28 SESSION THREE – Make Room for a Miracle 40 SESSION FOUR – Make Room for Rest 52 SESSION FIVE – Make Room for Generosity 64 SESSION SIX – Make Room for Mission 74

Frequently Asked Questions 86 Small Group Agreement 89 Small Group Calendar 90 Purpose Team Roles 91 Spiritual Partners’ Check-In Page 93 Small Group Roster 94 Circles of Life 95 Memory Verses 96 Prayer and Praise Report 97

Hosting an Open House 98 Leading for the First Time 99 Small Group Leadership 101 (Top Ten Ideas) 100

Greg Surratt and Josh Surratt Biographies

104

Wouldn’t you agree that all of us have been impacted by the people in our life? Good or bad, all of us can look back over our life and see how our life story has been impacted by people. Just over twelve years ago I was a young associate pastor at a great church in Louisiana with a dream to plant my own church. I knew very little about church planting and didn’t have the resources I needed to do it right. I was scared and overconfident at the same time. That’s when my father-in-law, Billy Hornsby, introduced me to Greg Surratt.

Honestly, meeting Greg was one of the best things that ever happened to me. He became a mentor to me in the area of church planting and even offered for the church he pastored to give a significant portion of our launch budget. Even after we started the church, he assured me that we would make budget every month for the first year by making up the difference if needed. Twelve years later, Church of the Highlands has reached thousands of people. And what he did for me twelve years ago, we have been able to do for over 300 other church planters in a church planting organization we started together called ARC, the Association of Related Churches. I had a lot of potential that would have never been discovered or realized had it not been for the friendship I have with Greg. That’s how God works. He puts us together in relationships so that we can do more than we could have ever done on our own. But for so many of us, that’s not our story. Instead, many of us have had relationships that have been the greatest source of pain in our lives. And even though it’s not the right thing to do, it’s only natural that we guard our hearts from ever being hurt again by shutting people out. Some even have shut God out.

Foreword

And that’s why I’m glad you’re reading this book and reading it in a small group setting. Because it’s time to let God in again. And if real life change is going to happen, God will use relationships with others to do it. All you need to do is take the risk, open your heart again, and let God move. It’s time to make room.

Chris Hodges Founding Pastor, Church of the Highlands Birmingham, Alabama

Hey gang! You’re going to watch and hear us say a number of times in the weeks to come that we are very glad you have decided to participate in the small group series. Perhaps this is your first venture into a small group of any kind, so let us tell you right from the start that you have already created significant room for God to work in your life by deciding to get with a few others and learn, live, and grow together. Welcome! One of the great things about preparing and teaching this series for both of us was a healthy re-examination of our own lives in relation to making room for God to work. Believe us, this is a process that you never get done with, and we’re on the journey with you.

Another conviction that has come to us related to this series is God not only wants us to make room for Him in our lives; He wants us to make room for Him in our small groups, in our church, and our community. Over the next few weeks we will be talking about Making Room for God in our lives. Then we will look at other areas where we should Make Room: for God, for Relationships, for a Miracle, for Rest, for Generosity and for Mission. Realize that each time your group meets, you’re creating space for God to work. We all know (or should know) we can’t make God move, but we can Make Room for God to move. We can create space and invite God to work. We can open the door and invite Him in. Can you imagine what God might do if we did this as church, if you did this as a small group, or if you decided to walk it out personally? We would take ground in the Kingdom! Lives would be changed! Our community would be transformed!

INTRODUCTION Make Room

We’ve really enjoyed preparing these sessions and we’re looking forward to spending the next few weeks with you and want to thank you up front for your time. We believe your discussions throughout Make Room could potentially be among the most powerful you’ve ever experienced. They could mark a significant turning point in your life. But you’ll have to decide that six weeks from now. For this moment, we hope you enjoy your time together, creating space for God to work.

Greg and Josh Surratt

Outline of Each Session

Using this Workbook (Stuff to Help You Have a Great Small Group Experience!)

1 Notice in the Table of Contents there are three sections: (1)

Sessions; (2) Appendix; and (3) Small Group Leaders. Familiarize yourself with the Appendix parts. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves.

If you are leading or co-leading a small group, the section for Small Group Leaders will give you some hard-learned experiences of others that will encourage you and help you avoid many common obstacles to effective small group leadership.

3 Use this workbook as a guide, not a straightjacket. If the group

responds to the lesson in an unexpected but honest way, go with that. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. Take to heart the insights included in the Frequently Asked Questions pages and the Small Group Leaders section.

Most people want to live a life that is orderly, meaningful, and satisfying, but few achieve this by themselves. And most small groups struggle to balance all of God’s purposes in their meetings. Groups tend to overemphasize one of the various reasons for meeting. Rarely is there a healthy balance that includes teaching, evangelism, ministry, practical exercises, and worship. That’s why we’ve included all of these elements in this study so you can live a healthy, balanced spiritual life over time. A typical group session for Make Room will include the following:

Theme.

4 Enjoy your small group experience.

The lessons we will learn during Make Room are best illustrated in the lives of real people. Each session’s teaching will include comments by real people reflecting on the significance of the theme for that session in their lives.

Coming Together.

Now read the Outline for Each Session on the next pages so that you understand how the sessions will flow.

The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with

God and his family. A few people who really know you and who earn your trust provide a place to experience the life Jesus invites you to live. This section of each session typically offers you two options. You can get to know your whole group by using the icebreaker question(s), or you can check in with one or two group members—your spiritual partner(s)—for a deeper connection and encouragement in your spiritual journey. As your group begins, use the Small Group Agreement, Small Group Calendar, and Purpose Team Roles to help your group see how everyone has a part in making a small group come to life. As the group develops intimacy, use the Spiritual Partner’s Check-In Page and the Prayer and Praise Report to keep the group connected.

Learning Together / DVD Teaching Segment. Serving as a companion to the Make Room small group discussion book is the Make Room video teaching. This DVD is designed to combine teaching segments from your pastors along with leadership insights and personal stories of life change. Using the teaching video will add value to this 6-week commitment of doing life together and discovering how walking with Christ changes everything.

(NOTE: Questions with a * indicate the crucial ones to use if time is short)

Growing Together. Here is where you will process as a group the teaching you heard and saw. The focus won’t be on accumulating information but on how we should live in light of the Word of God. We want to help you apply the insights from Scripture practically, creatively, and from your heart as well as your head. At the end of the day, allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Christ is our greatest aim.

Deeper Bible Study. If you have time and want to dig deeper into more Bible passages about the topic at hand, we’ve provided additional passages and questions. Your group may choose to do study homework ahead of each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. If you prefer not to do study homework, the Deeper Bible Study section will provide you with plenty to discuss within the group. These options allow individuals or the whole group to expand their study, while still accommodating those who can’t do homework or are new to your group.

Sharing Together. Here we let the truth we are learning travel the 18 inches from our cranium (mind) to our cardium (heart, emotions, and will). Here is where the Bible urging us to “be doers of the Word, not just hearers” (James 1:22) comes into play. Many people skip over this

aspect of the Christian life because it’s scary, relationally awkward, or simply too much work for their busy schedules. But Jesus wanted all of his disciples to help outsiders connect with him, to know him personally, and to carry out his commands. This doesn’t necessarily mean preaching on street corners. It could mean welcoming a few newcomers into your group, hosting a short-term group in your home, or walking through this study with a friend. In this study, you’ll have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living.

Going Together. We have Jesus’ affirmation that every aspect of life can ultimately be measured as a way of fulfilling one or both of the “bottom line” commandments: “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29–31 NIV). The group session will close with time for personal response to God and group prayer, seeking to keep this crucial commandment before us at all times. This is a good place to have different group members close in prayer, even when the instructions don’t specify. You can also

provide some time if the schedule allows for people to reflect on their Prayer and Praise Report or take a little time to meet with a Spiritual Partner.

Daily Devotionals. Each week on the Daily Devotionals pages we provide scriptures to read and reflect on between group meetings. We suggest you use this section to seek God on your own throughout the week. This time at home should begin and end with prayer. Don’t get in a hurry; take enough time to hear God’s direction.

Weekly Memory Verses. For each session we have provided a memory verse that emphasizes an important truth from the session. This is an optional exercise, but we believe that memorizing Scripture can be a vital part of filling our minds with God’s will for our lives. We encourage you to give this important habit a try.

Welcome to Make Room! Enjoy the company around you on this brief journey and remember it’s a small chapter in a larger story God is writing in your life. Let’s discover together what it means to live such a remarkable life and what steps we can take to make sure it’s the life we’re living.

Space, as the old Star Trek program informed us, is the final frontier. But Murphy’s Law tells us that our stuff always mysteriously expands to fill the space allotted for it! The fact is, whether we talk about space as our schedule, our homes, or our lives, most of us report it’s all packed and overflowing. Making room for anything sounds impossible. Or at least only possible if something goes. Creating space for God to work means we have to decide what goes and what stays.

Session 1 Make Room for God

As we will see in Make Room, everybody has a challenge in making room for what really matters. So much other stuff tends to clutter up the space. But here’s the test: it doesn’t matter what we say is important to us if we don’t make room for it. What we make room for is what’s really important to us. How much room we make for God says a lot about our relationship with Him.

Coming Together During each session, we will begin with a question or brief activity designed to “put us on the same page” for the session. Since this is your first time together (at least for this new series), take a few minutes to make sure everyone knows names. You may want to review briefly the Small Group Agreement and Calendar from the Appendix.

1 As you begin, take time to pass around a copy of the Small

Group Roster on page 94, a sheet of paper, or one of your study guides opened to the Small Group Roster. Have everyone write down their contact information. Ask someone to make copies or type up a list with everyone’s information and email it to the group this week.

As you can tell by the title of this series, choices are important. The most significant choices in life are not the ones made for you, but the ones you make. Make Room implies a choice. Describe a choice that you made at least ten years ago that you believe has made a big difference in your life. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________

3 Whether your group is new or

ongoing, it’s always important to reflect on and review your values together. On page 89 is a Small Group Agreement with the values we’ve found most useful in sustaining healthy, balanced groups. We recommend that you choose one or two values—ones you haven’t previously focused on or have room to grow in—to emphasize during this study. Choose

ones that will take your group to the next stage of intimacy and spiritual health. If your group is new, you may want to focus on welcoming newcomers or on sharing group ownership. Any group will quickly move from being the leader’s group to our group if everyone understands the goals of the group and shares a small role. See the Team Roles on page 91 for help on how to do this well. We recommend that you rotate host homes on a regular basis and let the hosts lead the meeting. We’ve come to realize that healthy groups rotate leadership. This helps to develop every member’s ability to shepherd a few people in a safe environment. Even Jesus gave others the opportunity to serve alongside him (Mark 6:30– 44). Look at the FAQs on page 86 for additional information about hosting or leading the group.

Learning Together

Growing Together

Throughout the sessions in Make Room we’re going to be hearing some pointed teaching from Greg and Josh Surratt as well as some stories from people who have been involved in making room. The specifics of what is crowding each of our lives may be a unique combination but it invariably creates a situation in which we find it almost impossible to make room for God. But almost isn’t impossible, and with God all things are possible. With that possibility in mind, let’s begin our teaching for this session:

In the questions that follow, you will review and expand on the teaching you just experienced.

DVD Session 1

How did you relate to Greg and Debbie’s story of a full life which was altered when they made room for a child? What parallels can you think of from your own life?

Greg made the following statement early in the teaching: We can’t make God move, but we can make room for God to move. What examples come to mind that illustrate that point for you?

Use the space below for notes, questions, or comments you want to bring up in the discussion later. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

After admitting that he usually aims for three points, Greg reveals he’s going to make two main points in the session to teach what we have to do in order to create room for God to move: a. Obey God in the small stuff. b. Become people of prayer. Before we talk about the details of these points, which one struck you as the harder of the two? Why?

7 The love story of Isaac

and Rebekah in Genesis 24 begins with the encounter between a wise servant named Eliezer and a wise young woman named Rebekah. Faced with the challenge of finding a suitable wife for his master’s son, Eliezer prayed this prayer: “May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’--let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:14 NIV). Why might the test of service be an effective part of choosing a mate?

8 Rebekah made room in her life to provide water for a stranger

and his camels. How did God move in her situation?

9 What actions by Moses and Jonah did Greg use to further

illustrate a small step for man can make it possible for a large step from God? What actions for God in today’s world would resemble what Moses and Jonah did?

There’s little doubt that Jesus made prayer a part of His daily life. Greg used John 14:13-14 as one of the hand-offs Jesus used to tell us we should follow His pattern: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (NIV). Why do you think prayer is an essential part of any effort to make room for God in our lives?

In explaining the second main point about becoming people of prayer, Greg listed three prayers we can use each day to create room in our lives for God to work: Lord, what do you want me to do today?

Lord, is there someone who is not on my mind that should be? Lord, is there something I need to do that I’ll forget unless you remind me? Which of these prayers do you think would create the most room for God in your life? Why?

12 When Greg explained that prayer aligns us with God’s will,

what did he mean?

Going Deeper Bible Study You can explore the following Bible passages behind the teaching for this session as a group (if there is time) or on your own between sessions. Read Romans 12:1-21. This is the part of his letter to the Romans where Paul launches into very practical instructions. He begins with “Therefore,” basically saying, “If everything I said in chapters 1-11 is true, then here’s how to make room for it to be true in your life: How does the description of “living sacrifices” picture a life that makes room for God?

The theme of verses 3-8 is service and the way God makes it possible for each of us to serve others in a unique way. How does service to others make room for God?

one or two of these do you think would create a significant amount of room in your life for God to work if you put it to practice?

Read Psalm 139:118. In this entire Psalm, David examines both his relationship with God and the amazing evidence of God’s care for him. In a sense David is making room for God even as he speaks to Him: Identify some of the ways you see David making room for God in this Psalm.

What benefits do you see happening in the Psalm that can only happen when a person makes room for God? If God fearfully and wonderfully made you, in what ways do you think He included space for Him to work?

Sharing Together Verses 9-21 are a series of small acts of obedience, specific ways we can behave the way God wants us to behave. Which

Now it’s time to make some personal applications to all we’ve been thinking about in the last few minutes.

13 When you think about Greg’s two

main points, (1) Obey God in the small stuff; (2) Become a person of prayer, which one of these do you find hardest to accept or to put into practice? Why?

In what specific area(s) do you sense God calling you to practice more consistent obedience in the small stuff that He can use to make a big difference?

If you could put into words one new personal idea or challenge you are taking from this session, what would it be? How did the interview with various people at the beginning of the DVD impact your understanding of making room for God?

welcoming new people to the group. Who might you invite to join us for these sessions? If someone came to mind, write their name(s) here:

Allow everyone to answer this question: “How can we pray for you this week?” Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 97. Close the session in prayer. Encourage each other to pray audibly for others in the group.

Daily Reflections These are daily reviews of the key Bible verses and related others that will help you think about and apply the insights from this session.

Day 1 – Revelation 3:20 Hearing the Knocking

Going Together During these sessions we are doing things “together:” learning, thinking, growing, praying, choosing, etc. Part of meeting together is how we live when we aren’t together. Here are some questions to clarify our shared purposes until we meet again.

16 Part of the “together”

style of these sessions is an emphasis on seeking and

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. “

Although this is often used as a verse describing how Jesus first approaches our lives, in what ways do you see it as true of your experience with Christ throughout life? _________________________________ ______________________________ ____________________________

Day 2 – John 10:10

Making Room for Fullness

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” In what sense do you consider your life “full” as Jesus called it? What “thieves” have you experienced in life?

How does the idea of making room affect your understanding of Jesus’ words about remaining in Him and He remaining in you? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 5 –

______________________________________________________

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Day 3 – John 14:13-14 Authority to Ask

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Making Room Is about Life

How ready would you say you are to choose God’s way of living the full life in place of living by the standards set by anyone else (including yourself)? ______________________________________________________

When you pray, how does Jesus’ use of the phrase “in my name” affect the way you pray?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 4 – John 15:4 Mutual Space

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14 NIV)

Session 2

Make Room for Relationships

Welcome to week two of Make Room! This week we are going to explore the importance of relationships in our lives. In Genesis 2:18 God said, “It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.” In this particular passage, God is specifically addressing the covenant of marriage. However, the greater principle he’s giving us that we see unfold all throughout scripture is that we were created to live in the context of relationships. Think about it, before sin had ever entered the world, before man was ever separated from God, He looked at man and said it is not good for him to be alone. To be the people God has called us to be, to live the lives he’s called us to have we have to experience life with people, in strong relationships. Proverbs 27:27 says it this way, “Just as iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another!” God will use even your worst days in a community of friends to bring about more life change than your best days alone. You were created to live in relationship, but in order to do that- we have to make room! Enjoy the conversations.

Coming Together During each session, we will begin with a question or brief activity designed to “put us on the same page” for the session. If someone new has joined your group this week, please take a few minutes to introduce yourselves.

Growing Together

In the questions that follow, you will review and expand on the teaching you just experienced.

What is one thing about you (something you’ve done or experienced, somewhere you’ve been, a unique talent) that people may not know? For those who might be joining us for the first time this session, what lasting idea from the last session has been on your mind this past week that you would be willing to mention to the rest of the group?

To pick up on Josh’s opening story and question, in what situations have you recently said, “We should do this more often”?

Learning Together Throughout the sessions in Make Room we’re hearing some pointed teaching from Greg and Josh Surratt as well as some personal stories from people who have learned something about making room for God and His ways. Our lives may be significantly different in background and opportunity from others, but we can choose to live the rightly filled life God has designed for us. With that possibility in mind, let’s begin our teaching with Josh for this session:

DVD Session 2

“Relationship are to our spiritual health as oxygen is to our physical health.” How and why do you think is true of each of us?

Let’s look again at the verses from the New Testament that Josh shared, have someone from your group read Mark 2:1-5 (NIV): A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging

through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:1-5 NIV).

As you read those verses, in how many ways did those four men demonstrate the faith that Jesus saw?

Has there ever been a time in your life when a group of people rallied around you when you needed them? What examples come to mind for you?

7 Josh highlighted three decisions we must make in order to

create room for God to work through the relationships in our lives: a. We must look past each other’s limitations. b. We must identify and utilize our natural rhythms. c. We must invest wisely in certain relationships. Let’s have one or two people give their take on how they understood Josh’s explanation of each of these decisions and why they are important.

Going Deeper Bible Study You can explore the following Bible passages behind the teaching for this session as a group (if there is time) or on your own between sessions. Read Mark 2:1-12. Josh used the first part of this event in Jesus’ life to illustrate the significance of relationships in our lives. Let’s look at the entire event for even more clues about the importance of others in our lives as part of an active and effective faith. Why did Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven” when it was obvious that the man needed physical healing?

Do you think it was more important for Jesus to prove He could heal the lame man or that He could forgive his sins? Why?

What key roles have some others played in your life in introducing you to Jesus and developing a shared relationship with Him?

Which of these 3 is the greatest obstacle keeping you from making room for relationships?

What opportunities for relationship can you see opening up as a result of involvement in this small group during this series?

Read Ephesians 4:1-16. Paul has just reached the place in this letter to the Ephesians where he is shifting from heavy theological

Sharing Together

teaching (chapters 1-3) to intense application (chapters 4-6). He uses therefore in verse 1 as a way of saying, “If everything I’ve just written is true (and it is) then you should definitely make room for the following actions in your lives.”

Now it’s time to make some personal applications to all we’ve been thinking about in the last few minutes.

Paul lists five different behavior applications in verses 2-3. What are they? Which ones can you work on by yourself and which ones require you to be in relationship with at least one other person in order to actually demonstrate progress?

We usually read the word You in the New Testament as singular, but it is much more often You plural. Folks in the South are right after all when they say Y’all. To hear the difference, have someone read these sixteen verses substituting Y’all for each You. What difference does it make when we start to recognize most commands as group rather than individual challenges to obedience?

If you’ve ever wondered why we sometimes call the Church The Body Of Christ, this is one of the passages that explains the idea. How do verses 15-16 drive home the crucial role of relationships between followers of Jesus Christ?

When Josh talked about “natural rhythms” how did you relate that concept to any area of your life where you’ve made some progress in making room for something significant?

11 There’s been talk for a while now about the value of “quality

time” over “quantity time.” What are some examples of these two kinds of time?

Let’s come clean some in response to Josh’s final question: How are we doing at valuing people and prioritizing our lives around the importance of relationships?

Going Together

During these sessions we are doing things “together:” learning, thinking, growing, praying, choosing, etc. Part of “together” is how we live when we aren’t together. Here are some questions to clarify our shared purposes until we meet again.

What’s one idea from this session you plan to talk about with someone beyond this group this week? Why?

Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram below and write the names of two or three people you know who need to experience a new or deeper relationship with Christ. Commit to praying for God’s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them.

Family

(immediate or extended)

Familiar

(neighbors, kids, sports teams, school, and so forth)

Friends

Pair up with someone in your group. (We suggest that men partner with men and women with women.) This person will be your spiritual partner for the rest of this study. He or she doesn’t have to be your best friend, but will simply encourage you to complete the goals you set for yourself during this study. Following through on a resolution is tough when you’re on your own, but we’ve found it makes all the difference to have a partner cheering us on.

Last week, Greg challenged us to become intentional people of prayer. Take a few minutes to share any prayer requests you may have, perhaps there is someone from the Circle of Life exercise that you’d like to ask the group to pray for. Close in prayer.

Daily Reflections These are daily reviews of the key Bible verses and related others that will help you think about and apply the insights from this session. Day 1 – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Times for Relationship

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

Fun

(gym, hobbies, hangouts)

Firm (work)

How does this passage (see verses 1-15) talk about the rhythms of life? Which ones do you need to put to better use? ______________________________________________________

The phrase “every opportunity” is literally “time.” When it comes to space for relationships, it often starts with time. What are the five or six relationships in your life right now deserving of your time? To what degree are they getting it?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 2 – Acts 17:27 Sought Seekers

“God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” What is your earliest memory of realizing God might want to have a relationship with you? How’s that relationship right now? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 3 – Ecclesiastes 3:11 Listening to Eternity

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

______________________________________________________

Day 5 – Mark 3:13-14 Making Room for Time

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” How does the phrase “that they might be with Him” describe your own relationship with Jesus and its condition? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

In what sense do you identify with that phrase “eternity in the heart” in your life and how does it affect your relationships? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 4 – Ephesians 5:15-16 Timing

“Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)

Last week we took a look at a somewhat humorous episode in Jesus’ life when four guys showed up with their friend on a stretcher planning to get him to Jesus for healing. Since the house was full (the phrase Mark uses is “there was no room”), the four took their friend up on the roof, figured out where Jesus was in the house, cut a hole in the flat roof above His head, and lowered their friend in front of Jesus. It’s hard not to chuckle when we realize that we may have to do some odd lifting and tearing off some roofs too before we are going make room for what God wants to do in our lives. But it may be more like flipping a switch! In this session we want to face the fact that we may not see miracles in our lives because we haven’t made room for one!

Coming Together During each session, we begin with a question or brief activity designed to “put us on the same page” for the session.

1 As you can tell from the title of this session, we’re going to

Session 3

Make Room for a Miracle

be talking about miracles. This may or may not be a comfortable subject for you. But to ease into our conversation, let’s just talk about things you’ve witnessed, experienced, or heard about that fit in the general category of miracles. Any examples?

2 For those who might be joining us for the first time this session,

who would like to describe one significant discovery you’ve made in the first two sessions that is already making a difference in your life?

the miraculous may seem a little odd to us, but for this session, let’s suspend judgment and focus on God. If He is God, then by definition He wouldn’t have any difficulty doing things we would have to call miracles. It’s His show. If He wanted to create a miracle in your life, would you really tell Him to hold off? With that possibility in mind, let’s begin Greg’s teaching for this session:

Rotating leaders is one of the group values we highly recommend for your group. People need opportunities to experiment with ways in which God may have gifted them. Your group will give you all the encouragement you need before, during, and after the session. We also suggest you rotate host homes, with the host of each meeting providing the refreshments. Some groups like to let the host lead the meeting each week, while others like to let one person host while another person leads. The Small Group Calendar on page 90 is a tool for planning who will host and lead each meeting. Take a few minutes to plan hosts and leaders for your remaining meetings. Don’t pass this up! It will revolutionize your group.

DVD Session 3

Use the space provided below for any notes, questions, or comments you want to bring up in the discussion later. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Learning Together

Growing Together

Throughout the sessions in Make Room we’re hearing some pointed teaching from Greg and Josh Surratt as well as some personal stories from people who have been discovering the amazing things that happen when we begin to make room for God and His plans. The very idea of

4 Since we’ve already talked about the matter of making room for

In the questions that follow, you will review and expand on the teaching you just experienced. God in our lives, is it possible to keep from including the possibility of miracles when God is present? Why or why not?

In the passage from Mark 5:21-34 and based on how the woman acted, how would you describe her view of miracles?

Like the lame man from last week, what did the woman go away with from her encounter with Jesus beyond the miracle she was hoping for?

7 Greg’s first teaching point was

that making room for a miracle in our lives will require us to remember that with God we may be down but we’re not out. Why is this so important?

Greg’s second point was about our needing to understand that God always does the heavy lifting. What did he mean? How did the “flipping the light switch” illustration help you?

Greg included a third point that relates to the subject of our last session: God cares deeply about bringing healing, but He cares even more about relationships. How does this statement reflect your understanding of what it means to be in relationship with God?

Going Deeper Bible Study You can explore the following Bible passages behind the teaching for this session as a group (if there is time) or on your own between sessions. Read Matthew 19:16-26. Jesus lived out His life in an extremely religious environment. People were busy trying to please God and deeply frustrated by their inability to feel they had done enough. That concern was on the mind of the rich, young ruler who approached Jesus with the question: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” In the opening dialog between the rich man and Jesus, the Lord specified six commandments when asked. Which four did He leave out? (see Exodus 20:3-17) What kind of room was Jesus trying to get this man to create in his life?

What occurrence was Jesus referring to when He said, “with God all things are possible” (v.26)?

Read John 9:1-12. When we are thinking about making room for a miracle in our lives one of the temptations is to remember all the occasions when we wish we could have experienced a miracle, but nothing happened.

Perhaps someone we loved died unexpectedly. Or we were treated unfairly. Or someone was hurt unjustly. And we wonder where God was when that was going on. Greg’s second point about God’s presence meaning we may be down but not out may sometimes not ring true. This tension may well have been on the disciples’ minds as they watched the man born blind and then asked Jesus their question. The disciples assumed that the man had suffered his fate because someone had sinned. How did Jesus answer their assumption with another possibility?

Note how this man’s understanding of Jesus gradually increased: see vs. 11, 17, 25, 33, 38. The woman in the earlier story suffered twelve years; this man had been born blind, but what does their experience tell us about the way God actually works?

How does making room for a miracle help us face the difficulties of life with endurance and grace?

Sharing Together Now it’s time to make some personal applications to all we’ve been thinking about in the last few minutes.

One of Greg’s last comments was, “You need to make room for God at the point of your greatest need.” What kind of miracle, big or small, would you love to see the Lord do and how can you make room for them even this week?

How can the rest of the group be praying for you this week as you seek to give yourself more fully to God and the possibility of miracles in your life?

12 Now let’s respond to

Greg’s closing question, listening to one another and agreeing to be in prayer for the matters we’re about to hear. What kind of miracle, big or small, would you love to see the Lord do and how can you make room for them even this week? Who did you identify? Is this someone you’d feel comfortable inviting to our Small Group? Are there other ways you could build a relationship with them? Is this someone you could share your faith with?

Going Together

need a ride to the group? Help with child care?

During these sessions we are doing things “together:” learning, thinking, growing, praying, choosing, etc. Part of being together is how we live when we aren’t together. Here are some questions to clarify our shared purposes until we meet again.

Consider inviting a friend to attend a weekend service with you and possibly plan to enjoy a meal together afterward. This can be a great opportunity to talk with someone about your faith in Jesus.

When you think of your present relationship with Christ, how can the rest of the group be praying for you this week as you seek to give yourself more fully to God’s plan that always includes the possibility of miracles in your life?

In the last session we asked you to write some names in the Circles of Life diagram. Who did you identify as the people in your life who need to meet Jesus? Go back to the Circles of Life diagram on page 36 to help you think of the various people you come in contact with on a regular basis who need to know Jesus more deeply. Consider the following ideas for action and make a plan to follow through on one of them this week. This is a wonderful time to welcome a few friends into your group. Which of the people you listed could you invite? It’s possible that you may need to help your friend overcome obstacles to coming to a place where he or she can encounter Jesus. Does your friend

49 Is there someone who might not want to join your group but who still needs a connection? Would you be willing to have lunch or coffee with that person, catch up on life, and share something you’ve learned from this study? Jesus doesn’t call all of us to lead small groups, but He does call every disciple to spiritually multiply his or her life over time. Close the session in prayer. Encourage each other to pray audibly for others in the group.

Daily Reflections These are daily reviews of the key Bible verses and related others that will help you think about and apply the insights from this session.

Day 1 – John 3:3

Day 4 – Hebrews 12:2-3

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

The Birth Miracle

“Born again” has become a cliché in our culture, but what reality was Jesus really talking about and how have you experienced it?

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Day 2 – Ephesians 4:15-16

When We’re Down

If the miracle doesn’t seem to come quickly enough, how can these verses from Hebrews encourage you? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Body Miracle

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” In what ways do you think the church is a continual miracle? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 5 – John 16:1, 33

Lovingly Warned

“All this I have told you so that you will not go astray…. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In what ways do these verses help you deepen your understanding that following Jesus is for a lifetime and beyond? ______________________________________________________

Day 3 – Matthew 19:26 The Impossible Parachute

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” What or who are you tempted to give up on? What do Jesus’ words mean to you today? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

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WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”(Matthew 19:26 NIV) .

By this point we should be settling into a level of comfort with the group, continuing to welcome any newcomers. In this session we’ll be taking a look at the subject of rest. Now that sounds good to lots of people. Most of us would agree we need more rest. But what kind of rest are we looking for? Is it the kind that will leave us rested or restless?

Is this important? Well, consider this: God didn’t create the world in seven days. He created it in six and then took the seventh day as a Sabbath—He made room for rest. Did He do that because He was really tired from all that creating, or was there another, better reason to stop, take a break, relax, contemplate, renew? Is that need for rest something connected with what it means to be made in the image of God? If all this sounds intriguing, you may find it a new passion of yours to make time for rest.

Session 4 Make Room for Rest

Coming Together During each session, we will begin with a question or brief activity designed to “put us on the same page” for the session. Continue to make sure everyone knows names.

1 Most of us equate rest with sleeping or napping. But what are

some other activities you’ve engaged in that you honestly find very restful, even if some involve a certain level of effort?

2 If you’ve been with us in previous sessions, you know we’re

aiming at moving toward making room for important things in life. We’re talking about how we create space for God to work. So far, we’ve talked about making room for God directly, as well as making room for relationships and making room for miracles. In this fourth week, who would like to share a significant personal discovery in one of these areas in your life since we started?

Learning Together Throughout the sessions in Make Room, we’re hearing some pointed teaching from Greg and Josh Surratt, as well as some personal stories from people who have some observations for us on making room for what’s most important in life. With that thought in mind, let’s begin our teaching from Greg for this session:

DVD Session 4

Growing Together In the questions that follow, you will review and expand on the teaching you just experienced.

3 Nothing like a good challenge to get busy resting, right? Let’s

look back at what we just heard. What would you say are some clues in your life that whisper or shout: You need some rest! And how do you usually answer?

Greg said, “We are human beings and not human doings which means that God has created us to work from our rest and not rest from our work.” What did he mean?

The first step suggested that in order to make room for rest was to find time for rest each day. This might be as obvious as a power nap, but let’s brainstorm things each of us has discovered that are restful moments for us in an otherwise hectic day.

Greg’s second point was: Identify a Sabbath day each week. Thinking in terms of a large part of a day or a whole day, what are some activities you’ve found or noticed others practicing that have this quality of rest and refreshment? What makes them restful?

The third point Greg made was: If you can, abandon everything. What did he mean? Given that most of us have more opportunities to do good things in our lives, what does it take to say “No” to all of that in order to say “Yes” to something that is important?

8 Why do you think it’s hard to keep some fences around our

Going Deeper Bible Study You can explore the following Bible passages behind the teaching for this session as a group (if there is time) or on your own between sessions. Read Mark 2:23-28. This is the context of our memory verse and key thought for this session: Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27 NIV). Jesus was living in a society that was hyper about the Sabbath in a way that made it a burden rather than a time of rest. Someone in your group with a study Bible may be able to fill in some of the background on the micromanaging religious legal system in place in Jesus’ day. According to Leviticus 19:9-10, why did the disciples have permission to pick from the fields they were passing through?

times of rest? (How many of us take our laptops on vacation?)

What’s the difference between resting and being lazy? Why is it important to differentiate between the two?

In verses 25-26 Jesus gave a counter argument that wasn’t based on Sabbath law but upon legal priorities. How did David get away with what was technically unlawful?

What kinds of challenges might we face today in which we would be called to demonstrate a similar stand for God’s Word and rest in the face of pressure to conform to human standards or expectations?

Must Sunday be Sabbath, or are there some equally valid ways of addressing the importance of rest with the complicating factors of work schedules and other priorities? How?

Sharing Together Now it’s time to make some personal applications to all we’ve been thinking about in the last few minutes.

Read Philippians 3:7-14. Paul had a way of speaking about abandoning everything in order to have a singular focus on the most significant aspect of life, our relationship with God. In this series on making room for God to be and work in our lives, it’s crucial we understand how rest fits in that picture of spiritual life. How does Paul describe the one thing next to which he calls everything else “a loss” and “rubbish”?

According to verses 10-11, what is Paul pursuing with a passion?

How do verses express a unique balance between what sounds like resting and what sounds like working?

What challenges your life in this passage?

Greg also said regarding daily rest: “As human beings we all grow tired and weary at times. Each day it is vital that we carve out some space, some margin to connect with God.” How are we doing with this spiritual discipline of having time with God?

In whatever season of life we find ourselves, how can you reorder your life to make room for rest?

Going Together During these sessions we are doing things “together:” learning, thinking, growing, praying, choosing, etc. Part of being together is how we live when we aren’t together. Here are some questions to clarify our shared purposes until we meet again.

12 Greg closed his teaching

with a crucial question: What kind of decisions would you have to make and what kind of accountability would be needed in order to experience rest for your soul on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis? How could we as a group hold each other accountable for these decisions?

so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” How does truly resting imitate God? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 2 – Matthew 11:28-29 Restful Yoke

How can we pray for each other? Is there anyone from your Circle of Life exercise we can pray for?

[Jesus said] “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Based on this week’s session, how do you think wearing Christ’s yoke would lead to rest for your soul?

Check in with your spiritual partner(s), or with another partner if yours is absent. Share something God taught you during your time in His Word this week, or read a brief section from your journal. Be sure to write down your partner’s progress on page 93.

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Close the session in prayer. Encourage each other to pray audibly for others in the group.

Day 3 – Mark 2:27

Daily Reflections These are daily reviews of the key Bible verses and related others that will help you think about and apply the insights from this session. Day 1 – Genesis 2:2 The Origin of Rest

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing;

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Sabbath Purpose

“Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” What Sabbath decisions have you made and carried out this week? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 4 – Mark 6:31 An Invitation to Rest

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” When was the last time you deliberately stepped aside to rest in Christ? When will you do it again?

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Day 5 – Philippians 3:8-9 Abandon Everything

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” How does Paul help us realize the importance of recognizing what’s left when we abandon everything? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 (NIV)

Someone once said that the real test of owning something is the capacity to give it away. If you can’t give it away, it owns you, not the other way around. If this is true of our possessions, could it be true of our faith? What if things really aren’t “ours” until we give them away? Until we try to explain what we believe or express it through generosity, there’s room for lots of doubt about the reality of our faith. In this session we will look at the importance of deliberately making room for generosity.

Coming Together During each session, we will begin with a question or brief activity designed to “put us on the same page” for the session.

If you were presented with a check for $10,000 with the stipulation that you had to give it away to other people or projects without them ever knowing who the money came from, what people or projects would be on the top of your list?

Session 5

Make Room for Generosity

What are some examples of real-life generosity that have touched you directly or indirectly?

Learning Together

Growing Together

Throughout the sessions in Make Room, Greg and Josh Surratt are tag-teaming the teaching and helping us with various aspects of what it means to create space in our lives for God to work. We’re also hearing some personal stories from people who have embarked on the adventure already and are discovering the joy of making room for God in their lives. Now that we’re in week five, we should be seeing significant areas where we can apply what we’ve been learning. With that possibility in mind, let’s begin our teaching for this session with Josh Surratt:

In the questions that follow, you will review and expand on the teaching you just experienced.

DVD Session 5

As Josh illustrated, marriage has a way of bringing out the generous and the not-so-generous in us! If you’re married, who’s the more generous between the two of you? Does this seem instinctive, or do you think something in your background accounts for this difference?

Josh used the brief episode in Luke 21:1-4 to look at the generosity of one woman in the middle of what appeared to be a lot of generous people. In general, what do you think is the answer to his first probing question: Why are we so hesitant to be generous, especially after God has been so generous to us?

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What was your initial response when Josh said, “Remember, God pays attention to what we give” as a way of creating space for generosity?

6 He quoted Matthew 6:21, where

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” How does Jesus’ comment highlight the relationship between our hearts and the decision to treasure God or our treasure?

7 Explain what you think Josh meant

when he said, “Remember that the degree of sacrifice is more important than the size of the gift.” What examples come to mind that illustrate this truth?

8 Josh’s last point was: Remember

that giving is all about faith. How do we demonstrate faith by giving?

Going Deeper You can explore the following Bible passages behind the teaching for this session as a group (if there is time) or on your own between sessions. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. Paul was encouraging the believers in Corinth to practice generosity regarding a need by the church in Jerusalem that was suffering as the result of a local famine. Young churches around the Mediterranean Sea were taking up collections for the saints in the church.

What is Paul’s definition of a cheerful giver and what is God’s view of such a person?

According to verses 10-11, how and why will God bless someone who is practicing generosity?

What do you think would happen in a church where a significant percentage of the members practiced this kind of generosity?

To repeat Josh’s question: what keeps us from generous living?

Read 2 Corinthians 8:17. Here the apostle Paul is using the example of the new believers in Macedonia who were demonstrating significant maturity in the area of generosity. How do Paul’s sentiments parallel what Jesus said about the woman who placed the small offering in the plate?

What did the sacrificial giving by the Macedonians say about their faith?

Going Together

In verse 7 Paul uses the phrase “grace of giving.” How does that expression remind us that generosity flows out of the reality of our relationship with God?

Sharing Together 70

Now it’s time to make some personal applications to all we’ve been thinking about in the last few minutes.

He mentioned three levels: giving, consistent giving, and lavish giving. What specific areas in your life right now could use an increase of generosity with your time and resources?

10 Josh mentioned the tithe as a significant component of a

generous lifestyle. What has been your experience and practice of the tithe?

11 What people in your life

might you need to thank for being examples and sources of generosity for you?

Since this is our next-tolast session in this series, what have we decided about next steps? What area of making room for God would you like to explore in the future with this or another small group?

In what ways would you say this experience has been perhaps preparation for you to lead/host your own small group in the next series?

Take a few minutes to discuss the future of your group. How many of you are willing to stay together as a group and work through another study together? If you have time, turn to the Small Group Agreement on page 89 and talk about any changes you would like to make as you move forward as a group. Close the session in prayer. Encourage each other to pray audibly for others in the group.

Daily Reflections

Day 4 – Philippians 4:17

These are daily reviews of the key Bible verses and related others that will help you think about and apply the insights from this session.

“Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.”

Day 1 – Matthew 6:21 72

Heart Location

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your heart? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 2 – Luke 21:4 Bold Giving

“All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” In what area(s) of your life are you stretching to give? ______________________________________________________

Gracious Receiving

Sometimes we reject the generosity of others and stunt their efforts to let go of things. How ready are you to be a gracious receiver of the generosity of others? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 5 – Matthew 10:7-8 Generous Evangelism

“As you go, preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” How do you think the world would respond if Christians were more wisely generous with the gospel and with our lives? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

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Day 3 – 2 Corinthians 9:7 Joyful Giving

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Where is there an opportunity for you to practice joyful generosity in your life tomorrow? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Session 6 Make Room for Mission

If we haven’t learned anything else in these sessions, we’ve had a chance to see that there’s nothing stereotypical about the details of a life that has made room for God. God is infinitely creative (one of His largely ignored attributes), and He wants to practice that creativity in our lives. But He waits for room to work. He stands at the door knocking. And once He’s begun to do His work in our lives, the effects quickly become outward. He doesn’t just want to work in us; He wants to work through us! We discover sooner or later that really making room for God also means making room for God to use us in the world for His purposes.

Coming Together In this final session of the series we are coming face to face with the choice we have been considering: what kind of life will we live. A life that makes room for God makes the small daily choices that create space for God to do His work.

1 What would you say is one unforgettable idea that you are taking

away from the last five sessions of Make Room?

When you think of the term mission, what are some examples that come to mind?

Learning Together Throughout the sessions in Make Room, Greg and Josh Surratt are tag-teaming the teaching and helping us with various aspects of what it means to create space in our lives for God to work. We’re also hearing some personal stories from people who have embarked on the adventure already and are discovering the joy of making room for God in their lives. In this final week of the series, we should see some of the long term applications of making room for God in our lives. And we should be able to see some results of earlier lessons. With that possibility in mind, let’s begin our teaching for this session with Greg Surratt:

DVD Session 6

Growing Together In the questions that follow, you will review and expand on the teaching you just experienced.

If your group still needs to make decisions about continuing to meet after this session, have that discussion now. Talk about what you will study, who will lead, and where and when you will meet. This conversation is part of your small group mission. Review your Small Group Agreement on page 89 and evaluate how well you met your goals. Discuss any changes you want to make as you move forward. As your group starts a new study, this is a great time to take on a new role or change roles of service in your group. What new role will you take on? If you are uncertain, maybe your group members have some ideas for you. Remember you aren’t making a lifetime commitment to the new role; it will only be for a few weeks. Maybe someone would like to share a role with you if you don’t feel ready to serve solo.

4 What percentage of your current life do you think has been

affected by the sessions we’ve gone through? In other words, think in terms of percentage and consider how much increased room for God has become a reality in your life over the last six weeks.

5 How did you identify with Greg’s admission

that in the past he has often thought about “The Great Commission” of Matthew 28:18-20 in terms of distant, foreign missions work rather than a calling on every Christian’s life?

6 Greg described his first point of making room

for mission as: be available. What do you think he meant by this phrase? What would it look like for you to be available?

7 In Greg’s second point, he said that God moves when His

people become intentional with their lives. What areas of your life might God move in if you were more intentional?

8 Which of the three

marks of intentionality (be friendly; learn and use people’s names; develop consistent rhythms) challenge your current practices the most and why do you think that is?

9 How did Greg use the last words of the “Great Commission” as

the basis for his third point that we need to be confident God has mission purposes for our lives right now?

Going Deeper Bible Study You can explore the following Bible passages behind the teaching for this session as a group (if there is time) or on your own between sessions. Read Mark 12:28-34. In His final week on earth before the cross, Jesus faced the equivalent of a hostile and dangerous crossexamination every day. Trick questions came fast and furious. But in this instance, someone who apparently was genuinely impressed with Jesus’ answers asked an honest question. Jesus’ answer is the key to understanding making room for mission. How does this passage cover many of the themes we’ve touched on in Make Room?

How do the two parts of the Great Commandment parallel the idea of making room for God and making room for mission?

In what way do Jesus’ final words to the man (“You are not far from the Kingdom of God”) indicate that Jesus wanted to do more than simply answer the man’s question?

How have you determined to make room for mission in your life?

Read 1 Peter 3:13-16. In this passage, Peter is telling us that the way we live and the way we treat others will make room for mission. A life that has genuinely made room for God is a life that provokes questions and curiosity (and sometimes rejection) from others.

Describe to the rest of the group one specific step you are taking to create room for mission in your life.

How does Greg’s point about being confident match up with Peter’s reference to “hope that you have” (v.15)?

Going Together

80 Based on these sessions, how would you paraphrase the first part of verse 15: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord”?

If someone did ask you to give a reason for the hope that you have, where would you start? What three statements would you really want to get across in that situation?

Sharing Together At this point we move in our discussion from talking about implications of the teaching to application of the teaching. If we grasp what the idea means we can talk about what it means in our lives.

Below and before you talk about them, take a few minutes to jot down three specific action steps related to this entire series that would move you further on the journey toward making room for God throughout your life. These should be matters others in the group can pray about for you. a. _______________________________________________ b. _______________________________________________

10 What do you think will need to change in your

life in order to demonstrate you understand that mission isn’t something we do somewhere else; it’s something we do as we go and it happens wherever we happen to be at this moment?

c. _______________________________________________

Now share at least one of these, if not all three, with the rest of the group to create a point of accountability, and give the group permission to ask you about your progress in this step.

Close the session in prayer. Encourage each other to pray audibly for others in the group.

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Daily Reflections 82

These are daily reviews of the key Bible verses and related others that will help you think about and apply the insights from this session. Day 1 – Matthew 28:19-20 Go Always

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” What comfort and confidence do you draw from Jesus’ promise to be with you always? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 2 – 1 Peter 3:15

Making Room for Christ

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” In what sense have you set apart Christ as Lord in your heart today? ______________________________________________________

Day 3 – Romans 8:28 Mission Living

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” How does this verse encourage you as you pursue being available to God for His mission plans for you? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 4 – 1 Peter 2:21

In His Steps

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. What examples of following in His steps might someone be able to identify in your life these days? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Day 5 – Hebrews 12:1-2

Steps to Making Room for Mission

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

In what areas of your life are you currently learning the importance of perseverance as you make room for God and for mission?

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15 NIV).

APPENDIX

FAQs What do we do on the first night of our group?

Like all fun things in life–have a party! A “get to know you” coffee, dinner, or dessert is a great way to launch a new study. You may want to review the Group Agreement (page 89) and share the names of a few friends you can invite to join you. But most importantly, have fun before your study time begins.

Where do we find new members for our group?

This can be troubling, especially for new groups that have only a few people or for existing groups that lose a few people along the way. We encourage you to pray with your group and then brainstorm a list of people from work, church, your neighborhood, your children’s school, family, the gym, and so forth. Then have each group member invite several of the people on his or her list. Another good strategy is to ask church leaders to make an announcement or allow a bulletin insert. No matter how you find members, it’s vital that you stay on the lookout for new people to join your group. All groups tend to go through healthy attrition–the result of moves, releasing new leaders, ministry opportunities, and so forth–and if the group gets too small, it could be at risk of shutting down. If you and your group stay open, you’ll be amazed at the people God sends your way. The next person just might become a friend for life. You never know!

How long will this group meet?

It’s totally up to the group–

APPENDIX once you come to the end of this 6-week study. Most groups meet weekly for at least their first 6 weeks, but every other week can work as well. We strongly recommend that the group meet for the first six months on a weekly basis if at all possible. This allows for continuity, and if people miss a meeting they aren’t gone for a whole month. At the end of this study, each group member may decide if he or she wants to continue on for another 6-week study. Some groups launch relationships for years to come, and others are stepping-stones into another group experience. Either way, enjoy the journey.

Can we do this study on our own?

Absolutely! This may sound crazy but one of the best ways to do this study is not with a full house but with a few friends. You may choose to gather with one other couple who would enjoy going to the movies or having a quiet dinner and then walking through this study. Jesus will be with you even if there are only two of you (Matthew 18:20).

What if this group is not working for us?

You’re not alone! This could be the result of a personality conflict, life stage difference, geographical distance, level of spiritual maturity, or any number of things. Relax. Pray for God’s direction, and at the end of this 6-week study, decide whether to continue with this group or find another. You don’t buy the first car you look at or marry the first person you date, and the same goes with a group. Don’t bail out before the 6 weeks are up–God might have something to teach you. Also, don’t run from conflict or prejudge people before you have given them a chance. God is still working in you too!

APPENDIX

Who is the leader?

Most groups have an official leader. But ideally, the group will mature and members will rotate the leadership of meetings. We have discovered that healthy groups rotate hosts/leaders and homes on a regular basis. This model ensures that all members grow, give their unique contribution, and develop their gifts. This study guide and the Holy Spirit can keep things on track even when you rotate leaders. Christ has promised to be in your midst as you gather. Ultimately, God is your leader each step of the way.

APPENDIX

small group agreement Our Expectations:

To provide a predictable environment where participants experience authentic community and spiritual growth.

Group Attendance

To give priority to the group meeting. We will call or email if we will be late or absent. (Completing the Group Calendar will minimize this issue.)

Safe Environment

To help create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved. (Please, no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes.)

Respect Differences

Confidentiality Encouragement for Growth Shared Ownership

How do we handle the child care needs in our group? Very carefully. Seriously, this can be a sensitive issue. We suggest that you empower the group to openly brainstorm solutions. You may try one option that works for a while and then adjust over time. Our favorite approach is for adults to meet in the living room or dining room, and to share the cost of a babysitter (or two) who can be with the kids in a different part of the house. In this way, parents don’t have to be away from their children all evening when their children are too young to be left at home. A second option is to use one home for the kids and a second home (close by or a phone call away) for the adults. A third idea is to rotate the responsibility of providing a lesson or care for the children either in the same home or in another home nearby. This can be an incredible blessing for kids. Finally, the most common idea is to decide that you need to have a night to invest in your spiritual lives individually or as a couple, and to make your own arrangements for child care. No matter what decision the group makes, the best approach is to dialogue openly about both the problem and the solution.

Rotating Hosts/ Leaders and Homes

To be gentle and gracious to people with different spiritual maturity, personal opinions, temperaments, or “imperfections” in fellow group members. We are all works in progress.

To keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group, and to avoid sharing improper information about those outside the group. To be not just takers but givers of life. We want to spiritually multiply our life by serving others with our God-given gifts. To remember that every member is a minister and to ensure that each attender will share a small team role or responsibility over time (See the Team Roles).

To encourage different people to host the group in their homes, and to rotate the responsibility of facilitating each meeting. (See the Group Calendar)

Our Times Together: • Refreshments/mealtimes ___________________________________________________ • Childcare _________________________________________________________________ • When we will meet (day of week) ____________________________________________ • Where we will meet (place) _________________________________________________ • We will begin at (time) ______________ and end at _____________________________ • We will do our best to have some or all of us attend a worship service together. Our primary worship service time will be ______________________________________ • Date of this agreement ______________________________________________________ • Date we will review this agreement again ______________________________________ • Who (other than the leader) will review this agreement at the end of this study ______________________________________________________________________

APPENDIX

small group calendar

TEAM ROLES

Planning and calendaring can help ensure the greatest participation at every meeting. At the end of each meeting, review this calendar. Be sure to include a regular rotation of host homes and leaders, and don’t forget birthdays, socials, church events, holidays, and mission/ ministry projects. Go to www.lifetogether.com for an electronic copy of this form and more than a hundred ideas for your group to do together.

The Bible makes clear that every member, not just the small group leader, is a minister in the body of Christ. In a healthy small group, every member takes on some small role or responsibility. It’s more fun and effective if you team up on these roles.

Date

Lesson

Host Home Dessert/Meal 7XIZI ERH 0EYVE W

.SI

Leader &MPP

Review the team roles and responsibilities below, and have each member volunteer for a role or participate on a team. If someone doesn’t know where to serve or is holding back, have the group suggest a team or role. It’s best to have one or two people on each team so you have each of the five purposes covered. Serving in even a small capacity will not only help your leader but also will make the group more fun for everyone. Don’t hold back. Join a team! The opportunities below are broken down by the five purposes and then by a crawl (beginning step), walk (intermediate step), or run (advanced step). Try to cover at least the crawl and walk roles, and select a role that matches your group, your gifts, and your maturity. If you can’t find a good step or just want to see other ideas, go to www.lifetogether.com and see what other groups are choosing.

CONNECTING TEAM Crawl: Host a social event or group activity in the first week or two.

(Fellowship and Community Building)

Walk: Create a list of uncommitted members and then invite them to an open house or group social.

GROWING TEAM Crawl: Coordinate the spiritual partners for the group. Facilitate a three- or four-person discussion circle during the Bible study portion of your meeting. Coordinate the discussion circles.

Walk: Encourage personal devotions through group discussions and pairing up with spiritual (accountability) partners.

Run: Plan a twenty-four-hour retreat or weekend getaway for the group. Lead the Connecting time each week for the group.

(Discipleship and Spiritual Growth) Run: Take the group on a prayer walk, or plan a day of solitude, fasting, or personal retreat.

an open house or group social.

Lead the Connecting time each week for the group.

APPENDIX

(Discipleship and Spiritual Growth)

Walk: Encourage personal devotions through group discussions and pairing up with spiritual (accountability) partners.

Run: Take the group on a prayer walk, or plan a day of solitude, fasting, or personal retreat.

SERVING TEAM

Walk: Have every member take a gift test (see www.lifetogether.com) and determine your group's gifts. Plan a ministry project together.

Run: Help each member decide on a way to use his or her unique gifts somewhere in the church.

spiritual partnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; check-in page Briefly check in each week and write down your personal plans and progress targets for the next week (or even for the next few weeks). This could be done (before or after the meeting) on the phone, through an e-mail message or even in person from time to time.

My Name: Spiritual Partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Name: Our Plan

SURRENDERING TEAM Crawl: Maintain the group's Pray and Praise Report or journal.

Run: Take a small-group "vacation" to host a six-week group in your neighborhood or office. Then come back together with your current group.

(Surrendering Your Heart to Worship)

Walk: Lead a brief time of worship each week (at the beginning or end of your meeting), either a cappella or using a song from the DVD or Life Together Worship DVD/CD.

Run: Plan a unique time of worship through Communion, foot washing, night of prayer, or nature walking.

Week 3

Walk: Search for group mission opportunities and plan a cross-cultural group activity.

Week 4

Crawl: Coordinate the group's Prayer and Praise Report of friends and family who don't know Christ.

(Sharing and Evangelism)

Week 5

SHARING TEAM

Week 2

Week 1

Crawl: Ensure that every member finds a group role or team he or she enjoys.

(Discovering Your God-Given Design for Ministry)

APPENDIX

Our Progress

APPENDIX

small group ROSTER

APPENDIX

CIRCLES OF LIFE

MINISTRY EMAIL PHONE ADDRESS NAME

OTHER

Family

(immediate or extended)

Familiar

(neighbors, kids, sports teams, school, and so forth)

Fun

(gym, hobbies, hangouts)

Friends

Firm (work)

APPENDIX

memory verses

PRAYER AND PRAISE REPORT Prayer Requests

Session 2

(Ecclesiastes 3:1) “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

Session 3

(Matthew 19:26) “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

(Mark 2:27) “Then He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’”

Session 3 Session 2

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Session 1

(John 14:13-14)

Session 4

Session 1

APPENDIX

(2 Corinthians 9:7) “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

(1 Peter 3:15) “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Praise Reports

HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE

If you’re starting a new group, try planning an “open house” before your first formal group meeting. Even if you only have two to four core members, it’s a great way to break the ice and to consider prayerfully who else might be open to join you over the next few weeks. You can also use this kick-off meeting to hand out study guides, spend some time getting to know each other, discuss each person’s expectations for the group and briefly pray for each other. A simple meal or good desserts always make a kick-off meeting more fun. After people introduce themselves and share how they ended up being at the meeting (you can play a game to see who has the wildest story!), have everyone respond to a few icebreaker questions: “What is your favorite family vacation?” or “What is one thing you love about your church/our community?” or “What are three things about your life growing up that most people here don’t know?” Next, ask everyone to tell what he or she hopes to get out of the study. You might want to review the Small Group Agreement and talk about each person’s expectations and priorities. Finally, set an open chair (maybe two) in the center of your group and explain that it represents someone who would enjoy or benefit from this group but who isn’t here yet. Ask people to pray about whom they could invite to join the group over the next few weeks. Hand out postcards and have everyone write an invitation or two. Don’t worry about ending up with too many people; you can always have one discussion circle in the living room and another in the dining room after you watch the lesson. Each group could then report prayer requests and progress at the end of the session. You can skip this kick-off meeting if your time is limited, but you’ll experience a huge benefit if you take the time to connect with each other in this way.

LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME 1

Sweaty palms are a healthy sign. The Bible says God is gracious to the humble. Remember who is in control; the time to worry is when you’re not worried. Those who are soft in heart (and sweaty palmed) are those whom God is sure to speak through.

2 Seek support. Ask your leader, co-leader, or close friend to pray

for you and prepare with you before the session. Walking through the study will help you anticipate potentially difficult questions and discussion topics.

Bring your uniqueness to the study. Lean into who you are and how God wants you to uniquely lead the study.

Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Go through the session several times. If you are using the DVD, listen to the teaching segment and Leadership Lifter. Go to www.lifetogether.com and download pertinent files. Consider writing in a journal or fasting for a day to prepare yourself for what God wants to do.

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare.

Ask for feedback so you can grow. Perhaps in an email or

on cards handed out at the study, have everyone write down three things you did well and one thing you could improve on. Don’t get defensive, but show an openness to learn and grow.

7 Use online resources. Go to www.lifetogether.com and listen to 100

Brett Eastman share the weekly Leadership Lifter and download any additional notes or ideas for your session. You may also want to subscribe to the DOING LIFE TOGETHER Newsletter and LLT Newsletter. Both can be obtained for free by signing up at www. lifetogether.com/subscribe.

Prayerfully consider launching a new group. This doesn’t need to happen overnight, but God’s heart is for this to happen over time.

9 Not all Christians are called to be leaders or teachers, but we are

all called to be “shepherds” of a few someday.

10 Share with your group what God is doing in your heart. God is

searching for those whose hearts are fully His. Share your trials and victories. We promise that people will relate.

11 Prayerfully consider whom you would like to pass the baton to

next week. It’s only fair. God is ready for the next member of your group to go on the faith journey you just traveled. Make it fun, and expect God to do the rest.

SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP 101 Top Ten Ideas For New Hosts Congratulations! You have responded to the call to help shepherd Jesus’ flock. There are a few other tasks in the family of God that surpass the contribution you will be making. As you prepare to lead, whether it is one session or the entire series, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. We encourage you to read these and review them with each new discussion leader before he or she leads.

1 Remember that you are not alone. God knows everything about

you, and He knew that you would be asked to lead your group. Remember that it is common for all good leaders to feel that they are not ready to lead. Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah and Timothy - they all were reluctant to lead. God promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Whether you are leading for one evening, for several weeks, or for a lifetime, you will be blessed as you serve.

Don’t try to do it alone. Pray right now for God to help you build a healthy leadership team. If you can enlist a co-leader to help you lead the group, you will find your experience to be much richer. This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy group. All you have to do is call and ask people to help, you’ll be surprised at the response.

Just be yourself. If you won’t be you, who will? God wants you to use your unique gifts and temperament. Don’t try to do things exactly like another leader; do them in a way that fits you! Just admit it when you don’t have an answer, and apologize when you make a mistake. Your group will love you for it, and you’ll sleep better at night!

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Prepare for your meeting ahead of time. Review the session and the leader’s notes, and write down your responses to each question. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to do something other than engage in discussion.

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These exercises will help your group live what the Bible teaches, not just talk about it. Be sure you understand how an exercise works, and bring any necessary supplies (such as paper and pens) to your meeting. If the exercise employs one of the items in the appendix, be sure to look over that item so you’ll know how it works. Finally, review “Outline for Each Session” so you’ll remember the purpose of each section in the study.

Pray for your group members by name. Before you begin your session, go around the room in your mind and pray for each member by name. You may want to review the prayer list at least once a week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every person uniquely. Expect God to lead you to whomever He wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God will surely lead!

When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question, and if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response with a simple “thanks” or “good job.” Then ask, “How about somebody else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?” Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren’t ready to say, pray or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will blossom over time.

7 Provide transitions between questions. When guiding the

discussion, always read aloud the transitional paragraphs and the questions. Ask the group if anyone would like to read the paragraph or Bible passage. Don’t call on anyone, but ask for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person who reads aloud.

Break up into small groups each week, or they won’t stay. If your group has more than seven people, we strongly encourage you to have the group gather sometimes in discussion circles of three or four people during the SHARING TOGETHER or GOING TOGETHER sections of the study. With a greater opportunity to talk in a small circle, people will connect more with the study, apply more quickly what they’re learning and ultimately get more out of it. A small circle also encourages a quiet person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a more vocal or dominant member. It can also help people feel more loved in your group. When you gather again at the end of the section, you can have one person summarize the highlights from each circle. Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying it with just two or three others. Also, prayer requests won’t take as much time, so circles will have more time to actually pray. When you gather back with the whole group, you can have one person from each circle briefly update everyone on the prayer requests. People are more willing to pray in small circles if they know that the whole group will hear all the prayer requests.

Rotate facilitators weekly. At the end of each meeting, ask the group who should lead the following week. Let the group help select your weekly facilitator. You may be perfectly capable of leading each time, but you will help others grow in their faith and gifts if you give them opportunities to lead. You can use the Small Group Calendar to fill in the names of all meeting leaders at once if you prefer.

One final challenge (for new or first time leaders): Before your first opportunity to lead, look up each of the five passages listed below. Read each one as a devotional exercise to help equip yourself with a shepherd’s heart. Trust us on this one. If you do this, you will be more than ready for your first meeting. Matthew 9:36 1 Peter 5:2-4 Psalm 23 Ezekiel 34:11-16 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12

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GREG SURRATT

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Greg is the founding pastor of Seacoast Church, one of the early adopters of the multisite model and author of Ir-Rev-Rend. Located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Seacoast has been recognized by various media as an innovative and influential thought leader in future strategies for church growth and development. Seacoast combines a unique approach to highly participatory worship with a heart for missional evangelism. Greg calls their weekends a “practical, spirit filled, but non-spooky, yet kind of mystical worship experience, done in multiple locations, very inexpensively.” Seacoast currently has 34 weekend worship experiences in more than a dozen separate locations. Greg is also a founding board member of the Association of Related Churches (ARC) arcchurches.com, a church planting network that has given birth to over 300 churches in the last 11 years. Greg is married to a very hip grandma, has 4 children, 9 grandchildren and enjoys reading, photography, fishing, golfing and rooting for lost causes…specifically the Cubs, Broncos, and Gamecocks.

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SMALL GROUP LEADERS

JOSH SURRATT

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Josh joined the staff at Seacoast in 2001 and has served in several roles including 4 years as the campus pastor at Seacoast’s original location in Mt. Pleasant, SC. In addition to being a member of Seacoast’s teaching team, his current role as Pastor of Worship Experiences has him overseeing the Sunday worship experiences on more than a dozen of Seacoast’s campuses. He also leads the Creative Team in the planning of the weekend services at Seacoast. He married his wife Lisa on May 5, 2001. They currently live on Sullivan’s Island, SC with their 2 kids Miles, 5 and Greta Kate, 3. He hopelessly cheers for all Chicago sports teams and the Clemson Tigers, who have made it a habit to beat up on the South Carolina Gamecocks over the past century.

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MORE BY SEACOAST CHURCH

Ir-Rev-Rend

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The DNA of Joy Is it possible to have joy at all times, regardless of our circumstances? Though it was written from a prison cell, Paul’s letter to the Philippians exudes joy and gratefulness. Throughout this study, we will be taking a look at what Philippians can teach us about the DNA of joy: what joy truly is, how we get find it, how we can keep it, and how we can have it in all things. The goal of this study is to provoke questions about what happiness and joy mean in our own lives. Is joy attainable? What can provide joy in our lives? What promises joy, but cannot deliver? Is it possible to maintain our joy in all seasons of life? This wide-ranging study will encourage you and your group that joy is not the same as happiness – it is more stable, more permanent, built upon a sure foundation.

Whatever you may think about the “typical” pastor, throw it out. Do they make mistakes? Yes. Bad decisions? Yes. Commit sin and experience severed relationships? Yes and yes. Pastor Greg Surratt isn’t perfect, and he unashamedly tells the stories in this memoir that have strengthened his faith. He writes that the choice to follow Christ is never clean, is often scary, is usually clothed in mystery, and is always an adventure. For some people, God appears in dark, dirty, lonely, or just plain odd places. Greg found God while huddled under a grand piano, hiding from overzealous friends and family trying to accost him during an altar call at a Pentecostal revival. So began a life of sharing stories of God’s endlessly creative and often surprising work and seeing God’s transforming power in unexpected ways. Despite years of vocational ministry, Greg never underestimates the power of divine/human encounters in some of the least “churchy” places on earth. Humorous, insightful, and challenging, IR-REV-REND is a revealing and joyous look at real-life Christian living. As Greg himself affirms, if God can use his missteps and blunders, God can use anybody’s.

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“It’s all about relationships. Training is second-to-none. The financial support is relevant and timely. It’s invaluable!’’ -Peter Haas

Substance Church - Minneapolis, MN

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The Inside Track The Inside Track is a four week process that allows you to meet people on a similar journey, hear about the vision of the church, take a closer look at how God has wired you and explore what it would look like for you to get involved. You’ll come away with the knowledge, resources and relationships needed to take your next step at Seacoast. Whether you’ve been here for a long time or if this is your first time, if you’re wanting to get connected, the Inside Track is the best next step for you. Contact your campus directly for details. Week 1: Your Church Week 2: Your Purpose Week 3: Your Mission Week 4: Your Destination

713 Long Point Road | Mount Pleasant SC 29464 | 843.881.2100 | seacoast.org

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