Synergy 2011: Everything Small Group Local and Live

Synergy 2011: A Live Local Small Groups Conference

Saturday March 5, 2011 from 9am-4pm at Crossroads Grace Church in Manteca, CA.

Synergy will feature live teaching from James Bryan Smith, author of The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and The Good and Beautiful Community. 

It will also include breakouts for Small Group Leaders including: When Groups get Messy; Vision: If you build it they will come (and stay); How to Speak Truth and Still Do Life Together; The Apprentice Series Approach to Spiritual Formation; Small Group Leadership 101; When Your Group is Stuck in a Rut; Increasing Engagement and Critical Thinking In Your Group; The Externally Focused Small Group; Finding the Message of Your Life; Life-Changing Groups for Men; 5 Leadership Essentials for Women; Leading Groups for Singles and more.

For more information go here: http://www.synergylive.org/

Questions from Colossians 1:23-29

This weekend Pastor Steve asked us to discuss these questions in our Life Groups about the price we pay to follow Christ:

1) What is my ministry to others costing me?

2) Have I ever held back something from Christ, in any way, because I knew it would cost me too much?

3) What has following Jesus cost us?  What would it cost us to take following Christ to the next level?

4) Could what we are saying, and doing lately as followers of Christ ever be considered a threat to a sinful system of greed, power, selfishness or moral depravity?  What actions might Christ be calling us to that might stimulate opposition?

5) What is the next thing that Christ would want us to say or do that would result in us paying a greater price as we imitate Christ?

Please share your thoughts with your Life Group and post your comments here.

Acts 2 Community

This weekend Pastor Steve challenged us to look at our own community in each of our Life Group's in the light of the community of the early church recorded in Acts 2.42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Although community in our context may look different, we can look to Scripture for examples of individuals as well as Christ's body, the Church, and ask ourselves what can we learn from them as Christ's followers today, and how can we grow as a community together?

Here are 3 questions for each of our Life Groups:

1. How is your group like this early expression of the body of Christ? How is it different?  Does your group do the things this community had committed themselves to doing? Why or why not?

2. Which of these characteristics of the early church community are you most comfortable with? Which are you least comfortable with? Why?

3. What is one thing your Life Group can do to participate with God in Christlike community in the way the early church did? How might your group incorporate one or two of these practices or develop these qualities in a more consistent way?

Please share your thoughts with your Life Group and post your comments here.

Some Pictures from Converge 1.9.11

This past Sunday 150 of our Life Group Leaders gathered for Converge.  Here are a few pictures from the breakout sessions with Josh Jonas, Chuck McCallum, Clyde Wayne and Dr. Rob Dalrymple.  Don't miss the next Converge on August 21, 2011.

A Simple Spiritual Inventory

Take a Spiritual Inventory.  Here are a few questions to get your mind thinking about the health of your spiritual life and where you are in your journey with God:

1. Am I enjoying my life with God or is it a chore and a bore?

2. Is my relationship with God producing authentic change in me?  Am I becoming for example: more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, gentle, faithful, self-controlled? Am I becoming any one of these lately or has my relationship with Christ become static and making little difference in my life lately?  Would my family, friends and those around me agree with my answer?

3. Is my spiritual life active and flourishing? Am I growing increasingly like Jesus?  Or do I think this as good as it gets?  Do I find myself wondering lately if there something more to the Christian life?

Post your comments and talk about your thoughts on this with a spiritual friend, mentor, or your Life Group.

Life Group Connection Sunday January 16

We will be hosting a Life Group Connection Sunday January 16th st 10:30am Upstairs in Room U1 (above Parchements Cafe).

A Life Group Connection is an event for people interested in joining a Life Group to meet group leaders, hear about Life Groups and join a group!

If you are a Life Group leader and have room for 1 (or 10) people in your group please come! 

If you have any questions please contact Colby at colbyp@cornerstoneweb.org

Converge: A Leadership Gathering

Converge (verb): to come together; to reach the same point coming from different directions; to orient and direct toward a common interest, goal, or vision.

Join us for the next Converge: Life Group Leadership Gathering on Sunday January 9th from 1-3pm in the Chapel @ Cornerstone for a time of being challenged, equipped, and encouraged.

All Life Group Leaders should attend. A light lunch will be provided. Childcare is available if you register in advance.

RSVP ONLINE @ http://bit.ly/ConvergeRSVP

Questions? Please contact Colby at 925.447.3465 x5476 or email colbyp@cornerstoneweb.org

Life Group Service Opportunities

Serve the City Center 2nd Saturday Food Distribution
Bring your Life Group out on the 2nd Saturday of each month to pack and deliver food boxes to families in need in the community.

Where: Vineyard Fellowship 460 N. Livermore Ave. Livermore
Time: 9am-12 Noon

The next opportunities are: November 13th and December 11, 2010.

For more information or to sign up you and your Life Group contact Nancy deMatallana, Cornerstone Missions Local Outreach Coordinator at nancym@cornerstoneweb.org


Kids Against Hunger

Kids Against Hunger in Pleasanton packages and ships highly nutritious, life-saving meals to starving and malnourished children in developing countries and in disaster situations like Haiti, as well as feeding hungry children in the United States.

Click here to join a packing event in Pleasanton with up to 10 people!

For more information, call their office at 925.400.7201

Life Group Coaches

Early in 2011 we will be introducing Life Group Coaches. As a Life Group Leader, it is important that you have someone pouring into your life. A Coach is a spiritual mentor that will meet with you to help you to lead your group well and provide spiritual direction for your life as a disciple of Jesus. They will encourage you, help you grow, and help you to foster spiritual transformation in you and in your group. For your Life Group, they will be available to help you identify and raise up co-leaders, grow your group, and resolve group issues that come up. You can meet with a Coach individually and with other Life Group Leaders.

If you would like a Coach to invest in your life, please email Josh at joshh@cornerstoneweb.org

Life Group-in-a-Box

This is an exciting new tool for you that includes everything you need to lead a Life Group. This Fall we will provide a Life Group-in-a-Box for the book The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg.

The box will include:

• a coupon for 20% off the book at Parchments
• a study guide
• a reading schedule
• party ideas
• service opportunities
• everything you need

If you would like a Life Group-in-a-Box for the Fall, email Colby at colbyp@cornerstoneweb.org by Friday, September 10. Your box will be available for pickup at the Life Group counter in early September.

Fall Life Groups are starting soon!

Fall Life Groups will be meeting September 20-December 17. 

To find a group please visit www.cornerstoneweb.org/lifegroups

Questions? Contact Life Groups Admin Assistant Colby Phelps
at 925.447.3465 5476 or email colbyp@cornerstoneweb.org

Life Group Leaders Gathering 8.28.10

Saturday August 28, 2010
9:00a-12:00p in the Chapel
Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore

In addition to an amazing breakfast we will have Chris Stockhaus Missions Director at Cornerstone share with us about "5 ways to be a Missional Group."  

We will also have smaller group breakouts led by awesome Life Group leaders including:

• Increasing Participation, Engagement and Critical Thinking in your group with Greg Weaver.
• Knowing God vs. Knowing about God with Clyde Wayne.
• Creating an Environment of Christ-like Hospitality in your group with Susan Zarrinfar.
• How to study and teach the Bible to your group with Dr. Rob Dalrymple.
• New Life Group Leaders Breakout with Josh Hall  

If you lead a Life Group or are thinking about leading a group this Fall don't miss this!

 Register here no later than Thursday August 26th.

Spiritual Practices for Transformation Class

When it comes to becoming more like Jesus, many people wonder if change is even possible.  For most, the problem is not that we are unwilling to change, or don’t have the desire to, but simply: we have never been shown how.  In this class we will explore the Spiritual Practices found in Scripture and specifically in the life and teachings of Jesus and learn how God can and will use these practices in your life to help you become more like Christ.  

We all need greater intimacy and connection with God. This class will give us experience in the habits and practices that can help us grow closer to God, and stay in His presence more regularly.

Thursday Nights 7-9pm

7/22/10 - 8/26/10 (6 weeks)

Cornerstone Fellowship Livermore 
Room C217

To Register Click Here

 

Global Leadership Summit and "Pick One Groups"

Every August Cornerstone hosts the Global Leadership Summit  for all of our leaders and volunteers to come and learn from some of the best leaders in the world.  This year in an effort to be more intentional with what we learn at the Summit we are introducing "Pick One" Groups which are short term leadership-focused small groups.  

1.  Register for the Global Leadership Summit  The Cornerstone Price is $99  but goes up to $129 after July 23rd. (price includes lunch both days). To Register: Click here 

2.  Lead a "Pick One" Group  This year Cornerstone wants to be more intentional about the transformation of our leaders that will come through the Leadership Summit.  One way we want to do this is through our Post-Summit "Pick One" Groups.These will be short term small groups of 4-6 people (men, women, or co-ed) meeting for 4-6 weeks (between August 9-September 17)  who will commit to reading, thinking through, and coming together to discuss one of the following books which will be presented at the Summit:  

How the Mighty Fall Jim Collins
Drive Daniel Pink
The Land Between Jeff Manion
The Mentor Leader Tony Dungy 
Winning Jack Welch
The Power of a Whisper Bill Hybels
The Principle of the Path Andy Stanley
The Christian Atheist Craig Groeschel

The goal of these "Pick One" Groups are for leaders to pick one book presented at the Summit, read it with a group of people and allow that idea to transform them personally as a leader, and Cornerstone as a church.  You can "Pick One" book based on the topics above or  preview and choose from your favorite Summit speaker here. 

 
If you are interested in leading  a "Pick One" Summit Group in your home, office, coffee shop or restaurant email Josh Hall at joshh@cornerstoneweb.org

Prayer for Life Groups on June 29th

Did you know that Cornerstone has a prayer ministry headed up by Chuck McCallum?  One of the things this ministry does is invites leaders from each ministry to pray for them, and for their ministry.  On Tuesday June 29th from 7-830pm Upstairs in Room A2 at Cornerstone Livermore Campus they will be praying for you as a Life Group Leader and for all of our Life Groups at Cornerstone. 

If you would like to join us for prayer for yourself, and your group please come.  It is going to be a powerful time of seeking God for our Life Group Community.

Food Packing for Haiti

Every trimester our Life Groups serve together.  If your Life Group is looking for a great service opportunity this Summer you might want to consider spending an hour together packing food for children in Haiti.  Cornerstone Missions is partnering with one of our own Sherri Leal who works with  "Kids Against Hunger."  You and your group can arrange a time to go the food packing facility here in Pleasanton, CA.  We did this as a staff a few weeks ago and it was amazing.  It involves packaging individual nutricious meals in bags, afterwards you can sign the bags with encouraging messages for the kids who will be receiving them.  

The cost to participate in this is about $20 per person to cover the cost of donated food.  You can find more information on Kids Against Hunger here.  Email Susan Zarrinfar at susanz@cornerstoneweb.org if you are interested in packing food with your Life Group.

3 Keys to a Successful First Meeting

Next week our Summer Life Groups are kicking off again!

Here’s three keys to a successful first meeting:

1. It’s all about the people: Make your first meeting about the people who are there, and not so much the topic you’ll be covering.  Help them relax by getting to know one another.  Do you have something fun planned?  Something delicious?  Something meaningful?  Check out a sample itinerary for the first meeting here: Sample First Meeting Schedule

2. Reveal the plan: Have a schedule to give everyone of the readings/homework for the trimester.  People will appreciate it and you will, too. Check out a sample one here:  Sample Reading Plans

3.  Think about it through a new person’s eyes: Whether your group is brand new, or you are a repeat leader with a lot of returnees and some new people, it’s your job to lead the group in welcoming new people, and making them feel really included.  Think about what they might  feel entering a group of people, especially if you've been together before.  In this case you might email the  returning people in your group this week and let them know that new people will be joining the group and to be as welcoming as possible.  Here’s an example of what you might send…

Hey Everyone – I’m excited about our Life Group starting up again next week, and I’m really glad you are returning.   Great news – we have a couple of people who are new to the group.  Let’s do all we can to make them feel welcome.   That means in discussion time, listen well to them.  And during our informal times, be the first to ask them questions and get to know them.  It’s important they feel included.  We all know each other well…so let’s try to get to know them really well and make them feel included!

Just a few thoughts that I hope will be helpful to you.

We are praying for you and your group.

Next Life Group Leaders Gathering 5.8.10

8:00am-11:00am in the Event Center Cornerstone, Livermore

This will be an opportunity for the Leaders and Co-Leaders of Cornerstone Life Groups from both Livermore and Brentwood Campuses to gather together to be developed and poured into as leaders. This event includes breakfast, large group teaching and smaller breakout sessions where you can choose from a variety of topics related to group leadership, led by seasoned group leaders at Cornerstone.

More details and registration information to come.

The Summit: A Convergence of Small Group Leaders

Check out this video of The Summit.  An online conversation of some of the best and brightest Small Group Pastors and Leaders from around the country:

http://vimeo.com/9686089

Post your thoughts, and insights below.

Synergy 2010: Everything Small Group Local and Live

Synergy 2010: A Live Local Small Groups Conference is coming March 6, 2010 from 9am-4pm at Crossroads Grace Church in Manteca, CA.  Synergy will feature Bill Donahue, Director of Group Life at Willow Creek.  It will also include breakouts for Small Group Leaders including:

The Four Ingredients of a Healthy Small Group; Small Group Leadership 101; How To Help When Crisis Strikes; The Top Two Community Killers (And How To Overcome Them); The Externally Focused Small Group; Groups That Change Men’s Lives; Leading Groups For Students (Jr. High – College); Leading Groups For Kids (Elementary); When Your Group Is Stuck In A Rut; Developing And Empowering The Next Generation to Lead; The Art Of Listening As A Spiritual Experience; Leading Small Group Leaders and more.

For more information go here: www.synergylive.org