THE JOURNEY CHURCHGrowth Group Leader Training

Fall 2018

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  

Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from

evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the

glory, for ever. Amen.”  

- Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

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Name: ______(TEACHER NOTES)______

Fall 2018 Growth GroupsImportant Dates

Sunday September 16th Membership Class

Sunday, September 23rd Baptism

Sunday, September 30th The Lord’s Prayer Kick-Off

Monday, October 1st Fall Growth Groups Begin

Sunday, October 15th Membership Class

Oct. 22nd to Oct. 27th Growth Group Servant Evangelism Week

Thursday November 22nd Thanksgiving (no groups this week)

Saturday, December 15th Fall Growth Groups End

Growth Group Semester System Overview

Spring Semester Summer Semester Fall SemesterJanuary – April May – August September – December

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Growth Groups @ The Journey

The Journey exists to give the people of New York City the best opportunity to become fully developing followers of Jesus.

CORE BELIEF: At The Journey, we believe our church must…

grow LARGER and SMALLER at the same time.

As a result, The Journey has 2 types of church meetings:

Large Group: Sunday Service

Small Group: Growth Group

“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the

goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:46-47

Two Requirements to be a Growth Group Leader:

1. A sincere LOVE OF GOD.

2. A sincere LOVE OF PEOPLE

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on

these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40

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The JourneyFall 2018 Growth Groups

Growth Group Responsibilities

WHAT DOES MY GROWTH GROUP DO?

▪Meets together once a week

▪ Serves together once a month

▪ Reaches out together once a semester

▪ Hangs together once a semester

WHAT DOES A GROWTH GROUP LEADER DO?

▪Prays for group members daily

▪Leads the group once a week

▪Meets with Team Leader in a Growth Group Huddle at least once a semester

▪Helps form new groups from their current group

WHAT DOES A GROWTH GROUP COORDINATOR DO?

▪Prepares to become a Growth Group Leader by serving as an apprentice who supports and assists the Group Leader

▪Facilitates group discussion multiple times during the semester

▪Prays for the group

Each week the Coordinator sends 2 emails to the group:

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1. Prayer Requests - Sent the day after group meets; email with prayer requests from previous day (recorded by coordinator)

2. Group Reminder - Sent two days before group meets (reminder about group and any upcoming events - GG Serving, GG Hangout, etc.)

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Four F’s of Leading a Growth Group

1. F ILL-UP

Who can I invite to be a part of my Growth Group?

● People in previous Growth Groups

● People I meet on Sunday

● People I meet when I'm serving

● People I meet at a Journey events

How do I tell people about my Growth Group?

● Serve at the Growth Group Table & hold up a sign on Sundays.

● Ask people who you meet on Sunday at the service to join your group.

● Email people who were in your previous Growth Group(s) and invite them to join.

What are other ways my group can fill up and be successful?

● People select a group because of its location, day, time and topic (in that order)

● Secure a Growth Group Coordinator for your Group

List 4 people you can invite to join your Growth Group:

1. 3.

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2. 4.

*Challenge: SERVE AT THE GROWTH GROUP TABLE TWO SUNDAYS IN SEPTEMBER

2. F OLLOW-UP

How do people sign up for my Growth group?

● Sunday Signups: From the services and the Growth Group Table are sent to you on Mondays.

● Online Signups: You receive an immediate email.

Three types of communication…

1. IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP

● As soon as someone signs up, email them all the details for your Growth Group.Sample Email Provided

● Within a few days of someone signing up, text call them to introduce yourself and try to meet them on Sunday.

2. PRE-GROUP COMMUNICATION

● Call/text your Group Members the week of your first meeting

● Two email reminders before the first meetingo One 1 Week beforeo One 1 Day before

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3. ON-GOING COMMUNICATION

● Two weekly emailso Meeting reminder (2 days before meeting)o Prayer requests (day after meeting)

*Challenge: FOLLOW UP WITH EVERY SIGN-UP WITHIN 24 HOURS.

3. F OCUS

How can I prepare for my first Growth Group Meeting?

● Pray for your group and the individuals who sign up

o When someone signs-up, immediately add them to your Growth Group list (keep an excel file with everyone’s contact information).

o Keep a 3” x 5” index card or a note on your phone with the names of everyone who signs up for your Growth Group.

o Place this index card in a place that you will see everyday OR make that note the background of your phone and pray for your Growth Group members.

● Have a plan for your lesson and a place for your group to meet

o Think through your itinerary (1st Group Meeting Itinerary)

o Secure a meeting location NOW and let everyone know about it immediately. (including your COACH)

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● Lead your group through the Growth Group Covenant & Syllabus at your first meeting.

o Growth Group Covenant

o Share the Syllabus with your Group*Your group syllabus is included

*Challenge: PRAY DAILY FOR YOUR GROWTH GROUP MEMBERS.

4. F ACILITATE

How can I lead a successful Growth Group?

● Begin and end on time every time

● Encourage everyone to participate in discussion

Ping Pong Ball vs. Pinball Machine

● Don’t let one person ruin it for everyone else

● Ask open-ended questions

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● Provide the “2 C’s” – o Care to Growth Group members o Communication to Staff

● End every group by sharing prayer requests and emailing them out

● Serve at a Sunday service once a month this Fall

● Participate in one Growth Group SE project this Fall

*Challenge: MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF SUNDAY SERVING.

Four F’s Checklist:

FILL-UP CHECKLIST:

__ Secure a Coordinator for your Growth Group.

__ Serve at the GG Table and ask people on Sunday to join my group.

__ Invite friends, neighbors, and co-workers to join my group.

FOLLOW-UP CHECKLIST:

__ Email every person who signs up for my group immediately with all of the important information: day/time/location, start date, syllabus, contact info, etc.

__ Call/text everyone who signs up for my group at least once before the group begins.

__ Send an email reminder two days before my group begins.

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__ Continue following up with those who don’t show up for Growth Group at least 2 weeks into the group (don’t remove their name from the list until they request it).

FOCUS CHECKLIST:

__ Pray daily for those who have signed up for my group.

__ Secure a place for my group to meet.

__ Have the Syllabus and GG Covenant ready at the 1st group meeting.

FACILITATE CHECKLIST:

__ Send 2 weekly emails to my Growth Group: Group Reminder Email (two days before group meeting) and Prayer Requests (day after group meets).

__ Write down my group’s Sunday serving and SE dates and communicate those dates to my group. Be faithful in leading my group to serve.

__ Continually identify potential leaders from my group and give them the opportunity to serve/lead within my group.

Lord’s Prayer SyllabusFall Lord’s Prayer Growth Groups

Welcome to your Lord’s Prayer Growth Group! Your group will meet weekly beginning the week of October 1st and continue through the week of December 10th.

This Fall, you and your Growth Group will have the opportunity to go line by line, verse by verse, studying the most powerful prayer every prayed. Each day you’ll read an email devotion and each week you will read a short chapter about the Lord’s Prayer from the book, The Lord’s Prayer, by Douglass Connelly. Then, on Sundays at The Journey, the teaching will connect to the verse of the Lord’s Prayer that you’ll discuss in your group.

Make sure to take time with your group each week to pray the Lord’s Prayer together and to commit it to memory.

Below is a week-by-week syllabus for your group. Note that you will need to add in the dates that your group serves on Sundays and participates in its Servant Evangelism outreach.

Week #1: Week of October 1st

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First Growth Group Meeting: Introductions, Group Syllabus, Growth Group Covenants

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 1: Talking to the Father (pg. 9-13)

Week #2: Week of October 8thDiscuss: Chapter 1: Talking to the Father

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 2: Showing Some Respect (pg. 14-17)

Week #3: Week of October 15thDiscuss: Chapter 2: Showing Some Respect

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 3: Who’s Really in Charge (pg. 18-21)

Week #4: Week of October 22nd(Groups meet for Servant Evangelism Projects)

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 4: Why Pray When You Can Worry (pg. 22-25)

Week #5: Week of October 29thDiscuss: Chapter 3: Who’s Really in Charge & Chapter 4: Why Pray When You Can Worry

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 5: Costly Forgiveness (pg. 26-30)

Week #6: Week of November 5thDiscuss: Chapter 5: Costly Forgiveness

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 6: Tackling Temptation (pg. 31-34)

Week #7: Week of November 12thDiscuss: Chapter 6: Tackling Temptation

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 7: The Power and Glory (pg. 35-39)

Week #8: Week of November 19thHAPPY THANKSGIVING! (no groups)

Week #9: Week of November 26th13

Discuss: Chapter 7: The Power and Glory

* Assignment for next group meeting: Read Chapter 8: A Passion for Prayer (40-44)

Week #10: Week of December 3rdDiscuss: Chapter 8: A Passion for Prayer

* Assignment for next group meeting: Plan your GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY!

Week #11: Week of December 10th* HANGOUT / CHRISTMAS PARTY!

*Every Growth Group is assigned service opportunities during the semester.

SERVING ON SUNDAY DATES: ________________ ________________ _________________ ________________

SERVANT EVANGELISM DATE: __________________

CHRISTMAS PARTY/FUN EVENT DATE: _______________

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Fall 2018 Growth Group Sunday Serving Schedule

Village

Names Service Time Date #1 Date #2 Date #3Matt/Calvin 11:00am 10/7 10/28 11/18Corinna/Vlad/Ben 11:00am 10/7 10/28 11/18Gina/Stephanie 11:00am 10/7 10/28 12/16Jeremy/Annabell 11:00am 10/7 10/28 12/9Brandon/Diamond 1:00pm 10/7 10/28 11/25Laura 1:00pm 10/7 11/4 11/25Beth 1:00pm 10/7 11/4 12/2Richy 6:00pm 10/7 11/4 12/2Tommy/Kaylan 6:00pm 10/7 11/4 12/2Melanie/Danielle 6:00pm 10/7 11/4 12/2Melissa/Sherika 11:00am 10/14 11/4 11/25Lolita 11:00am 10/14 11/4 11/25Bobby/Reese 11:00am 10/14 11/4 11/25Garnet 11:00am 10/14 11/4 12/9Khadeen 1:00pm 10/14 11/4 12/2Al 1:00pm 10/14 11/11 12/2Ashley/Elizabet 1:00pm 10/14 11/11 12/2Reid/Kevin 6:00pm 10/14 11/11 12/2Alan/Rajiv 6:00pm 10/14 11/11 12/2Stephen/Scott 6:00pm 10/14 11/11 12/2Tayloir 11:00am 10/21 11/11 12/2George 11:00am 10/21 11/11 12/2Kaleena 11:00am 10/21 11/11 12/2Wayne 11:00am 10/21 11/11 12/9Joanne/Aretha 1:00pm 10/21 11/11 12/9Brittany/Karen 1:00pm 10/21 11/18 12/9Paul 1:00pm 10/21 11/18 12/9Darah/Trisha 6:00pm 10/21 11/18 12/9John/Roche 6:00pm 10/21 11/18 12/9Katie/Hannah 6:00pm 10/21 11/18 12/9Lauren 1:00pm 10/28 11/18 12/9Aaron/Sarah 1:00pm 10/28 11/25 12/9Lindsay/Laurie 6:00pm 10/28 11/25 12/9Lindsey 6:00pm 10/28 11/25 12/9Kelsey/McKinley 6:00pm 10/28 11/25 12/9

Fall 2018 Growth Group Sunday Serving Schedule (cont.)

UWS

Names Service Time Date #1 Date #2 Date #3Aniella/Charissa 1:00 pm 10/7 10/28 11/18Belkyss/Connie/Ruby 11:00 am 10/7 10/28 11/18Yadira/Daniel 1:00 pm 10/7 11/4 11/18Kayleigh Beth/Trevor 11:00 am 10/7 11/4 11/18Sherry 1:00pm 10/14 11/4 11/25Cindy/Nicole 11:00am 10/14 11/4 11/25Brandon/Melinda 1:00 pm 10/14 11/11 11/25Ude 11:00 am 10/14 11/11 12/2Brendan/Dan 1:00 pm 10/28 11/11 12/2Tiffany/Martina 11:00 am 10/28 11/11 12/2

UES

Names Date #1 Date #2 Date #3Keni/Vanessa 10/7 11/4 11/25Natalie/Arlene 10/7 11/4 11/25Jim/Denise 10/7 11/4 11/25Ismael 10/14 11/11 12/2Alyssa/Krystle 10/14 11/11 12/2T/Eva 10/14 11/11 12/2David 10/28 11/18 12/9Anthony/Nikki/Chris/Brianne 10/28 11/18 12/9Erika/John 10/28 11/18 12/9

Fall 2018 Servant Evangelism Schedule

Monday, October 22 – 7:00pmVillage – 14th Street & 6th Ave.

Belkyss/Connie/Ruby LolitaLaura Melissa/Sherika

Erika/John Matt/Calvin

Tuesday, October 23 – 7:00pmUpper West Side – 96th Street & Broadway

Sherry Kayleign Beth/TrevorAnthony/Nikki/Brianne/Chris Lindsey

Hillary/Susan

Tuesday, October 23rd – 7:00pmVillage – 14th Street & 6th Ave.

Bobby/Reese GeorgeAlyssa/Krystle Arlene/Natalie

Tiffany/Martina KhadeenGina/Stephanie

Wednesday, October 24 – 7:00pmUpper East Side – 86th Street & 3rd Avenue

Jim/Denise Tee/EvaAniella/Charissa Keni/Vanessa

Yadira/Daniel Brendan/DanUde

Wednesday, October 24 – 7:00pmVillage – 14th Street & 6th Ave.

Katie/Hannah GarnetMelanie/Danielle Brittany/Karen

Alan/Rajiv LaurenLindsay/Laurie Beth

Wayne RichyAshley/Elisabet John Philip/Roche

Fall 2018 Servant Evangelism Schedule (cont.)

Thursday, October 25 – 7:00pmVillage – 14th Street & 6th Ave.

Brandon/Melinda Kelsey/McKinleyJoanne/Aretha Tommy/Kaylan

Ismeal Stephen/ScottCorinna/Vlad/Ben Annabell/Jeremy

Saturday, October 27 – 12:00pmVillage – 14th Street & 6th Ave.

Paul Darah/TrishaKaleena Cindy/Nicole

Diamond/Brandon Reid/KevinAl Middle School

Sample Follow-up Email

To: Everyone who signs up for your groupSubject: Welcome to Our Growth Group! ----

Hey Matt! My name is Bobby and I’ll be leading our Fall Lord’s Prayer Growth Group this semester! I just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for signing up. I also wanted to give you all of the important information you’ll need: When: Wednesdays at 7:00am (First group is June 13th)Where: Midtown - Gregory’s Coffee (8th Ave. between 37th/36th)Book: The Lord’s Prayer, by Douglass Connelly. Feel free to invite and encourage your friends to sign up for your group and attend on Sunday. You can send them this link to make it easy:https://journeynyc.com/growth-groups-at-the-journey-2/wednesday-01/ I’m really looking forward to our Growth Group and I hope you are as well! Reply to this email and let me know if you’ll be at our first meeting. Let me know if you have any other questions! Bobby

The Journey Fall 2018 Growth Group CovenantWelcome to your Fall 2018 Growth Group at The Journey. Congratulations on your desire to grow deeper in your relationship with God through this weekly study and the relationships that will begin in this Growth Group.

As a member of this group, you will be asked to enter into a covenant with the other members to make this Growth Group a priority. To be a part of the group, you are asked to make the following commitments:

1. I will make this group a priority by attending each week, keeping up with my assignments, and participating in group discussion.

2. I will regularly attend The Journey services and contribute to the ministry of the church through my attendance, giving, service, and inviting of others.

3. I will strive to build authentic relationships with those in this group by showing care, providing encouragement and praying for their needs.

4. I will intentionally share my faith with those around me by reaching out to lost and unchurched friends by praying, giving a verbal witness, and inviting them to The Journey.

5. I will serve together with my group once a month during the semester and will participate in a Servant Evangelism Project and play together with my group at least once.

6. I will explore honestly my next steps for spiritual growth.

________________________________ _______________Sign Your Name Date

________________________________Print Your Name

HOW TO MAXIMIZE PRAYER IN YOUR GROWTH GROUP

How Does My Growth Group “WIN”?My Growth Group “WINS” when together we apply God’s biblical principles to our lives and

pray for one another .

“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all

the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship

those who were being saved.” -Acts 2:46-47

HOW TO MAXIMIZE PRAYER. . .

Before My Group

1)Pray for my growth group every day

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual

wisdom and understanding.”- Colossians 1:9

2) Pray that God helps me lead each week(don’t do this on your own!)

3) Record MY Lord’s Prayer Memorization Challenge

During My Group:

1) Read the Lord’s Prayer out loud in my group each week

2) Share Prayer Requests and email them out each week

“Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” - Ephesians 6:18

3) Follow the DO’S and DON’TS of Prayer Time:

DO: Encourage everyone to share a prayer request Share a prayer request myself Let Journey Staff know about serious prayer requests

DON’T: Make someone pray out loud if they don’t want to Let one person take over prayer time each week Skip the closing prayer time

After My Group:

1) Pray for weekly prayer requests

2) Celebrate answered prayers of my group members

3) Attend the Lord’s Prayer series together on Sundays

CHALLENGE: Don’t short change my prayer time.

The Journey Fall 2018Growth Group Leader/Coordinator Covenant

Thank you for serving as a Growth Group Leader/Coordinator at The Journey.

As a Growth Group Leader/Coordinator you will be viewed by those in your group as a leader in the church. As a result, we ask that you enter into covenant with the other Growth Group Leaders/Coordinators by making the following commitments:

1. I will embody and reflect the values and principles of The Journey and will follow the leadership of the staff team.

2. I will faithfully attend The Journey on Sundays and:● Participate in the church by becoming a member and giving in a

measurable way.● Leading my group in serving together once a month.

3. I will make my Growth Group a priority by:● Faithfully attending my Growth Group.● Preparing beforehand for my group each week.● Inviting/welcoming others to join my group.● Identifying new leaders in my Growth Group.

4. I understand that I am responsible for the care of my Growth Group. As a result, I will:

● Pray for the individuals in my group.● Follow up with each person in my group.● Lead my group in providing care for one another.

5. I will strive to create an environment of growth in my group by:● Involving as many people as possible in group discussion.● Creating a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment.● Beginning and ending on time.

6. I will intentionally share my faith with those around me by:● Reaching out to lost and unchurched friends and inviting them to The

Journey.● Encouraging my Growth Group members to reach out to lost and

unchurched friends and inviting them to The Journey

________________________________________________ __________________________Sign Your Name Date

________________________________________________Print Your Name