Driven
BY MA RK E VAN S
Copyright © 2017 by The Church at Rock Creek ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published by The Church at Rock Creek Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ISBN Printed in the United States of America
Contents 04 | INTRODUCTION 06 | USING THIS WORKBOOK (READ THIS FIRST) 07 | OUTLINE FOR EACH SESSION SESSION ONE
10 | SURFING SPIRITUAL WAVES SESSION TWO
22 | ROCK CREEK, A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH SESSION THREE
32 | GROWING PEOPLE CHANGE SESSION FOUR
42 | SAVED PEOPLE SERVE SESSION FIVE
53 | FOUND PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE SESSION SIX
63 | WORSHIP AS A LIFESTYLE APPENDICES
73 75 78 79
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIFE GROUP AGREEMENT LIFE GROUP CALENDAR MEMORY VERSE CARDS (CLIP AND REVIEW)
LIFE GROUP LEADERS
83 84 85 81 82 88
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HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME LEADERSHIP TRAINING PRAYER AND PRAISE REPORT LIFE GROUP ROSTER NOTES
Mark Evans SENIOR PASTOR
God wants to use you to change someone’s life! You are going to be blessed as you and your Life Group walk through “Driven” together. It is my hope that this will help you, not only live a blessed life, but also be a blessing in someone else’s life! I am thankful for you!
Mark Evans Senior Pastor The Church at Rock Creek
using this workbook (Tools to Help You Have a Great Small Group Experience!)
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Notice in the Table of Contents there are three sections: (1) Sessions; (2) Appendices; and (3) Growth Group Leaders. Familiarize yourself with the Appendices. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves.
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If you are facilitating/leading or co-leading a Growth Group, the section Small Group Leaders will give you some experiences of others that will encourage you and help you avoid many common obstacles to effective small group leadership. During the sessions themselves, you can read the questions and explanations yourself or ask someone from the group to serve by being the “reader.” Encourage various people to participate in reading the Scripture passages aloud.
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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 Growth Group Leaders section.
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Enjoy your Growth Group experience. Pray before each session—for your group members, for your time together, or wisdom and insights. Read the Outline for Each Session on the next pages so that you understand how the sessions will flow.
outline of each session A typical group session for the Growth Group study will include the following sections. Read through this to get a clear idea of how each group meeting will be structured: WEEKLY MEMORY VERSES. Each session opens with 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. The verses for our five sessions are also listed in the appendix. INTRODUCTION. Each lesson opens with a brief thought that will help you prepare for the session and get you thinking about the particular subject you will explore with your group. Make it a practice to read these before the session. You may want to have the group read them aloud. SHARE YOUR STORY. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. You build that connection by sharing your story with a few people who really know you and who earn your trust. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking—letting you share as much or as little of your story as you feel comfortable doing. 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.
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HEAR GOD’S STORY. In this section, you’ll read the Bible and listen to teaching, in order to hear God’s story—and begin to see how His story aligns with yours. You’ll then have an opportunity to read a passage of scripture, and discuss both the teaching and the text. You won’t focus on accumulating information but on how you should live in light of the Word of God. We want to help you apply the insights from scripture practically and creatively, 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 should be your greatest aim. STUDY NOTES. This brief section provides space for personal entries and reminders to self about the content of the session. CREATE A NEW STORY. God wants you to be a part of His Kingdom—to weave your story into His. That will mean change. It will require you to go His way rather than your own. This won’t happen overnight, but it should happen steadily. By making small, simple choices, we can begin to change our direction. This is where the Bible’s instructions 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 know Him personally, carry out His commands, and help outsiders connect with Him. This doesn’t necessarily mean preaching on street corners. It could mean welcoming newcomers, 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. This section will also have a question or two that will challenge you to live out your faith by serving others, sharing your faith, and worshiping God. FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY. If you have time and want to dig deeper into more Bible passages about the topic at hand, we’ve provided addi-
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tional passages and questions, which you can use either during the meeting, or as homework. Your group may choose to read and prepare before each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. Or, group members can use the additional study section during the week after the meeting. If you prefer not to do study homework, this 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. DAILY DEVOTIONS. Each week on the Daily Devotions pages, we provide scriptures to read and reflect on between sessions. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read just a small portion of scripture each day, and reflect and pray through it. You’ll then have a chance to journal your response to what you’ve read. 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.
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SESSION ONE
Surfing
Spiritual Waves “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.” Ephesians 4:16
“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again” (Vince Havner). Stop a moment and reread that; really let those words sink in. Where does revival begin? It begins with those who believe. God uses believers to share His love with others. God’s very nature is love, and when His children connect with Him and find ways to love Him more, they become driven by love. This love then flows naturally out of them to all people everywhere in a beautiful ripple effect. All those touched by the ripples of God’s love can’t help but want to know its source, which is what life is really all about: to know God, who is love. It doesn’t get much better than that! During the next six weeks, we’ll be looking at what it means to be “driven” as individual believers and as a church body. We’ll also be challenged to take steps to grow and change, to serve and reach out to others, and to make worship a lifestyle. As we move forward, be encouraged to fall in love with Jesus all over again and see how He will use you to help change the world.
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LEADER NOTES
• If your group is new, welcome newcomers. Introduce everyone – you may even want to have name tags for this first meeting. • Open your group with a brief prayer asking God for insight as you study. You can pray for specific requests at the end of the meeting, or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion. • Before you start this first meeting, get contact information for every participant. Take time to pass around a copy of the Life Group Roster on page 82 or a blank sheet of paper. Ask someone to make copies or type up a list with everyone’s information and email it to the group during the week. • Whether your group is new or ongoing, it’s always important to review your values. On page 75 is a Life Group Agreement with important values for sustaining healthy, balanced groups. Choose one or two of these values – ones you haven’t previously focused on or have room to grow in – to emphasize during this study. • The Life Group Calendar on page 78 is a tool for planning who will host and lead each meeting. Consider rotating hosts and leaders and take a few minutes to plan future meetings.
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SHARE YOUR STORY
Begin your time together by using the following questions and activities to get people talking.
• What brought you here?
• What do you hope to get out of this group?
WATCH THE VIDEO
Use the Notes space provided on pages 86 to record your thoughts and questions as well as the things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions in the Hear God’s Story section and start the conversation.
HEAR GOD’S STORY Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
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You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. • In what ways does this passage support the idea that we need to be ready to ride the spiritual “waves” that God is sending us? (vv.1-4)
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• How are jealousy and quarreling within Christ’s body a sign of being worldly? Do you think these two problems define a worldly person, or are they only part of being worldly? Why or why not? (v.3)
• How do verses 5-9 encourage you to fulfill the purpose God designed for you to do? (vv. 5-9)
• Do you know God’s purpose for you within His church? If yes, what is it? If no, what do you think it might be?
STUDY NOTES:
There is a human tendency with any “purpose” or talent or skill to get caught up in doing what we think we should be doing. However, as Pastor Mark and Pastor Greg touched on in the video, we need to be led by God to join what He is doing. We don’t want to try and create our own spiritual waves. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Unless we go to the “wave maker” and ask Him what waves He is creating, we will never succeed and will become frustrated instead. We need to do as Proverbs 16:3 says: “Commit to the LORD 14
“if we go to Him first, God will direct us. And if He establishes our plans, they have a 100% chance of success.” whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” This basically means that if we go to Him first, God will direct us. And if He establishes our plans, they have a 100% chance of success. As we see in the passages above and in the one below in Acts, the answer to church health and growth is really simple: stay connected to the Lord and keep Him first. The first church lived “in the fear of the Lord,” and they were “encouraged by the Holy Spirit.” As a result, they “increased in numbers” (Acts 9:31).
CREATE A NEW STORY
In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from the teaching and Bible study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned. • How can you begin to recognize the spiritual waves God is sending the church or you personally? Do you feel ready to ride these waves? Why or why not?
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• Every person is designed to grow physically as well as spiritually. What are some ways you’ve experienced growth recently? What is one way you want to grow in the future?
• Being reminded that “where God guides, He provides” might be comforting for some. It might be a bit scary for others (Romans 8:31). Where do you fall on the risk-taking spectrum? Why is taking risks in faith an important element to growth?
• What risks do you think God might be calling you to take to help fulfill His purposes for you and His church?
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• Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram below and write the names of two or three people you know who need to know Christ. Commit to praying for God’s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them. Would they be open to joining the group? Share your lists with the group so you can all be praying for the people you’ve identified.
FAMILY
(immediate or extended)
FAMILIAR
FRIENDS
(neighbors, kid’s sports team, school and so forth... )
FUN
(gym, hobbies, hangouts)
FIRM (work)
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• This week, how will you interact with the Bible? Can you commit to spending time in the Daily Devotions? Tell the group how you plan to follow Jesus this week, and then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges.
• Give each person an opportunity to share prayer requests. If you’d like, you can write these on the Prayer and Praise report on page 81.
• Close your meeting with prayer.
FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY Take some time between now and our next meeting to dig into God’s Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own. Jot down your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. You may even want to use a Bible website or app to look up commentary on these passages. If you like, share what you learn with the group the next time you meet.
Read Matthew 25:14-30. • How did the master treat the two servants who turned a profit versus the one who did not?
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• What caused the third servant to bury the gold he was given?
• How does this story reinforce the importance of catching God’s spiritual waves?
Read 2 Timothy 2:14b-16. • What actions should God’s worker avoid? Why?
• Who is the one who gives the worker approval?
• What does it mean to correctly handle the word of truth?
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DAILY DEVOTIONS DAY 1 Read Philippians 1:4-6. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. REFLECT: You don’t have to worry about doing your work for Him perfectly. The Lord started that work in you and will be right there with you to complete it. You are a work in progress. Take a moment and thank God for the work He is doing in you.
DAY 2 Read Romans 8:31b. If God is for us, who can be against us? REFLECT: This is the ultimate battle cry for life! Take some time to ask the Lord to show you any areas in your life that need this truth.
DAY 3 Read Romans 8:26-27. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. REFLECT: As we established earlier this week, you are a work in progress. The good news is that God wants to help us when we are weak and aren’t sure what do to. Spend some time pouring out your heart to Him and asking for His strength.
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DAY 4 Read 1 John 1:5b-6. God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. REFLECT: True fellowship between believers happens when God’s people are living a life that reflects God’s character. Aside from being a source of true community, it is also a place where God’s love is clearly displayed. What are some other benefits of “walking in the light”? DAY 5 Read Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. REFLECT: There are many things about God that we don’t really understand. Trusting God involves letting go of what we think is right and accepting His way instead. It comes with the promise that God will “make your paths straight.” What are some things in your life that you want to submit to Him? DAY 6 Use the following space to reflect on what you learned this week and what God is saying to you.
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WHAT DRIVES THE CHURCH AT ROCK CREEK.
DRIVEN
Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Ministry, Evangelism: 5 Purposes of a Driven Church. The series Driven focuses on five principles that are core to who we are as Christians and who we want to be as the Church. When we live them out, our lives are better. We have balance. We have meaning. Without these five principles in our lives, we aren’t really living up to all that we can be.
Mark Evans / Senior Pastor Mark moved back home to Little Rock in 1995 to start The Church at Rock Creek, a church for the un-churched. Beginning with 24 people, Rock Creek has grown over the last 20 plus years into a mega church. Rock Creek’s Ministry campus displays the church’s heart of caring for people’s real needs with the love of Christ. Mark and Terri have been married for 30 years and have 2 adult children, son, Austin and his wife Jenny and daughter, Haley and her husband, Steven Reynolds.
Join the Church at Rock Creek’s senior pastor, Mark Evans, and teaching pastor, Greg Kirksey, as they lead the discussion on surfing spiritual waves, the purposes of the Church at Rock Creek, and the five purposes. Be encouraged and challenged as you discuss what growth looks like for Christians, how saved people serve others, how God equips and partners with His people in evangelism, and the importance of making worship a lifestyle. By making these 5 purposes a part of your daily life, you’ll be fulfilling both the Great Commission and Jesus’s greatest commandment: you’ll be living a life that’s truly Driven.
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