May 6th, 2008
I went with a small group to a fascinating movie last week. Ben Stein’s Expelled! was a great way to follow up session 3: Where Did We Come From? It is a docudrama on ‘ID’ (Intelligent Design). This is not a Christian movie; Ben Stein makes it clear that he is Jewish. It is simply a movie about the natural sciences and the opinion of scientists regarding origins (Darwin vs. ID). Ben travels to many locations and holds several interviews with proponents on both sides. A very important and dangerous movie!
Session 3 and Expelled caused me to wonder if in this new century we are watching a growing disconnect between the Natural Sciences and the Science of Engineering. It is as though we have passed a fork in the road where the Natural Sciences, driven by the disciples of Darwin, are heading in one direction and the Engineering Sciences, which by definition must assume an intelligent designer, have set a different course! Some might consider my observation simplistic and try to dismiss it by labeling it religious but they should consider this car illustration.
- A man goes to a car lot to purchase a car and finds that there are only two to choose from. One car came into existence simply by the principle elements of evolution: ‘TIME’ & ‘CHANCE’. The other car was made with the many elements of intelligent design: aesthetics, safety, reliability, economy, durability, etc. Can you picture what these two cars look like? The salesman explains the two origins of the cars and the man asks, ‘Where is the designer of the second car? Can I meet him?’ After all, why should I believe in a car designer unless I can meet him/her?
Understand that ever time you get into your car you assume intelligent design. You demand that every new car you purchase have designed improvements rather than accidental improvements over your previous car. How much more complex is life than a car? How much more of an indicator of designer is life than a car?
Posted By Scott Roderick
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April 11th, 2008
When I was a kid I was fascinated by the Viewmaster; a little box with eye piece, lever, and a slot for little circular cards full of pictures. The Viewmaster was a pair of binoculars that allowed me to peer anywhere in the world without ever leaving home! Every card seemed to transport me to someplace new; new sights, new discoveries, new adventures. Today I realize what I observed was a blend of my imagination and someone else’s perception of the world. Like the old Viewmasters toy, how I perceive the world is directly influenced by the ‘Viewmasters’ of TV, internet, friends, work, faith and so much more. How we view the world around us is constantly in flux. How we view the world around us effects every decision we make! Welcome to ‘Viewmaster: Framing Your World View”. Get ready to have your eyes opened!
To prepare to lead your PIER Group in this vital series take some time to view the introduction on your video. Next, move to page 2-5 of your participant guide. These pages briefly explain each section of the guide. Notice that there are three (3) video segments in each session! The idea here is to watch a little and talk a little and then watch more and talk more, etc. This will keep your discussion fresh and your group is less likely to get lost in too much content. Your biggest task here is to know when to move on to the next video segment and discussion without going too long! You will not have time to completely discuss and resolve each issue after you watched it. It is a good thing for people to want to go back and talk more about an issue later with a spouse, friend, or spiritual partner. It is important to avoid running out of time and not doing something in every section! It is alright to skip a question, you do not have to do every section completely but you should do something in every section!
The back of your guide has several pages of helpful group resources. If your group is new you will want to review the ‘Helps & FAQ’s’ on pages118-123. If your group is new or has not reviewed your group agreement recently then make sure to discuss pages 124-125 as instructed in session 1. If you have room for new people have your group complete page 126. Pages 126-131 provide the charts to record prayers mentioned in the group and to plan your group’s calendar to schedule locations, HOSTs and refreshments.
The issues of this series need to be considered more than once or twice a week. So, encourage your group to complete the ‘Diving Deeper’ sections between meetings. This section can be completed whether or not they read the Colson’s book, The Good Life.
Finally, the biggest secret to leading a successful PIER Group is to prepare in advance. To do this you need to watch the video and take your notes before the group meets. Also, answer your questions in the guide before your group meets. This allows you to focus on leading your group and not trying to come up with your answers at the same time! By all means, prepare in advance by praying for your group!
Posted By Scott Roderick
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January 22nd, 2008
It is a HUGE transition for most people to move from managing our finances OUR way to GOD’s way. Last week my group relaxed as they discussed Bruce’s message & our ‘Big Picture’ introduction. People are often hesitant to talk about financial things in a group or with their spouse because they fear conflict or change. As people review the scriptures, their hearts are softened and changed. As they complete the financial assignments like keeping track of a week’s worth of transactions, they find victories in small changes. Another way to encourage people with the ‘Big Picture’ benefits of our MONEY MATTERS series is the Money Map. Every couple or single should get a Money Map, they are available at the Pipeline or church office. The Money Map is a visual guide on the journey towards managing our finances God’s way. The WELCOME side of the map instructs people how to prepare for the journey by completing the Purpose, Goals & Financial Principles sections. The flip side of the map identifies seven destinations! Crown Ministries recommends people participate in the Biblical Financial Study (BFS) during destination two. Managing Our Finances God’s Way is a close equivalent to BFS. The Money Map gives people a map to continue their journey to financial victories after the seven week study!
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January 13th, 2008
Here we go on another great PIER Group adventure! Bruce has looked carefully at our small group resources as he prepared his messages for this series. Our small group resources are a combined effort of two great ministries. Crown Financial Ministries may be new to you but they have been around serving the national and international Christian community with sound biblical counsel for decades. Be sure to check out and refer your group to their website, Crown.org. For years Crown’s Financial Bible Study (FBS) has been around saving marriages, setting people free from debt and giving people control of their finances in a Godly way. FBS has been one of the ministries primary resources. The study is however, too challenging and expensive for a broad spectrum of the church, it is 10-12 weeks in length, requires daily Bible study & scripture memorization, a book to read, and is $45 for a single and $55 for a couple. All who go though the course swear that it is worth all the cost and effort. Not too long ago Saddleback Church persuade Crown to work with them to produce a cheaper, shorter, less intense video based small group study that would be more broad based and still allow people to master their finances according to God’s plan. At the same time they were able to insert into this new study the crucial 5 purposes from the Purpose Driven Life. This week you are distributing and leading your group through these exciting resources! As Bruce has said before, ‘All you have to do is slip in the DVD and press play!’ Well, here are a few more helps so you can have a great group.
Be sure to read over the features of the study on page iv in the study guide. Here you will find a description of each section in the study and a recommended time schedule to follow. DO NOT SKIP ANY SECTION! If you do not have the 90 minutes to give to the session then plan ahead to shorten sections. Remember, you do not have to discuss every ‘Discussion Question’. In the first week you will begin with a ‘Looking Ahead’ section in stead of a ‘Catching Up’ section that will start all the other sessions.
If your group is not full (12 or more) be sure to talk to your group about inviting others to join you. According to financial statistics we all know people who need this study! In the guides on page 105 there is a Circles of Life form that will help your group members consider who they can invite. Be sure to look at all the Group Development resources to help you lead the group like goals, Prayer & Praise report, Calendar, Answer Key & Verses (pages 99-112).
God’s greatest desire is for us to hear his Word AND Do It! Too often our effectiveness and success as Christians breaks down at the point of action and follow through. The bookends of this study, Catching Up & Putting It into Practice, are dedicated to action. Make sure group members understand each week’s assignment. There are hard copy forms in the guide and a CD at the end of the guide for the homework. If people know that each week they will need to meet with a spiritual partner or buddy to talk about how the assignment went, they will be more likely to complete the assignment! Remind them that there is no need to share personal financial information during Catching Up or any other time.
The final tool to handout to each couple or single is the Money Map from Crown. The Money Map is new and is not mentioned in the video or guide. It is simply a tool to help people see the ‘Big Picture’ of their finances. You will notice that ‘Preparing for the Journey’ asks people to consider their Purpose, Goals & Foundational Principles in life. Then they are given seven destinations along the journey. According to the Money Map, you will see that Crown’s Financial Study is a tool linked to Destination 2. So, that is how our seven week small group fits into the ‘Big Picture’ of the Money Map.
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January 5th, 2008
Money Matters! I am sure I do not need to convince you of that. Every day we exchange money for goods. Money for food, gas, clothes and so much more! But, did you know that God deeply cares about your finances? Yes, your finances matter to God or should I say how you handle your finances matter to God. You see people seem to believe two myths about God and money.
MYTH #1: God wants your money.
Some of the people in your group might think that the MONEY MATTERS PIER Group and message series is about getting more money from them. Don’t feel pressured to defend God or the church! If anyone voices this myth or even hints of it the best thing to do is to get it out. Ask your group members to write it down and watch out to see if that is what is happening. Perhaps each week you can ask after the session, ‘Was this session about God & the church getting our money or something else?’
MYTH #2: God wants you rich.
Some people in your group might think that God has placed in scripture the principles for our prosperity. Just follow the principles and you will get rich! Yes, this is just the opposite of Myth #1 and so it interesting how we can believe such opposite myths but that is essence of myths. Here again, the best way to handle this myth is to simply allow it to be voiced and documented for ongoing review.
The MONEY MATTERS series will cause us to consider our giving and our savings and debt. However, this series is really about how God wants our hearts committed to him and not money and possessions. And this series is about how God wants us to use our money and possession just like him! And yes, that is what we want too as a His church!
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October 29th, 2007
It seems that everyone is going green. No, not environmental but green with envy! It’s like the recent car commercial where a new car drives into an empty garage, a glass door closes and flood lights flash on so all the neighbors can envy your new car. After all, ‘if you got it, flaunt it’! I wonder, how long before you turn off the lights and replace the glass door to hide the car from the neighbors: 10 years? 12 months? A few weeks? Stuff does not last. Envy, like all the other Toxic Wastes will not satisfy. Instead, our focus needs to be on Christ and his Kingdom. Only the church will last for ever, only the church will truly satisfy and bring contentment.
As you wrap up Toxic Waste your group will discuss how this series has benefited their lives, look closely at the practice of confession. The word ‘confession’ may shock people in your group. Help them understand that they have been making confessions with their partner for the past six weeks and that they not only survived it but thrived on it! If you do not discuss these issue at the end of your last session be sure to talk about it during your celebration time.
Celebration time! Plan some time to go be a group together and to just enjoy each other. The mixed group that I belong to is going to Oak Glenn for apples and of course, apple pie! It will also be a good time to talk about things like our next study, service project and what we are looking for as far as meeting times, levels of commitment, depth of study and sharing, etc.
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October 15th, 2007
When your small group reviews the weekend message don’t forget to consider the messages that come from other sources besides Bruce. Kelly’s testimony was powerful and had some important thoughts on the issues of Addiction to consider. I was also impressed by the music this weekend especially the powerful lyric, ‘You are not my god!’ That is the goal of all of our addictions, to take over our lives and to become our god. Help your group realize their mistaken worship and the need to scream at our addictions, ‘You are not my god’!
Be ready for your group to ‘play it safe’ with this session. They may be more hesitant and reluctant to look at Addictions in their life than Lust! Help them realize that everyone has Addictions. You may even have to use the terms Bruce suggested that we use to minimize our addictions: ‘weaknesses’ & ‘bad habits’. However, 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV) helps us understand that we have crossed a line when something is no longer beneficial or worse when something takes us master.
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October 6th, 2007
I have been thinking about lust this week in preparation for the National Porn Weekend and the up coming Porn & Pancakes Breakfast. No, thinking about lust and lusting are not the same thing. Of course that is not to say that I have not had lustful thoughts this week. One thing I discovered preparing for this series is that my life is impacted by all these Toxic Wastes. I have heard that others are making this same discovery. When they first heard of this study perhaps they thought, ‘Hey I have difficulty with one or two of those, maybe even a couple of them.’ Now people are starting to agree with me that to some degree, they are all present in all of our lives.
This weekend is National Porn Sunday! Don’t miss it. If you have younger kids make sure they are in the kids programming and if you have teens make sure they attend one of the services too! Don’t be alarmed it’s not like this is going to be an ‘R-rated’ weekend. Anything that Bruce says this weekend needs to be told to our children by the parent not Bruce and especially not a peer. If you need help talking to your kids about sexual issues, and you should be talking to them starting at age 3, check out Stan & Brenna Jones award winning series, God’s Design for Sex.
Men and women are different! They are made different and think different that is why I have suggested that for this session mixed groups consider sub grouping Men & Women right away. Sub grouping could help your members be more honest on this issue. On the other hand, if your group is really honest and safe they could get a real education on the differences between men and women by not sub grouping.
Don’t get lost on discussing porn in our culture! This session is about our lust and more important, our purity. Purity is the positive goal that is built by the 3 perimeter of defense.
Remind your group that men and young men as young as 11 can register for the Porn & Pancakes Men’s Breakfast online through the fcchb.com website. The cost is $10 per person and the breakfast is Saturday, October 27, 8-10 AM!
Finally, remember that Lust is not just sexual.
Posted By Scott Roderick
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September 29th, 2007
I find it ironic that movies rarely display the Toxic Waste of Laziness. There are Action movies, Dramas, Comedies, even Horror movies but when did you last see a lazy movie? Movies are full of action and mostly devoid of slumber but what are we doing when we watch a movie? That’s right, we are being lazy!
Don’t you be lazy, make sure you are well prepared for you session this week! Put in the time to prepare for your group and for your own spiritual growth. As you do your Detox Review remember that not everyone will have something to say. But for those who do speak about their week’s victories or failures it is an important time to celebrate and show your support.
Differentiating rest & recuperation from laziness should be a valuable discussion. R & R should refresh your energy and refuel you for relationships and labor. Laziness will zap your strength. This session is about living strategically; it is about living a disciplined life.
Don’t forget to take some 3×5 cards or ‘Post-it’ notes to your group for prayer partners to exchange. In the Reflective Reading the Philippians 3 verse should read 12-21 and not 21-21. Finally, don’t be shy, comment on how your group is going!
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September 26th, 2007
When I wrestled in high school I enjoyed the one on one duel, the ebb and flow that victory or defeat was always just ahead. This week as we discuss Pride I find people engaged in a very similar wrestling match. Curtis spoke about good and bad pride this weekend so, I understand that I can be proud of what Jesus is doing in my life and through my church. I can express my pride in my children, spouse and fellow workers. I also get that my pride can make me think that I am better than others or even better than God: that’s bad Pride. However, sometimes there seems to be a fine line between good & bad pride, somewhat like the line on the football field that marks the first down on TV. The line is easy to cross and I don’t always know when I cross it. So, give your group the freedom to wrestle with Pride.
Some groups have wondered about the value of the videos. Actually, the videos contribute to the study in at least two ways. Believe it or not they are doing some teaching about Toxic Waste, especially for those who learn visually. Second, and perhaps more important, the video ‘primes the pump’. It is very easy and safe to speak about the destructive nature of pride expressed by the characters in the video. It is easier to speak of my pride after I have talked about pride in the video.
I am finding that FLOW is very important to this series. When the session flows quickly the study seems to pick up some momentum until the end. If too much time is spent on each question the study seems to bog down so, keep a quick clip and don’t slow down until the end. This way you will also allow your group plenty of time to buddy up for prayer.
The theme of serving others as the antidote of Pride seemed to appear at times in this study. When was the last time your group talked about and carried out a service activity? Now may be a good time to plan to serve others.
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