Everyone in a Saddleback Small Group will get a free copy of Kay Warren’s Dangerous Surrender book through their small group host, thanks to Pastor Rick and Kay. This is a great three-week small group study that will coincide with a new weekend message series that starts at all services at Lake Forest on the weekend of April 26-27.

 

If you're a Host of existing small group, you can pick up free books for your group members, and a discount coupon for the small group study materials, during the week, Monday-Friday, April 21-25 from 9-5 at the Ministry Center. Study materials are also available to purchase at that time.

 

Starting the weekend of April 26-27, Hosts can also get free books and discount coupons at the Small Group Life table between services.

 

If you’re a host, watch for your authorization by email, or email smallgroups@saddleback.net to request one. It’ll save you time when you go to get your books!

 

If you're not a host, maybe this is your turn to start a group and host it at your place. You can start a group easily by going online to http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/groupfinder/login.aspx. This is the "start a group" webpage where you just follow the directions and you can host a new group.

April 14 from 7-9pm the first Community Forum will be hosted by Saddleback in the worship center. At this forum, several holocaust survivors will be with us so that we can hear and learn from their stories. Pastor Rick will also lead in a question and answer time with these guests. As an example of the kind of people you’ll meet, among our planned guests are Rita Lurie and her daughter Leslie. Rita was hidden in an attic in Poland for 2 years when she was a child. Leslie talks about the impact her mother’s experience has had on her and her children.

 

This is an inspirational night that your small group can use to reach out into the community. Make it a group project to invite your friends from businesses, schools, healthcare, and so forth, as well as family, neighbors and co-workers to come to this event. And don’t miss the opportunity to invite friends from other faiths. In fact, invite anyone you know in the community to join us – we’re doing this for them.

Having a ministry in the body of Christ is one of the five purposes each healthy small group balances in their group life.

 

Is your small group looking for someplace to do ministry together? Here’s a pretty good idea, straight from Pastor Buddy Owens, Saddleback Spiritual Maturity pastor. How about serving Communion at Night of Worship as your small group ministry? 

 

Every month on the first Wednesday and first Thursday nights of the month the Night of Worship is a special place for many small groups. The Lord’s Supper is a very special part of those evenings, but it takes people to serve. Your small group can come to the Night of Worship, enjoy the evening and then serve communion. It’s like a two-fer. Get the joy of Night of Worship while getting the joy of serving together. It’s easy, your group will feel blessed, and you’ll be a blessing to others. If this looks like exactly what your group has been looking for, simply come to Night of Worship as a small group and let the Communion.

 

The next Nights of Worship are Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3. Pick the one that suits your small group better.

The Talk It Over small group discussion guide team is looking for some new members who like to write. This great small group guide is produced every week from the weekend message and serves as the primary small group study for hundreds of small groups.

 

If your small group uses the Talk It Over small group discussion guide for your study at least occasionally, and you have writing ability, you could be a real blessing to our church. If you or someone in your group likes to write or just has a thoughtful way of asking questions, you can help out this important small group ministry. 

 

For further information, check out the Talk It Over brochure or contact Peg Rose at PegR@saddleback.net  or Jack Landau at Jack.Landau@anritsu.com.

Bring your small group.

 

Examine the Evidence is a series of seminars that focuses on contemporary Biblical topics for believers and seekers.  Whether you have questions about Christianity, or are a believer interested in growing in your faith, Examine the Evidence is a great opportunity to learn!  Topics include evidence for the existence of God, evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, archaeology and the Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Evolution, and more!

 

Upcoming Seminars:

 

April 8 - Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?

Examine the Evidence is a series of seminars that focuses on contemporary Biblical topics for believers and seekers.  Whether you have questions about Christianity, or are a believer interested in growing in your faith, Examine the Evidence is a great opportunity to learn! 

In this month's seminar Tony Guerrero explores the question, "Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?" 

 

Second Tuesday of every month, 7-9 p.m.
Coed, Meets in Tent 2
NO REGISTRATION FEE! FREE!

 

For further information on this and other seminars, please contact the Spiritual Growth Team at (949) 609-8201 or click here

What were your thoughts from the weekend message from Pastor Rick? The feedback that we received was overwhelming. It seems as if we all struggle with conflict in our lives in one way or another. Is there a situation that you would like to share where you met conflict head on and allowed God to restore a once broken relationship? We would love to hear...it can remain anonymous- so just comment below. Is there someone who you need to restore a broken relationship with? Comment a first name or relationship (i.e. child, parent, co-worker, etc.) and we will pray with you about that relationship.....

SERVING THE LORD'S SUPPER

 "...The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink, in remembrance of me.'  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."  (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Steps in Serving Communion

 1.         Open by sharing about God's love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, commitment, tenderheartedness, faithfulness, etc., out of your personal journey (connect with the story of your people in the room).

  

2.         Read the passage:

"...The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"

 

3.         Pray and pass the bread around the circle (could be time for quiet reflection, singing a simple praise song, or listening to a worship tape).

 

4.         When everyone has been served, remind them that this represents Jesus' broken body on their behalf.  Simply state, "Jesus said, 'Do this in remembrance of me.'  Let us eat together," and eat the bread as a group.

           

5.         Then read the rest of the passage:

"...In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'"

 

6.         Pray and serve the cup, either by passing a small tray, serving them individually, or by having them pick up a cup from the table.

 

7.         When everyone has been served, remind them that the juice represents Christ's blood shed for them, then simply state, "Take and drink in remembrance of Him.  Let us drink together."

 

8.         Finish by singing a simple song, listening to a praise song, or having a time of prayer in thanks to God. Several Practical Tips in Serving Communion

 

 

Several Practical Tips in Serving Communion

 

1.         Prepare the elements simply, sacredly, and yet remember, symbolically.

 

2.         Be sensitive to timing in your meeting.

 

3.         Break up pieces of cracker or soft bread on a small plate or tray.  Don't use large servings of bread or grape juice.  We ask that you only use grape juice, not wine, so you will not cause a brother or sister to struggle.

 

4.         Have all of the elements prepared beforehand, and just bring them into the room or to the table when you are ready.

Communion verses:  Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; I Cor 10:16-21, 11:17-34

If you notice on the right hand side of the blog, there are now buttons for "questions" and "curriculum."

We now have all of the questions that have been asked over the years posted in blog form with the answers. We would love your input as well. Just click on the comment button under each answer and you are able to post new content to the answer.

You no longer need to grow frustrated searching Saddleback's website for the curriculum page. We have built in a link that will take you straight there!

What are we missing? Let us hear from you....there is no such thing as a bad idea....well o.k., maybe there is but we still want to hear it!

Have a blessed day!

If you missed Friday night, or just want to hear Nick Vujicic's message again, it is up and available for podcasting.  You can also listen to it streaming on the small groups media center or below.  You can also subscribe to all our podcasts here. 

The small groups team is sitting in a room right now debriefing about the Small Group Host Gathering. We know we have our thoughts but what did you think? Just click on the "comment" button below and let us know what you thought. What were your highlights? What were your lowlights? We would love to hear from you!

Blogs are great tools to keep communication current. They also allow for comments and links to other information, tools, etc. that may be benificial to you and your small group here at Saddleback.

You will notice a button at the top of the right hand column which says "RSS Suscribe." If you click this button, you can follow the directions and automatically be notified when there are new blog postings to this blog. There is a learning curve with this feature and we will be posting another blog entry at a later date which will help anyone who isn't familiar with this feature.

All in all, we will be posting audio talks, videos, devotionals, events, information, sermon series, updates, etc., etc., to this blog so we hope this becomes a great tool for you to use as we all strive to be current in our communication.

Visit the drop-down at the top and explore additional blogs here at Saddleback!

Friday, February 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the Worship Center
Hosts and co-hosts are invited to an exciting evening of testimony, music, fellowship, and potluck dessert! RSVP today by sending an email to smallgroups@saddleback.net or calling (949) 609-8701.

Featured Speaker: Nick Vujicic from LifeWithoutLimbs.org
Musical guests: Saddleback's Praise Choir and other talented artists
What to bring: your favorite dessert for four people