Small Groups Blog

Pluots and Peogs

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

One day a few weeks ago, the night before we left for a camping trip, my wife proudly showed off some new fruit that she had picked up for the trip. They were handsome looking fruit, dark bluish-purple and about the size of a small peach and almost perfectly round. They didn't look like any fruit I had ever seen, but on top of each one was a small white oval label that announced that it was a "pluot." A what? "You know," my wife said with that tone of superior intellect usual ...

Small Group Ministry Job Openings

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

We have two staff positions open on the administrative team of the small groups ministry team, one full-time and one part-time. These roles provide the administrative support that keeps this ministry of thousands of small groups going. If you have administrative gifts, love small groups, would like to be on a fun team, and want more information, go to the Saddleback employment opportunities page by clicking here and fill out an application. We also have a full-time community ...

PEACE Opportunities for Small Groups

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:18:00 GMT

Global PEACE Here's a list of the upcoming Global PEACE trips that are now on the schedule. Germany: October North Africa: October 3 - 16 Rwanda: October 3-19 Ukraine: October 10-24 Rwanda: Oct 16 - November 2 (family friendly) United Kingdom: Oct. 30 - Nov. 9 India: November 10-24 Rwanda: November 28 - December 14 Peru (Disaster Relief Trip): January 2009 Kenya: Feb. 3-16 (2009) ...

Summer fun with your small group

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:15:00 GMT

Want to really have a great summer with your small group? Well, it's not too late. August is the perfect month for summertime small group fun. Take a look at some of the ideas offered by the small group ministry team. Tom Atkins, Couples area leader Schedule barbeques at different homes during the summer. David Williamson, Couples area leader � Have a girls night out for dinner, coffee, tea or whatever t ...

New Small Group Studies - Available at the Pavilion

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:11:00 GMT

Here are two new small group studies that are now available in the Pavilion. Becoming a Contagious Christian: Communicating Your Faith in a Style That Fits You Mark Mittelberg, Lee Strobel, Bill Hybels Becoming a Contagious Christian is a proven study designed to equip believers for effective evangelism in today's world. It avoids stereotyped approaches that feel intimidating to many Christians. Instead, it shows ordinary believers how they can sh ...

40 Days of Love coming in September

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Starting on September 13/14 - a brand new church-wide campaign called "40 Days of Love: "We were made for Relationships. Now is a good time to: � Share with your small group that this great new study is coming. � Pastor Rick will be asking Saddleback folks to launch thousands of new small groups during this campaign � Be praying a ...

Dangerous Surrender coming soon - get in on it!

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:41:00 GMT

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 m ...

First Community Forum - April 14

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:55:00 GMT

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 h ...

Small Group Ministry Opportunity - Night of Worship communion

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:07:00 GMT

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 ...

March Small Group Ministry Opportunity - Talk it Over

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:04:00 GMT

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 ju ...

Examine the Evidence Seminars

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:56:00 GMT

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, Evoluti ...

Restoration- weekend message

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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 n ...

Serving Communion in your small group!

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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 Cori ...

Questions and Curriculum

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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 ther ...

What are your thoughts?

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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! ...

Nick's Talk is up on the Media Center!

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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. [[media id=1674 width=380 height=20]] ...

Small Group Host Gathering is Here

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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Nick Vujicic from LifeWithoutLimbs.org Speaking at Host Gathering

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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Why use a Blog

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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 ent ...

Small Group Host Gathering!

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:55:00 GMT

Friday, February 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the Worship CenterHosts 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.orgMusical guests: Saddleback's Praise Choir and other talented artistsWhat to bring: your favorite dessert for four people ...