The Future of the Ex-FOCUSers
It seems like the talk of the town is the future of those "career" age people who attend the college fellowship called FOCUS at our church. Most of you who are reading are aware of the situation. In about a month, we will have no bible study to attend anymore (aimed at our age group).
So what do we do now? What is our future in organized fellowship and bible study? I've heard PLENTY of ideas out there, and I'd like to open things up to see if you have anything else to share. What should we do after we leave FOCUS? What does the next group look like?
So what do we do now? What is our future in organized fellowship and bible study? I've heard PLENTY of ideas out there, and I'd like to open things up to see if you have anything else to share. What should we do after we leave FOCUS? What does the next group look like?
I think we should start a church plant. By that I don't mean another RRNC. I just mean, we should begin the multiplication of the body. Should we purge guys and girl's group as we know them? Maybe we should merge it into one but rather than have a set teacher every week we could nominate a chair person. I officially nominate Ben. Have a leadership team the determines the direction of the group.
I just read James 1 yesterday and thought some how we as the next "FOCUS" should definitely consider this verse seriously:
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Perhaps we should stop caring so much about what we want our group to be. How can we form a group that revolves around doing what God wants? Studying the word yes. James makes it pretty darn clear that we need to be caring for the orphans and widowed. I take this as the uncared for. Maybe we should ask ourselves, how can we form group that blesses God and glorifies him. How can we form a group that brings on much opposition from the world. A ministry that believes in the ridiculously offensive gospel but also believes in the ridiculously overwhelming truth of God's grace and love.
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I completely second everything Dave said in the first paragraph, so I won't repeat any of it.
As for the latter part, the idea of communicating the "ridiculously overwhelming truth of God's grace" seems quite appealing. We should be at the very least somewhat concerned with what the group should be; if our own groups are leaving some of our own "out in the cold," it would be awfully hard to communicate our "love" for a complete stranger. If we unify as a collection of Christians under the banner of "overwhelming truth," the dynamics of the group may very well be a non-issue. My fear however, and the reason I have been so focused on the "group" aspect of this, is because I would hate to see us spoil something that could potentially be a great blessing, by having too many other groups (such as guys group, girls group, and so forth) and therefore killing our unity.
Lets DO something though; I'd be saddened if we enrolled ourselves in groups that were "more of the same."
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Good blog benji!! I feel that we are DONE drinking baby milk from the WORD as ex-FOCUSers. Therefore, let's come together and start planning more outreaches and community events. Let's put the WORD into ACTION. One can learn a great deal that way and learn about God's people in need. Let's start getting excited about SERVING and putting the WORD into action of LOVE to others. It'll open our eyes to a whole new level. Sometimes we can become SO comfortable in our bubble sometimes or our little Christian box that we don't see the hurt and the pain of the community around us. I am guilty of this as well. Working at the agency that I am at now and working with at-risk youth. My heart aches for them and aches for their hearts. I don't know...that is something we can pray about and really think about. I know everyone is busy with work and school and wedding planning, but that is no excuse to not follow the will of God. Everything we have right now is temporary. I have learned a lot this week about humbleness and brokenness. Crying like I haven't cried in a LONG time. I am hurting for the poor and the weak and the homeless. I know on TUESDAY nights my friend goes to a church and feeds the homeless every week and anyone can go and just come and serve. Maybe we can go together and see what it is like? Let me know your thoughts. I do not have my own blog. But i do have Facebook. haha. =D I really do love you all as my brothers and sisters in Christ. i am blessed beyond words for each one of you and the impact you have on my life. You all are such an encouragement to me and over the years as we have grown together as a group and as friends, I have been so excited to see everyone grow for the sake of Christ. Keep pressing on my dear brothers and sisters. We are all running towards the same goal and I am glad that I am running beside you! Love you all so much, maxine. <
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I agree with Max... ok bye
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Wow, this is much nicer than Xanga.....might have to switch. As far as the future of FOCUS, I believe if you stick with prayer, worship, the diligent study of God’s word, and fellowship it will be good for go. Cell groups are an awesome tool for furthering our knowledge of God and growing with other believers as we study, pray, and fellowship with one another. I know it’s more or less the same thing, but there is a reason why this formula is so successful, it works. Look at the growth in FOCUS and how everyone with the exception of yours truly is in some sort of ministry or serving in some other capacity, it works! We can always plan outreaches, evangelical events, and times for caring for others, but we also to need to renew our minds and be fed some “solid food” outside of Sunday service. I would also like to add, we have done a variety of different things in the past, and nothing really came of any of them.
With the Men and Women’s groups, I think it should be up to the groups themselves to decide whether they should continue. I’ve no desire for a men’s study or accountability group as I’m already apart of separate ones from the ‘Ridge, but I would be all for another prayer group as I see a need for it in our body, especially with the same faces that always show up every other Wednesday at Dave’s house. Okay, I am being a little selfish there because Priscilla and I work on Wednesday evenings and would like to attend, but it is still a need and still something we could do at a different time. This could “rally up the troops” and afford the blessings that come from such a meeting to those who cannot attend the other one.
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Multiple visions, One God .
To serve as one, or to serve as a body ... or both ?
Multiple visions, One God .
Outreach to our community within or the community around us?
Multiple visions, One God.
Minister within church, or minister at work ?
Multiple Visions, One God.
Share the Gospel in jail, or share the Gospel to youth ?
Multiple Visions, One God.
Sing to God of your love, or feed the needy ?
Multiple visions, One God.
Pray or provide for physical needs?
Multiple visions, One God.
Our calling or God's calling?
Multiple visions, One God.
"even when I don't see, I still believe."
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I think we're making this more difficult than it is. Are we trying to reinvent the wheel? Bible study is a necessary activity that should be lifelong. We never outgrow it or find something to replace it with (e.g. community outreach). I agree with Brian that this is simply a bible study and fellowship (and important one at that). You can't make a bible study be a community outreach just like you can't make breakfast be dinner. You need them both.
In my opinion it is ineffective to have a different fellowship/study group for each goal River Ridge or us as individuals wishes to achieve.
If our church wants to establish stronger relationships between our age group (especially among those who do not attend FOCUS), does a Young Couples group accomplish that? ... TBD
If we want to outreach to the community, do we really need another group for that? ... See below
If we want to study the bible and fellowship on a regular basis with our age group, does a "FOCUS 2" accomplish that? ... YES it does!!!
I believe all three of the above are important, but only the latter can be accomplished by a FOCUS 2. If we want to outreach to the community, we don't need to form another study group that meets together just to talk about it. We need to get up and do it and not wait for someone else to take charge. A great example is when Hau organized the painting project at the shelter. We don't need to change FOCUS for things like that to happen. If we all consistently prayed about it, I believe God would show us many opportunities where we could serve the poor, lame, and widowed of the community. We just have to get up and do it!
Outreach is outreach and bible study is bible study.
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Thanks for your comment Bryan. I agree with what you said. We should call our new group 'FOCUSED' HAHAH...JK JK!! LOL. =D
Who's taking charge of the new group? OKay...since you said just "do it". Then, is anyone interested in going to feed the Homeless on Tuesday night? It's at 5:30-7pm..I forgot the name of the place, but it's off El Camino and Bell. More 411 to come. =) It'll be fun! Okay...ttyl! (ps. I MISS DAVID ALREADY!) hahahahahah.....=D
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