Discipleship

Ministry Plans for 2010-2011

Below you will find linked our church's Annual Ministry Plan for the 2010-2011 year. This document will guide our purposes, preaching, ministry efforts and vocabulary for the coming year.

I hope you will take the time to click through, download and review the document as a small group leader and as a member of the church. Please take this document to your small group in the coming weeks and encourage your members to prayerfully work through the scripture, the ideas for ministry, and consider their/your participation this season in the life of the church.

We are excited what this year will bring, we always are at the beginning of a new year. There are many opportunities and possible relationships that await each of us.

Download Ministry Plan 2010-2011

 

Men's Ministry Update

To the Men of NPC,

More than just anticipating a new year filled with challenges ahead lies the opportunity for us to go through 2009 together, living in Christ and in community.

You and your friends are invited to a special Saturday morning breakfast and fellowship gathering on January 24 at 7:00 am. In addition to getting to know one another better, we'll enjoy some tremendous gospel insights as we listen to Billy Atchison share his story of recent tragedy and God's transforming grace. You will be encouraged and inspired.

Additionally, highlights of the newly refreshed NPC Men's Ministry will be presented. The theme for 2009 is Testing the Limits of Faith in Christ. Learn more about the large group, small group, and ministry opportunities ahead in 2009 that will help us men unpack this theme in our lives, as we journey on towards healing and spiritual maturity in Christ.

Don't travel through 2009 alone; Let's travel together! Come and bring a friend.

2009 Key Dates for Men's Ministries:

Saturday Breakfast -  1/24, 3/14, 10/10, 11/21
Father / Daughter Dinner - 5/14
Father / Son Campout - 8/14 & 15

Christmas Season Information

We've mentioned this in worship services each week, but just as a reminder, and to put the information right in your hands, here is the Christmas Season Information for our coming weeks at NPC.

Listed on the sheet are special events and our Christmas Eve service times. Feel free to print copies of the sheet, or email a link to your friends and neighbors.

Feed My Starving Children

NPC has participated in Feed My Starving Children in the past and is partnering in the future to connect more NPC members to the local ministry. As we approach the holiday season perhaps your small group is interested in opportunities to serve others around the world.

Check out the website and contact Bea Pederson to schedule an event for your group. The event can be for children as well.

Adult Ed Classes

The kids are back in school, so the summer is officially over. That means our summer hiatus from Adult Education is ending and we are starting classes back up on September 14 (September 7 is a Preview Sunday). These are great opportunities for two major reasons. From the name, you might be able to guess the first reason—education.

We are excited about the different offerings we have this Fall, giving you opportunities to study the Bible, be able to answer difficult questions, or discover with others how to help your kids worship (see below for classes). However, these classes are not just about education but about community. They are great opportunities to “mix it up” with people who are not in your growth group or other NPCers you do not know. They might also present opportunities for your growth group to do something else together—and we will supply the teachers and material. Perhaps you might even meet someone to invite to your growth group. 

As you look at your Fall schedule, consider the possibilities for education and community in Adult Education.

Adutl Ed Fall Classes Download

Summer Plans?

Thought about your summer yet as it relates to your small group? Will you continue to meet? Will you change up your studies? Will you engage in service together as a small group? Host a Backyard Bible Club in your neighborhood?

If you're planning on a study, I recommend to you "Never Beyond Hope, How God Touches and Uses Imperfect People" by J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom. The book is for those who may struggle with their spiritual failures or doubts: "Can God use me?" "I want to serve God, but I frequently fail!" This book can be a good reminder that God uses and touches sinful people. He always has and he always will. Chapters include Samson, Nehemiah, Simon Peter, Jonah, Martha, and Jacob.

It is always a good idea to continue reading scripture, however! Sometimes we think that we need to do a book study in our small groups, but the most beneficial practice we can engage, is that of reading scripture to, and with, one another. Consider as a group what book(s) you might read together, pouring over the pages each week, meditating on the words and images, memorizing passages, and capturing a fuller understanding using a commentary or study guide.

Small Group Directory

If you are interested in having a .PDF copy of the NPC Small Group Directory, please email Nate Conrad in the church office directly. In your email, please include a little about yourself and your use for the directory.

This is to protect the information of small group leaders from being inappropriately disseminated. Thank you.

Start a New Group!

Now may be the time to consider starting a new group here in the church! Take some time to prayerfully consider the opportunity to extend God's glory in the lives of others!

• If you are a leader with a group that's up and running and you are excited about meeting new people, connecting them, and caring for them, consider starting a new group!
• If you know some members of your group that are caregivers, disciplined and committed to the growth and development of the church and interested in caring for others, help them consider starting a new group! New leaders.

There are new people coming to our church every week, looking for community, looking for sound biblical relationships, looking for care. We leaders can help these newcomers connect to the body of Christ! If you have thought about it, but are not quite sure, click here for some ideas on how to care for others by starting a new small group!

If you have other suggestions, things that have worked for you in ministry, please consider posting a comment or emailing Nate directly to incorporate these ideas in the blog!

Sola Deo Gloria.

Caring for Others this Season

WBGL Christian Radio posts a list of people in the local areas facing hard times for the holidays.

The Random Acts of Kindness program is a great way to help someone close to home.  The acts are listed on the website: www.wbgl.org.  Perhaps your small group can sponsor a family.  Some needs are as simple as a few toys, clothes or food. 

Take a look at the sight and let us know what you think, you can comment below!  Save your story and share it here.

Here is the link that describes the Random Acts of Kindness ministry opportunity. 

Feeling Swamped? Delegate!

Christianity Today published a list of small group "jobs" that can help leaders not feel so swamped when it comes to caring for the entire small group. 

Download article

By delegating leadership and roles, the small group dynamic is challenged and supported in healthy ways, such as:

• Leadership is shared, so one or two people are not burned out by the requirements of leadership.
• Other individuals learn to support the needs of the group too, so they are not just consumers.
• Leadership is passed along and learned by others, perhaps cultivating a new leader for another small group.
• The activities and feel of the group is more representative of its various members, the style, feel, lesson and activities all reflect the variety of people in the group.

This article is also listed under "Group Ideas" at right.