From One Generation to the Next

Last week we had the opportunity to spend 2 hours with Bob Buford at his office. Bob wrote the book Halftime, which greatly inspired me 10 years ago.

The tag line to his book is "Moving from Success to Significance." My dad had the book on his desk 10 years ago and for some reason it caught my attention and so I read it. Keep in mind, I was 20 and had reached no degree of "success" ... but I longed to be "significant."

That book was a major force in launching The RightNow Campaign in 2000. What Bob had done for his generation, I hoped to do for mine. We have a long way to go, but the conversation with Bob last week was affirming. I love that his desire is to pass down insight and wisdom so that our generation can "get it now" and not wait until a midlife crisis to figure things out.

I left rejuvenated and ready to dig deeper to understand the core issues and questions that face our generation of 20 and 30-somethings.

Here are a few questions that Bob posed in his book. Are these the questions that you ask yourself at night in bed looking at the ceiling? If not, what are you asking yourself?

1. What do I wish to be remembered for?
2. Is this really as good as it gets?
3. How was it that I could be so successful, so fortunate, and yet so frustratingly unfulfilled?
4. If your life was absolutely perfect, how would it look to you?
5. What is my passion?
6. How am I wired?
7. Where do I belong?
8. What will I do about what I believe?
9. Who am I?
10. What do I value?
11. What gifts has God given me? How can I use them?
12. What would I be willing to die for?
13. What injustices do I see in the world, that I simply cannot stomach anymore?
14. What is it about my job that makes me feel trapped?

Please drop me a comment and let me know how these questions hit you and what questions you would add.

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Small Groups that matter

I love my small group. My family is part of a small group that is the source of some of our deepest friendships and most memorable moments in life. Our group meets every other week on Sunday nights to share life together. And weekly the men and the women each have a Bible study gathering to learn and grow together. I believe small groups can and should make a difference in your life.

A few things your small groups CAN’T become:

Just an event to attend on our calendar – our calendars are full of meetings and events that create “busy-ness”

Another sermon – the pastor has already done the preaching, now it’s time for discussion and interaction

A social club – we all need friendships, but small groups aren’t a place to create another circle of relationships that aren’t connected to any other circle in our life

Some people look at there small groups with this perspective:

Mini-church – the group is like a small iteration of the church — they worship together, serve together, cry together, laugh together, etc

Family – the group becomes as close (or closer) than family because of the time, commitment and support the group shows each other

The Body - (getting Biblical here) - the group represents the Body of Christ where each member has a purpose and role and the head is Christ

Any others to add to the list of what groups CAN’T become or how you view your small group? Comment below.

Our ministry just released our the 2009 Small Group Kit. Our team worked really hard over the past 12 months to create resources that can help small groups live a vibrant faith. Each resource features Biblical insight from amazing teachers. We traveled from Rome to Rwanda to film these series. Our hope and prayer is that these resources fuel your group’s desire to get off the couch and do something with their faith.

Let Story Guide You with Donald Miller - Life is a Story, Make Yours Count

Facing the Unknown with Mark Batterson - A Modern Look at the Life of Abraham

What If... with Alan Danielson - What if our small group made a difference in our lives?

No Plan B with Todd Phillips - Your part in God's remarkable plan to rescue the world

Paul the Apostle with David Nasser - What Culture Doesn't Want You To Hear

The kit also includes a DVD called "Don't Kill Your Small Group" a DVD from SmallGroupExchange.com to help train the small group leaders at your church. The DVD addresses 6 hot issues that ever small group faces.

Check them out. Four of the titles are under $30 individually and you can get a deal by purchasing them all together in the 2009 Small Group Kit.

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