Big Ideas about Small Groups

Big Idea Discussion Guide - Losing My Religion

Easter is upon us--in March even!  And with it comes our brand new message series, "Losing My Religion," which attempts to separate the "religious stuff" from what it really means to be a follower of Jesus.

This topic should create some very interesting discussion for small groups wherever they're at on their spiritual journey. And we tried some new stuff in this one.

So check it out! Click to download: Losing My Religion.

Indescribable

Last we kicked off our new Christmas series entitled "Indescribable." Throughout it, we are digging into the names that Isaiah used to describe the Savior who was to come--Jesus.

If you want to get a free copy of the Big Idea Discussion Guide to use in your small group, with your family, or on your own, click here to download it in English (or for the Spanish version, click here)

If you want to read more about this series, or invite a friend to CCC to experience it, check it out here.

Zip it!

This weekend we kick off a brand new series we're calling Zip It! It's really about making our words glorifying to God. We're going to tackle things like gossip, criticism, and complaining. Should be an interesting one!

And as always, you can get even more out of the messages by digging further into them through out Big Idea Discussion Guide. It's a useful tool for small groups, families, and individuals.

Download the Big Idea here - English or Espanol.  That's right!  We offer the Big Idea Adult Discussion Guide in Spanish!!  We have a campus in Chicago that has a spanish service - our Pilsen Campus.  So each and every series, we have a Spanish version of the Big Idea available.

Big Idea - Catalyst

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Adult Ministry Champion

As a part of NewThing we provide Leadership Residencies.  When someone is a resident they get the chance to work on projects to further their talents as leaders within the church.  Caren Fog is currently doing a Leadership Residency under our Adult Ministries, with the aspirations to be a part of the Small Groups Ministry at Forefront Church in New York.  One of her recent projects was to write the Big Idea Adult Discussion Guide for the series "Catalyst".  Catalyst is a series about how the Holy Spirit works through us to help people find their way back to God!

She has done an excellent job - check it out HERE.

Hooked - NEW Big Idea!

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups Champion

Hooked is a new series starting in a few weeks.  The Big Idea for this series is:

God wants to free us from the patterns, habits, and compulsions that enslave us. 

If you have ever been at a place in your life where you have chosen something over relationship, over and over again - then you might be in danger of enslavement.  I would venture to guess that all of us have been here at some point in our lives.  Hopefully through this Big Idea, and the power of the Holy Spirit, God will create room in our small groups to talk through our weaknesses - asking God to give us faith as we take steps towards healing.  As a part of this Big Idea we will discuss:

• Leaving Ignorance for Awareness
• Leaving Control for Faith
• Leaving Addiction for Healing

Download the Big Idea Discussion Guide HERE.

Things I Wish Jesus Never Said

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups Champion

We just began a new series, Things I Wish Jesus Never Said, and I am totally pumped about it.  I really enjoy these in-your-face topics and this one pulls no punches.  Check out what Jesus said:

• Lose your life
• Love your enemies
• I am the way
• Gouge your eye out
• Go and make disciples
• Sell everything
• If you do not forgive

So if this series sounds interesting get a group of friends and discuss it!  Or use it with your existing group or do some personal study time - Click HERE to download a FREE copy (part 1).

Download the Big Idea - Eat This Book

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups Champion

CCC/NewThing's Big Idea Adult Discussion Guides continue to get better and better.  The series we are currently in continues to get rave reviews.  Church! @ Bethany's Lead Pastor, Matt Payne, has had several small groups say that Silent Alarms has been their favorite discussion guide yet! 

Well I have a feeling you will like Eat This Book just as much, if not more!  Download your FREE copy here. 

NewThing Affiliate Small Groups

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups

One of our NewThing Affiliates, Forefront Church (located in Manhattan, NY), was already one of my favorite church plants of NewThing, but now they may have become my most favorite (ok, I like them all equally).  I was just on the phone with their small groups guy, Jacob Lange, and they are planning to have all their small groups use the Big Idea Adult Discussion Guide throughout the summer - aweswome! 

The series will kick-off in July and is called Things I Wish Jesus Never Said.  In this series we will discuss the hard sayings of Jesus:

• "Lose your life to find it." Matt. 16:24-25
• "Love your enemies." Matt. 5:44
• "Gouge your eye out." Matt. 5:29
• "If you do not forgive..." Matt. 6:15
• "I am the way." John 14:6
• "Go and make disciples" Matt. 28
• "Sell everything." Mark 10:21

I'm very excited about the series and I'm even more pumped small groups in Manhattan discussing the same Big Idea as us - go NewThing small groups!

Speaking of the Big Idea - buy it here!

Silent Alarms - You Snooze, You Lose!

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups Champion

John Blumberg, a good friend of CCC's, small group leader and a NewThing multi-site coach has partnered with Jon Ferguson to write our most recent installment of the Big Idea Adult Discussion Guide.  I'm super excited about this series and I know it has the ability to generate great discussion for your small group or maybe even a great tool to use for personal journaling and/or reflection.

So if you're interested download the FREE pdf version here! 

Also, if you attend CCC at one of our weekend services and you purchase the Big Idea Discussion Guide, you get a FREE copy of John Blumberg's book Silent Alarm!!  How cool is that??

What Do you Expect?

Eric Metcalf | NewThing Small Groups Champion

The newest Big Idea Discussion Guide is now available.  Download the pdf version for FREE here!  I'm kicking off my small group with this dicussion guide and I'm very much looking forward to it. 

This Big Idea Guide is written by our very own Carter Moss, Montgomery Small Groups Director and Campus Pastor - this 3 week series is helping us wrestle with these three things:

1. What do you expect of God?
2. What do you expect of Church?
3. What do you expect of Yourself?

Invite a friend to a small group or invite them to a celebration service, either way, I think this is going to be a great topic. (if you're not sure how to download a pdf - go here http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)