Deep Water Group on Facebook
The community we’re building at Deep Water is really cool. I look forward to coming every Sunday; but it can be hard to keep up with everyone. And there are people who haven’t had a chance to meet each other yet. There are so many things that people ask me or others that doesn’t really have a centralized, online home yet. So, we’re going to try connecting people with a Facebook group. While you may already “like” us on Facebook (and if not, please do here!), some things are better posted and responded to in a group rather than a fan page.
So, we’ve started a Facebook group meant to be a place for people connected to Deep Water Church to share prayer requests, swap baby/kids clothes, ask about good apartments, places to buy used cars, suggestions for contractors, recommendations for doctors, etc.–all those things people do when they are in community.
Currently, we have it set to “open”, so feel free to join and get the discussion going. But, also remember that some things are best said in private messages. 😉
So, click here, connect and make new friends!
Groups restarting
Most groups change over time. Many have weeks they don’t meet because of everyone’s schedule. Some take breaks over holidays (like between Christmas and New Year’s Eve). It’s always awkward when you show up for a group and no one is there! As we get more groups going, remember to connect with the group leader or another attendee before you come. You’ll find the leaders are fun people who would love to get to know you–and then you’ll know someone when you show up!
One of the best ways to grow spiritually is to be connected with other in community. While it’s no substitute for personal disciples like prayer and Bible reading, it is a great way to learn more–and it’s fun to meet new people while growing! Check out the groups here.
Since we’re still new as a church, we may not have a group that fits your schedule. If that’s the case, talk to Jeff about starting a group. You will find it a rewarding experience–and it is probably easier than you think! Oh, and we’ll provide the training to help you get going and move forward.
For more information, contact us or comment below.
After taking some time off for the holidays, groups are restarting including the Wednesday Night Community Group hosted by the Dyers and the Young Adult group on January 15 & 16 respectively. Contact us for details and meeting locations.
How to not get things done & be a better parent
As we start the new year, it’s easy to focus on all the things we need to get done. And some things certainly need to get done, but it’s better to get the right things done. Check out this blog entry for a reminder of what’s important:
Does this routine sound familiar? Fold the laundry, change the diaper, buy the things for that science fair project, make dinner, walk the dog. It never seems to end!
When you’re in the middle of a long to-do list it’s easy to fall into the temptation of measuring a day’s success by how many of those items you manage to cross off. That’s why in this post, I’m not going to share tips with you on how to get it all done.
Instead, my encouragement for you today is … don’t. READ MORE
Parent Cue for Sunday, January 12
Each month we supply a Parent Cue for parents and a weekly God Time sheet for kids.
- The Parent Cue is meant to be a resource for you to discuss and reinforce the lesson with your kids. The monthly sheet contains discussion questions for each week. They are designed to help you understand what your kids are learning and talk with your kids about spiritual principles in a relaxed way. They make great dinner conversation!
- The God Time is intended to help kids learn to spend some quiet time with God on their own so they learn to grow spiritually and begin to take responsibility for doing spiritual things on their own. (Of course, they can be fun to do as a family and you’re welcome to help them and model it for them as they learn!)
We’re posting the monthly Parent Cue discussion sheet and upcoming week’s God Time exercise for the lesson that will be taught this Sunday. Copies of these are on the welcome table in the lobby before you enter the main worship space. Or, for your convenience, you can download them below.
Parent Cue Discussion Spiritual Discussion Starter Sheet
For the material this month: Parent Cue for January.
God Time Quiet Time Exercise for Kids
For the lesson this coming week: God Time for January 12.
Haven’t gotten to this week’s yet? Check out the one for God Time for January 5.
As always, instructions are here.
Our goal as a church is provide you with resources to help your children grow spiritually. We’re doing our best to make things simple and easy. Please feel free to give us feedback on this!
January 2014 Kids Church Theme
The International Olympic Committee recently released their updated Olympic Charter in preparation for this year’s Winter Olympics. In it’s PDF form, the Charter is 105 pages long and lists the rules and bylaws governing the Olympic organization. It does not list the rules for individual events, but refers readers to their individual documents. So, an athlete participating in the Olympics has a lot of rules to learn as they train to do their best.
Knowledge is discovering something new so you can be better at whatever you do. We believe that God’s Word is the best place to discover something new about our world and ultimately ourselves. And when we put those discoveries into practice it changes us from the inside out and impacts the choices we make and the way we live. God is the source of all truth. We need to dig into His Word and discover that truth for ourselves.
The knowledge we glean from the 66 books of the Bible tells us how to live our lives day in and day out. But that knowledge is not an end in and of itself. We can know all there is to know about God, but if we don’t put any of our knowledge into practice, it is worthless.
The monthly memory verse is: “God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right,” 2 Timothy 3:16, NIrV. God’s Word is powerful and strong. When we discover it and put it into practice, we have its strength on our side every day of our lives.
In Week One’s Bible story, Jesus models the importance of seeking knowledge even as a young boy (Luke 2:41-52). Our Bottom Line is: Since God knows everything, it’s important to discover what God says. The Bible is God’s Word to us. That’s why it’s important to read the Bible and ask questions to someone we trust.
In Week Two’s Bible story, John the Baptist dedicated his life to preparing the way for Jesus (John 1:19-42; supporting – Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22). Because he knew God’s Word, he could lay the groundwork for Jesus’ ministry. Our Bottom Line is:Discovering what God says helps me know Jesus. The more we read God’s Word, the more we understand about who Jesus is and what that means for our lives.
In Week Three’s Bible story, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13; supporting – Matthew 4:1-11). But Jesus was prepared! He knew all of Scripture and was ready for any and all of Satan’s tricks. Our Bottom Line is: Discovering what God says helps me make the wise choice. That’s why it’s important for us to find out what God says and know His words well enough to use them when we are tempted to do something wrong.
In Week Four’s Bible story, Jesus tells His followers a story about two men who learn a valuable lesson about building on a strong foundation (Matthew 7:24-29). It reminds us that when we put God’s words into practice, they will help us stand firm when life’s storms blow our way. Our Bottom Line is:Knowing and doing what God says makes me strong. Knowledge doesn’t change anything unless you do something about it.
By Jessica McKee ©2013 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com *Used by permission.