Today's Agenda

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OUT (WITH NEIGHBORS)

Welcome

Coming Next:

Check out http://createchurch.org/read for info on our book study. While purchasing the book is not required, you will get the most out of the series if you are reading along with us 1 chapter a day.
Online service testing in Jan-Feb (1 of 6 needed team members)
http://momschurch.org in progress update
Cause brainstorm
Starting January 20: Women's Huddles (every 2 weeks), Men's Huddles (every 4 weeks), Adult's Night Out (every 8 weeks)
March: Forge training including exclusive May retreat.
Review calendar items below

UP (with God)

Music

Topic intro and split into groups of 3-5 people to keep discussion moving.

IN (WITH EACH OTHER)

Dinner and Dessert

Coming next

Create Church as a startup:

Startup's definition: an organization designed to create new products and services under conditions of extreme uncertainty.
Startup's most vital function: learning. Which elements of our strategy are working to realize our vision and which are just crazy.
Startup's job: (1) rigorously measure where it is right now, confronting the hard truths that assessment reveals, and then (2) devise experiments to learn how to move the real numbers closer to the ideal reflected in the vision.
Validated learning (scientific testing and measuring of what is valuable)
Assumption testing. Waste elimination.
2015 tactics: Smoke testing, AB testing, new minimum viable products (MVP)
Many experiments coming in 2015.
Genchi genbutsu: go and see

Current Series

Starting January 4 we are going through the book "The End of Religion." Purchase a book to get the most from this study. Bring a friend who has serious questions about God or who you think would enjoy this study.

Sync to the Calendar

More sync options on our calendar page.

Giving

100% of gifts are invested into advancing our mission to go and make communities of disciples in every people group.

If this is valuable or you consider Create your church

Ask Jesus about your relationship with money. Which master has your heart?
Matthew 6:21-24
Be generous according to your ability. Calculate a percentage according to your income. Give an amount that demonstrates your trust in God.
Deut 16:10-17 | 1 Cor 16:2
Give a gift that moves your heart and feel God’s delight in you!
2 Cor 8-9

Create Church operate with financial transparency. Please e-mail stewardship@createchurch.org if you would like to serve with the generosity team.

  October 2014 Given: $2205 Goal: $4000

  November 2014 Given: $2220 Goal: $4000

  December 2014 Given: $1560 Goal: $4000

January Giving

fundraising ideas for schools, churches, and youth sports teams

5 Ways to give:

1) 1-TIME SETUP OF SCHEDULED GIVING (RECOMMENDED)

Set Up Scheduled Giving

2) USE AN APP TO GIVE FEE-FREE WITH A DEBIT CARD

Android

iOS

Send your gift to 763-634-1118 or give@createchurch.org

3) USE YOUR PHONE TO GIVE BY CREDIT CARD

4) PLACE CASH OR CHECK IN THE BLACK BOX

Please make checks out to "Create."

5) MAIL CASH OR CHECK

Create Church
12299 Champlin Dr Suite 201
Champlin, MN 55316

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BIBLE AND READING PLAN

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Today's Notes

INTRo

Commentary on Luke 6.

Today we are going to read a chapter together from the book "The End of Religion" and discuss the questions at the end of the chapter. The content in this chapter is not for the faint of heart. It takes a long hard look at some of the things we would like to forget about that have happened in the name of Jesus. Why are we looking at this? Because choosing religion instead of following Jesus is deadly.

Before we do this, we need some context from the other chapters from this week's readings.

In chapter 1 Jesus turns water into wine in a way that desecrates a religious icon – turning sacred jars from "icons of personal purification to symbols of relational celebration. Jesus takes us from legalism to life; from religion to relationship." (pg. 34)
In chapter 2, we are reminded that choosing religion over Jesus is like a thirsty person licking the outside of a cup instead of drinking the life-giving water it contains. (pg. 39)
In chapter 3, we are reminded that a relationship takes spontaneity, creativity, and personal communication – rigid, formulaic, repetitive actions damage intimacy instead of making the relationship stronger. Great story about a husband and wife going on dates (groundhog day dates).

SPLIT UP INTO GROUPS OF 3-5 PEOPLE

Say hi to each person.

Anyone read 1 and 2 below.

Say your names and in 1 minute or less, share about a personal injury you've experienced.
Pick a Discussion Mover (DM) for today. This person's job is to (1) b vulnerable (2) keep discussion moving (3) make the "do it" section as impactful as possible. You can nominate a DM, spin something to choose someone, or ask the group if you can volunteer.
DM: Ask: what the group's expectations for this discussion? Is this a place where we can be honest with each other? Do we want Jesus to speak to us? Are we willing to follow Him? Pray for God to speak with you and guide you.

Read and discuss

Today, we are going to read a chapter together from the book "The End of Religion."

Before we do this, we need some context from the other chapters from this week's readings.

Use the Kindle app on the iPad provided to read chapter 4, "Chamber of Horrors." Choose as a group how you will take turns reading. Discuss the questions at the end of the chapter. Come back to this page when you're done to finish up.

DO It

DM: We are all in danger of following beliefs instead of following the person of Jesus. In January, we are introducing the practice of carving out time to hear the Holy Spirit. Read about it below and answer the following question.

CARVE OUT TIME TO HEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT

Commit to at least one hour per week of listening to the Holy Spirit. Some may choose to take a prayer walk or a once-per-week time of solitude and listening to God. Others may segment their hour into daily increments of ten minutes per day for six days of the week. The point is to have a specific time of just listening in silence, not speaking or asking for anything, just letting the Lord speak to you. What is He asking you to do? Who is He putting on your heart? Take notes or journal to write down distracting thoughts and capture what you hear. Verify with scripture, the character of Jesus, and those in church community with you, and immediately put His words into practice.

What does this practice have to do with becoming like Jesus instead of people who fight against others and each other?
What would work better for you? One hour all at once or a few minutes each day?

Feel alive, joyful, healthy and whole this new year

by adopting these simple, relational, empowering practices:

C

CARVE OUT TIME TO HEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCING Jan 2015

#GARDEN #UP

R

READ A CHAPTER A DAY FROM THE BIBLE

introduced Fall 2013

Pay special attention to learn more about Jesus, his ways and means. Ask God to speak to you as you read, and do what He says. Discuss what you read with others. Write what you are doing and learning in a journal. Sometime we read sections of a book together. Invest in your personal and family growth by reading and attending things will help you grow into who God created you to be. Sign up for the daily reading at http://mydailymuse.org.

#GARDEN #LAB #UP

E

EAT TOGETHER

introduced Summer 2014

Eat 2 meals each week with others. 1 with someone IN your faith community, 1 with somone OUT who, as far as you know, is not a Christ-follower from the places you live, work, or play. Practice generous hospitality and invite people into your life. Around the table, gospel things happen. Your IN meal is a great place for a Huddle conversation, where you share about your life, what God has been saying to you, and what you've been doing about it.

#GARDEN #LAB #IN #OUT

A

ACT AS A MISSIONARY

coming Feb 2015

Act as a missionary every day. God has sent you. As a faith community, we are a collective of missionaries. We want to stay mindful of opportunities to engage in mission on our day-to-day journey. To do this keep a daily journal of how you have worked with Jesus during the day. Ask yourself how you responded to his promptings and if there were any instances or opportunities where you resisted Jesus during the day.

#LAUNCHPAD #LAB #OUT

T

TELL YOUR STORY

March 2015

Tell your story to someone this week. Listen to others' stories. Be humble and vulnerable. Telling your story doesn't mean to tell your whole life story, rather it means to tell the truth about who you are, and use words to share things about your life that will help people see the work of Jesus in your life. The listening side of this is the drawing out of other people's stories. Ask great questions. Listen intently. Don't "one up." Pray for others, and tell them you are praying for them Be present in your relationships and conversations, and be aware that God is already at work in your lives and desires to help you go one step forward into the story He created you to live.

#LAUNCHPAD #LAB #OUT

E

EXTEND A BLESSING

Fall 2014

You are blessed to be a blessing, so give something that would be received as good news to 2 people each week – for 1 person in your Christian community and to someone who is not following Jesus from where your live, work, or play. Blessings can range from a simple encouragement to a small gift or gesture. Recommended is finding a something to do with someone that would be a blessing. Use great discernment and transparency with your loved ones when extending blessings to someone of the opposite sex.

#LAUNCHPAD #LAB #IN #OUT

Coming March 2015: Forge Minneapolis

Discover what you are made to do.

Believe that you are a minister, and that God has already sent you on a mission to represent Jesus with the people where you live, work, and play.

Step into the adventure of asking Jesus to give you His heart for the people in your neighborhood you already live in or group that you already identify with.

Are you equipped to make a Jesus-like impact in your world? Go on a 3-month mission trip without quitting your job, leaving your neighborhood, or hanging up your hobbies. This is a chance to invest time in the lab of learning and start to launch out in love with the community He puts on your heart.

A full 9-month mission trip starts September 2015.