At 12Stone Church we often get asked, “How do you organize your elementary small groups?” Throughout our services we transition between large group & small groups at various times to discuss the Bible Story and maintain interaction within the groups. We want our small group to be 3D:

DO – This is our hands-on element. Our small groups make discoveries together, they learn truth together. The activities vary from week to week but the value is that they “do” something. It involves active learning.

DISCUSS – This is where we divide our groups 12-15 kids into groups of 3-5 kids to discuss what they did. They talk about ways to apply what they’ve learned. Our small group leaders serve as a facilitator of the discussion.

DEBRIEF – This is often driven from the stage by one of our cast members. We allow small groups to share some of their insight with the larger group. We also debrief by bringing the groups of 3-5 back into their larger group of 15 to share their collective learning.

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You see on billboards as you drive down the expressway. At ball games written in big letters on small signs and held up in the stands.  The In-N-Out Burger chain prints it on the inside of the bottom rim of their paper cups. Forever 21, a clothing chain, prints it on the bottom of their shopping bags. Football players have it printed on their eye black. And the list goes on & on…

It is the most quoted & most famous verse in the Bible. John 3:16.

But has ‘John 3:16′ become a trite, stereotyped expression; that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse? Has ‘John 3:16′ become a cliche?

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If you have children, you know that parenting is a relay race. It is our #1 job to pass the baton of faith to our kids. 

Dropping the baton of faith…

Missing the spiritual connections… 
Can cause us (& our kids) to lose the race! 

So, how do we make spiritual connections with our kids? How do we pass the baton of faith to 

our children?

C – Consistently Model Your Faith

Model what it means to be a Christ follower.

O – Outward Influence

Know that external influence leads to internal lifestyle.

N – Nurture Godly Character 

The goal is to move kids beyond having Biblical knowledge to living a Biblical lifestyle – to help form head knowledge, heart attitudes, hand actions that are in line with God and His Word. 

N – Normal not Formal

Make God normal in your home. It’s about an everyday RELATIONSHIP with God…not an every week RELIGION about God.

E – Establish Reminders

Your daily practices and rhythms fuel your spiritual connections with your kids. Look for simple ways to connect God to their world.

C – Celebrate Milestones

Set spiritual markers in your child’s life. 

T – Transfer Faith

Our priority as a mom and/or a dad is to gradually transfer dependence. Our children, when they are little, they depend on us for everything. Don’t they? And over time, we will help transfer their dependence to where they will no longer depend on us, but instead, they depend on the only One who will ever be completely faithful and true to them in every single way. We teach them to depend on God.

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I’m sitting here reflecting on the grand opening of 12Stone Church. Today was truly an amazing day…

• Over 7000 people in attendance
• 1075 kids, birth to 5th grade
• Many untold stories of changed lives

One of my favorite stories was of a couple and arrived at our guest services desk. They asked, “what is this place?”. The attendant was surprised and ask what they meant. They again asked, “is this a church or something?” They got caught in the traffic on GA Hwy 20 and followed the crowd in. They actually stayed for the service and loved it! They said they will be back.

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It’s hard to believe that in 4 days we have our Grand-ER opening. It’s exciting to think that thousand’s of lives will be impacted by our church. May God grant us favor in our community to see lives changed, marriages restored, and families reconnected.
This week has been a reminder that God is in complete control. Even though snow days in GA caused us to cancel our original Grand Opening…God has BIGGER things in store for us. We’ve prayed hard, worked hard, and now we wait in anticipation of God’s great work this weekend. What a ride!

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