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In this episode, Mike discusses the idea of "being" the church over simply "doing" church. 1 Peter 1:13–2:12 (ESV)13Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,15but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,16since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”17And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,18knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you21who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,23since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;24for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,25but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”8and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.Matthew 16:15–19 (ESV)15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

- We talked about modeling confession and repentance, and that's what we're going to high center on in this episode. We also mentioned how Paul encouraged the churches to be imitators of him- Paul on being imitator's - 1 Cor. 11.1 Paul say's be imitators of me - Paul, before he charges Timothy to embrace his calling, speaks of Christ coming to save sinners, which whom, he is the foremost(1 Tim. 1.:15).......He isn't just acknowledging his former sins, but also aware of his sin as he conforms to the image of Christ, which he expresses in his epistle to the church in Rome, Rom. 7:13-25### Being Subject to one another:- In Eph. 5, Paul talks about walking in love, and specifically in verse 21, he says to submit to one another. But he puts it in a relation context with urgency; Ephesians 5:15–21 (ESV) 15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Talking about sin doesn't happen until we submit to one another. So let's imitate Paul as leaders, and submit ourselves to our group and talk about sin.......Here are some ways, as leaders, we can lead out in being able to talk about sin in our groups, how we bring it up, how it can help strengthen our group(s)Book Reference:Caring for One Another - Ed Welch

- Regularly talk about growth(numerical, biblical, relational) - Numerical - regularly talk to your group about recruiting, taking the initiative to introduce themselves on Sunday's to new people that they've seen and think would potentially be a good fit for the group. - Biblical - regularly talk to your group about their own personal growth, encourage them to sign up for D1 class, our podcast, or others that focus on growth and discipleship. - Relational - If you're the leader that really only sees the folks in your group on group night, start inviting them out to dinner on other nights as a group or spend time pursuing each couple/person, etc. to gain more 1-on-1 time.......it's a big deal. You might be like, Mike, I don't have a lot of margin in my time.......I totally understand, but I would challenge you to start praying about it and see how the LORD reveals opportunities.......He is serious about his fellowship with the Saints.- Model confession and repentance.....obviously use discretion, but don't turn your group into a bible study that doesn't apply God's Word to the heart(s) of your group........God's grace has afforded you to do so, and trust me, when you do - your group will grow in these three ways. - Scriptural Closing on being imitator's - 1 Cor. 11.1 Paul says be imitators of me

### In love:1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (ESV)13Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.14Let all that you do be done in love.### Demonstrating love through the Spirit:Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.### For love:1 Corinthians 13:4–13 (ESV)4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In this episode, host, Mike Van Dyke sits down with special guest, Tim Jessop, elder and group leader to discuss how men can grow men through loving them as Christ instructed. Grow is the second discipleship dynamic at Venture where we focus on relational growth and instructional growth in God's Word.....- This month as we continue to focus on the discipling dynamic of grow, we wanted to focus on men for the next two weeks.....so how can men grow men? Well, Jesus said in Jn. 13:34-35 - John 13:34–35 (ESV) 34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - Jesus is hanging discipleship on love - - Men, Pride makes you isolate, humility calls you to community.

In this episode, the hosts, Mike & Roberta introduce the next discipleship dynamic of "Grow", cultivating one-another. The purpose of growth isn't just instructional, but also relational as Jesus demonstrated.

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Rom. 12.10-13)

Group Dynamics - Part 2 of connecting consistently - Connecting relationally - During Group - Having Ice breakers is a good help to connect with new people in your group - Encourage people to ask for personal prayers, - Share hosting and leading - have a regular discussion about giving everyone a job - Provide regular opportunities to share a person's testimonyOutside of Group - Attend Church together - Serve at church together - Go out together - Plan a road trip - Go on a mission trip together - Celebrate holidays togetherTrends in Culture- Connection Killers - Inconsistent attendance - Awkward personalities - Surface-level sharing - Bad curriculum - Self-absorbed members / guests

Episode Notes: - When we talk about group dynamics, we're talking about connect, grow, and influence. And for the rest of September, we're going to focus on connect. Last podcast we introduced these ideas and high centered on connecting with a brief scenario of connecting with new people that visit your group, but in this episode, we want to discuss what connecting looks like when it comes to communicating: - The purpose of the group - The commitment of the group - The respect and confidentiality of the group - Connecting with the group expectationsTrends & Culture - The little things that hinder group growth - numerically and maturity Resources:- www.smallgroups.com- www.lifeway.com

In this episode, the host, Mike Van Dyke, discusses the purpose of the podcast with special guest, Roberta Aitelli. - Today, we want to introduce our group's leadership podcast, and quickly discuss the three categories of our podcast; group dynamics, trends and culture, and resources. - Group Dynamics - So we're launching Venture groups this week and so you're likely to get some new visitors to your group, - Our group dynamic focus for this week is - Connect - Trends & Culture - our tendencies to gravitate towards those we know in social settings, but we need to re-culture that trend and get those in our group to make sure they're being intentional in introducing themselves and getting to know any visitor(s) to the group. - Acting as a family, not simply a social function. - During group launches, people will check out your group and not stay, but that's ok. As leaders, we need to follow up with them and see if we can help find them a different group. - Resources - Leader guide with discussion questions for our new sermon series, "Rhythm" - A quick discussion about RightNow Media

Welcome to the new Venture Podcast Network. In addition to listening to the past Sunday's sermons, you can now subscribe to our KidCast and Journey podcast channels. On KidCast you'll enjoy encouraging discussions with our own Venture family kids and our Kids Minister, Shawnette Gibson. And on our Journey Podcast channel you'll hear from some of our student leaders as they discuss with Roger Walls, our Student Pastor, what it means to love, live, and lead like Jesus. We have more planned very soon! So keep a lookout as we continue to add more channels to help equip and encourage you throughout your week.