GROW
If you're in the "Develop" season, you're a Christ-follower looking for a more satisfying, deeper, and more consistent spiritual life. The four GROW opportunities listed here are all places to help you take your next-steps to grow. If you are already in a Small Group, be sure to check out Morph & Think. If you aren't already in a Small Group (but are willing to check one out) we think that would be the best option for you. If you're looking for an initial connection point at Gateway, Starting Gate may be right for you.
Starting Gate:
If you're looking to better understand some of the basics of Christian faith, in a comfortable and friendly environment, and aren't yet ready to check out a Small Group, please consider Starting Gate. Starting Gate is a 4-week experience, held around normal Sunday service times, and is suitable for people at any spiritual season. The next round starts soon, so click here for more info or to sign up.
Small Groups:
At the "Discover" season, Small Groups have big impact. If you're looking to develop more lasting connections to others at Gateway and have meaningful discussions about your real questions, joining a Small Group would be the right next-step for you. "Discover" Small Groups are easy to get involved with -- and don't require a long-term commitment. Many existing groups are looking to welcome newcomers as they start new studies this month, and several brand-new "starter" groups will be starting soon as well. Click here to better understand what Small Groups are all about; why they're vital to connecting, growing, and serving at Gateway; and how you can easily get involved.
Morph:
If you’re looking for a more soul-satisfying walk with Christ, then Morph and Think may be your next step. Morph is small group experience that moves from heart to hands.
Morph is a small group experience -- with your existing group gathering monthly with 5-10 other groups who are participating in the same experience. There are 4 modules to Morph (each lasting 8 weeks). Groups can sign up for one module at a time, and need not commit to the entire experience.
If you're not already in a small group, please consider joining one (see info above) or signing up for Think (see info below), since Morph is specifically for existing small groups.
For more info on Morph, or to sign up, view this page of additional info.
Think:
If you’re looking for a more soul-satisfying walk with Christ, then Morph and Think may be your next step. Think is theology training where won’t be asked to blindly accept flat dogmas delivered from above. Instead, you will be asked to really Think. This event is designed for both small groups and individuals.
There are 4 modules to Think (each lasting 8 weeks). The first module will happen on Tuesday nights from March 4 to April 22, with other modules coming this summer and fall.
For more info on Think, or to sign up, view this page of additional info.
SERVE
If you're in the "Develop" season, you may be looking to serve with an eye toward better understanding your unique purpose - you not only want to meet others and make a difference, but you also want to learn more about your unique role in the Body of Christ.
If you're just starting on this journey of self-discovery, a Spiritual Gifts Assessment may provide some assistance. God has given all Christ-followers different spiritual gifts, for the purpose of building up His body, and knowing your Spiritual Gifts can give you an idea how to serve. Take this online assessment to start discovering your gifts, and read some of the resources on the Spiritual Gifts resource page for more background info to understand how to serve according to your gifts.
The Charting Your Course seminar, offered as part of Gateway U, is another avenue toward better understanding your purpose and giftedness. Find for more info and register for this two-day seminar at the Gateway U registration page. The next Charting Your Course seminar happens at the McNeil campus April 18-19.
At Gateway:
Joining a serving team at Gateway is often the first step people take towards making lasting connections at Gateway. Not only do Gateway's great volunteers make the services, events, and activities of the church happen, they also build meaningful friendships with each other. Dozens of different teams have hundreds of different volunteer opportunities. Click here to see just a few of those opportunities.
As You Do Life:
In the “Develop” season, you’re driven by the desire to make a difference and genuinely follow Christ. As you learn more about the nature of God through the Scriptures, you’ll discover just how much God cares for the needs around you. You’ll read narratives about Jesus caring for the physical and spiritual needs of those around Him. You’ll see the early church growing numerically, but also growing in how it reaches out to the very real needs of it’s neighbors. Serving “As You Do Life” is how these ideas play out – how we put our faith into action.
If you’re in the “Develop” season and aren’t doing life as part of a small group yet, now is the time to take the plunge. Among the many things your new group will do together is serving “as you do life.” The group will help you begin to see the community around you in new ways, and the group will involve you in making a difference together.
If you are already in a small group, you can equip yourselves together. The Small Groups Mobilization equipping seminar is the way to start. Through this, you’ll better understand what it means to serve, and then you’ll begin making a larger impact in the city through an opportunity that is uniquely yours. Each small group will have funds available through Gateway to begin to make an impact. It may be cleaning a local park, painting a classroom or teacher’s lounge in your kids’ school, or it may be doing a trail cleanup where your group jogs each week. The ways to make an impact are as diverse as your group – and will all happen where you do life. But, danger! A single serving opportunity can change your life – and the way your group interacts – so be prepared for amazing things to happen!
Share your serving experience with others on this blog, to motivate them towards serving as they do life, also!
In our city & world...
At the "Develop" spiritual season, you may be looking for ways to use your uniqueness to make a difference to "the least of these" in our city and world. Gateway's Mobilization teams are working to organize many one-time and long-term activities in the next few weeks and months. Click on any title below for more info, including how to sign up.