WEEK 9 TRAINING
STORYTELLERS
We tell everyone about all the mundane, insignificant great things in our lives already: that old show where you laugh so hard you cry, the new show that you cry so hard you laugh, that incredible brand that’s disrupting the paperclip industry, and the restaurant where they put Korean food into a taco form.
In this late week of Rooted, it seeks to help everyone distill their stories into concise explanations of God’s goodness in our lives. It wants us to develop an understanding of God’s involvement in our lives so we can tell others. Being a storyteller is all about advocating for something by explaining our experience with it and how it’s changed our lives. That’s what we’re trying to do better with something that truly matters. It’s about simply wanting others to taste and see for themselves what God has done for us. It’s an invitation with an explanation. It’s not about being abrasive, having all the right answers, or threatening ultimatums about Hell. When we tell our story, we’re partnering with what God is already doing in someone’s life to pull them closer to God.
We can argue against straw-men, philosophical ideals, and historical questions surrounding the nature of God and reality all we want. However, none of that matters if our abstract ideas don’t impact our concrete reality. We need to not just believe in God, but also experience him. That’s what this Rooted journey is all about—balancing knowledge with practice.
Make sure to challenge your group to be praying about an opportunity to share their story with someone, if they haven’t already. This is part of the Rooted Experience.
In this late week of Rooted, it seeks to help everyone distill their stories into concise explanations of God’s goodness in our lives. It wants us to develop an understanding of God’s involvement in our lives so we can tell others. Being a storyteller is all about advocating for something by explaining our experience with it and how it’s changed our lives. That’s what we’re trying to do better with something that truly matters. It’s about simply wanting others to taste and see for themselves what God has done for us. It’s an invitation with an explanation. It’s not about being abrasive, having all the right answers, or threatening ultimatums about Hell. When we tell our story, we’re partnering with what God is already doing in someone’s life to pull them closer to God.
We can argue against straw-men, philosophical ideals, and historical questions surrounding the nature of God and reality all we want. However, none of that matters if our abstract ideas don’t impact our concrete reality. We need to not just believe in God, but also experience him. That’s what this Rooted journey is all about—balancing knowledge with practice.
Make sure to challenge your group to be praying about an opportunity to share their story with someone, if they haven’t already. This is part of the Rooted Experience.
CARDS & ROOTED STORIES
Next week is all about affirming each other by being God’s mouthpiece. Rooted wants the leader to own this, but we really believe this should be a group effort. With discretion encourage your group to point out the qualities, gifts, passion, and potential God has given people in your group. Speak to them and pray over them the identity and calling you feel like God is trying to communicate with them. You can do this as a group, like we did in our pilot groups, or you can own that piece yourself. You know your group well, so use your discretion. My preference is always to share and distribute leadership to empower others whenever possible.
In the final week, 10, take some time to let everyone share their experiences with Rooted. What pieces were most meaningful to them? Has something changed in their lives? It doesn’t have to be some big revelation, but something most likely has happened that’s moved them a little closer to Jesus.
Be paying close attention for one to four stories we could use to promote Rooted. We want to put a few stories on display for everyone to celebrate what Jesus has been doing this season. Send me an email to nominate anyone that comes to mind.
In the final week, 10, take some time to let everyone share their experiences with Rooted. What pieces were most meaningful to them? Has something changed in their lives? It doesn’t have to be some big revelation, but something most likely has happened that’s moved them a little closer to Jesus.
Be paying close attention for one to four stories we could use to promote Rooted. We want to put a few stories on display for everyone to celebrate what Jesus has been doing this season. Send me an email to nominate anyone that comes to mind.