Groups Fall '21 - Week 4

Good afternoon!

I am so excited to officially jump into the role of City Groups Director! I look forward to working closely with all of our city groups and leaders. I am very thankful for this opportunity, and am praying that God would continue to guide us as we seek to glorify Him by being in community with one another.

Attached is the leader guide for the book of Galatians where our main focus will be the idea that we are not justified by our good works but by our faith in Jesus' work on the cross! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great week,
Zach

Groups Fall '21 - Week 3

Greetings leaders,

It has been such an encouragement to hear back from many of you concerning the excitement of group members when it comes to studying these books of the Bible. We thank you for your faithfulness to lead and guide in these discussions.

Christian love is talked about frequently, but rarely do we consider what actual Christian love entails and requires of us. The Corinthian church, along with believers throughout the ages, receives a beautiful discourse on Christian love in 1 Corinthians 13 from Paul. We pray that our time in this passage will grow how we love God and others.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Fall '21 - Week 2

Good Evening All,

What a great time it was at our Fall Kickoff. From that gathering, we heard from more than 60 people that want join a group. Thank you for making it happen! You've heard a from us a lot over the past week and we appreciate your prompt responses as we try to get people connected to a group. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me, Kaylan, or Lauren if you have any questions.

Next week's guide is attached. Shout out to Noah Engelker for helping us put it together. You'll notice we took a slightly different approach to the book of Romans. Dean will likely spend most of his overview sermon in the first 11 chapters. So, we decided to focus discussions on chapter 12.

You'll see that in chapter 12, Paul gets into some of the practical points of a gospel life. We thought it'd be good to spend some time discussing these commands with your groups early in the term to help us focus our time this year.

We're off to a great start! We’re thankful for you.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Fall '21 - Week 1

Greetings Leaders,

Attached you'll find the first discussion guide for the fall term. As you will note, we are studying John 18:36-38. You'll read this passage in its context, but mainly focus on verses 36-38. Next week, Lord willing, we will resume the Whole Story as we dive into the book of Romans.

As we begin, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions. We’re looking forward to starting this term with you!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 8

As we wrap up our summer City Groups, as in the Old Testament, we see in the Gospels that God is sovereign over all. In times of confidence or in times of doubt, we are completely dependent upon Him!

Thank you for your faithfulness as you have served our church well over the summer. After this week, we will take a break from formal City Group gatherings (but you are more than welcome to continue meeting if your group desires!) and we will officially resume City Groups the week of August 29th.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 7

Greetings leaders,

Unlike many followers of God for so many centuries, we are incredibly blessed to have the entirety of Scripture and the historical perspective of knowing that Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the Old Testament. This week, as we transition into the New Testament, we are reminded that Jesus not only is that fulfillment, but He alone is our righteousness.

Please remind your group attendees that our last Summer Equip class is this Sunday from 5:00-6:00 on William Wilberforce, a godly man whom the Lord used to abolish slave trade in Great Britain. They can RSVP here for childcare.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 6

Greetings leaders,

As we wrap up the Old Testament in our journey through the Whole Story, we trust that it has been a growing time for us all as we see God put into motion His plan to redeem a people for Himself, despite the frequent rebellion of His people. And God be praised, the story doesn’t end there and next week we begin to see the completion of the Whole Story as we study the book of Matthew in City Groups! Often, it is tempting to focus so much on the good news we have in the New Testament that we ignore the Old Testament. We pray this journey through the Old Testament has better prepared us as we begin our studies in the New Testament.

Don't forget that this Sunday, we will have Equip class from 5:00-6:00 about Susanna Wesley.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 5

Greetings leaders,

We pray these studies in the minor prophets have served our church. What seems to the casual observer harsh themes of punishment in the minor prophets actually reveal these truths: 1) God is patient and long-suffering, 2) God is excessively gracious and merciful, 3) God is a holy, pure God and cannot allow sin to go unpunished in His just nature, and 4) God's people do not experience ultimate punishment because of His Son, the Messiah, and the intercessory work He accomplished on the cross.

We are thankful for your faithfulness in service!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 4

Greetings leaders,

The overwhelmingly apparent theme in these minor prophets is God's abundant and patient grace and mercy with mankind. As God's people, may we never tired of dwelling on that precious truth! We are reminded this week in Jonah that God's people can fail to mirror that grace and mercy to those around us and it is our prayer that this week's study challenges us to both proclaim truth and extend grace and mercy to those around us.

Stay tuned for some updates in the next few days, but in the mean time, don't forget to share with your members:

  • Equip class this Sunday form 5:00-6:00

  • Member's class for those who have not taken the next step of membership at City Church from 6:00-7:00

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 3

Greetings leaders,

As we continue in the minor prophets, we are reminded that God is faithful to His chosen people even when His people are unfaithful to Him. He judges sin but just as equally extends the gracious and merciful gift of redemption to His people. Praise God!

Another reminder to visit www.citychurchtallahassee.com/equip-classes to view the schedule for our summer term Equip classes and to sign up for childcare if needed.

We are praying for you all and are thankful for your faithfulness in serving our Lord!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 2

Greetings leaders,

Over the coming weeks as we spend time in the minor prophets, we will see followers of God who are living faithfully in the midst of cultures that openly oppose God. Our prayer is that these testimonies will encourage us to continue to reflect our holy God as we find ourselves in the midst of a culture that openly opposes God.

Please communicate with your City Group attendees that Equip Classes start this Sunday. Visit www.citychurchtallahassee.com/equip-classes to view the schedule for our summer term and to sign up for childcare if needed.

We are praying for you all and are thankful for your faithfulness in serving our Lord!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Summer '21 - Week 1

Greetings leaders,

We trust that the time off we had in May was a time of recharging for you in the midst of your faithful service to City Church. We enjoyed the time we were able to spend with those in attendance at our City Group leader appreciation dinner and certainly missed those who were unable to attend!

Groups start back up this coming week as we spend time in Ezekiel. In the midst of visions, oracles, and prophecies that we see in this book, we are overwhelmed with the reminder that God is graciously and mercifully at work in the lives of His people and He does not forget His covenant promises for His holy name's sake. Lamentations 3:22-23 is the perfect summation of this truth: "Because of the Lord's faithful love, we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness!"

You will receive more information soon, but we wanted to go ahead and put Equip classes on your radar. Starting June 13 and running through July 18, our Equip classes for the 2021 summer term will focus on Christian men and women throughout history and how their faithfulness and work impacts us today. RSVPs will be coming your way and we'd love for you to go ahead and put this on the radar of your group attendees.

We look forward to how the Lord will graciously grow our church this summer and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 17

Greetings Leaders,

A few important announcements and reminders:

  • We are entering our last week of City Groups before we break for the month of May. We will resume meeting for the months of June and July. If there are any changes for your group during the summer session, please let us know.

  • We have our City Group Leader Appreciation Dinner on May 21st. You can find more information and RSVP here.

  • On April 29th, we will be having a workshop at Sessions Rd. on matters regarding gender and sexuality. We will have lunch provided for those who RSVP here.

  • Lastly, this Sunday is our last Equip class for the Spring Session. The topic will be evangelism. We'd love for you or your group members to attend! If you require childcare, please RSVP here by Saturday.

This week, we will be spending time in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. This wisdom literature truly has much to offer us and we are looking forward to our time in these books.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 16

Greetings leaders,

The book of Psalms is more than a book of songs. Referred by Martin Luther as a “mini-bible”, the Psalms reflects on the emotional and spiritual struggles of the God’s people while in wait for the coming Messiah. In the Psalms, the Holy Spirit inspired what John Calvin describes as “all the griefs, sorrows, fears, misgivings, hopes, care … all the disquieting emotion with which the minds of men are wont”. While we read and sing the Psalms, we see psalms that are psalms of lament and we are invited to share in that lament, reflecting on the cost of sin that lead to psalms of confession. But as we read psalms of praise, we are also invited to respond with thanks to God, who is worthy of praise, and for the Messiah (King Jesus) in whom all hope and salvation is found.

A big thanks to Michael Strickland for the work he put into this discussion guide that serves us well as we take a look at this marvelous book.

We have two weeks left in our Equip series as we take time to study the Church and evangelism. Please continue to point your groups towards these opportunities for equipping us in our growth. http://www.citychurchtallahassee.com/equip-classes

We are extremely thankful for you all!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 15

Week 15Greetings leaders,

We are praising the Lord for His Word going forth on Easter weekend and for the conversations that are being had as a result. We know that many of you are involved in such conversations and we are continuing to pray for you all as the Lord uses you. If you have need of any resources as you have these conversations, please let us know!

We are excited to be diving back into our The Whole Story series this Sunday morning as we take a look at the book of Job. While we often focus on the suffering aspect of this narrative, the book reminds us that most importantly God is of infinitely more value than anything we can own or experience on this earth and it that truth that sustains us through trials and tribulations. We realize many difficult questions can arise from this book so don't hesitate to reach out to us if you require any resources or assistance.

We are thankful for your faithfulness!

Gratefully,
Joe and KaylanWeek 15Greetings leaders,

We are praising the Lord for His Word going forth on Easter weekend and for the conversations that are being had as a result. We know that many of you are involved in such conversations and we are continuing to pray for you all as the Lord uses you. If you have need of any resources as you have these conversations, please let us know!

We are excited to be diving back into our The Whole Story series this Sunday morning as we take a look at the book of Job. While we often focus on the suffering aspect of this narrative, the book reminds us that most importantly God is of infinitely more value than anything we can own or experience on this earth and it that truth that sustains us through trials and tribulations. We realize many difficult questions can arise from this book so don't hesitate to reach out to us if you require any resources or assistance.

We are thankful for your faithfulness!

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 14

Greetings Leaders,

This time of year one of the songs you can regularly hear in the Thigpen house is the modern hymn "Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery." The lyrics are rich and it's message powerful. It helps focus us on the resurrection and God's plan to gather his children through the now finished work of Jesus' sacrifice.

As people of the resurrection, our hope is secure. I love the way this hymn puts it...

What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when he comes

If you'd like to hear the whole song, here's a LINK.

I pray that no matter what this past year has brought for you, your family, and friends that your hope is fixed on Jesus this Easter season. He is our hope. He is our peace.

This week our discussions focus on the resurrection of Jesus, how it secures our hope, makes us dead to sin, and enables us to fight sin while we await Jesus' coming again. Let's be encouraged brothers and sisters. Jesus is risen and he will come again. Let's look to him together.

In Him,
Joseph

Groups Spring '21 - Week 13

Greetings Leaders,

This Sunday and next we're breaking from the Whole Story series. This weekend we'll have a guest preacher and next is Easter!

That said, we're taking this time recap some of the themes of our study through the Bible so far. This coming week we'll recap God's covenants to his people and how they demonstrate God's work to create, redeem, establish, and gather his people.

Also, please spend some time in your groups praying for our Easter gatherings. Pray that we'd see people come to know Jesus.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 12

After a long exile, what happened when God's people gathered again in the land? The Scriptures were read and they worshiped God who gathered them again. Here we are in Ezra and Nehemiah where the nation of Israel comes back into the land after being taken captive. God's people hear his word, worship, weep, and repent.

So much to consider in these passages. A big thank you to one of our Elders, Matt Strenth for getting this guide together. We’ve already been helped by it and pray that you and your groups will be as well.

Thank you for your faithfulness. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 11

As we spend time in the historical books concerning the nation of Israel, we often experience a wide array of emotions. We celebrate as God’s people choose to follow Him, but this is often coupled with disappointment as we see some of those same leaders make bad decisions. As we consider such passages, it's important to remember that while there is not a single human that can perfectly follow and lead others in godly living, ultimately one day there will be a faithful and righteous King who will lead His people in worship of God for all of eternity.

We are praying for your time together in Chronicles this week. As a reminder, our next three Equip classes will be held March 14, March 28, and April 11. These classes are so important in the life of the local church as we will be addressing our response to and how we deal with sin. You can sign up for childcare here: http://www.citychurchtallahassee.com/equip-classes. Please share with your group members!

Grateful for you all!
Joe and Kaylan

Groups Spring '21 - Week 10

Greetings Group Leaders,

Kingdoms rise and they fall. As we will see, Israel was no exception. What began as a kingdom of great promise was later divided and destroyed. However, God would raise up prophets to point his people to a ruler who would come to set things right. A King whose reign would know no end.

Our discussion this week will observe the establishment of Solomon as king over God's people. In Solomon we see both the promise of God's kingship and the sin that would lead to the downfall of God's people. Though he failed, Solomon and the books of 1 & 2 Kings help point us to our great King, Jesus by seeing how his reign is righteous and perfect.

We hope you're well served by this guide and ensuing discussion.

Gratefully,
Joe and Kaylan