Turbo Groups

Hey guys, we have Turbo Groups going on this summer. We start next week and will run for 4 weeks. These are early morning men’s groups that will be focused on developing some habits that will transform our lives for Christ. We have groups meeting on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 6:30-7:30am. If you are interested, email Neal at Neal@ChurchAtTheBay.com.

Neal McCullohs

Connections Pastor

www.ChurchAtTheBay.com

813.579.3978

28 May 2009 Tampa FratHouse Meeting #4

To Every Season...........

As we close out FratHouse for the summer, we look further into James to see where we are at as men and where our struggles lie. This summer will be how we make it. Will we encounter hard times with family or money or our church moving locations? Or will we embrace them and see the opportunity and the lessons to be learned? Will we see good times with opportunity and prosperity and will we share that with one another?

As Neal would put it to be hip and cool, what is all up in your grill right now?

What struggles are you facing going into the summer?

What has you fired up for God or for life?

In James 5:13-15, we look at how together, the church as a whole can work together, not to solve, but to support those who are going through times of joy and times of pain, whether it be emotional or physical. These times when we tend to be distant for many, many reasons, are the times when we need one another more than ever. As men, we must be wary of our surroundings, wary of those around us, but most of all, wary of what is going on in each other’s lives in order to support and defend one another.

Search your mind and find one area of your life that is just kicking your butt right now. Why is it so difficult to open up about this struggle? Is it time to cry “uncle” and find someone to be vulnerable with?

James 5:16-18 couldn’t be more direct. We must let down our guard and be open to challenges from one another. We must not be afraid of looking the fool or looking weak. Pride can mask our weakness, and as men our pride can be our downfall. We can’t do life alone. We must stick together and pray for one another, but we can’t pray for one another unless we know what to pray for. It’s like guiding a ship without a rudder.

So who do you know that needs prayer and what for?

Who needs to be guided down a road that will lead to Christ and not another road?

James 5:19-20 gives us direction on how we should do this. We must guide, not humiliate or direct or command. The right kind of “peer pressure” can do more for someone in trouble than stern lectures and condemnation. We are all in the ditch at some point, but which person are we? The one holding another under the water with out feet or extending a hand to pull them out? It’s time that we decide and put our efforts toward that goal as we approach our long hiatus for the summer.