summer 2012

What Are Growth Groups?

Growth Groups are for any adult wanting to grow in their relationship with God and fellowship with others at First Hattiesburg. We believe that spiritual growth happens best through intentional relationships. In Growth Groups, people study the Bible together and discuss how it applies to their everyday lives. Its also where we build friendships by praying for and caring for each other. It would be virtually impossible for our sta, elders and deacons to personally minister to everyone who comes to our church. Thats why we have Growth Groupsso that our people can eectively minister to each other.

Questions?
Contact Jay McGuirk, Connections Pastor 601.544.0100 or jay@rsthattiesburg.com

Signup
There are several ways to sign up for a group. You can go to the groups page at Firsthattiesburg.com/groups and click on sign up.

Why Growth Groups

In the New Testament, we see groups of Christians get together in smaller groups, often in each others homes to study the Bible, pray together, eat with each other, and basically help encourage each other to live in obedience to Christ. Its an eective and powerful way to take the Bibles teachings and talk through how they apply to our everyday lives. In the church, we call this fellowship, or community. Our faith is meant to be lived out in the context of relationships with other people. From these friendships, we can learn from each other, encourage each other, and enjoy the life that comes from our faith together.

When you ll out a communication card, you can write the number written beside the group you want to join and well sign you up. You can visit our Growth Groups Booth in the atrium and we can help you sign up there!

What Are Sermon-Based Groups?

Each week at First Hattiesburg, Je Clark delivers a message from Gods Word that challenges, inspires, encourages and convicts-sometimes all of those together! We want to capitalize on the one thing that serves as the central and unifying part of our week as a First Hattiesburg family: Gods Word delivered by our pastor. This summer, our Growth Groups will take Jes weekly sermon and spend some more time in the Scriptures he is preaching from and talking through how we can allow God to use them to shape our everyday lives. We encourage you to connect with a Growth Group full of people like you to take Jes sermons one step further--in knowledge and in application. You especially wont want to miss out on the At the Movies series in July where we see how Gods truth can be discovered even in the most popular movies in our culture.

Questions?
Contact Jay McGuirk, Connections Pastor 601.544.0100 or jay@rsthattiesburg.com

Signup
There are several ways to sign up for a group. You can go to the groups page at Firsthattiesburg.com/groups and click on sign up. When you ll out a communication card, you can write the number written beside the group you want to join and well sign you up. You can visit our Growth Groups Booth in the atrium and we can help you sign up there!

SERMON-BASED
Sunday AM Sermon-Based (Wade, 20's/30's) Group 1 Sermon-Based (Beavers) Group 12 Sermon-Based (Phillips, 50's/60's) Group 14 Sermon-Based (Frost, new married couples) Group 22 Sermon-Based (Lofton, young married couples) Group 27 Sermon-Based (Lyon) Group 29 Sermon-Based (Branch) Group 35 Sermon-Based (Strahan) Group 37 Sermon-Based (Grin) Group 41 Sermon-Based (Owen) Group 45 Sunday PM Sermon-Based (Wall, 30's/40's) Group 5 Sermon-Based (Konecki, 20's/30's) Group 10 Sermon-Based (McRaney/Martin, 20's/30's) Group 11 Sermon-Based (Wilson, 20's/30's) Group 17 Sermon-Based (Powell, singles 25-25) Group 31 Sermon-Based (Hall, 40's) Group 32 Monday Sermon-Based (Nunez, musicians) Group 19 Tuesday Sermon-Based (Birrer, women/ 20's) Group 26 Wednesday Sermon-Based (Inman) Group 9 Sermon-Based (White, 20's-40's) Group 13 Sermon-Based (Burden, Married couples) Group 15 Sermon-Based (Williams, 30's/ 40's) Group 18 Sermon-Based (Kendall, women) Group 20 Sermon-Based (Weeks, single parents) Group 21 Sermon-Based (Gatlin, 20's/30's) Group 23 Sermon-Based (Beach, men) Group 24 Sermon-Based (Heinzeroth/ Bosargewomen, women) Group 28 Sermon-Based (Dancy, 20's/30's) Sermon-Based (Easterling, women) Group 36 Sermon-Based (Bell) Group 40 Saturday Sermon-Based (Williamson) Group 6 Sermon-Based (Lowe, 20's/30's) Group 7 Sermon-Based (Wilson/Crum) Group 38 Sermon-Based (Frazier) Group 8

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012

What Did You Expect?

Redeeming the Realities of Marriage SUN 11:00 AM Church, Room 209 Leader: Bo Pennebaker, bo.pennebaker@pinebeltashley.com Group 3 Marriage, according to Scripture, will always involve two awed people living with each other in a fallen world. Yet, the majority of couples enter marriage with unrealistic expectations, leaving them unprepared for the day-to-day realities of married life. This study introduces a biblical and practical approach to those realities that is rooted in Gods faithfulness and Scriptures teaching on sin and grace. Spouses need to be reconciled to each other and to God on a daily basis. Since were always sinners married to sinners, reconciliation isnt just the right response in moments of failure. It must be the lifestyle of any healthy marriage. Well explore six practical commitments that give shape and momentum to such a lifestyle. These commitments, which include honestly facing sin, weakness, and failure; willingness to change; and embodying Christs love, will equip couples to develop a thriving, grace-based marriage in all circumstances and seasons of their relationship. Book: What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp

Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Character at the Crossroads
SUN 11:00 AM Church, Room 201 Groups: 50s/60s Leaders: Voldi Rayborn and Dave Larson, voldir@comcast.net Group 42 The books of Joshua, Judges and Ruth tell the story of the nation of Israel after the death of Moses. Through these books in the Old Testament, well spend the summer seeing the faithfulness of God in fullling His covenant promises, the covenant failure by the people, priests and leadership, and the concept of the kinsman redeemer introduced to the Biblical narrative. Join us as we study how Gods faithfulness and loyalty is showered upon Israel by their faithfulness and loyalty to one another. Book:

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012

God Built
Forged by God In the Bad and Good of Life
SUN 5:30 PM Church, Atrium couches Group: Men Leader: Ron Cain, ron.cain@wesley.com Group 33 Bold and passionate men of God are not born that way; they are shaped through trying circumstances. In this study, well look at the life of Joseph, and the spirit of jealousy that his brothers feel because of their fathers favortism toward their youngest brother. Well see Josephs dreams in which his brothers bow down to him and his brothers outrage which leads to their plot to kill him. Joseph experiences spiritual testing, which reveals why God has allowed such circumstances in his life. Join us to see how men like Joseph are created by God and not by their own experiences. Book: God Built: Forged by God in the Bad and Good of Life by Steve Farrar Buy on Amazon

Cast of Characters: Lost and Found

SUN 5:00 PM The Jacksons home Groups: 20s/30s Leaders: Terrod & Nicki Jackson, terrodj@gmail.com Group 43 Common people. Maybe you heard their names in a childhood Sunday school class. Theyre not often the champions or the go-to sermon illustrations. They probably didnt stand at the foot of the cross or even hang next to Jesus on one of their own. But they pepper the pages of the Bible, reminding us that were not alone.Just like you and me, these ordinary people stumbled and struggled. They faced their own sin and came face to face with a God who not only wipes it away, but also makes the common extraordinary. They discovered that an encounter with the living God changes everything. Join us as we dive into the lives of more than twenty of the Bibles most compelling characters! Book Cast of Characters: Lost and Found: Encounters with the Living God by Max Lucado

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012

God Built
Forged by God In the Bad and Good of Life
SUN 5:30 PM Church, Atrium couches Group: Men Leader: Ron Cain, ron.cain@wesley.com Group 33 Bold and passionate men of God are not born that way; they are shaped through trying circumstances. In this study, well look at the life of Joseph, and the spirit of jealousy that his brothers feel because of their fathers favortism toward their youngest brother. Well see Josephs dreams in which his brothers bow down to him and his brothers outrage which leads to their plot to kill him. Joseph experiences spiritual testing, which reveals why God has allowed such circumstances in his life. Join us to see how men like Joseph are created by God and not by their own experiences. Book: God Built: Forged by God in the Bad and Good of Life by Steve Farrar Buy on Amazon

The Invisible War

What Every Believer Needs to Know About Satan, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare
Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. Church, Room 203 Leaders: Ben & Jennifer Stewart, jnnfr_stewart@yahoo.com Group 2 Some Christians believe strongly in the existence of demons and spiritual warfare. Others downplay or even ignore the idea. With such divergent views, how are Christians supposed to know the truth about demonic forces at work in this world? This study examines what every believer needs to know about Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare, oering a balanced look at this controversial subject. We will come to understand what the Bible says about these threats and will show how we can safeguard ourselves and our families through prayer.

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012

What Did You Expect?

Redeeming the Realities of Marriage WED 6:00 PM Church, Room 2096 Leader: Bo Pennebaker, bo.pennebaker@pinebeltashley.com Group 4 Marriage, according to Scripture, will always involve two awed people living with each other in a fallen world. Yet, the majority of couples enter marriage with unrealistic expectations, leaving them unprepared for the day-to-day realities of married life. This study introduces a biblical and practical approach to those realities that is rooted in Gods faithfulness and Scriptures teaching on sin and grace. Spouses need to be reconciled to each other and to God on a daily basis. Since were always sinners married to sinners, reconciliation isnt just the right response in moments of failure. It must be the lifestyle of any healthy marriage. Well explore six practical commitments that give shape and momentum to such a lifestyle. These commitments, which include honestly facing sin, weakness, and failure; willingness to change; and embodying Christs love, will equip couples to develop a thriving, grace-based marriage in all circumstances and seasons of their relationship. Book: What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp

First Place
WED 6:00 PM Church, Room 210 Group: Women Leader: Roxanne Kingston, roxy5436@aol.com Group 34 This bible study contains 12 weeks of daily study to help you put Christ in rst place, as well as weekly Live It Trackers to document your progress. Also included are Scripture memory cards, a coordinating Scripture memory music CD, and two complete weeks of menu plans with grocery lists, recipes and detailed nutrition information. Based on proven techniques and more than 25 years of experience, First Place 4 Health invites you to try the most complete Christ-centered healthy living program available. First Place 4 Health will help you create balance in the four core areas of your lifeemotional, spiritual, mental and physical. The results? Weight loss and total health from the inside out

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012

Daniel
Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy
WED 6:00 PM Kissy Bradys home Group: Women Leader: Tara Courtney, tc39402@yahoo.com Group 39 Modern day America has a lot in common with ancient Babylon. In this study, well take the Old Testament book of Daniel and bring it into the 21st century and see how relevant it is to our materialistic culture. The prophet Daniel face unbelievable pressues to compromise his faith, to live in a hostile culture, and to confront temptations and threats. Have we made up our minds in advance about how we will actlike Daniel and his friends did? Wll we stand tall for what we believe? Join us for a faith-building study of prophecy and learn how to live with integrity in todays selfabsorbed society. Book: Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore Buy at Amazon

Faith
THU 6:45 AM Church, Fireplace Group: Men Leader: Joey Hawkins, jhawkins36@gmail.com Group 16 Faith. We all wish we had more of it, right? The Bible gives us numerous examples of people who were empowered with extraordinary faith. Hebrews 11 lists the characteristics of such people, how God used them, and how we, too, can be like them. Most importantly, we will see how to use our faith in daily and practical ways to further grow in our spiritual lives. After all, without faith it is impossible to please God.

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012

Reading Through the Bible

FRI 6:30 AM Huddle House, Hwy 98 Group: Men, 30-45 Leader: Lee Parish, leeaparish@yahoo.com Group 25 Looking for a way to grow in your faith by developing a plan to study Gods Word? Through this study, well help each other using the SOAP method (Scritpure, Observation, Application, Prayer) to show us what the Bible has to say about life in Christ. If thats not enough for you, its Huddle House there will also be bacon.

FirstHattiesburg.com/groups/signup

Summer 2012