Week 1: Dream Now For Your Life

James Browning: Hello everyone.

Welcome to Help for Hosts week one podcast for the Dream Now series.

Once again, I'm your friend, James Browning, and I serve as a

small group pastor of development here at our fair church.

And with me is my other friend, Bradley.

Bradley: Hey guys, I'm Bradley.

I'm uh, the engagement pastor at the Irvine South community.

James Browning: And we are so excited for this journey.

Our group hosts will be going on during the series along with us.

And we are invited together as a church to dream now and dream beyond what we

would have normally dreamed on our own.

So this week we're going to be talking about dreaming now for your life.

Bradley, why don't you share one of your favorite dreamers in the

Bible?

Bradley: Year Plan.

Bradley, do you want to go first?

I think it was, honestly, I mean, he had all these practical dreams.

Uh, specifically, I'm thinking of, um, in Genesis 41, where Joseph

interprets, uh, Pharaoh's dreams about seven years of abundance, but

followed by seven years of famine.

So he was preparing and being practical and ready for that famine,

and it definitely helped him out.

So that's a very practical dream, but man, like that story too, just

so much faith, so much trials.

It's something that, hey, I don't necessarily relate to, uh, having

prophetic dreams like that on a regular basis, but it's super cool to

see just Joseph's faith, and I relate

James Browning: Maybe it's because your name is not Joseph.

I mean, Joseph in the New Testament had dreams explaining that Jesus

was, divinely conceived and that he should escape to Egypt.

So maybe you just need to be more Joseph if you want those practical

Bradley: I'll name my future kid Joseph so that I can get

some of those practical dreams.

James Browning: Hmm.

All right.

Way to avoid famine

Bradley: Yeah.

James Browning: Okay, so,

once again, a reminder of how the books and resources work each week, we're

going to hear a sermon on the weekend.

And then whenever your small group typically meets again, mine

meets on Fridays, you go through the video from pastor Andy.

There's the QR code in the book, or you can also find it on the YouTube channel

or the dream now, page on soundback.

com slash dream now.

And then after your small group watches and discusses a video, uh,

feel free to, go through the personal devotional over the next five days.

Also in that book, you'll find on page 85, there's quick tips under helps

for hosts frequently asked questions, small group guidelines, circles of

life, and a really useful tool that I kind of think is underrated is

calendar and roster for host use.

So we wanted to dive into some of our personal favorite tips for new

groups or even seasoned groups that are looking to kind of level up,

uh, how to make your time better.

I think that one of the things we tend to look for as a host is

like, just tell me what to do so I can tell them how to feel and.

And that doesn't really work well.

What does work well is creating an environment where that can happen.

This is a relationship.

You can't just tell the other person how they should feel, how they should grow.

Uh, telling my wife to calm down has never worked or will ever work.

And the best I can do is make her feel heard and appreciated and feel calm.

So.

As the host, that's your role is to create that environment where even though

relationships are messy, people have a space where they can grow together.

Bradley, why don't you share some of your tips for setting the stage?

Bradley: Yeah, I think kind of going along with that, it is very helpful

to just make people feel comfortable.

That is one of my passions, just as a groups pastor, is just kind

of, hey, let's set the table so people can feel comfortable.

Just natural, feel at ease, because they're already coming in a lot of

times, especially if you're joining a new group, whether it's an on campus

gathering, or at someone's house, or even just joining a Zoom online.

Shields are up.

Guards are up.

So, I think it is very important to spend that time, even though it might seem

arbitrary because it doesn't pertain to the study, to really just have those

icebreaker questions, to get to know you as like, Hey, what's your name?

You know, what area are you living in?

Um, how long you've been attending Saddlebacks, just to start, and then

have those fun icebreaker questions.

Um, it can be anything like, have you seen the latest, uh, movies out?

Or it could be something actually pertaining to the study, um,

more practical like, Hey, have you ever been in a group before?

Uh, people want to know about others, so then, okay, that person

shared, Okay, I feel like I can mirror that and also share that.

So, it starts there, and then again, by diving into the study, I think

something it's important to know as a host, be okay with silence, and also, not

everyone does want to answer right away.

So, for example, I have two people in my current small group who are autistic

and just talking to them individually.

I found out hey They they're happy to be there But they only want to

answer maybe one or two questions a week because it's a lot for them So

every time there's a question or every time there's an icebreaker I ask hey,

would you like to add anything guys?

And about half the time they'll respond yes or no and I just have

found and they have told me that just me asking for participation

and Has really been great, and um, Something that they've felt included.

So I think even, again, as a host, remember, Hey, everybody's on different

social skills levels, Other people are on different comfortability

levels, And be okay with that.

James Browning: I I love that.

Bradley.

I

think that's an excellent point of just being cognizant of where everyone is at.

Another thing that I have found to be helpful is, um, setting and

meeting people's expectations.

A lot of times hosts feel as though the expectation is for

them to have all the answers.

And that's not a.

Substitute Yeah.

Bradley: what your stuff is.

James Browning: Well, I do think that that's not necessarily true.

You as a host, don't have to have all the answers.

In fact, I think you as the host can be better served by creating

the atmosphere of being prepared

Bradley: Yes.

James Browning: and having good questions.

Bradley: Mhm.

James Browning: Uh, one way you can do this practically is by previewing

the week's video before your small group meets, writing down any questions

or thoughts that come out from that.

Again, you do not have to have the answers.

In fact, it's probably even a little bit of a conversation killer.

If you come in right off the bat with all of the answers, you give

them an answer and they may stop thinking or engaging about it.

They're like, got the answer.

Great.

And then tune out.

So come in instead of with the answers, come in prepared with questions.

Bradley: And I think along with that too, it is the way how you frame the question.

So, for instance, if we were reading through Luke and Acts like we just

did as a church, and you said, hey, so like, during this passage, uh, how

do you think the disciples responded?

And if you answer, you kind of like, Say it like that.

It's like, oh, Bradley already knows the answer.

He's wanting us to answer correctly when it's more like, hey I was reading

guys in the scripture and this question came up and it's something that I'm even

wrestling with they're thinking about Is any what was anybody's thoughts kind

of coming in is not the know it all even if you do know it Just say let's

let's let someone else figure it out.

Even if you do know and I think that brings it Okay, Bradley doesn't have

all the answers James doesn't have all the answers We're learning and

discovering together, but he was prepared because he asked the question

James Browning: Yeah, the goal is to invite people into a conversation,

not make them feel like they have to try to guess your riddles.

But yeah, but the other thing you can do, and this seems so obvious and it seems

like such a churchy answer, but I can't, I can't stress enough how true it is.

Pray before your meeting, before your small group meets,

Bradley: Absolutely.

James Browning: pray for God to be a part of your small group meeting

while you're going through the series, ask him to help your group members to

dream together, to dream God's dreams.

This is us praying.

To, to be a part of what God is doing, not just asking God to bless what we're doing.

And when we're doing that, we're doing things in God's power

when we are aligned with Him.

Bradley: and

I think, I really do think during this series, you're going to encounter

people with dreams that you might, stuff they've never shared with other

people, and it could be hard to share.

Like, there could be people in financial distress.

We were sharing like, hey, like, I dream to get out of this, and, um,

You have other people who are looking to maybe make a radical change in

their life, and it's heavy stuff.

So, I I I would be encouraging, like, hey, leaders, just be

praying for God's discernment.

To, hey, don't just breeze past, like, okay, c cool dream, dude.

And then go to the next person, like, hey, maybe it's, this is

a, uh, a time where, hey, we

See what what's the feel like.

Should we camp out on someone's dream here and discuss it more?

Or maybe something later, God's giving you a discernment, Hey, I

heard that guy's dreams in my group.

I'm gonna talk with him one on one and have that

James Browning: I,

love that you bring that up, Bradley.

I think that that honestly is one of the values of small groups.

Is, it is a safe space where you can share your dream, but also have some

Bradley: people's perception

world.

Hold my tongue.

I've learned, like, oh wow, like, I'm glad I stayed quiet because, like,

this person really opened up here.

And there was, like, progress with where they're moving in their spiritual journey.

And you get the pleasure, as a host, to walk alongside those people during

that journey, if you so are willing.

Or it potentially to just needs a little bit of guidance, like, because

sometimes people, it's very broad, right?

It's like, okay, let's, let's get more specific.

Let's take that next step.

James Browning: And that's the value of your small group is this is a opportunity

where you can Basically get together with a think tank for your dream and say, not

Bradley: a counseling session, though, right?

James Browning: a counseling session, a think tank that where they can cheer

you on, but also hold you accountable.

Say like, okay, if this is your dream, what, what are you doing?

If this is something that you think is from God, what steps

of obedience are you taking?

Bradley: guys have a

great opportunity to really just set the table for people being

comfortable to share their dreams?

And with that, everybody just walking on the same journey together.

Different journeys, but parallel paths, perhaps, of Taking their next steps.

James Browning: So Bradley you also lead an on campus group.

What are some tips for some of the other people who lead on campus groups here?

Bradley: Yeah, I, for the record, I lead an online group and I lead an on campus.

But that to say, I think if you are someone who is leading an online

group, just be aware that you do, only one person can speak at a time.

And that is just the unfortunate part about online, there's no side chatter.

So with that, be very considerate of people's time.

Be thinking about how to maximize people's time.

So do more breakout rooms, ideally.

But set the stage of like, making sure people are prepared before

they go into the breakout room.

Now if you are meeting on campus though, Um, I do feel like dinners

and, uh, appetizers and snacks really do make people feel comfortable.

Cause again, in scripture shows, like, everybody breaks bread and that's where

the community and the conversation just naturally happens as people are eating.

Um, and then I would also say too, don't always have to take it too seriously.

Have fun.

If, uh, you spend and camp out on one question, That's okay.

You don't need to go through all three or five of the questions to

make sure you completed the series.

That's alright.

So make sure, again, be praying for that discernment, uh, where's

God gonna work and, uh, guide you in this series and lean into that.

Don't just be like, okay, I see God over there, but let me keep

continuing on these questions.

James Browning: All right.

I love that Bradley.

Those are just some great tips, but again, if you have some great tips,

we would love to hear them, please.

Feel free to reply to the weekly emails that we send out, or you can also

email us at smallgroupsatsaddleback.

com and share your dream now story.

Honestly, if you and your group record a question just on your, on your phone

or record a story or anything that came out from your, uh, small group,

we'd email that to us and we'd love to actually include it in the next episode.

Again, share a story with us, share one of the dreams that someone in your small

group had, and the other thing is we are big, huge fans of Tattletales here.

Bradley: Oh, speak for yourself, James.

James Browning: no, I love them.

I love them because telltales get a bad rep.

I'll, I'll give you that what we're actually looking for though, is

for you to tell on something that you heard God say in someone else.

We most frequently hear God either in our own quiet time or in our small group.

And so in your small group, you're going to hear someone say something

that like, Oh, that is a genius idea.

What I'd love for you to do is pull out your phone, say,

Hey, could you say that again?

Record it in your phone and email it to us.

And we want to share it in the next episode.

So, with that, I'm James Browning

Bradley: your

James Browning: we will see you next week.

Bradley: school.

What burden on God's heart is he asking me to carry?

What would I do for God if I knew I wouldn't fail?

What's in my hand?