NEW BELIEVERS: Starting Point
Starting Point is a conversational environment where people can explore faith and experience community. Starting Point groups are a safe place for people with questions about faith, as well as those who want to learn about the Bible and Christianity. Groups meet for about 10 weeks and together explore the grand story of the Bible. One of the goals of Starting Point is to help participants find their places in the story.
Who is it for?
Seekers – those who are curious about God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity
Starters – those who have just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ
Returners – those who have some church experience, but have been away for a while
TRUTH PROJECT: Focus on the Family
DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 13 one-hour
lessons. This home study is the starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.
PARENTING: The 5 Love Languages and Wrestling with Gorillas and
5 LLs- According to Dr. Gary Chapman, understanding your love language and that of your loved one is a way to breath life into these efforts. WWG- In this practical and powerful parenting series you will learn the five most important strategies to ensure a happy family.
MARRIAGE: Staying in Love and Fireproof my Marriage
Falling in love is easy, but staying there, that’s something else entirely. Finding a romantic match can be easier than ever. But staying together with the one you’ve found seems to be the real challenge.
Fireproof Your Marriage will challenge you to love better, love first and love for a lifetime.
MARRIAGE: Essential Tools for Marriage
What do a championship football team and a good marriage have in common?
The players study their plays, know their skills, and practice them continuously— and thereby become winners. Our marriage group will focus on learning the skills required to be a champion in marriage. You may have never seen marriage skills modeled for you, but in our group, you will see them, learn them and practice them till you are a success at the most crucial skills for marriage success. We will start with a 4-video series by Andy Stanley, called “Staying in Love”, and then move to learning some easy, effective methods for making your spouse your best friend, dealing with conflict, increasing romance, and surviving the stresses of life together.
Joe and Karen Johnson have been marriage educators for 20 years, and will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in October. Through those years, they made 3 children, survived three adolescents, gained 2 Navy SEAL son-in-laws, were blessed with 5 grandchildren, lived in at least 11 houses, lost thousands of dollars, weathered the deepest kind of loss, argued at least 3900+ times , laughed 39,000 times and still say “I love you” before falling asleep at night.
Please join us for a good time this Winter!
Financial Peace University
Financial Peace University classes meet for two hours each week for 13 weeks, during which time the average family pays off $5300 in debt and saves $2700.
Cost
The class costs $100, per married couple or single adult, which also covers the cost of the FPU Membership Kit, which includes:
- The class workbook
- An audio CD with all 13 lessons
- The book “Financial Peace” by Dave Ramsey
- Lots of budgeting forms
- A cash-envelope system
- A bonus CD-ROM
We realize that the $100 fee for Financial Peace University may be difficult for some to afford. We have some scholarship opportunities available so that people in need may learn the skills necessary to achieve financial peace. We would expect anyone who has used a scholarship to commit to attending all 13 sessions and scholarship someone in the next class ($100)
Childcare
WOMEN’S GROUP: Fearless
Can you imagine your life without fear?
In his book Fearless, Max Lucado offers hope and calm in a time of unprecedented fear in our nation and the world.Now Max’s timeless messages are also available in a DVD-based study that can be used for individual reflection or small-group discussion.Fearless draws from Jesus’ encounters with people in frightening situations giving evidence that we can trust God through these scary times.In six sessions, Max takes a close look at our greatest fears and offers scripturally based reassurance and guidance through even the toughest moments of our lives.This companion discussion guide can be used for personal journalling or as a prompt for open-hearted discussions with your small group.Let Max Lucado show you how to find a sense of peace and security in today’s troubled world.
WOW! - Women on Wednesday’s!
The health of your faith matters to God, because a faith that isn’t growing prevents a person from living up to his or her potential in establishing his Kingdom.
Leader: Melissa Swisher swishers5@yahoo.com & Karen Johnson joemaui@gmail.com
When: Wednesday @ 9:30am
Where: Essential Church 4020 Ware Neck Dr. VB 23456
Childcare
COUPLES: Crazy Love
It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God.
Leaders: Ramsey Goshert
OPEN TO ALL: Book of Galatians
Paul is bewildered by the spiritual decline of the Galatians and so sets out to defend the Gospel he delivered to Galatia as in-line with the rest of the church. He also tells them of the relationship between ‘the law’, faith and Christian liberty. These are still arguments we have today. Legalism and licence are still two extremes we need help with. Study Galatians to balance your life.
OPEN TO ALL: Crazy Love
It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God.
MEN’S GROUP: Thursday Morning Men’s Group
MEN’S MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GROUP
This grou
p is for guys who like to hang out and do guy stuff. In addition to whatever we are currently studying, we get together to watch football, NCAA Tourney, UFC, or some classic guy movies. This fall we will be meeting together from 6:30 to 7:55 before we watch Monday Night Football together.
Leaders: Pastor Steve & Mario Rosales
When: Monday Nights – begins at 6:30pm
Where: We rotate around from house to house depending on whose wife will let us come over for the night. Send an email here to find out where we’re at this week.















My husband and I are interested in the staying in love group. I did not see contact info for this group. Also, we have kids. Any chance anyone in group with kids would like to take turns watching each others children? I am not available for the Tuesday night groups at this time because of my work schedule, but we would really like to start getting to be involved with a group.
My husband and I would like to join the Parenting small group but couldn’t find an email for Ramsey to sign up. We will be out of town next week so we won’t be able to sign up at church. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated!
Chira
I will pass this information on to Ramsey. I think this group is going to be great.
It will meet at the church on Sunday nights and will have child care.
Hello,
I was interested in signing up for the Parenting study. If there are any spot available, I would like to RSVP these spots with my husband.
Jason and Sarah Lavaway
Sarah
there is room in this study and I will pass your information on to Ramsey.
I am sure this is going to be a great study. It will be at the church on Sunday nights and there will be child care.
Is there still room in the Financial Peace University?
Stefani
There is still room and I have forwarded your info to Eli. He should be in contact soon. Thanks<><
Hi Bobby! Is there still room in your group (The Truth Project)? If so, I would be very interested.
Thanks,
Andrea Benson
The hubs & I are newly married and interested in the “Staying in Love & Fireproofing My Marriage” small groups. We currently attend another church. Is now a good time to join in a group? Please send me the leaders’ emails so I can get in touch with them. Thank you!
Hello Essential church,
My husband and I are interested in the Financial Peace w/ Ron and Holly Johnson on Friday nites. Please let me know if this study is still available.
Sarah Lavaway
Hi! Abs and I are intersted in the Marriage: Essential Tools for Marriage led by the Johnsons. Is there still room for us? We’ll also be utilizing the babysitting services.
Sarah….. I put you and Jason on the signup sheet for Friday Nights. This class is being moved to the church to accommodate the large number of participants.
Julie…. I will let Joe and Karen know of your interest. And yes, there is room for you guys!
<><
Bobby