Following Jesus Together

In this episode, Justin is joined by Ryan Wester and special guest Matt Chandler to discuss the heart behind our upcoming sermon series on the book of Philippians. We explore what makes this New Testament letter so unique, why our church needs this message right now, and how our Home Groups can partner with the teaching to foster deeper community and spiritual growth.

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Justin and Ryan are joined by Matt Chandler to discuss "Consecrate"—a special time of intentionally pulling away corporately so that we can receive His presence, hear His voice, and respond in obedience. Resources to Help You Prepare For Consecrate Read this article on the Hebrides Revival Watch these videos on the History of Revival by Edwin Orr.    Listen to this sermon by Pete Hughes.   Listen to this podcast on the urgency of the moment.   Listen to this podcast on how God uses the consecrated.     Listen to worship playlists on Spotify or Apple Music.   Use this Prayer Wheel to guide your time in prayer.  Read through this Holy Spirit F.A.Q. for families.

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Ryan and Justin are joined by the home groups team to discuss our structure as a church and how we are set up to care for one another.   Resources Home Group Leadership Structure TVC Care Paper

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Ryan and Justin discuss the current sermon series and how it relates to home groups at TVC.   Resources At The Table sermon discussion guide  TVC Pathway Event (Saturday) (Sunday)

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Ryan and Justin discuss the current sermon series and how it relates to home groups at TVC.   Resources At The Table sermon discussion guide  TVC Pathway Event (Saturday) (Sunday)

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Justin Elafros and Ryan Wester close the 3-part series on being a “non-anxious presence” and practical ways to help diffuse anxiety in us and around us.

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Justin Elafros and Ryan Wester continue the conversation about being a “non-anxious presence” and specifically, naming some of the relational and internal dynamics that we all face in life and leadership.

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Justin Elafros and Ryan Wester introduce a 3-part series on the concept of being a “non-anxious presence” and why that is important to a life with Jesus. They also discuss how this may impact home groups and provide guidance on navigating the leadership tensions that we all face. Resources Managing Leadership Anxiety Non-Anxious Presence

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Justin Elafros and Ryan Wester are joined by Matt Chandler. They dive into the upcoming sermon series, Yahweh Part II, which begins September 13-14th. Matt shares the heart behind this 9-week series, which focuses on the communicable attributes of God. Matt gives an invitation on how we can all marvel at God and how that transforms our lives.

In our last episode of Season 2, Colleen Searcy joins us as we work through what it looks like to practice spiritual disciplines TOGETHER.

1 Corinthians 12 says that spiritual gifts are given for the benefit (common good) of the entire body.  Yet, many followers of Jesus don’t know or aren’t using their gifts for the common good of the body of Christ.  In this episode, we explore ways of identifying and encouraging the members of our Home Group to use their spiritual gifts.

In this episode of the Following Jesus Together podcast, Justin Elafros and Ryan Wester are joined by Matt Chandler. They dive into the upcoming sermon series Yahweh, which begins March 15-16th. Matt shares the heart behind this 5-week series, which focuses on the incommunicable attributes of God. Matt gives an invitation for how we can all marvel at God and how that transforms our lives. As a bonus, we also talk about a 3 week mini-series on “Masculinity” starting April 26-27th. Mentioned Resources The Checklist Manifesto

On February 28th, 2025 we will gather as The Global Church for Gather25. In this bonus episode Pastor Matt Chandler gives a vision and hope for this event and how our Home Groups can participate. Register Here to attend.

Join us on the Following Jesus Together podcast we explore leadership concepts, leadership within a group setting, and personal growth. We discuss the impact of high trust and accountability in leadership roles, using personal stories to illustrate how being invited into leadership, even when feeling unprepared, can lead to growth and confidence. We explore the barriers that often prevent leaders from sharing responsibilities, touching on the contrast between scarcity and abundance mindsets and encouraging leaders to approach delegation with prayer and openness. Highlighting the importance of feedback and communication, we advocate for mutual accountability and clear expectations to ease transitions and enhance teaching or leadership experiences. Resources www.maxwellleadership.com Managing Leadership Anxiety by Steve Cuss Being Human with Steve Cuss Podcast -- Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.

No one wants to be a part of a home group that feels stuck or lost. In this episode, we talk through practical examples of how you can breathe life into the lungs of your home group. - “Beware the soul-sucking voice of reasonableness” The Power of Moments Men’s Weekend - January 17th-18th

In this episode, we invite Wade Bryant (Senior Director of Connections and Events) to explore Home Groups as being extensions of the local body and what it looks like for our Home Groups to participate in the church family. Wade also dives into church membership—what that looks like here at TVC and what the heart is behind it.  Resources Men’s Weekend - January 17th-18th

In this third and last episode of our mini-series on Home Base, we spend time talking about what this practically looks like for your Home Group to buy-in to the concept of Home Base.  Taking a closer look at what this looks like within the framework of Gather, Include, and Bless.  And how we can champion other Home Group members to step into the talent and heart that God’s given them. We lastly mention two upcoming connect events for Women's Local Tables and Men's Fire Nights along with more ways of how to step into different discipleship spaces here at TVC. You can find the link to each here. Resources Women's Local Tables - December 5th, 2024 Men's Fire Night - November 15th, 2024 Men's Weekend - January 2025 Men's Retreat - April 2025 Women's Weekend - May 2025

In this episode we are joined again by Pastor Matt Chandler to introduce our upcoming sermon series, “Thrones and Thorns.” With the upcoming contentious election cycle, Pastor Matt highlights the importance of guiding the Church through politically charged environments and focusing on grace, prayerfulness, and the distinction between God’s kingdom and earthly empires. We will also briefly cover the overall outline for the 6 week series. Lastly, we also address the challenges group leaders face during politically charged times, emphasizing the need for intentional and constructive conversations with group members and offer encouragement and hope.

In this bonus episode, we dive into a new gathering we are launching at TVC in partnership with TVC Men.  We talk through what a fire night is and how to lead one.  Fire Nights exists to help men go deeper with their relationship with God, other men, and themselves.  Many men want to go deeper but they don’t know how and need a guide. Resources TVC Fire Night leader resource

We continue our exploration of the idea of home groups serving as home base. Specifically, we talk through how teenage students interact with a home group with one of our Student Ministers, Amber Wilkin. At the end we have a bonus interview with one of our TVC Lay Elders (Bruno Paiva) and his wife to hear what it practically looked like to raise several teenagers through their years of leading a Home Group.

In this first episode of Season 2, we spend time talking through the idea of home groups as home base. Home groups are a space to develop deep relationships as you interact with the other discipleship environments of our church. The less relational your church, the less transformational your church. Recommended Resources Family Discipleship Episode

In this episode, we discuss the importance of facilitation and how it impacts your group. We give practical coaching in ways to redirect and help others stay on the journey of learning together. Formation is not an individual process and part of the job of the leader is to draw others out to be formed in community.

On this episode, we are joined by our very own Matt McCauley to talk about how to build and foster family discipleship practices into your home group rhythms. Helpful resources: Home Group Family Discipleship Video Family Discipleship Book  Group Time Guide TVC Kids Songs Rhythm examples  Other Group Resources* *Only accessible by TVC Home Group Leaders or emailing [email protected] on a case by case basis.

In this episode, the Home Groups team discusses the top five most common questions that we receive from our leaders. If you have follow up questions on anything said, please reach out to your Minister or Mentor!  Top Five Questions:  What do I do with group time? (3:43) How do I pursue depth over width? (11:15) How to multiply well? (18:12) What to do with inconsistent group members? (29:07) What do I do when a group member experiences deep loss/crisis or confesses significant sin? (33:53) What do we do with the kids? (Listen to the Family Discipleship Episode next month!)

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Chandler to hear more about our next sermon series at TVC: Beyond. We talk about what the series will cover and why Matt and the Elders are leading us in this direction and how we can partner with them! Resources: Beyond Book Landing page TVC Men’s Forum Registration link

On our first episode of 2024, we sit down with Grant McCurdy (Director of Worship) and Will Raies (Worship Minister) to talk about the importance of worshiping together in community. They do a beautiful job talking through the rich biblical theology of worship for the believer, and the practicals of worshiping as a home group.   Resources mentioned:  TVC Worship Songs  Power of Song Sermon  Additional Resources: Spotify The Village Kids Playlist - another great resource for songs to sing together when including kids! (can also be found on Apple Music)

On this episode we sit with Reagan Heflin to talk about some of our classes through the Sending Department. Take a listen and consider doing a class and incorporating some of these elements together as you grow in both community AND mission together.     Helpful resources: Local Missions page (various opportunities are listed at the bottom of the page) Mission of God or Outreach Training Sign Up 

In this episode, the Groups Team discusses an alternative to “breaks” and how to redeem natural rhythms throughout the year to creatively serve one another, the community around you, and celebrate together.  Top 4 things to consider as a leader to set the tone during the Holiday season: Plan with a purpose and be mindful of full schedules.   It’s biblical to Celebrate together.  Be Creative and call others into helping serve in areas that help them flourish in their gifts.   Be aware of those whom this season is hard for (I.e. loss, singleness, widower, away from family, hard family dynamics, etc.) Additional Resources: TVC Seasons Guide* Advent Blocks  Marc's Santa Family Picture *Only accessible by TVC Home Group Leaders or emailing [email protected] on a case by case basis.

In this episode, our Local Missions Director Andy Green, joins us as we talk about prayer. We discuss the vision and practical steps of what it looks like to participate corporately in “month of prayer” as a group and establish a regular practice of prayer together.   Resources Mentioned: Digital Prayer Guide Prayer Wheel  Month of Prayer Sign up Additional Resources: 7 Easy Tips for Personal Prayer Prayer in Group* *Only accessible by TVC Home Group Leaders or emailing [email protected] on a case by case basis.

Last week we talked about Gather, Include, Bless. In this bonus episode, we sit down with some of our leaders to hear first hand how to faithfully implement this rhythm and some of the fruit that can come from it.  Helpful Resources Evaluation tool  Local Missions page (various opportunities are listed at the bottom of the page) Group Rhythms Calendar tool  Third place* Group Evaluation* Bless Opportunities Mentioned A Team - A group that partners with a missionary overseas to support, advocate, and care for them within the local church body.  Mission of God  CCA  Blue Haven Ranch Valley Creek Serve the City  Journey to Dream Shop with a cop *Only accessible by TVC Home Group Leaders or emailing [email protected] on a case by case basis.

In this third episode we begin to discuss the answer to one of the top questions we get asked … What does a Home Group do?  At TVC, we feel that if you focus too much on care/community you crush your group and if you focus too much on mission you can equally crush your group. In scripture we see the people of God do both … Gospel in and Gospel out.   Helpful definitions and examples:  2:1:1 Model: A simple formula to think about as you plan your rhythms as a group.  Gather (2x) Include (1x) Bless (1x) 5 Elements of a Home Group (Acts 2): Bible Worship Fellowship Mission Prayer Resources/books mentioned * Home Group monthly rhythm examples here Elements of a Home Group video here* *Only accessible by TVC Home Group Leaders or emailing [email protected] on a case by case basis.

In this second portion of the 2-part episode we begin to discuss how community ministry plays into our formation of following Jesus. If “love is the greatest marker of spiritual maturity” then how do we live this out as a community? Resources mentioned: When the church was a family by Joseph Hellerman

In this 2-part episode we start by sharing how the Lord used community ministry in our life and why we have felt called to give our lives to leading it. We also begin to prime the pump for how community ministry plays into our formation of following Jesus.

In this episode the TVC Home Groups team discuss the hopes and dreams of the podcast and why we would start one!