WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.920 Hannah Browning: [Mic bleed] Hi, I'm Hannah and I am the early childhood 00:00:14.920 --> 00:00:17.060 pastor at the Lake Forest campus. 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:17.910 Happy to be here. 00:00:20.040 --> 00:00:20.390 Thanks. 00:00:20.865 --> 00:00:22.115 James Browning: This week, we're going to be talking about 00:00:22.115 --> 00:00:23.725 Dream Now for your family. 00:00:24.135 --> 00:00:28.195 Hannah, what are you most excited about as Saddleback is called 00:00:28.195 --> 00:00:30.025 to Dream Now during this series? 00:00:30.470 --> 00:00:32.870 Hannah Browning: Well, week two is probably gonna be my 00:00:32.870 --> 00:00:35.060 favorite because I love families. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:38.660 That's part of what I do with my ministry, is minister to little kids 00:00:38.660 --> 00:00:43.190 and their families, and I have two children myself, so I am all about it. 00:00:44.030 --> 00:00:47.030 James Browning: I'm happy to hear that because Listener, Hannah is also my 00:00:47.030 --> 00:00:49.010 wife and her children are my children. 00:00:49.790 --> 00:00:50.780 ,We are a family. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:51.920 So, this is a big week. 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:56.060 at the Browning House, as we also are going through Dream now 00:00:56.060 --> 00:00:57.680 in our small group as a family. 00:00:58.245 --> 00:00:59.435 So, what does it? 00:00:59.435 --> 00:01:01.625 mean to dream For your family? 00:01:01.655 --> 00:01:05.515 What does it mean for families with children, for families who are newly 00:01:05.525 --> 00:01:10.235 married, for empty nesters, and even for people who are not married 00:01:10.525 --> 00:01:12.688 but are part of a broader family? 00:01:13.738 --> 00:01:20.948 we wanted to spend a few moments talking about how to Be a small group with kids. 00:01:21.048 --> 00:01:27.358 So Hannah, what are some of your tips for Hosting a small group while families 00:01:27.358 --> 00:01:28.756 have kids or bringing their kids 00:01:29.748 --> 00:01:31.988 Hannah Browning: of course, there's a lot of different possibilities with 00:01:32.008 --> 00:01:37.028 age ranges and you can obviously adapt things, but, from my experience, we 00:01:37.028 --> 00:01:42.008 have young children, early elementary age and, we're not actually hosts. 00:01:42.008 --> 00:01:46.988 We go to someone's home every week with our children and, I have to 00:01:46.988 --> 00:01:50.418 say our hosts do a great job of supporting us as parents with what 00:01:50.418 --> 00:01:52.368 we need for our young kids each week. 00:01:53.038 --> 00:01:59.148 So, sometimes we bring iPads for them at some point and so we can have a discussion 00:01:59.698 --> 00:02:03.918 and they are always open to like, oh, here, let us get you the Wi Fi code. 00:02:03.918 --> 00:02:07.588 Let there have a space for our kids to be in, um, if that's what we ask 00:02:07.588 --> 00:02:08.818 for and what we need in the moment. 00:02:09.698 --> 00:02:12.458 They're also really supportive if we want to bring our kids into 00:02:12.458 --> 00:02:13.838 certain aspects of the group. 00:02:13.918 --> 00:02:15.918 Like, they'll join us for prayer sometimes. 00:02:15.968 --> 00:02:19.728 Or, when it's the end of our Bible discussion maybe, and we 00:02:19.728 --> 00:02:22.298 want to just fellowship, we'll bring the kids in with us. 00:02:22.318 --> 00:02:25.348 And they're definitely welcoming to them in that way as well. 00:02:26.138 --> 00:02:28.768 James Browning: And I, I don't want to sugar coat it because bringing 00:02:28.768 --> 00:02:33.438 kids to a small group is different than just going as a couple. 00:02:33.948 --> 00:02:39.148 But I think that for all of the additional challenges and logistics, 00:02:39.488 --> 00:02:43.768 it's worth it because we are building a stronger home and we are modeling a 00:02:43.768 --> 00:02:45.768 value that is important to our family. 00:02:46.063 --> 00:02:49.313 Hannah Browning: Yeah, it is definitely messy sometimes, but that's, I 00:02:49.313 --> 00:02:50.973 mean, how parents parenting is. 00:02:51.668 --> 00:02:53.928 James Browning: Yeah, I, 100 percent agree. 00:02:53.928 --> 00:02:57.448 I, think that it is a picture of small groups as a whole. 00:02:57.748 --> 00:03:01.808 If you were to describe to someone just the logistics of parenting, just 00:03:01.818 --> 00:03:06.298 the dirty diapers, the driving kids around, the fighting over homework, 00:03:06.328 --> 00:03:10.148 the, like, eternal struggle to get them to clean their room or brush their 00:03:10.148 --> 00:03:14.318 teeth, they're all the things that just make them a decent human being. 00:03:14.738 --> 00:03:17.548 I That doesn't sound fun. 00:03:17.558 --> 00:03:21.408 It doesn't say if you were to only describe that to someone, they 00:03:21.408 --> 00:03:22.768 would say, why is it worth it? 00:03:22.778 --> 00:03:25.438 But to anyone who has kids, it is worth it. 00:03:25.448 --> 00:03:28.158 And it's one of the most worthwhile things that we do. 00:03:28.638 --> 00:03:32.308 And that's true of a small group, small groups at times are messy 00:03:32.328 --> 00:03:33.988 because they are relationships. 00:03:34.748 --> 00:03:39.868 I, and, uh, because people have feelings because people have opinions that are 00:03:39.868 --> 00:03:45.573 different than yours, that people have, uh, Things going on in their lives that 00:03:45.573 --> 00:03:51.343 make it hard, but it's so much more worth it because we're growing together In the 00:03:51.343 --> 00:03:56.073 same way that family grows together and because God is using them to shape me 00:03:58.013 --> 00:04:02.333 So Hannah, do you have any other tips for any small group that wants to 00:04:02.333 --> 00:04:04.808 Bring wants to include kids in that 00:04:05.114 --> 00:04:07.157 Hannah Browning: a theme in 00:04:07.488 --> 00:04:09.268 James Browning: This is a theme in all of our podcasts. 00:04:09.478 --> 00:04:10.428 Uh, snacks. 00:04:10.478 --> 00:04:11.948 is central And. 00:04:12.038 --> 00:04:16.638 honestly, this goes back to what we talked about last week in that being prepared. 00:04:16.638 --> 00:04:22.478 If you are a host having game ideas, snacks, a movie and popcorn, 00:04:22.498 --> 00:04:24.888 something like that for the kids, Or. 00:04:24.978 --> 00:04:27.478 even discussion questions for the, to include the kids, 00:04:27.478 --> 00:04:28.698 depending on how old they are. 00:04:28.723 --> 00:04:31.673 Hannah Browning: Yeah, I think it's great when a host can set the expectation ahead 00:04:31.673 --> 00:04:36.073 of time of like, if they know some of the, their members have children, just 00:04:36.103 --> 00:04:40.233 going out of your way to be clear about like, yes, we are expecting your children. 00:04:40.243 --> 00:04:43.543 We have, we're ready for them, whatever that might look like. 00:04:44.158 --> 00:04:48.598 Making that clear that children are welcome and having snacks, that's 00:04:48.608 --> 00:04:51.618 got to be the number one reason why how we get our kids out the 00:04:51.618 --> 00:04:53.278 door on Friday nights for group. 00:04:53.488 --> 00:04:55.738 They're like, okay, we're tired. 00:04:55.738 --> 00:04:57.148 We've had a long week of school. 00:04:57.148 --> 00:04:58.808 We'd rather just stay home and watch TV. 00:04:58.808 --> 00:04:59.418 Wait a minute. 00:04:59.858 --> 00:05:00.878 There's going to be snacks there. 00:05:01.488 --> 00:05:02.448 Okay, let's go. 00:05:02.618 --> 00:05:04.728 And that is huge for us. 00:05:04.738 --> 00:05:05.938 It's something to look forward to. 00:05:05.978 --> 00:05:08.078 And they know that they can expect that every week. 00:05:08.178 --> 00:05:09.828 And sometimes we bring the snacks to 00:05:10.583 --> 00:05:12.733 James Browning: And I, I will say that. 00:05:12.803 --> 00:05:18.513 exercising patience and forgiveness at times as a host is valuable. 00:05:19.903 --> 00:05:23.803 Heavenly father let us forgive others as our host has forgiven us 00:05:23.803 --> 00:05:28.333 because we have uh, our kids have broken things at their house before 00:05:28.878 --> 00:05:30.348 Hannah Browning: multiple interruptions. 00:05:31.423 --> 00:05:33.203 James Browning: And so they are 00:05:33.233 --> 00:05:39.318 exceedingly gracious and forgiving and honestly that is a valuable 00:05:39.318 --> 00:05:40.678 thing and a blessing to us. 00:05:40.798 --> 00:05:43.958 Hannah Browning: Yeah, another thing that's really helpful if you do have 00:05:43.968 --> 00:05:48.198 kids in your group, no matter what level they're involved in, if every member 00:05:48.198 --> 00:05:53.978 comes prepared, like we're, we want to make the most of our time and not that, 00:05:54.108 --> 00:05:58.128 you know, catching up in relational, like just conversation isn't valuable, 00:05:58.128 --> 00:06:01.378 but like, if it's important for you to get through a certain chapter of a book, 00:06:01.718 --> 00:06:05.108 like be ready when you get there because you don't know exactly how much time 00:06:05.108 --> 00:06:06.808 you have before everything falls apart. 00:06:06.823 --> 00:06:09.853 James Browning: Can you tell which one in our relationship is the one who keeps the 00:06:09.853 --> 00:06:11.853 small group moving on time and which one 00:06:11.928 --> 00:06:13.798 Hannah Browning: I'm like, all right, let's keep it moving, guys. 00:06:13.843 --> 00:06:17.513 James Browning: This is why we are complementary as a couple. 00:06:17.648 --> 00:06:18.288 Hannah Browning: Yes. 00:06:18.498 --> 00:06:18.968 Uh huh. 00:06:19.378 --> 00:06:21.248 So being mindful of time. 00:06:21.448 --> 00:06:25.608 Set realistic time expectations for what, you know, everyone in your group 00:06:25.618 --> 00:06:27.738 can handle and stick to it, please. 00:06:28.803 --> 00:06:34.043 James Browning: Alright, and lastly, the same thing that is true for all 00:06:34.053 --> 00:06:35.663 groups, whether you have kids or not. 00:06:36.048 --> 00:06:37.408 is to be a good listener. 00:06:37.498 --> 00:06:43.008 People are sharing, people are, parents are trying to, talk about what's going 00:06:43.008 --> 00:06:44.408 on in their life while their kids are 00:06:44.408 --> 00:06:46.958 like yelling about something on the iPad in the other room 00:06:46.958 --> 00:06:53.268 or whatever But as a host be a good listener and be intentional. 00:06:53.708 --> 00:06:58.528 And also, even though our kids may be on iPads, it's a great time to put your 00:06:58.528 --> 00:07:00.848 phone away and ask follow up questions. 00:07:02.323 --> 00:07:06.733 We want to look at how all of that can work in together, dreaming for future 00:07:06.733 --> 00:07:11.223 generations, , it's a fun and exciting time to dream together as a family. 00:07:11.803 --> 00:07:16.673 And for some of you this may seem like a new thing, but Saddleback is actually. 00:07:16.673 --> 00:07:17.896 built on this kind of thing. 00:07:18.684 --> 00:07:23.754 You recently had some volunteers who just retired a husband and wife. 00:07:24.064 --> 00:07:28.304 Hannah Browning: The Reedy's are a couple who have been serving at Lake 00:07:28.304 --> 00:07:34.739 Forest in the kindergarten classroom for 26 years and they started out when 00:07:34.739 --> 00:07:40.199 their own kids were young And they were faithful, they served together as a 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:42.499 couple, as a team every single weekend. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:46.509 And they just now retired last year from SK. 00:07:46.869 --> 00:07:50.739 And they handed over their classroom to a couple of young 00:07:50.739 --> 00:07:52.359 ladies who are in college now. 00:07:52.799 --> 00:07:57.499 Who had been also in the Reedy's class when they were in kindergarten and 00:07:57.499 --> 00:08:01.579 they grew up together and they served together as students in the Reedy's class. 00:08:01.599 --> 00:08:04.449 And now they are adults and officially have taken over the class. 00:08:04.479 --> 00:08:07.979 And that's what the Reedy's were waiting for to pass their, , ministry 00:08:07.979 --> 00:08:10.199 down to the next generation. 00:08:10.299 --> 00:08:11.049 That was really cool. 00:08:11.409 --> 00:08:15.139 James Browning: I think that it's such a good picture of legacy 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.299 and we get to see the whole picture from this Right now we're 00:08:18.299 --> 00:08:19.959 launching our stronger homes initiative. 00:08:20.479 --> 00:08:23.309 We're working on building a family equipping center, but it can 00:08:23.309 --> 00:08:24.829 be Hard to see the big picture. 00:08:24.859 --> 00:08:28.939 And I think the Reedy's are such a perfect illustration of that. 00:08:29.349 --> 00:08:32.619 Each one has their unique shape and specific gifting. 00:08:33.089 --> 00:08:37.459 But together their shapes form a complementary whole. 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:40.569 Hannah Browning: And that really is displayed in our small group. 00:08:40.729 --> 00:08:45.109 A small group is an entire family affair for us every week and, um, 00:08:45.109 --> 00:08:46.359 it's really interesting with kids. 00:08:46.924 --> 00:08:47.254 James Browning: Yes. 00:08:47.264 --> 00:08:48.004 so don't forget. 00:08:48.014 --> 00:08:53.394 to send in stories of your dreams, whether that's your, own individual 00:08:53.404 --> 00:08:55.184 dream or your family's dream. 00:08:55.454 --> 00:08:58.734 We'd love to share those dreams on this podcast. 00:08:59.054 --> 00:09:02.914 So Hannah, thank you for joining us and we'll see you. 00:09:02.914 --> 00:09:03.584 all next week.