
But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what is says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22, NLT)

We fool ourselves all the time. Who reading this has made a plan in the past to spend time with God, read the bible, pray more and prioritized work, friends, tv, sleep? We are fooling ourselves to think that we need these things more than we need God.

For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in the mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (James 1: 23-24, NLT)

When we choose other things over God, we forget what He looks like, we forget why it matters to know Him. The things we choose over God, become more important and dictate our time and attention. That is how we get caught up in the things of this world.

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free (God’s word), and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:25, NLT)

By choosing to focus on God as a regular practice, you will begin to experience the blessing that James is talking about. We want that for you. That is why we’ve highlighted several ways you can begin to focus on God more in your life with the [Experience Growth worksheet](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/02/Experience-Plan.pdf). We encourage everyone to choose 1 – 3 way(s) to practice focusing on God in your life and share your experience with us.


Experience Growth

2019 Dinner Groups resume the week of January 7th and new groups launch January 21st. You can sign up for a Dinner Group now! Dinner Groups are a great way to find a place to belong, start building community by engaging with God, all while having fun.

Here are 5 reasons we think you should join us for dinner in 2019:

**1\. Dinner is planned**

It is nice to know that you have one less dinner to plan each week. In 2019, we ate over 2,400 meals together. Dinner groups meet weekly, share a meal together and open conversations that lead to spiritual growth. Each group does dinner in their own way. Some groups order in, some take turns cooking, others do potlucks or go out. When you sign up, the leader will let you know how they organize dinner.

**2\. Consistent encouragement**

Whether it’s spending daily time with God, serving the community, being baptized, or another milestone, Dinner Group members encourage each other to take that next step. We are all at different points in our journey. Taking a step of faith can be intimidating, but you don’t have to take that step alone. You will have people rooting for you as you move forward and people who have your back when you fear you might fail. Dinner Group gives you a front row seat to watch the faith of others in action. Your faith will grow as you see Him at work in the group.

**3\. No long-term commitment needed**

The majority of our Dinner Groups run all year long. You are welcome to join any group. All of our new groups start on a 10-week trial. Brand new groups created for those engaging dinner group for the first time. These groups are a perfect way to form new relationships with others who are also trying this out for the first time. Be assured, you are not the only one who is new.

**4\. It is a chance to be real for once**

We are always going through life trying to fit in. A lot of the time that means we have to “fake it ’til we make it.” Dinner Groups are a place where you can let your guard down and be authentic. Often we hear Sunday’s conversation and think, “This is just for me!” Then we go to group to find out that we are all dealing with similar struggles. It helps to know that others are facing the same difficulties, or have already walked through them.

**5\. Find family in Hoboken**

The strongest families are forged by sharing a meal around a table. People have traveled from all over to call Hoboken home. As a result, Hoboken Grace is made up of people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. It’s around these tables that you will establish and deepen relationships with people God has uniquely made and placed in your life. Your Dinner Group will grow together — enduring trials and making memories, just like a family.

We saved you a seat. Will you join us?

_To find a Dinner Group that is right for you,[ visit here.](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/dinnergroups/#join)_


5 Reasons To Sign Up for a Dinner Group

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A Diverse, Growing, Contemporary, Community Church in Hoboken

Everything we do revolves around our mission of helping people find their way back to God. Our goal is to demonstrate who God really is and to let others know that God wants a relationship with each and every one of us.

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