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Introducing God puts the propositions of the Biblical metanarrative (summarised by the Two Ways to Live presentation) into relational clothes.
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The difference Jesus makes weekend
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To view a sample multi-media clip, click here.
The logic of Introducing God
The God to whom we are introduced in Introducing God is the God of the Bible. We get to know God gradually as we look together at key passages in his biography. Each session of the course is based on a chapter of the Bible.
The course is flexible and can be run as either an Introductory Session plus six, plus eight or plus eight and the weekend/day away.
We anticipate some groups might be nervous at running the full twelve sessions the first time they use the material. But groups will discover by experience that running the full length of the course is worth it to give the relationships time to properly build, and so the second time around, we expect groups are more likely to run the course as the full 12-session package.
Introductory Session (Acts 17)
The Introductory Session is in the pagan amphitheatre in Athens as the Apostle Paul interacts with the pluralistic multicultural crowd of the first century, putting his thesis to those who will listen. As he speaks of the resurrection of Jesus, some sneer, but others say they would like to hear more. For those who would like to hear more, the course proper begins.
Main Series (Genesis 1—Revelation 22)
In the main series of Introducing God, guests are asked to suspend judgement on the question of the Bible’s authority and to “come with me on a walk in my worldview”.
Session 1: God, us and the meaning of life (Genesis 1)
As we start on the first page of the Bible, we meet the God who made the world in an orderly patterned way. This God created a world that is good. We also discover that we are made by God and therefore have meaning and significance. The fact of God’s creation provides a foundation for morality and purpose in human life. |
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Session 2: Our declaration of autonomy (Genesis 3)
In the second session we explore what Introducing God calls “our declaration of autonomy”. Consciously and unconsciously, each of us writes our own rules, goes our own way and does our own thing without reference to God. This attitude is summarised in a quote that I read recently. “The only power I crave in life is to be able to live my life exactly the way I want to”. Our assertion of autonomy amounts to treason against God; it effectively vandalises the good world that he made. |
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Session 3: What will God do about it? (Psalm 2)
God’s response to our declaration of autonomy catches most people by surprise. God’s initial response is to laugh. Our pitiful arrogance in shaking our fists against the God who made the universe is little more than a joke. But God will not let our autonomy and its consequent devastation go unchecked. He appoints a King to rule his world rightly. This king will crush all opposition to God. There will be no refuge from God’s king, but there is an extraordinary promise of refuge in God’s King. |
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Session 4: God’s competent King (Luke 8)
Who is God’s chosen king? Who is the one appointed by God to bring justice and restoration to the vandalised world? In this session we meet Jesus, who demonstrates his competence to rule God’s world. He deals compassionately and powerfully with a sequence of problems caused by nature, sickness, death and evil. |
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Session 5: The death that changes everything (Luke 23)
Amazingly, God’s appointed king is killed—and yet it’s his death that changes everything. The innocent king dies in the place of the guilty world. Here is God’s great solution to the problem of our autonomy. Now we can be restored to God. There are two thieves who are killed with Jesus. One goes to his death mocking God’s chosen king; the other acknowledges and depends on him. This second criminal provides a model for all who wish to find refuge in God’s king. |
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Session 6: God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2)
God raised Jesus to life again as ruler and judge. In his resurrection, Jesus demonstrates that he has conquered death, is able to give new life, and that he will return to judge. Fifty days after his death, Jesus’ followers are in Jerusalem when the Spirit of God comes down on them. They enter into full relationship with God as he gives them his Spirit. This same Spirit is available now to all. Peter declares to those outside that Jesus, who was killed, has now been raised. Consequently, all are to know that God has made this man Jesus, whom they crucified, the appointed king. (Guests are invited to begin a personal relationship with God in this session.) |
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Session 7: How then shall we live? (2 Peter 3)
What are we to make of the fact that the world continues to be a mess, even after the death and resurrection of Jesus? God’s king has come, and yet all over the world people are still shaking their fists in defiance at God. In this session we explore the importance of remembering what God has done and reminding ourselves of what he will do in the future. A clear memory of God’s actions and his promises will shape the way we live now. |
Session 8: Are you thirsty? (Revelation 21-22)
On the last page of the Bible, vivid pictures are used to describe two alternatives. One is life in the heavenly city in peace with God; the other is destruction in a lake of fire. These are the two futures that await at the end of the two paths in life; there are only two ways to live. We are invited again to choose the path that leads to a future with God. |
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The first question of the 21st century person is not “Is it true?”, but “What difference would Jesus make to my life?” We have made this question the focus of our weekend away. We are also introduced in these sessions to a more systematic style of Bible teaching.
Weekend A: The difference Jesus makes to life now (Luke 14)
In this first weekend session we focus on both the pleasure and the price of having a relationship with God through Jesus. We are encouraged to carefully consider the cost of discipleship. We also consider the parallels between the pleasure of eating at a banquet and living with Jesus in heaven.
Weekend B: The difference Jesus makes to relationship with our Father (Luke 15)
In the second session we focus on the greatest story Jesus told—the Prodigal Son. This passage calls us to come home to the banquet and celebrate with our Father in Heaven.
Weekend C: The difference Jesus makes to our future (Luke 16)
In our third weekend session we turn to the future. This talk looks at both a positive and negative example of life—and it explores the consequences after death of the decisions we make now. It is in this session that we deal most fully with what the Bible says about final judgement.
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Two Ways to Live diagrams © Matthias Media 2003, Used with Permission.
Find out: How it works in practice.
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