The Essential Jesus Challenge
Practical Ideas for Exploring the Bible's Greatest Story
for Churches, Groups and Individuals
Imagine the impact of having your entire church, Sunday School or
home group network reading and discussing the Bible's greatest story...
together.
Or imagine the impact of having an outreach Bible study in your
neighborhood or of guiding a non-believing friend, loved one or
colleague through what the Bible says about Jesus.
That's what The Essential Jesus Challenge is all about! This
How To Guide will show you lot's of ways you can help everyone you know
discover for themselves "the Bible's greatest story."
How Does The Challenge Work?
Based on the book, The Essential Jesus, the Challenge
guides participants through the list of short Bible passages following
the storyline of Jesus Christ—25 from the Old Testament and 75
from the New Testament—over a 20-week period. The program is
undated and can be started at any time during the year. And it's
designed to be flexible, too; it fits any time schedule and works with
any Bible translation.
From this website (www.EssentialJesusChallenge.com) you can receive
free down-loadable resources including a How-to Guide, a poster, a
bulletin insert, invitation card and everything you need to make The
Essential Jesus Challenge an effective Bible engagement experience.
Who Should Take The Challenge?
The Essential Jesus Challenge is for anyone who wants
to know more about Jesus. That includes Christians who have never really
read all that the Bible says about Jesus, those not sure about Jesus but
honestly seeking to know more about him and non-believers who want to
make their own assessment of Jesus and his claims— all will find
that The Essential Jesus Challenge helpful. In addition, the
Challenge will help you, your friends, small group or church take an
honest look at what Jesus said and did so you can determine for yourself
who he really is.
To take the Challenge, you'll need a Bible and the book, The
Essential Jesus. It will guide you to read and reflect on 100
carefully-selected passages from the Bible. And you'll want to approach
your journey not with the goal of becoming a theological expert but as
someone with an open mind who wants to get a true understanding of the
most influential person in history.
Don't Go It Alone
The best way to take the Challenge is with another person, as
part of a small group study or a church-wide program. At the end of each
5-reading section in The Essential Jesus, you'll find a page of
discussion questions. Each week, try to complete a set of five readings
on your own. Then get together with your friend or group to talk about
what you've learned.
When you get together, start by encouraging each person to share
their own insights from the readings. Then, use the discussion questions
to help you continue your conversation. You'll find that reading through
the Bible with others creates a positive motivation to keep going and
makes your experience of God's Word more meaningful.
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