Sharing Christ

By Brett Eastman, Dee Eastman, Todd Wendorff and 2 more

"Everyone knows what it feels like to be lost. But for many people, being lost is a way of life. Sharing Christ Together teaches students how to give lost people directions. Six sessions give kids the tools they need to talk about Jesus with their friends, family, and the world: • The Father’s Heart: How do I make evangelism a passionate extension of my relationship with God? • Christ in Flesh and Blood: When it comes to evangelism, what does it mean to be the body of Christ? • Sowing Seeds: How did Jesus actually spread the good news? • Who Is My Neighbor? How and why is it important to share Jesus with people who are from different cultures? • Teaming Up: Why did Jesus say to go out in pairs? What does that have to do with how I talk to people about Jesus? • Up a Tree: What do I do when I encounter people who make me uncomfortable? Sharing Christ Together will fill your student’s hearts with Jesus and allow them to share the love they’ve experienced with those who need a savior. "

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jan 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9780310866763

Brett Eastman

Brett Eastman has championed small groups and leadership development at both Saddleback and Willow Creek Community Church over the past decade. He is president and founder of LifeTogether, and one of the authors of the Silver Medallion winner Doing LifeTogether, the adult curriculum published by Zondervan.

Book preview

WHAT SMALL GROUP LEADERS AND

MEMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT

EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER

My group was formed four years ago of very new believers. EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER has helped form bonds, and we have fallen in love with Christ. We have had many trials, but we have learned to lean on the body of Christ to carry us through the difficult times. I know our lives are richer than ever.

—Leader

The EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER series has motivated me more than any other Bible study that I have ever been to. This Bible study gets to the heart of the matter—my character in Christ—and that has created action on my part.

—Leader

I love the fact that Jesus’ life shows us how to live.

—Member

This series is an awakening. Jesus has become a very personal friend.

—Leader

This series is definitely a must-do as the foundation for a healthy, maturing small group!

—Leader

EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER is a safe place to learn about the living Jesus and how he wants to lead us and love us.

—Member

EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER ties the heart and the mind together. The Bible knowledge grows the mind and the life application grows the heart and transforms the soul.

—Member

Other Studies in the EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER Series

Beginning in Christ Together (Life of Jesus)

Connecting in Christ Together (Fellowship)

Growing in Christ Together (Discipleship)

Serving Like Christ Together (Ministry)

Surrendering to Christ Together (Worship)

Studies in the DOING LIFE TOGETHER Series

Beginning Life Together (God’s Purpose for Your Life)

Connecting with God’s Family (Fellowship)

Growing to Be Like Christ (Discipleship)

Developing Your SHAPE to Serve Others (Ministry)

Sharing Your Life Mission Every Day (Evangelism)

Surrendering Your Life to God’s Pleasure (Worship)

9780310312154_Sharing_Christ_fb_0004_002

ZONDERVAN

SHARING CHRIST TOGETHER

Copyright © 2005 by Brett and Deanna Eastman,Todd and Denise Wendorff, and Karen Lee Thorp

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition August 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-86676-3

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

ISBN: 978-0-310-31215-4

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of ­Zondervan, nor do we vouch for their content for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. The original purchaser of this product shall have the right to make unlimited print-form copies here of, provided such copies are not resold or distributed to the general public.

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08 09 10 11 12 13 14 • 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

CONTENTS

Cover Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Read Me First

SESSION 1 The Father’s Heart

Personal Health Plan

SESSION 2 Christ in Flesh and Blood

SESSION 3 Sowing Seeds

SESSION 4 Who Is My Neighbor?

SESSION 5 Teaming Up

SESSION 6 Up a Tree

APPENDIX

Frequently Asked Questions

LIFE TOGETHER Agreement

Small Group Calendar

Team Roles

Personal Health Assessment

Personal Health Plan

Sample Personal Health Plan

Journaling 101

Bible Reading Plan: 36 Days in the Letters of Paul

Leading for the First Time

Hosting an Open House

EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER in a Sunday School Setting

LEADER’S NOTES

About the Authors

Small Group Roster

About the Publisher

Share Your Thoughts

READ ME FIRST

EXPERIENCING

CHRIST TOGETHER

EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER: LIVING WITH PURPOSE IN COMMUNITY will take you face to face with Jesus himself. In addition to being the Son of God and Savior of the world, Jesus holds the greatest wisdom and understands the purposes for which God formed you. He knows what it takes to build authentic relationships, to know God more intensely, to grow spiritually, and ultimately to make a difference in the world. EXPERIENCING CHRIST TOGETHER offers you a chance to do what Jesus’ first followers did: spend time with him, listen to what he said, watch what he did, and pattern your life after his.

Jesus lived every moment following God’s purpose for his life. In this study you will experience firsthand how he did this and how you can do it too. Yet if you’re anything like us, knowing what God wants for you is one thing, but doing it is something else. That’s why you’ll follow Jesus’ plan of doing life not alone but together. As you follow in his footsteps, you’ll find his pathway more exciting than anything you’ve imagined.

Book 1 of this series (Beginning in Christ Together) explores the person of Jesus Christ. Each of the subsequent five studies looks through Jesus’ eyes at one of God’s five biblical purposes for his people (fellowship, discipleship, service, evangelism, and worship). For example, Sharing Christ Together deals with evangelism. Book 1 is about grace: what Christ has done for us. The other books are about how we live in response to grace.

Even if you’ve done another LIFE TOGETHER study, you’ll be amazed at how Jesus can take you to places of faith you’ve never been before. The joy of life in him is far beyond a life you could design on your own. If you do all six study guides in this series, you’ll spend one astonishing year with Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Heart for the Lost

Have you ever gone driving in an unfamiliar place and realized you were lost? Being lost is frustrating and sometimes scary. Sometimes we don’t even know we’re lost until we’re so far offtrack that we’re in trouble.

That’s what life is like for millions of people. They’re lost. Some know they’re lost, and they feel frustrated or scared. Others would take offense if you hinted they didn’t know where they were going.

If you’ve known Christ for many years, you may sometimes forget what it was like to navigate life without the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and God’s people. You may get impatient at others for the choices they make. You may prefer to spend time with people who generally agree with you about which way is