The Road to Amazing Leader Guide: Basics of Christian Practice

By Mary Brooke Casad and Clayton Oliphint

After we invite Christ into our lives, then what? What do we do differently? How do we live out our faith? How do we move from being to doing? In this book and 4-week study, readers will learn to recognize God at work in their lives through the presence of Jesus Christ.

This Leader Guide includes everything a group leader needs to plan and facilitate the four sessions, helping participants to explore what they have read and to discuss the reading with the group. The guide walks leaders through the study format and provides options for tailoring sessions to the time-frame and style of each group.

The Road to Amazing is part of The Basics Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Release date: Feb 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781501813160

Book preview

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Title Page

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Copyright Page

The Road to Amazing

Basics of Christian Practice Leader Guide

Copyright © 2016 by Abingdon Press

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, P.O. Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988; 2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37228-1306; or e-mailed to [e-mail].

ISBN 978-1-5018-1316-0

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Contents

Contents

Introduction

Tips for Facilitating a Small Group

Background on the Gospel of Luke

Session 1: Baptism: The Journey Begins

Session 2: Defining Moments on the Journey

Session 3: Transforming Journey

Session 4: The Road to Amazing

Introduction

Introduction

For many centuries, the word journey has been used when describing the life of a follower of Jesus. It is a word that helps us understand that being a Christian is not reaching a fixed point—rather, we are walking the road that leads to salvation and freedom, striving to follow the example of Christ. The journey is not always smooth or easy, but it is filled with remarkable moments of insight and blessing. Along the way, Jesus shows up and surprises us. He is our traveling companion, walking the road with us, even when we are not aware of his presence.

In focusing on the basics of Christian practice in The Road to Amazing, readers will learn the significance of baptism as the starting point of a Christian’s journey. They will be confronted with the question Who is Jesus? and reflect on the cost of discipleship and what that can mean for our daily lives. Like Zacchaeus, they will experience what a difference Christ’s transforming love can make in their lives. And, as those early disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered on the very day Christ was resurrected, they will learn to recognize how Christ comes to us and walks with us in all of life’s joys and sorrows.

Each of the chapters in The Road to Amazing draws on a story from the Gospel of Luke. As you lead discussion on each chapter, you may want to have some working knowledge of Luke’s Gospel. We suggest that you read through the entire book to get an overview of how Luke tells us the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. (See Background on the Gospel of Luke, pages 13–14 in this guide for additional information.) The four stories from Luke’s Gospel included in The Road to Amazing offer readers a chance to consider: 1) what their own baptism tells them about who they are and how God sees them; 2) who Jesus is and what following him demands; 3) the transforming grace God offers us; and 4) how this journey with Jesus leads us to a life that is meaningful and amazing.

This four-session study is ideal for discussion groups, such as Sunday school classes and other small groups. Before the first session, each participant will need a copy of the The Road to Amazing participant book and should read the Introduction,